Exploring the Stunning Art of Athangudi Tiles Design

The handmade Athangudi tiles of Chettinad, Tamil Nadu uniquely express the culture and trade of India. They are a beautiful reminder of the Chettiars’ rich cultural heritage. The Chettiars used to build their mansions with Japanese tiles, wooden pillars, imported stained glass and Italian marble. But soon they realised the repair costs of the imported tiles were getting expensive due to a lack of replacement tiles. So they set up their own cottage industry to replicate these imported tiles. This ingenuity is what gave birth to the now-famous Athangudi tiles design.

What is special about Athangudi tiles?

Traditional Athangudi tile designs usually consist of a composition of different tiles put together. Handcrafted with an eco-friendly approach, Athangudi tiles bring the beauty of Chettinad, India, to your home. Made from local sand, cement and colourful oxides, these tiles boast a vibrant personality with intricate designs – flowers, geometric shapes and more – adding a unique touch to any space.

How are Athangudi tiles made?

The artisans believe that the soil of their village is just the right composition needed to make these tiles and create beautiful Athangudi tile patterns on them, making each one unique. 

Here’s a breakdown of the process behind creating these unique tiles:

1. The base:
   • A glass sheet forms the foundation
   • A metal frame is placed on the glass to create the tile’s desired shape (geometric or floral)

2. Colourful creation:
   • Artisans prepare a mixture using a combination of coloured oxides and cement
   • The coloured cement is then poured into different compartments of a patterned stencil (called Aass) within the metal frame
   • When the frame is whisked out after a few minutes of setting in, a beautiful design is left on the glass
3. Building the tile:
   • A thin layer of local sand is spread on top of the glass
   • It is then filled with a mixture of cement, sand and small stone aggregates, with a thickness of three-quarters of an inch.
   • Another layer of dry sand is added on top of the wet cement
   • The artisan removes excess sand and packs the frame with cement mortar
4. Curing and finishing:
   • Freshly made tiles are left to dry in the sun
   • After setting, the tiles are submerged in water for 8-12 days for a curing process
   • Then they are separately dried for 24 hours to make them compact
   • Dried rice husk is then layered on top to absorb moisture and impart a natural sheen to the finished product
   • Finally, the glass sheet is removed to reveal the beautiful Athangudi tile

Athangudi tiles design images we❤️

A red, yellow and green combo: Simply stunning

Athangudi tiles design often feature floral motifs and the combinations of red, yellow and green colours are a natural choice for this type of design. Restricting them to just floor designs makes no sense when they’ll look stunning on the borders of windows, doors and even mirrors! You can also use them as accent tiles in a larger design scheme. For example, a few red, yellow, and green tiles could be used to break up a larger pattern of white or beige tiles.

Also Read: 16 Different Types of Windows You Can Choose From to Suit Your Style

Shades of blue: A blue-tiful balance

Blue’s all for serenity and shades of blues are for a striking visual impact. Here’s how you can choose an Athangudi tiles design based on how it balances the impact of blue:

• White can be used as a base colour with blue accents for a fresh and clean look suitable for minimalist interior design
• Blue Athangudi tile patterns with yellow, green or orange are for a playful and energetic look
• If you want geometric tiles, go for different shades of blue that’ll create a gradient effect

Also Read: 33+ Beautiful Blue Room Designs You’ll Love

Black is all about a bit of drama

Black Athangudi tiles can also be used as a base for other colours, such as red, yellow or green. These are perfect for those tradition-inspired dark colour palette interior designs. Do not forget, black is a classic element for luxurious home interiors too!

Just because we loved these Athangudi tile patterns…

… please look at it too! No matter how you choose your colour combinations for your Athangudi tiles design, we assure you it’ll fit in with almost every other traditional interior design.

What is the difference between Athangudi tiles and normal tiles?

Athangudi tiles	Normal tiles
Handmade from eco-friendly materials like sand, cement and natural oxides. No firing or heat is involved in drying	Usually mass-produced with various materials like ceramic, porcelain, vitrified tiles etc. These often involve factory machines, heat and sometimes chemicals
Each tile can have slight variations due to the handmade process making them unique	Can come in a wide variety of designs and colours but uniformity is more common due to mass production
Naturally cool to the touch and considered durable	Thermal properties depend on the material
Can be more expensive due to being handmade and have higher transportation costs	Can vary in price depending on the material and brand
Availability might be limited depending on location	Generally more widely available

What is the price of Athangudi tiles per square foot?

While Athangudi tiles themselves cost around ₹80 per square foot, expect to pay an additional ₹60 per tile for professional installation.

Do Athangudi tiles fade?

Athangudi tiles are known for their exceptional durability and colour fastness. Unlike some other tiles, they resist fading over time. This is due to the natural materials used and the traditional curing process. In fact, Athangudi tiles are said to age beautifully, developing a richer sheen with use. So, you can expect your Athangudi tile floors to maintain their vibrant colours for generations to come.

What is the thickness of an Athangudi tile?

Athangudi tiles typically have a layered construction, so their total thickness can vary slightly. However, they generally range from 11 millimetres to 14 millimetres. This includes a base layer, a coloured design layer and a finishing layer.

How to maintain Athangudi tiles?

Athangudi tiles are unique because they actually gain shine the more you walk on them! While this makes them perfect for floors, avoid using them on walls. To maintain their beauty, simply sweep and mop regularly. Once a week, give them a special treat with a mop dipped in warm water and 10-15 drops of coconut oil to keep them gleaming and colourful.

Also Read: Lessons You Need To Learn From Remarkable Chettinad Interiors

How can Livspace help you?

Our team of 3500+ interior designers can help you choose the perfect tile designs that match your home interiors.

• Choose from a catalogue of 20 lakh+ products
• They undergo 146 quality checks
• We offer a flat 10-year warranty*

Let us help you create your dream home interiors along with the best tile designs! Book a consultation NOW!

*For select finishes on modular products. For full scope of warranty, please visit livspace.com/in/service

Disclaimer: All contents of the story are specific to the time of publication. Mentions of costs, budget, materials, finishes, and products from the Livspace catalogue can vary with reference to current rates. Talk to our designer for more details on pricing and availability.