Moroccan Floor Tile: Which Patterns Belong on a Floor

Most Moroccan tile you see online is zellige: glazed, glossy and made for walls. On a floor, that glaze is slick when wet. If you want the Moroccan look underfoot, the tile you are looking for is patterned encaustic cement tile, or the plain 2x6 clay rectangle called bejmat.

This guide covers which Moroccan tile goes on a floor, how to choose a pattern for a bathroom, kitchen, entry or patio, and how to order the right amount.

Which Moroccan tile belongs on a floor

• Encaustic cement tile. The patterned 8x8 squares most people picture when they say "Moroccan floor tile". The pattern is coloured cement, not a printed or glazed surface. Every design in our handmade cement tile collection is listed on its own product page for interior floors, exterior floors and shower floors.
• 2x6 bejmat. The traditional Moroccan floor format: a small handmade rectangle. Our unglazed terracotta bejmat is the plain clay option for floors and herringbone layouts.
• Zellige. A wall tile. Use it on the backsplash, shower walls or a feature wall above a cement floor, not on the floor itself. See zellige tile for walls.

Why cement tile works underfoot

Each Zellaro cement tile is made one at a time in a brass mold. Mineral pigments mixed with white cement, marble powder and fine sand are poured by hand, colour by colour, then backed with cement and sand and pressed hydraulically. The tiles are soaked for 24 hours and air-cured for seven days. There is no kiln and no glaze.

That gives you a matte tile that is naturally slip-resistant, which is why it suits floors where glazed tile does not. Each design's product page lists the same uses:

• interior floors: kitchen, bathroom, entryway
• exterior floors: patio, entrance, outdoor surfaces
• shower walls and floors, including steam showers
• radiant heating systems

Because every tile is poured by hand, expect small variations in tone and texture from tile to tile. That is part of the material, and it is the reason to see a sample first.

Patterned bathroom floor tiles

A patterned cement floor under plain or zellige walls is the classic Moroccan bathroom. Pick the floor first, then choose wall tile in one of its colours.

Two things to check before you commit:

• Scale. In a small bathroom, a busy pattern repeats many times across the floor. Lay four or more samples together to see the repeat, not one tile on its own.
• The shower floor. If the same tile runs into the shower, confirm it on the product page; our cement designs list shower floors. Glazed zellige stays on the shower walls.

See the cement tile designs listed for bathroom and shower floors, or plan the whole room on the bathroom tile page.

Two-tone patterned floor tiles

A two-colour pattern is the easiest to live with: it reads as one strong graphic and works with most wall colours and metal finishes.

• Shadow Cross 8x8: ivory and brown in a bold geometric cross pattern.
• Echo Triangles 8x8: bold grey and white geometry, pre-sealed.
• Terra Lines 8x8: earthy browns with soft cream stripes, pre-sealed.
• Shadow Triangle 6x6: brown, grey and off-white, on a smaller square for tighter spaces.

Colourful Moroccan floor patterns

• Marrakesh Sunrise: a vibrant Moroccan pattern in sunny hues. For a darker floor, Marrakesh Dusk has bold Moroccan-inspired patterns in deep, dramatic tones.
• Terra Star: warm brown and soft cream in a star motif, pre-sealed.
• Ocean Luna: deep navy with soft white, for a coastal Mediterranean feel. Pre-sealed.
• Blush Arabesque (flowing curves in warm tones and blush coral) and Vibrant Arabesque (red, amber and navy).

Browse every design, with live stock, in the handmade cement tile collection.

Kitchen floors, entryways and patios

• Kitchen. A patterned floor anchors a plain kitchen. Keep the backsplash quieter than the floor, or pick it up in one colour. Ideas for the wall side are on the kitchen backsplash page.
• Entryway. A small floor area where a strong pattern makes a big impression for few boxes. See entryway tile.
• Patio or front entrance. Our cement designs list exterior floors, including patios and entrances. Talk to your installer about the outdoor base and sealing before you order. More ideas on the outdoor tile page.

How a pattern repeats across a room

Most of our designs are 8x8 squares. You can lay them as a single repeat, or turn the tiles to build a larger pattern, and many designs look quite different depending on how they are turned.

Before ordering, lay out a few samples on the actual floor and photograph them from standing height. That is the view you will live with.

Sealing and installation

Cement tile is unglazed, so it is sealed as part of installation. Some designs, including Terra Star, Echo Triangles, Terra Lines, Terra Luna and Ocean Luna, are pre-sealed; the product page says which. Either way, read our cement tile installation guide with an installer who has experience sealing handmade cement tile before work starts.

How much tile to order

1. Measure the floor in square feet.
2. Add 15% for cuts, setting aside pieces and spares.
3. Our tile calculator counts a box of 8x8 cement tile as 5.33 sq ft (12 tiles). Every product page turns square feet into boxes with the overage included, and shows the lead time for your quantity.
4. Order the whole job at once. Handmade tile is final sale, and later batches can differ.

Example: a 60 sq ft bathroom floor plus 15% is 69 sq ft, which is 13 boxes of 8x8 cement tile.

Moroccan floor tile questions

Can Moroccan tile go on a bathroom floor?

Yes, if it is cement tile or bejmat rather than glazed zellige. Our cement designs are listed for bathroom floors and shower floors, and their matte finish is naturally slip-resistant.

Is zellige tile OK on a floor?

No. Zellige is a wall tile: its glaze is slick when wet. Use it on walls and backsplashes, and put cement tile or bejmat on the floor.

Can patterned cement tile go outside?

Our cement designs are listed for exterior floors, including patios and entrances. Plan the base and sealing with your installer.

Does cement tile need sealing?

Yes. It is unglazed and is sealed as part of installation. A few designs arrive pre-sealed; check the product page and the installation guide.

How do I see the pattern before ordering?

Order samples. Up to 5 samples are free; you pay $7 shipping for the first and $4 for each one after. Order free tile samples.

Designers and contractors: an approved trade account gets 25% off every order.