Reasons to love decorative floor tiles...

Decorative tiles in playful patterns are featuring on floors this season - what better reason to look down for inspiration and plan a chic country scheme from the bottom up.

Make a patchwork
Embrace one of this season's hot trends by mixing bold patterns in bright shades for a quirky hallway floor. The tiles here are from the same collection and repeat some of the same colourways and motifs, but you could also mix and match. It's a good way, too, to use up stock ends. Marry with vintage-style furniture and accessories for a true country Boho feel.

Use geometrics in modern ways
For a contemporary twist to a traditional black and white geometric design introduce a new colour, such as pale taupe, to soften the overall look. Team the flooring with clean-lined period-style details such as louvred shutters, a dado rail, simple wooden furniture or a fireplace surround painted in the same accent shade to ensure there is maximum impact.

Country meets contemporary
Bang on trend and extremely easy to achieve, a highly decorative tiled floor will lend a period country-style feel to a modern kitchen. For the most successful effect, stick to a pattern in a soft neutral palette and make it ‘modern rustic', with walls clad in natural wood, sleek white high-gloss units and appliances in industrial-style stainless steel.

Add interest with shapely tiles
Panelling teamed with a chequer-board tiled floor is a traditional feature of many country homes. Rob Whitaker, Creative Director, Fired Earth, suggests Moorish designs ‘with sweeping curves for an eye-catching contrast to angular panelling, to soften the scheme and add splashes of colour'.