ARCHIVE LIBRARY

5 Tile Trends You Can Expect to See in 2020

As a highly technical industry that relies on creative manipulation of naturally occurring minerals, current interpretation of trends is equally driven by:

  • Technological innovations in manufacturing, including advanced digital decoration with the ability to add structure as well as graphics
  • Architectural design focus, such as the growing interest in exterior living space
  • Contemporary design language, like vintage and retro touches that add personality

The past few years have seen dramatic changes in North American preferences, shifting away from the safe, “vanilla” choices in favor of much stronger patterns and colorways.

Taking this into consideration, five trends for 2020 are:

  1. Modernized Marble

Traditional-inspired ceramic materials such as marble have been modernized to adapt to the contemporary styles of 2020.Highly sought after luxurious designs typically reserved for floor tiles have been converted into large ceramic slabs now used for countertops, bathroom vanities, walls and more.

  1. Wood Look Reinvented

The natural wood look has been a staple in the tile industry for years.
Thanks to innovations in ink and frit technology, collections mimicking natural lumber will remain popular in 2020. This year, tile manufacturers will reinvent the look in an abundance of colors and details and test it on applications such as walls and countertops.

  1. Industrial Chic

In contrast to the warm rustic feel of wood look tile, designers can expect to see an emphasis on urban design in 2020.

Photo: Alaplana, Tapiso; Courtesy of Tile of Spain ​

Concrete and stone-look tile enriches environments with a chic aesthetic while opening the door to endless style options.

  1. Large Scale Patterns

For years, the demand for tile was focused on minimalism and simplistic designs. In 2020, the tile industry plans to see a shift toward ceramic tiles with big, bold patterns that instantly catch the eye.

Photo: Peronda, FS Blume; Courtesy of Tile of Spain ​

“The prevailing size in floor tile for decades has been the ubiquitous 12 by 24 inches, but recently there has been a strong rise in demand for 24- by 48-inch and 36- by 36-inch formats,” says a rep for Tile of Spain.  Available in a multitude of shapes and color schemes, large pattern tiles work well as an accent piece in an understated space, turning surfaces into true works of art.

  1. A Return to Color

To match the rise of the large-scale patterns, the tile industry is returning to a stage in which the ceramic acquires a more decorative dimension and color becomes the true protagonist.  So long are the days of neutral color palettes and muted monotone spaces—2020 is all about doses of blue, pink, yellow and green.

 

 Photo: Deccoer, Arnold; Courtesy of Tile of Spain ​

Incorporating Tile Trends into Interiors

There really has never been a more exciting time for tile.  As a material, it can be used almost anywhere to increase performance and aesthetics of different spaces.

Modern manufacturing processes are creating new formats and collaborations to bring ceramics to spaces outside the traditional backsplash and shower. For example, there’s a slab manufacturer that is laminating induction range tops into their slabs for flexible spaces that can function as a cooking space, dining or workspace within minutes.

Manufacturing processes now focus more on optimizing the performance of the material for intended use cases with minimal effective thicknesses. This means that the ability to optimize budgets and afford more tile to create higher performing, more flexible spaces will increase.

Melissa Dubroc, ASID

Registered Interior Designer

Louisiana License No. 1078

Studio Design LLC

1015 Wisteria Street

Alexandria, La.  71301

318-443-1010

missy@studiodesignllc.com

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