Tile has graced homes and commercial spaces with beauty and longevity for centuries. Now, with HD printing dominating the sector, the design possibilities have skyrocketed, creating an array of exceptional trends. Sizes and shapes are also playing a part in today’s leading looks.
From three-dimensional wall coverings to metallic floor tile, design options — thanks to HD printing — are seemingly endless. “Tile is a top choice among consumers. Not only is tile available in a spectrum of looks and colorations, it’s also incredibly durable; frankly, few products can compete with it,” said Emily Holle, director of trend and design, MSI.
According to Tammy Brogan, Mohawk’s director of hard surface, design trends in tile are shifting toward more linear planks. Bigger is better as the industry moves toward creating panels measured in feet, not inches. With more defined, realistic patterns at play, factors such as cleanability and richness of color play an even bigger role in design than in the past.
The big picture
Tile sizes are only getting bigger. Starting a few years back with wall panels, the trend has moved to the floor as well and is now available in a host of visuals.
According to Crossville’s vice president of marketing Lindsey Waldrep, a major upcoming trend is porcelain tile panel looks, in which the tiles cover a large surface area. Looks can vary from true marble to bright colors with unique textures to wood- and metallic-looks. “Naturali Statuario Venato, a Laminam by Crossville collection, is an example of the expansive beauty porcelain tile panels can offer,” she said.
Mass Transit
Subway tile offers a timeless, clean look and is gaining renewed popularity.
According to MSI’s Emily Holle, subway tile is in very high demand in regards to wall coverings, and is seeing a major comeback. MSI’s Domino White Glossy Subway Tile is a classic example of how simple textures and patterns can be fun, clean and attractive.
Going with the grain
As with most categories in the industry, wood looks dominate tile in terms of in design and visuals. Now, technology can produce tile sizes that mimic real wood plank lengths. The attractiveness of wood combined with the durability of tile has made this popular in both the residential and commercial sectors.
According to MSI’s Emily Holle, tile designs such as MSI’s modern take on wood-looks, featured here, are dominating the industry.
Mohawk’s Bartlett Cool Grey wood-look porcelain integrates a limestone aesthetic into its design. This modern look is clean-cut and realistic.
Crossville’s new Nest collection shows the evolution of wood looks. “While some popular collections have beautifully imitated the nuances of rugged barn wood, Nest is decidedly a more refined interpretation of wood graining — a subtler, cultivated take on the trend,” said Lindsey Waldrep.
Marazzi Urban District MIX’s eclectic, reclaimed wood visuals combine aged, painted wood with modern color palettes.
Textured Textiles
According to Massimo Ballucchi, director of product design, marketing consultant, Dal-Tile, textured-look tile is a great way to add warmth to any room. The company said many offerings are scanned from actual fabric and engineered to be textured when touched. Textured tile is a new, eye-catching design trend perfect for mixing and matching colors.
Textured designs in tile can range from lace to linen, including leather, tweed and tartan. Texture trends also include woven, knitted, knotted or layered looks, such as Arte Pura by Ceramiche Refin (shown here), which give the appearance of lace.
Inspired by the organic, woven look of fabric, Elemental Canvas by American Olean uses rich colors and graphics to create the illusion of texture.
Marble & Stone
Natural stone, from slate to marble, are another on-trend design. These porcelain and ceramic products also come in different finishes and colorings.
This white marble porcelain — Precious Calacatta by Florida Tile — exudes the fresh elegance of marble-look tile. Thanks to HD printing, this clean look is in high-demand.
For those who admire the beauty of marble but don’t enjoy the upkeep, marble-look porcelain, according to Ceramics of Italy, is a huge upcoming trend. Digital printing has become so advanced that it’s hard to tell whether the material is Calacatta or ceramic. This dark elegant marble look is Imperial by Novabell.
Heavy Metal
Tile is used both residentially and commercially, and Lindsey Waldrep, vice president of marketing at Crossville, said the metallic and industrial tile design trend has become popular in both sectors. This kind of tile offering is made to have a weathered metal look and would not have been possible before HD printing technology. According to Ceramics of Italy, concrete, metal and resin add an edge to interiors, and companies will continue to experiment with plaster and a more industrial look to achieve such an edge.
Art by Supergres, Lascaux by La Fabbrica, Cor-ten by Faetano and Archeologie by Franco Guerzoni. Defined as “gritty chic” by Ceramics of Italy, these designs are elegant examples of the industrial trend; they offer a raw sophistication and are intentionally corroded and weathered.
Florida Tile’s Glamour Enigma wall tiles are solid, three-dimensional deco tiles that create a dramatic visual effect using light and shadow. Accent walls such as this are big in the tile market right now. This type of design makes a bold and rhythmic statement.