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How to Use Relief Tiles for Kitchen Backsplashes, Showers, and Stair Risers

How to Use Relief Tiles for Kitchen Backsplashes, Showers, and Stair Risers

Relief tiles add dimension, texture, and a touch of artistry to any space—making them a standout choice for kitchen backsplashes, shower walls, and stair risers. Their raised designs can range from subtle to bold, offering endless possibilities for homeowners and designers alike. Below, we’ll explore how to incorporate relief tiles into these areas and why they’re worth the investment.

1. What Are Relief Tiles?

Relief tiles, sometimes referred to as high-relief or raised tiles, feature three-dimensional patterns on the surface. These designs can be floral, geometric, or decorative motifs that bring an artisanal flair to your home. Sourced from expert craftspeople, such as those found at My Custom Made, these tiles often reflect traditional Mexican craftsmanship—blending cultural heritage with modern utility.

2. Kitchen Backsplashes: Functional Art

Practical Benefits

A kitchen backsplash does more than protect your walls from splashes and heat. When using Mexican high relief tiles, you can:

  • Introduce vibrant color and unique textures
  • Tie the backsplash design seamlessly with rustic or contemporary kitchen themes
  • Add a focal point that draws attention to your cooking space

Design Tips

  • Mix and Match: Combine relief tiles with solid-colored tiles to create visual contrast.
  • Focal Strips: Use relief tiles in a vertical or horizontal strip above the stove or sink for added emphasis.
  • Cohesive Palette: Coordinate tile colors with your countertops, cabinetry, and appliances for a unified look.

3. Elevating Showers with Texture

Spa-Like Ambiance

Transform a plain shower into a luxurious retreat by incorporating raised tile sections. The tactile quality of relief tiles offers a unique sensory experience while creating eye-catching detail that breaks up bland, flat surfaces.

Key Considerations

  • Moisture Resistance: Ensure you select tiles with proper sealing and waterproofing treatments for shower walls.
  • Placement: Use relief tiles as an accent wall or as decorative bands to avoid overwhelming smaller shower spaces.
  • Easy Maintenance: Regularly wipe or rinse tiles and grout lines to prevent build-up—helped by using high-quality materials from reputable sources like My Custom Made.

4. Stair Risers: A Surprising Statement

Why Tile Your Stair Risers?

Staircases are often overlooked in home design, but Mexican high relief tiles instantly elevate your interior or exterior stairs. Each riser can feature a repeating pattern or an eclectic mix, turning a functional structure into a vibrant style element.

Installation Tips

  • Measure Each Riser: Stair risers may vary in size; customizing the tile layout ensures an even look.
  • Consider Durability: Use slip-resistant or textured tiles for safety when installing on staircases.
  • Color Coordination: Pick a consistent color scheme if you prefer a harmonious appearance, or mix patterns to create a bohemian look.

5. Coordinating Relief Tiles with Other Elements

Relief tiles pair exceptionally well with other handmade or artisan features. Explore how to embellish hallways with decorative Talavera tiles or incorporate custom copper accents for a cohesive aesthetic throughout your home. Maintaining a common theme or color palette helps tie different areas—like the kitchen, bathroom, and staircases—together in a visually pleasing way.

6. Shopping for Quality Relief Tiles

Ready to enhance your space with relief tiles? Choosing a reputable provider ensures you get:

  • High-quality craftsmanship for durable, long-lasting tiles
  • Authentic designs that showcase cultural heritage and artisan skill
  • A wide variety of patterns and finishes to match your personal style

For an extensive range of relief tiles and expert guidance, My Custom Made offers handcrafted products and knowledgeable customer support.

Final Thoughts

Relief tiles can breathe life and personality into any corner of your home—from the sleek modern kitchen backsplash to a spa-like shower oasis or statement-making stair risers. Focus on quality, choose designs that complement your overall décor, and don’t be afraid to experiment with colors and patterns. With the right selection and strategic placement, relief tiles can turn ordinary surfaces into stunning works of art.

Decorative Relief Tiles for Garden

Decorative Relief Tiles for Garden

Decorative relief tiles for garden are a new trend where people are using these tiles as a decorative feature in their homes. Relief tiles can be used to create patterns, borders, and even entire gardens. They are a great way to add color and style to any outdoor space, garden, or patio. They can be used in a variety of ways and are not just limited to the flooring, they come in many different styles. They are also a great way to add some Mexican flare. Talavera tiles are the most popular decorative relief tiles because of their bright colors and intricate designs. You can use them on walls, roofs, as a border, or even as a pathway. The idea of using decorative relief tiles for a garden is not new but it is gaining popularity in recent years. People have started creating gardens with these tiles that are both pleasing to the eye and practical at the same time.

Mexican tiles installed to decorate a garden

Decorative relief tiles are made up of clay, water, and natural minerals. They are also called high relief tiles as they are created with a thickness of at least 3 mm. Mexican Talavera tiles are colorful ceramic tiles that have been used in Mexico for centuries and exported to other countries. The MexicanTalavera tiles were originally produced in Talavera de la Reina, a Spanish city near Toledo, were made popular by the Spanish conquistadors who brought the technique from their homeland to Mexico in the 16th century, but now they can be found all over the world - from Latin America to Asia. Terracotta tiles for floors and walls can be used as a substitute for natural stone or marble but are less expensive than these materials. They can also be used as an alternative to ceramic or porcelain flooring, wall, or floor tile because it is durable and easy to install and maintain. Talavera tiles are one of the most popular decorative tiles for garden. They are typically used to decorate the walls, floors, and even furniture. Tiles have been a part of the human culture since ancient times. The first use of tiles was in Mesopotamia as early as 6000 BC. In the present day, they have become more popular than ever and can be found in gardens, kitchens, bathrooms, etc. High relief tiles are popular among Mexican Talavera tiles because they come with rich colors that make them stand out from other types of decorative tiles. They also have a unique design that makes them look like they're 3D cubes or blocks stacked together to form an image or message. They fo very well with other Mexican outdoor features such as equipal dining sets for instance.

Decorative Relief Tiles from Mexico

Decorative Relief Tiles from Mexico

There is something about the handcrafted decorative relief tiles from Mexico whose incredible designs are raised to highlight the visual and touch experience. Call us crazy, but there is nothing like a feel of a cool ceramics in 3D that stimulate our senses and give the remodeled room a special feeling. Even though the ceramic relief tiles seem traditional to have inside, they are experiencing a real come-back right now and many interior designers and homeowners. Are using them to intensify their style, whether it is extremely sophisticated or handcrafted classic.

 relief ceramic tiles decorating a backsplash

The kitchens and the bathrooms are the major protagonists for handmade decorative relief tiles use as they are the spaces likely to be in need of tiling in general. The relief tiles can be found in earthly and neutral colors, imitating other materials such as stone or wood and that can be used in gentle and clean layouts. To contrary, you can find them in bright and colorful to add a dramatic note to the decor and often to offer a change to the simplicity of the monochromatic (all-white) bathroom. There are many decorative relief tile types on the market. Some hand painted tiles are plain and simple and others have artistic designs requiring a lot of time and effort to produce them. The prices of decorative relief tiles vary as well. Majority of Mexican kitchen tiles that are handmade in the US are quite expensive. Europe is more pricey when artisan made products are concerned. The only choice is buying ceramic tiles online in Mexico. It is the best option for United States residents due to proximity to the source as well as the favorable labor costs. And most importantly, you will be purchasing an authentic handmade creation, inspired in European and Colonial heritage of Mexico and that is priceless.

Traditional high relief ceramic tiles have the prominent 3d features of painted pattern undercut, allowing these aspects to be projected from the background. Decorative bathroom tiles are suited to decorative a kitchen backlash, tabletop and counter. Our collection is strongly influenced by Spanish form where the geometrical designs reigns. They are in fact mosaic talavera tiles with the use of two or three colors palette and abstract patterns. They are available  4×4 or 6×6 inch sizes. These handcrafted decorative relief tiles from Mexico make a great addition to the bathroom, the foyer, the kitchen, or to any room where a pop of style is on the menu.