Tiling Ideas Around a Recessed Box

Ceramic Border

• Putting a fancy frame around a painting can turn it into a work of art in your decor. The same is true for recessed nooks. Install a ceramic tile frame around the outside edges of the recessed area to make it stand out on the wall. Continue the tile on the inside edges of the recessed area, if desired to tie the color of the inside of the recessed box with the outside. Since ceramic tile is not flammable lining the recessed area sides and back will let you use the spot to safely burn a candle, but never leave the candle unattended.

Metallic Tile

• Metallic tile adds brightness without reflecting the objects inside. Occasionally used for ceilings or backsplashes, metallic tile in a nook is an unexpected texture that fits in with an industrial or modern design theme. With metallic tile, the options are wide. For a warmer look, choose copper. Silver adds classic shimmer, but tiles with distressed or weathered finishes are also available. Such metallic tiles are not as shiny and might be preferable if you find polished metal blinding in the nook. If you cannot find metallic tile, opt for glass tile with a metallic finish, available from tile and flooring stores.

Mirror Tile

• One of the problems with recessed areas is getting light inside them. Picture lights or recessed lighting in the top of the box can solve this problem, but you can add more light without electrical work. Mirror tile around the edges and back of the recessed area will reflect light from the room onto the knickknacks inside. This type of tile will also allow you to see the front and back of all of your objects at once without having to pick them up.

Backsplash

• If you cannot think of what to keep in a recessed box-shaped area, make the nook its own three-dimensional work of art. A decorative backsplash with painted tile in the kitchen is expected, but installing that in the back of a recessed shadow box is not. Be sure to have adequate lighting in the recessed area so the design on the backsplash can be seen. Look or sets of tiles for a backsplash with a portion of the larger picture painted on each tile from kitchen stores or tile stores.