Carefully chosen antique, new and vintage flooring, while not usually considered a focal point, can play a huge role in designing how a space should look and feel.

Archaeologists have identified glazed brick tiles and polished stones on historic floors and other surfaces around the world. Some of the earliest known glazed bricks date to a 12th-century B.C. facade in Susa, in today’s Iran.

Whether you choose wide planks to contrast with your modern appliances in your farmhouse-style space or understated oak for a clean contemporary look, humble wood can play a starring role when it comes to flooring. Alternately, vintage tiles can be the “it” factor in your kitchen, bathroom, patio or bedroom. Gapless mosaics forming tessellations or complicated geometric patterns can provide a bold statement, and one doesn’t have to be polymath designer Gio Ponti, for example, to create dramatic floors with these tiles. (Ponti was arguably the most important figure in 20th-century Italian architecture and design, and diagonally patterned floors, meant to make rooms more dynamic, were a signature of his.)

Modern 21st-century flooring and new and made-to-order flooring come in many styles. However, choosing antique or vintage flooring or a unique pattern from innovative designers like Aimee Wilder can add an extra layer of charm and sophistication to an interior or other space.

On 1stDibs, find flooring to match a range of styles and tastes.

This Lavish 18th-Century Chimneypiece Comes from a Historic Scottish Estate

The exceptionally crafted mantel was saved despite the home’s regrettable demise.

A Pair of Monumental Stone Tigers Protect and Guide Wandering Souls

The Qing dynasty beasts honored the dead and warned off malicious spirits.

Andrés Monnier’s Stone Tub Makes Bathing a Rite of Renewal

The dramatic piece transforms a daily scrub into an act of communion with the elements.

Meet the Siblings behind the Exquisite Outdoor Furniture of McKinnon and Harris

Anne and Will Massie apply the lessons of the past to create alfresco pieces as timeless as the traditions that inspire them.

35 Wondrous Outdoor Dining Spaces

Eating meals alfresco is one of the great pleasures of warm weather, and a beautifully appointed space only heightens the experience. Get inspired by these delectable dining areas as you think about creating your own outdoor oasis.

In These Chic Homes, Indoors and Outdoors Freely Mingle

Through potted plants, garden furniture, nature-inspired art and architectural apertures, designers are bringing the outside in.

24 Perfect Patios with Fire Pits and Fireplaces

In these stylish spaces, the outdoor season extends year round.

40 Spectacular Spaces Warmed by Fireplaces

As the days grow colder, the desire to gather around the fire grows stronger. Take a peek at these well-appointed rooms featuring extraordinary sculptural and historic fireplaces.