What in the World is a Listello?

A listello is a border tile, which can be used to accent your space and add visual interest to your floors or walls.

Because of their installation location and size, listellos are a great way to add a unique design element to your space, without overwhelming it!

Below, you can find a visual example of this type of decorative tile.

Today, we’re walking you through the most important aspects of listellos.

From sizing and stone types to installation spaces and more, you’ll find the information you need to confidently answer the question: What in the world is a listello?

Let’s dive in!

Listello Tile Sizing

As we mentioned above, listellos are border or trim pieces of tile, designed to accent your floors or walls.

These tiles come in a variety of sizes and can be customized to fit the specific needs of your space or project.

At StoneImpressions, our accent tiles are offered in the following sizes:

• 2×4
• 2×6
• 3×6
• 4×8
• 6×12

It’s worth noting that different border sizes can affect the proportions of the overall design.

To better exemplify this, let’s compare some designs on different listello sizes!

Below is a visual of our Caprice listello in the Sapphire colorway, as well as our Gilded Garden border in Gold, both shown at a 3×6″ and 2×6″ scale.

As you can see in the Caprice 3×6, the proportions of the original design remain the same. In the 2×6 however, the size impacts the proportions of the design, making it appear slightly shorter and wider.

Not all designs are affected the same way, as you can see in the Gilded Garden example. This pattern changes only slightly with the smaller scale in that the scallops become tighter.

It’s important to consider how the design you select will look in different sizes. If you are unsure about how a design will appear in various scales, do not hesitate to request a visual, or request a sample.

Our team can easily send you a visual of a specific listello in different scales so you can get an accurate idea of how the final design will turn out.

Listello Stone Types

Listellos come in a variety of materials, like ceramic, porcelain, glass, or natural stone.

At StoneImpressions, our trim pieces are offered on several natural stone types, such as:

• Carrara Blanco
• Thassos
• Limestone
• Dappled Limestone
• Luster Limestone
• Honed Durango
• Papillon
• Tumbled Durango
• Honed Dolomite
• Honed Botticino

Just like size, stone type can also impact the overall design of your border tile.

Take, for example, our Zurich listello. Here it is on our Honed Durango compared to our Thassos.

Notice how each stone type subtly alters the look of the final listello in terms of color, dimension, and depth.

Because stone type can impact the overall appearance of your trim pieces, consider your tile materials carefully! Take your time to find a natural stone type that perfectly complements the design and aesthetic of your listellos.

Listello Installation Locations

One of our favorite things about listellos is that they can add color and interest to a room without overwhelming the space.

All you need is a pop of pattern!

Some of the most common listello installation locations we’ve seen are:

• Accenting kitchen backsplashes
• Accenting shower walls
• Accenting powder room border
• Accenting entryway border rug
• Accenting bathroom floors as tile rugs

Below are some of our favorite examples of listello installations we’ve helped create over the years:

Our Favorite Listellos

Looking for a little listello inspiration? You’ve come to the right place!

While we love all our listellos equally, we must admit that we do have a few favorites. Peruse our favorite trim pieces, below!

Custom Listellos

Searching for a border tile that speaks uniquely to you? Consider creating a custom listello!

Our custom tile capabilities are virtually endless, which means you can design a custom border for your space, and you can get any of our pre-existing listello designs in whatever size you may need.

One of our favorite ways to customize listellos is by incorporating design elements from other patterns in our collections.

For example, one of our clients wanted a matching border to go with the Mila pattern from our Artisan Collection. We worked with them to create a custom trim piece that incorporated the same design elements and the result (shown below) turned out stunning!

Another way we can customize a listello for you is by taking a design element out of one of our made-to-order pattern tiles and scaling it to the size you want.

Below is an example of how we took our normally square Wallflowers tile and transformed it into a 2×6 border tile!

Wrapping Up

We hope that you can now confidently answer the question: What in the world is a listello?

No matter the size, stone type, or design, listellos give you the opportunity to showcase your design style and tie together your entire space.

Inspired by your new listello learnings? Explore our Made to Order and Mural Collections today to see our different listellos!

Or, if you’ve already found the border tile of your design dreams, head on over to our Showroom Locator to find an approved dealer in your local area.

Still have lingering questions about trim pieces? Let’s connect! Contact us today so our team can get you the information you need.