Photo courtesy Cactus Stone & Tile Soak in Opulence Featuring 32-by-32-inch marble with 24-carat gold leaf applied into a water-jetted design, this buttery smooth Italian tile retails for $200 per square foot. It is available in other stones, or with silver leaf or copper leaf accents. Cactus Stone & Tile Three Valley locations (Scottsdale, Phoenix), 602-275-6400, cactustile.com

Forget plain ol’ ceramic. Add texture and character to your home with tiles crafted from terra cotta, metal, glass – even gold leaf.

With all the materials, sizes and applications available today, it’s easy to succumb to tile overload. “Tile selection does overwhelm certain people – especially the use of accent tiles,” says Kristin Traynor, co-owner of Arizona Hot Dots, Inc. (azhotdots.com), which manufactures hand-cast tiles in Maricopa.

One tip, Traynor says, is to start simple, and consider how accent pieces can upgrade a basic tile installation. “Beautiful aluminum and bronze backsplash accent pieces, for example, can be expandable to any size just by inserting center pieces.”

You can also be playful by randomly inserting 2-by-2-inch tiles – or “dots,” as they are called in the industry – into a countertop design. Incorporate dots into your flooring to create the appearance of a throw rug. “The sky is the limit,” Traynor says.

Doug Adamson, manager of Tile & Stone by Villagio, which sells Traynor’s Hot Dots, advises consumers to ask three key questions when selecting tile pieces:
• Where will you put it?
• What colors can you live with forever?
• What will your main tile selections be?

From there, picking accents will be easier. Sometimes, a “less is more” principle applies. “In the tile industry, we think of metal tiles as jewelry for the home. A little bit looks great and complements good design. A lot starts to look like Mr. T,” Adamson says.

Of course, metal isn’t the only game in town. With ceramic, glass, terra cotta and stone, tile can dress up almost any surface imaginable.

“Twenty years ago, people were putting tile on the floor and shower walls. Now, tile is on ceilings, cabinet fronts and bar fronts. People are putting tile anywhere they want to seek beauty,” says Betsy King, showroom director at Cactus Stone & Tile in Phoenix.

King has even tiled small pet showers. If Fido’s getting in on the act, maybe it’s time for you to try, too.

HANDPAINTED Ranging from $2.50 to $12 per tile, these 6-inch hand-painted tiles create an Old World look perfect for backsplashes, vanities, stair risers, pools and fountains. Handcrafted Tile, Inc. 2437 E. Jackson St., Phoenix, 602-275-5512

DECORATIVE These hand-painted terra cotta tiles come pewter-inlaid or with an antique patina made with Tabarka’s own natural pigment, and retail for $50 to $75 per square foot. Tabarka Studio 480-968-3999, tabarkastudio.com

METAL Metal tiles offer an array of colorful textures and eye-popping dimensions. The cost ranges from $2 to $40 a tile, depending on size and materials. Tile & Stone by Villagio 8340 E. Raintree Drive, Scottsdale 480-422-6700, vtile.com

TERRA COTTA A great fit for Arizona, terra cotta (Italian for “cooked earth”) tile creates a European or South American feel underfoot. Pricing ranges from $12 to $40 per square foot. Craftsman Court Ceramics 4237 N. Craftsman Court, Scottsdale 480-970-6611, craftsmancourt.com

GLASS Ideal for vanities, countertops, tub surrounds and showers, glass tile varies from $8 to $15 per square foot. Arizona Tile Three Valley locations (Scottsdale, Tempe, Glendale) 480-991-3066, arizonatile.com