
Decorative wall tiles date back to hundreds of years B.C., when they were first used by the Egyptians to adorn their temples and tombs. Over the centuries, different countries developed their own particular designs, shapes and uses for tiles. In Holland, blue-and-white Delftware tiles were put behind beds, on staircases and around window frames, while in America; large tiles were used in the hallways of grand buildings. Italian craftsmen produced a very different effect by covering their tiles in wonderful transparent glazes. In Victorian Britain, it was fashionable to have individual family portraits painted onto tiles, while in France, seascapes, often in painted in yellow with a blue background were preferred. As well as being highly decorative, tiles are, of course, eminently practical. As they are adaptable, cool and easy to clean, they are particularly popular in hot countries, especially Spain and Portugal.
For practical purposes, tiles are often used as wall coverings between units in kitchens and bathrooms. An attractive idea for a kitchen wall is to dot single decorated or picture tiles at random among plain ones or to arrange a group of tiles to form a mural.
You can easily paint plain white tiles yourself, either singly or in a group to form a mural. However, it is important to remember that because they haven’t been fired in a kiln, your own painted tiles will not stand up to being scrubbed. Before you begin, clean them using a damp cloth. If you are not particularly confident about painting, use a stencil or create a simple pattern in spots or stripes, which can then be used as a border. If you intend to paint freehand, draw the design in pencil before you apply the paint – the pencil markings can be rubbed out when you have finished. A clever idea for a kitchen is to paint individual tiles with objects that you or your family particularly like. This could be anything from a jar of jam to a ladybird. One of the most popular designs for painted tiles is the Delft look, which originated in Holland.
