There’s something deeply grounding about making your own tiles — not just decorating with them, but shaping each one with your hands. In the photo above, a soft grid of tulip motifs emerges, pressed gently into clay and laid out on a gingham cloth like bread left to rise.

This is craft at its most tactile. It’s not about perfection — it’s about presence.

Why Make Your Own Tiles?

In a world filled with machine-cut replicas, handmade tiles offer something rare:
character.
Each curve, each petal, each subtle imperfection carries the warmth of the maker.

When you make your own tiles:

• You shape more than clay — you shape space.

• You tell a story in surfaces: kitchen walls, hearths, doorways.

• You build with intention, not just decoration.

Getting Started

Making your own tiles doesn’t require a professional studio. You need:

• Clay (stoneware or earthenware, do not use air dry clay for this)

• A rolling pin or slab roller

• A mould or carved stamp – as seen in the image, a floral motif like a tulip can be easily created using a plaster mould. To make your own mould see: this post (coming soon)

• A wire cutter and trimming tools

• Optional: Bisque firing and glazing access via a local pottery studio

The process is simple:

1. Roll your clay evenly to your desired thickness.

2. Press it gently into your mould or carve your own design.

3. Let dry slowly on cloth to prevent warping.

4. Fire, glaze, and fire again — or keep them raw for decorative panels.

Designing with Meaning

The tulip design shown in the image isn’t just ornamental — it flows from one tile to the next, creating a gentle rhythm of blooming and curling stems. You can create your own series too:

• Choose a flower that means something to you

• Consider how each tile connects to the next

• Let the natural curves and gestures of plants guide your forms

Your tiles don’t have to match. Let them evolve. Let them tell the story of your hands.

A Slow Craft for Modern Homes

Tile-making is slow. Messy. Meditative. It’s about being in the room with your work — not rushing, not outsourcing.
And when you install your tiles, whether in a bathroom, around a fireplace, or as a simple panel in your hallway, you’ll know the story behind them.

Not mass-produced. Not shipped from far away.
Yours.

Final Thoughts

Making your own tiles isn’t just about craft — it’s about connection:

• To nature

• To rhythm

• To home

So roll out the clay. Press gently. Let the botanical motifs bloom.
Because in every tile, there’s a little piece of your care made permanent.