You can treat the terracotta as you would a “simpler” shade like black—and in fact, the softer tones mean this shade is actually easier to work with in several ways. Plus, thanks to its earthy associations, you can treat it as something neutral and useful if you don’t feel like decorating with color. “Shades range from traditional burnt orange to chalky pink, making it something that can be more neutral or something that adds a dramatic pop of color,” explains interior designer Emma Perel. “It’s all about the application of color and how you choose to combine it.”
On that note, we’ve rounded up our favorite ways to apply this signature shade to your interiors, whether you’re feeling brave (accent wall, anyone?) or more conservative. Scroll on to learn how to use this color in your space.
How to Decorate With Terracotta Accents
“A band of terracotta adds warmth and depth to any space, providing a natural grounding,” says New York-based interior designer Emma Perel. She recommends incorporating the shade onto walls or through select pieces of décor as a way to add color to a neutral scheme. “I like to bring in a terracotta accent when a room needs texture or color but the scheme chosen calls for something more rustic and old-world.”
“Incorporating terracotta into your scheme, with its earthy tones, is a great option if you want to add warmth to a room,” adds Nicholas Kaiko of Sydney-based Kaiko Design Studio. It’s a great balance for the cooler shades. Terracotta, especially in its raw, unglazed form, has a rough texture that can add depth to a space. I love it as a flooring material – brick pavers are so underrated! ”
For Erica Violet, founder of Portland, Oregon studio Sill Design Co, clay’s connection to nature, and its texture, is what makes it such a valuable accent. “We found her connection to nature adds coziness to the space, making it feel cozy and inviting,” she says. If we’re looking to add natural warmth and texture, we’ll prioritize terracotta in planters, sculptures, accents, or even materials like tiles. If we were looking to add some contrasting color to a predominantly cool color palette, we would use it as a color in textiles and rugs.
Read on for more ideas from interior designers on how to decorate with terracotta accents.
1. Use terracotta tiles to add unexpected depth and texture
(Image credit: Yash R Jain. Design by House of Lines)
structural engineer Anchuk Ponmya From House of Lines Use terracotta tiles as a thread connecting rooms in this Chennai home. In this earthy bedroom, an unexpected splash of terracotta behind the headboard adds texture and color.
Terracotta tiles, with their earthy tones, create a much-needed sense of warmth in a home. ‘It’s very slang for the Indian subcontinent,’ says Anchok. Terracotta lines the walls to protect this home from the heat as it is complemented by other functional vernacular elements. The muddy red color of the clay makes the user feel a deep connection to nature – a feeling that is lost in today’s concrete jungles.
2. Go bold with terracotta paint for a cocooning space
(Image credit: Fiona Susanto. Design by Kaiko Design)
For this living room scheme by Kaiko Design, terracotta-painted walls and ceiling help warm the cooler shades in the sofa and rug—showing that gray can work as a color that complements terracotta.
“The color palette for this home began with the client’s love of red limestone and we built the material story around that,” says Nicholas Kaiko. There are terracotta touch points throughout the spaces as you move from the entryway through the home, ending in this lounge room, which is the largest and boldest expression of color. Textured dado paint serves as the room’s anchor, grounding the furniture—and it turns out to be a nice nod to ’90s home construction, when textured paint was all the rage. Everything old is new again!’
3. Bring terracotta through the furniture accent piece
(Image credit: Marcia Prentice. Designed by Sarah Rosenhaus)
A terracotta velvet sofa stands out against a gray concrete wall in this space by Sarah Rosenhaus Design—and provides that warm lift to a cool scheme we’ve already mentioned. Emma Beryl is also a fan of adding terracotta accents through the furniture—especially the upholstery, thanks to the layers your chosen materials add to the scheme. “Using terracotta velvet I can achieve a mid-century modern vibe, while terracotta linen can be used as a neutral alternative to brown or gray in a cooler California space,” she explains.
4. Terracotta wallpaper makes an accent wall a statement
(Image credit: Life Created. Design by Living with Lolo)
A step down from your space’s cocoon in all-over color, a terracotta accent wall—especially when done with textured wallpaper, like this design by Living with Lolo—can create a gorgeous focal point. “A wall or ceiling with a terracotta accent can create a dramatic, eye-catching effect in a room,” says Artem Kropovinsky, interior designer and founder of New York-based interior design studio Arsight. It can also define an area or function in an open plan space, or highlight a feature such as a fireplace or window.
5. Choose mud bedding to liven up the bedroom
(Image credit: Mindi Cooke. Designed by Cedar and Suede)
A mud duvet cover, throw, or even pouf on a throw pillow can be an effective way to bring color into a bedroom without investing in paint or furniture.
And as this scheme by Gold Coast-based interior design studio Cedar + Suede shows, it can be a surprisingly effective addition to a bedroom’s color while still being easy to update. “I like to use color in a saturated way, which I achieved with different shades of green,” explains founder Carlene Duffy. “The autumnal hues of tobacco, tan, and terracotta provide points for subtle contrast without drawing focus.”
6. Bring in a smaller accent through pendant lighting
(Image credit: The Palm Inc.; Design by Kitty Lee Architecture)
Terracotta and ceramic lamps are a growing lighting trend—why not get ahead of the curve and invest in terracotta pendant lights to place on your dining table, atop an island, or on either side of your bed? For Sydney-based architect Kitty Lee, this was the crisp finishing touch for this dining space. “In a neutral room of gray terrazzo floors, black metal work and white cabinetry, terracotta pendant lights add a touch of warmth and dimension to the space,” she says. “The rich, earthy tone complements both the wood island seat and the warmth of the pink.”
7. Make mud the focus of your kitchen units
(Image credit: Yash R Jain. Design by House of Lines)
Follow in House of Lines’ footsteps and make terracotta the star of your kitchen color scheme—in this space, terracotta door fronts are paired with black countertops for the ultimate contrast. Or do the opposite and incorporate clay into your work surface instead. “We’re just finishing up a kitchen design with a colorful terracotta counter,” says Erica Violet. It’s a beautiful accent and use in this larger surface and has a big impact on our color palette of creams, coppers, and warm woods. It’s definitely a less bold effect compared to a strong color like black, but we love it for its simple nature.
8. Or make a splash with a terracotta kitchen backsplash
(Image credit: Quality Cut Design Remodel/Emily Peuringer)
A more conservative approach is to use terracotta tiles in your kitchen backsplash—a classic addition that still feels a lot more exciting than the idea of plain kitchen tiles, as demonstrated in this space by Quality Cut and Minneapolis designer Emily Peuringer. “A beautiful way to incorporate clay is through tiles,” says Emma Perel. “It’s a nice alternative to the classic gray or beige stone used in kitchens or laundry rooms: It brings a sense of life while staying fairly neutral to the eye.”
9. Add a rug for a softer approach to clay
(Image credit: Stoffer Photography Interiors. Design by Kate Marker Interiors)
Given that the clay comes from the earth, it seems only natural that the color would lend itself perfectly to the rug. Go big and bold in the living room as an instant warming scheme, or opt for a more subtle approach—like this bathroom by interior designer Kate Marker. “A spritz of clay can instantly warm up a space and is a nice floor or backsplash option,” she says. “It can enhance a home’s aesthetic while remaining modest and timeless.”
10. Use small pops of color in a muted scheme
(Image credit: Lance Gerber. Design by Joshua Smith Inc)
If you just want to try a touch of terracotta here and there before committing to anything bigger, you’re in luck: Small accessories like pillows, vases, and flower pots in terracotta shades are now widely available. In this bedroom by New York-based interior designer Joshua Smith, a single, round pillow pops against the neutral bedding.
“Depending on the rest of your furniture and decor, terracotta can really pop,” says Emma Perel. “If your space uses a limited color palette of beiges, creams, and whites, a terracotta pillow or planter, or even an upholstered chair, can be a great addition.”
