Trends in Tile!

Tile Trends: Styles You Need to Know

Industry experts reveal the latest tile patterns, shapes and textures making waves in kitchens and bathrooms

Tile is ever-changing, and today’s latest trends, driven in part by new manufacturing methods and printing technologies, are opening up a whole new world of covetable looks. We’re seeing a push toward new and innovative ways of combining different products, using tiles to create bold geometric shapes or to evoke an understated luxury with soft, organic lines and nature-inspired textures.

While the palette is broad, our experts agree that the season’s tile trends pivot around pattern, shape and texture. Joshua Earp, marketing manager at Earp Bros; Artedomus consultant Jessica Bird; and Rachel Gilding, communications and design specialist at Beaumont Tiles, reveal some of the most important tile trends of the moment, and how you can use them in your home.

Suzi Appel Photography

Thanks to the incredible diversity of products on the market today, decorating with tiles is a much freer exercise than it was 10 to 20 years ago. “There are so many different looks you can bring through with tiles, and everyone’s able to introduce a little bit of their personality to their homes, which is fun,” Gilding says.

Interestingly, color seems to be taking a back seat — with black, gray and white dominating the palette — while pattern and texture take center stage.

Rikki-Jo Photography

It’s hip to be square … and hexagonal and rhomboid. In 2017, tiles are all about shape: Hexagon, rhomboid, rectangle, diamond, fish-scale, round and even wavy tiles are adorning kitchen backsplashes, bathroom walls and floors.

Our love affair with square mosaics continues, but they’re now styled slightly differently with a smooth, matte finish and a larger size (about 2 by 2 inches).

Space Craft Joinery

Use grout to dress tiles up or down. For a bold, graphic look, a contrasting grout will highlight the form of the tiles and really bring out the pattern, Gilding says. For a subtler effect, finish with a color-matched grout.

And if you love the look of shaped tiles but you’re unsure if you want to take them across a whole wall, consider using them to pick out key architectural features, such as wall recesses or the area around a vanity.

Tip: Gilding suggests using epoxy grout rather than cement grout because it’s stain-resistant and easier to clean.

MMAD Architecture

Creative layouts. We’re seeing designers add flair and interest by creating pattern with tile layouts, Earp says. “Designers are steering clear of the obvious tile-laying patterns to create a more unique, custom look.”

Reece Australia

Amp up the drama with vertical stacking, diagonal, herringbone, chevron and zigzag layouts, which are coming into play on bathroom floors, walls and kitchen backsplashes. On a budget? These striking layouts allow you to create a fresh new statement with minimal outlay, Gilding says. “You can add even more impact by using a contrasting grout to highlight the unusual pattern,” she says.

Reversing the colors — accenting black tile with white grout — packs an even bigger visual punch.

The Tile Mob Pty Ltd, Brisbane, AUS

For a softer effect, marble tiles can be laid in a range of zigzag formations. The subdued pattern inherent in the marble contrasts with the bold diagonal shapes. This look, pictured here on a kitchen backsplash, also is appearing on bathroom floors and walls. A similar effect can be achieved by laying wood-effect or marble tiles in a herringbone pattern for a 21st-century take on parquet flooring.

Perini Tiles

For a contemporary feel, introduce pattern by color-blocking tiles into strong geometric shapes — a great idea for larger spaces.

Perini Tiles

Tactile textures. Touch-me textures are coming to the fore in tiles. Whether they’re rustic, handmade styles or honed stone-replica beauties, textured tiles are delivering a nuanced depth and character that translates beautifully onto both walls and floors.

eat.bathe.live

Gilding says that fabric-imitation tiles are one of the notable trends coming out of Europe at the moment, creating an irresistible illusion of softness: Think lace, damask and crepe. Even nubby textures such as linen and tweed are dressing up bathroom walls across the continent. “Tiles are obviously hard, but with some of the matte finishes and fabric-like looks, they can appear quite soft. It’s a little bit deceiving.”

Bryant Alsop Architects

Mix and match. The rules are changing: If you find yourself falling in love with a few different tile styles, you no longer need to choose among them — just take them all. Eclectic mixes add interest and fun to bathrooms, and can be used to manipulate mood and visually define the different zones within the space. Earp says that unexpected combinations, such as pairing wood-effect tiles with marble, can look especially luxe.

Alternatively, get creative and play around with size and finish. “Often we see large-format pressed panels combined in the one space with our smaller mosaics,” Bird says. This approach is illustrated in this bathroom in Melbourne, Australia, where green Japanese-glazed Yohen Border tiles from Artedomus are stacked vertically, their rustic, pottery-like charm beautifully juxtaposed against the crisp white porcelain on the adjacent wall.

Andrew Snow Photography

The third dimension. The advent of 3D tiles has changed the face of tiled surfaces, with embossed or molded patterns that make walls pop. They “can add drama to a space and naturally attract attention. They can be used to really define a space and add impact,” Earp says.

A word on size: Dimensional tiles of all sizes, from large-format to penny mosaics, are trending at the moment. Gilding suggests choosing a size based on the type of room you’re working with. A large-format tile will make a space feel larger, as there are fewer grout lines to break up the space.

Retreat Design

Structured or 3D tiles are made using a mold, so the embossing can be quite pronounced. Beautiful patterns abound, including pillowy soft dimples and undulating curves.

“When these tiles are laid on the wall, the light hits them at different angles. This creates a bit more depth, playing with the light and shade,” Gilding says. Despite their soft appearance, these tiles really make a statement. Apply them with a light touch, paired with a simple, pared-back tile for an elegant finish.

Ceramo Tiles

As far as practicalities go, Gilding assures us that nonporous 3D tiles can be used in the kitchen and the bathroom — like other tiles, they can be wiped clean with a damp cloth. You may find that they catch the dust more than regular flat tiles, though. And remember, use them only on walls and vertical surfaces, since their pronounced texture makes them unsuitable for floors.

Dall Designer Homes

The look of stone and wood. Large-format pressed porcelain tiles have transformed the look of today’s kitchens and bathrooms. “Extra large, thin, light, strong, durable, versatile, eco-friendly and beautiful —technical pressed porcelain is the future of architectural surfaces,” Bird says.

Aside from their game-changing size, these new-generation porcelain products come in myriad finishes, textures and colors. The printing technology used to “dress” these tiles with pattern and texture is now so advanced that in many cases, it’s hard to distinguish them from the real thing, whether that’s natural stone, wood, concrete or another material.

PLANtoBUILD

These wafer-fine, large-format porcelain products are resistant to heat, scratching, chemical damage and staining, and they can be laid on horizontal and vertical surfaces, which makes them suitable for an incredibly wide range of applications in all wet areas, including kitchens and bathrooms.

They can be wrapped around kitchen counters and islands, used to create seamless backsplashes or used to clad bathroom walls. Most are suitable for flooring too (consult with your tile specialist).

Earp Bros – Surface Evolution

Large-format porcelain tiles can authentically replicate the look, texture and tactility of natural wood and stone, giving you unprecedented design flexibility. “They look pretty much identical to the natural products, but they’re more durable and don’t need sealing or any special treatment or maintenance. So you can now bring the warmth and texture of timber into the bathroom or shower recess,” Gilding says.

Earp Bros – Surface Evolution

Aesthetically, the large-format tiles yield a previously unattainable level of seamlessness. By almost eliminating grout lines, spaces appear larger and more streamlined. The overall effect creates a high-end feel.