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Nowadays, furnishing a modern terrace is first and foremost a matter of design strategies, since every factor – from paving to furnishings, from coverings to lights – helps to creates a unified, individual, practical aesthetic experience and living area.
Naturally, the starting-point for creating this tasteful whole is the design of the surfaces: the paving, in particular, is the visual and technical basis on which the outdoor area’s entire concept will be constructed. In this context, porcelain stoneware is the ideal material for interpreting any style, given its versatility, durability and natural beauty.
Stoneware paving and coverings: a terrace’s design scheme starts with its surfaces
With Marazzi porcelain stoneware, it’s easy to design outdoor spaces that harmonise with the architecture and style of the interior rooms, creating fluid, attractive solutions that combine an impeccable aesthetic with practical performance.
Material effects like stone, concrete, wood and marble offer the foundation for a variety of styles – minimal, industrial, natural or contemporary – with durable elegance guaranteed in every case. The anti-slip surfaces, resistant to thermal shocks and weather, are perfect for outdoor use, while the large-size slabs enable visually immaculate continuous installation, even in raised paving systems, making the terrace a sophisticated, extremely practical space.
Ideas for furnishing a modern terrace with style
Whether it’s a panoramic rooftop or a small urban balcony, the aim when furnishing a modern terrace is to create an attractive place, with a unified design scheme well planned down to the smallest details. The secret is to combine style with function, using materials, sizes and textures to construct an outdoor area that reflects the character of the home and its owners. So let’s take a look at a few inspirations for transforming every type of space into an immaculate, modern terrace.
How to transform your rooftop into a modern space
A rooftop has great design potential: open interiors, natural lighting and sweeping views, to be underlined with simple design that lets the space breathe.
In this context, stone-effect porcelain stoneware maxi slabs are the ideal choice for anyone seeking an elegant, continuous, tactile paving. Its neutral or natural shades emphasise the architecture and easily dialogue with bespoke built-in furnishings – brickwork benches, tile-clad flower troughs, outdoor showers – to create an appealing visual harmony.
The effect is that of a tasteful yet distinctive open-air lounge, where every feature is part of a coherent design scheme.
Modern furnishing for a convenient balcony
Even small balconies can be transformed into urban design gems.
In this case, slimline-thickness porcelain stoneware is a practical, attractive solution: it lets you renew your balcony’s paving even without invasive masonry works with its lightweight, durable surfaces available in a wide variety of effects. Pale wood or concrete effect finishes, for example, are perfect for creating visual geometrical patterns that make the space appear larger, perhaps with the aid of smart, compact furniture. The right design scheme for a modern balcony starts from these basic choices, which combine style, convenience and durability.
Terrace furnished in modern style: 5 solutions for you to copy
Every terrace tells a story and porcelain stoneware provides the perfect alphabet for writing it. Here are five stylish combinations in which the paving is just as important as the furniture:
- Boho chic: pale plank wood-effect stoneware, natural fabrics and rattan furniture for a casual, comfortable look.
- Urban minimal: concrete-effect surfaces in shades of grey, painted metal furniture and geometrical details.
- Japandi: neutral stone-effect stoneware, simple lines and a relaxing, nature-inspired colour scheme.
- Industrial soft: metal look or burnished concrete effect combined with dark wood and retro-tech furniture.
- Contemporary Mediterranean: terracotta-effect surfaces in a modern version, white, sage green and cobalt blue to create a fresh, sunny mood.
Whatever its style, the secret of a modern furnished terrace is the synergy between its surfaces and its furniture: stoneware isn’t just a background, it’s the glue that binds the whole project.
What can you put on a modern terrace?
A well-designed modern terrace is a vibrant, dynamic place, where every feature contributes to the same practical mood.
But what are the essentials for a contemporary outdoor project? It all starts with the surfaces: porcelain stoneware paving tiles are the ideal base for a stylish, durable design scheme. Exceptionally high-performing, weather-proof and anti-slip, they permit great compositional freedom and make the most of every design approach.
The walls can play just as big a role as the paving: decorative ceramic tiles transform low dividing walls, recesses or backdrop walls into striking features, making clever use of light and textures with an architectural touch. The project can be completed with built-in lighting systems – integrated in the paving or wall – to pick out paths and define moods, not to mention modular flower troughs, metal or wooden pergolas and tiled permanent seats. Every part of this creation dialogues with the ceramic material, the technical and aesthetic heart of the contemporary terrace.
How to furnish a large terrace making full use of the space
Designing a large terrace is an amazing opportunity but it requires a clear, unified vision. The aim is to structure the space without fragmenting it, with clearly defined yet visually coherent functional areas. Here, a continuous surface is strategic: using the same porcelain stoneware – preferably in a large size – for the whole area conserves its visual unity and makes the space appear larger.
A large terrace can be furnished with a dining area with table and chairs, a lounge zone with sofas and chaises longues, or a garden corner with flower pots and troughs. Since it’s so versatile, porcelain stoneware can even be used to create bespoke features like edges, steps, containers and built-in seats, in the same material as the paving. The result is an elegant, convenient terrace that makes full use of every square metre, with coherence and style.
Wall tiling and equipped walls: the new way of decorating outdoor areas
In the modern terrace, walls are carefully designed surfaces, too. They’ve evolved from mere functional boundaries into real architectural backdrops, able to transform an outdoor space into a visually striking location. With its highly versatile range of material effects and finishes, Marazzi porcelain stoneware is perfect for this new approach to outdoor design.
By covering a wall with stone, concrete or marble-effect slabs, you can create striking backgrounds against which furnishings, lighting effects or compositions with plants will appear to best advantage. And what’s more you can also use stoneware to construct built-in benches, outdoor showers or equipped low walls, combining convenience with stylistic unity. A well-designed modern terrace is a harmonious combination of horizontal and vertical features, where every detail helps to define a sophisticated, durable aesthetic.
Choosing the right taste for your modern terrace: collections and inspirations
Every modern terrace has its own identity, and choosing the right stoneware is the first step in constructing it. Marazzi has collections developed to meet a wide variety of stylistic and functional needs. For example, check out the Cementum collection: ideal for all fans of contemporary urban style, with a look inspired by trowelled concrete and sophisticated finishes.
Mystone Berici is perfect for large terraces and stylish rooftops, with the visual power of natural stone reinterpreted in ceramic coverings. Last but not least, the Vivo wood effect is more versatile and will delight anyone in search of tactile warmth even outdoors, with natural shades and deep textures.
Find out everything there is to know about the best terrace paving tiles and choose from solutions, sizes and installation patterns for a quality outdoor project.
From small town-centre balconies to panoramic terraces, Marazzi offers ceramic inspirations and solutions for designing stylish, durable, sustainable outdoor spaces.