If you’re building or remodeling a home for yourself, for a client or as an investment, you probably have a tile budget to cover the bathrooms, kitchen and laundry room, at the very least. You may also have tile planned for both interior entry and outdoor living spaces. This versatile material is durable, outdoor-friendly and low maintenance, making it one of the most all-around popular surfacing materials.
The tile industry has several large events each year where it showcases the latest styles and innovations. The most recent one was Cersaie, Italy’s annual massive expo in Bologna. It takes place every September, and is hosted by the country’s Ceramics of Italy trade organization. Here are some of the top trends spotted there, heading soon to a tile center near you.
Rare and precious
Tile technology has gotten so sophisticated that manufacturers can now emulate rare stones with their dramatic movement and iridescence. This is a sustainable way to present those precious materials without depleting the earth. The effects are majestic, and often used for master suite shower surrounds and living space accent walls.
Rare and precious stones rendered in gorgeous, low maintenance tiles.
Ceramics of Italy
Bas Relief
It may look like historic anaglypta wallpaper or modern waves or ridges, but dimensional tile is definitely trending. This style offers visual interest in a monochromatic setting.
Bas relief adds modern and historic interest to monochromatic tiles.
Ceramics of Italy
Speckled
If you love the look of terrazzo, this style will definitely catch your eye. It’s not limited to that scale, though. You’ll find larger giraffe-type patterns and even geometric speckles. It’s a nod to postmodernism’s resurgence with nature and technology providing inspirations.
Speckled tiles can evoke geometry, nature or terrazzo.
Ceramics of Italy
Blending
Wood-look and concrete-inspired tile have been trending for several years, so it’s not surprising that manufacturers and designers are looking for new ways to present them. Blending material effects – like wood and concrete, wood and fabric or marble and terrazzo – are ways to create a fresh look that may not date a space as easily.
Blending two material inspirations into one tile adds interest to a space.
Ceramics of Italy
Greenery
Since we spend so much time indoors, a touch of greenery can add the benefits of biophilia to a room. This year’s tile collections featured vines, fronts, flowers and other flora, rendered in beautiful colors.
Nature comes indoors with flora-inspired tile designs
Ceramics of Italy
Top colors
Italians don’t shy away from color! Sage green and warm terracotta orange were the top palettes at the show, both individually and as a warm and cool pair. They were often rendered in retro-modern geometrics and with bas relief dimensionality.
Top trending colors are terracotta and sage
Ceramics of Italy
Psychedelic
Show-goers got to groove on 60s and 70s psychedelia in ceramic. These encompassed playful geometrics, trippy patterns and happy colors. If you grew up in a household from that era, these could be reminiscent, or just a nostalgic flashback.
Psychedelia inspires retro tile trend
Ceramics of Italy
More places to see tile trends
If you didn’t make it to Italy for Cersaie , your next international tile expo opportunity is February in Spain for Cevisama. Then, closer to home, the Spanish, Italian and North American tile industries unite in hosting Coverings every April in the United States. Manufacturers from other tile-producing nations also exhibit. Next year’s expo will be held in New Orleans from April 20 through 23. If you’re not in the building trades, see if your architect, contractor or interior designer can bring you as a guest.