Most businesses want a distinctive look that matches their brand identity and iconography, and in some cases that leads them to gravitate towards the fascinating composite material known as terrazzo.

Easily identified by its bright, speckled highlights and smooth surface, terrazzo was created largely as a way to make use of marble chips and is not so much laid by flooring specialists as poured onto the ground. Once it is dry, its surface is buffed and scrapped until it forms a polished, smooth finish.

It is typically poured into place, although terrazzo tiles can be purchased and laid like any other set of thick tiles.

Whilst most famously used as part of the lavish Art Deco-inspired Hollywood Walk of Fame, terrazzo is a much more affordable material than its final look would appear, particularly when compared to far more expensive marble.

It reached its peak in the 1970s but since the late 2010s has made something of a comeback as a flooring material, largely because its inherent asymmetry and individuality mean that it can be used in any colour scheme and any style.

Whilst it was invented as a way to use up marble chips, almost any material can be mixed into the concrete to create truly unique terrazzo styles, including colours glass, shells, bricks, debris from other construction projects and so on.

Its shimmering marblesque finish gives it the appearance of luxury and professionalism, particularly when used in a reception with other elements of Art Deco design such as distinct metal finishes columns and deeply lacquered wooden surfaces. 

It is also a very practical material, as it can survive the constant footsteps found in high traffic areas, can be easily cleaned by simply being wiped down and its asymmetrical design means stains and scratches are almost impossible to notice.

It is a very practical material, but whether it is the right flooring surface for your workplace will depend on personal preference and the advice of experts.