As sexy as trends may be, many of us prefer design elements with a deep, rich heritage. Few, if any, can challenge tile on that front. It’s been said that “tile carries the DNA of thousands of years of history.”

You don’t have to be a history buff to have a basic awareness of tile’s unique history because tile is a prominent feature in lots of our most spectacular buildings and historic icons. Think back to your most recent vacation. You can probably recall a grand hotel lobby or the indoor-outdoor space with the impressive view at your Airbnb. The common trait between them is their tiled surfaces.

Throughout history, tile has represented the perfect marriage of design and architecture. And with the range of tile options deepening by the day, that union is likely to remain a prominent force for generations to come.

Exactly how far back tile’s history runs is hard to say, but there’s evidence of its presence throughout the annals of civilization. At various turns, it was a medium that reflected the social, economic, and political leanings of the day, as well as the technology at hand. Today, technology has helped make tile even more accessible and tile design effectively limitless.

From 3D tiles to stone-look tiles that mimic rare and, in some cases, extinct minerals, the abundance and diversity of varieties today is the result of extensive research, development, and design, driven by a profound love for ceramic tile in studios around the world.

While technology has created all kinds of new and exciting possibilities for tile, it’s people who are owed the credit for its enduring presence in cultures all over the world, from the men and women in the vanguard of this latest innovation to the people who lay the tile. In a world where the production of virtually everything is quickly becoming robotic, homes and buildings are among the few things that are still made by hand. And justifiably, tile installation, dependent on the craftsmanship of the installer, is still regarded as an art.

We can customize our spaces in any number of ways these days, but tile is the only element that’s capable of doing that while also connecting your home to a remarkable lineage.