News

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.

Enrich Kitchen Design with High Relief Tiles

Enrich Kitchen Design with High Relief Tiles

I am sure you have sometimes a feeling that your kitchen needs some change, but you do not know where to start. I propose to start with ceramic tiles. Enrich kitchen design with high relief tiles. Believe me. By only transforming the kitchen backsplash, the overall look of the room will make you love your kitchen even more. High relief tiles are one of the most extraordinary types of Mexican Talavera tiles. The most crafted of them all, these colorful tiles with relief will add a little bit of extravaganza to any style kitchen.

kitchen ceramic talavera tiles in relief style from Mexico

Mexican Talavera tiles are a traditional type of hand-painted pottery that is commonly used for kitchen counters and backsplashes as well as bathroom walls, patio, and garden dining areas. The Talavera design is often very intricate, with images or patterns that pop out from the white body. In the case of decorative high relief tiles, the pattern is even more enhanced by engraving the design on top of the ceramic tile. These designs can be animal figures or symbols from Mexican culture and history. Hand-painted Talavera tiles can be used as a part of an overall design scheme in your kitchen for backsplashes, countertops, and flooring. Some people use broken tiles to decorate smaller objects like a flower vase or cutting board. Sometimes a kitchen table con de embellished with Talavera tiles as a tabletop, however, relief tiles are not recommended for that purpose as their surface is not even. All in all, Mexican relief tiles add a bright and fun atmosphere and make kitchens feel more social and inviting by helping to break up the space with beautiful artwork. It is not a coincidence that Talavera tiles are so popular in Mexico that also is a great expert in having parties, barbecues, and spending lots of time cooking delicious salsas and more.

Mexican style tiles are more than just beautiful, they can be functional too. They come in two sizes and vibrant designs that offer thousands of color combinations. They make a great addition to enrich kitchen design with high relief tiles as they have been used for centuries to decorate walls, floors, and ceilings. The designs are inspired by various cultures that have a common history such as Spain, Morocco, and the latest-Mexico. The art of hand-painted relief tiles has traveled through continents getting more and more exquisite and rich. Today, our clients can choose from such a great variety of designs that any kitchen renovation project will find suitable floor and wall Talavera tiles, whether traditional or modern.

Relief Tiles for Kitchen Backsplash and Stairs

Relief Tiles for Kitchen Backsplash and Stairs

Looking for an extraordinary decorative result for your kitchen or stairs? What about building some blue drama with Mexican relief tiles for a kitchen backsplash that will blow away you with both their bright, vivid colors and rich, multidimensional texture. For this kind of material that is unquestionably practical but also with an incredible visual effect, you want to use it in exposed spots in your home. They protect your walls from the inevitable dampness and are easy to clean. However, their aesthetic role is even more important. Secondly, taking into consideration that the surface of ceramic relief tiles is uneven, you should perhaps avoid installing them on the floors in a highly transited areas or on kitchen counters and tables where you need a top to be smooth and regular for more comfortable eating and food preparation. Any other areas and especially kitchen backsplash wall and stair risers are certainly suitable for these high-end tiles.

Our mural relief tiles for backsplash and stair risers are all hand-painted. The painting technique involves drawing the tile pattern and then pouring paint the way it stays elevated from the background. It is an enormous work but the final look is just so striking and stylish. Relief tiles from Mexico are entirely handmade. There is no machinery involved therefore their production is time-consuming and the clay used is of much higher quality than for a regular Talavera tile. It means that decorative high relief tiles are not cheap. Their decorative value and that they are a guarantee of many years of service, they are not that expensive either. Once you are buying a relief tile handcrafted in Mexico, think that you are purchasing something unique, rustic and importantly with a stunning, one-of-a-kind design shaped by the long history of Mexican earthenware.

relief ceramic tiles installed on a kitchen backsplash and stairs

As one of the most visible parts of the room, the relief tiles from Mexico will brighten up your kitchen and any room you decide to decorate it with. They will add a welcoming feel in your lobby colonial star raisers. Being a bi dimensional piece of ceramic their impact is so much more powerful than of normal tiles that you want to choose for them a noticeable spot. The kitchen backsplash is definitely a central location in your cooking area. Together with a custom copper range hood, it can actually define the style of the rest of your kitchen. As for the stair risers, there are so many ways you can ornament them with our vintage relief tiles. Buy a single design for all the rows. Or play bolder and install the different design on every row of your risers or create some sort of pattern like chess.