The new approach to modern living plays on the interchangeability of indoor and outdoor spaces, where conventional dividing barriers are torn down to give life to a seamless continuum between inside and outside.
Nowadays, in this age of fluidity of time and space, architecture is also adapting: therefore, indoor and outdoor become a single concept, a fusion of environments. The idea of a boundary between indoor and outdoor spaces no longer exists, and this also has a great impact on the materials used when designing these areas.
Which products can be used to create a continuum within these indoor/outdoor spaces, above all when you are looking for a green design? Let's find out together!
In & Out: when the limit is determined by comfort
A growing focus on wellbeing has led to an increasing demand for comfort in our living spaces, be these indoors or out. The choice of surfacing materials plays a significant role here because of the effect they have on the wellbeing and health of users of these spaces, taking into account various factors such as:
- air quality: the materials must not emit harmful substances;
- sound comfort: the materials must dampen sounds;
- visual quality: the surfacing materials used are vital for visual comfort and key to the overall aesthetics of a design.
So you are probably wondering what material could combine all these qualities? Comfort, looks, and green design? Well, the answer is porcelain stoneware!
Porcelain stoneware for indoors and out - the natural choice!
Among the various materials used to create indoor and outdoor spaces in a home environment, porcelain stoneware offers undeniably the best combination of looks and sustainability.
Applicable to various uses such as floors, walls, furniture, and kitchen or bathroom tops, today's ceramics are the result of a low environmental impact production cycle which, over the years, has experienced a series of initiatives and actions to increase energy saving and enhance environmental impact.
People choose porcelain stoneware for indoors and outdoors because it is a green choice that also offers exceptional technical performance, as well as durability over time.
Porcelain stoneware for indoors: because it is the right choice
When planning the interior of a home, people are drawn towards materials with a strong visual impact but they also want to be confident that the products will last.
Whether you choose it for walls, floors, or for furniture, porcelain stoneware is unique when it comes to performance.
Porcelain stoneware countertops and flooring, then - which have always been potentially the parts most exposed to wear within homes - can now be kept perfectly clean and hygienic using simply neutral detergents and can withstand contact with even the harshest of substances.
Porcelain stoneware also has high thermal resistance, which makes it ideal in areas featuring underfloor heating.
Due to their formulation, ceramic materials are nontoxic, which is why they are chosen for kitchen and bathroom countertops, as well as for table tops and any surfaces on which things will be placed.
At the same time, the aesthetics of porcelain stoneware surfacing are guaranteed by its high resistance to footfall, stains, and sunlight, which ensure ceramic tiles maintain their original stunning appearance for years. As a result, the initial investment in a quality product is maximised.
Porcelain stoneware for outdoors: safety and aesthetic continuity
In paving for spaces such as gardens, terraces, and swimming pools, porcelain stoneware is the indisputable choice.
It is thick enough (20 mm is the most common version) and suitable for any kind of external use, and - unlike other materials such as wood - it does not absorb any liquids. That means it does not stain, does not crack, and needs no special maintenance (so has lower costs, obviously). Porcelain stoneware offers very high resistance to loads and footfall and guarantees a non-slip surface.
The colour palette that porcelain stoneware offers, to produce sophisticated contemporary designs, means users can carry the interior over into the exterior, creating aesthetic continuity between the living area and the space outside their home.
Want some ideas on how to create this aesthetic continuity between indoors and outdoors?
