The Latest in Tile Trends From Coverings 2018
Hyperrealism, tile as wallpaper, seamlessness and even a tattooed bulldog are hot in tile now
Coverings, the largest international tile and stone show in North America, is a great place to see the latest innovations in tile. This year’s show featured amazing new levels of digital printing, creative ways with large-format thin slabs and much more. The sense of playfulness in the tile industry makes me very excited to see how designers will be putting all this new tile to use.
For wet walls. Here’s how the blue botanical slab looks applied to a shower surround. One installer noted that the thin slabs often can be installed directly over existing tile, which cuts out the expense and mess of demolition.
Tile: Leaves Blue, Cotto d’Este
Tile: Leaves Blue, Cotto d’Este
For dry walls. These stunning digitally printed tiles create a birch grove mural in a living room.
Tile: Ritmi, Cotto d’Este
Tile: Ritmi, Cotto d’Este
Trend No. 2: Hyperrealism
When I attended Coverings in 2013, digitally printed tile was transforming the industry. Five years later, manufacturers have taken the process to new levels, adding layers of luster and texture. Digital printing has become so good that it’s hard to see the difference between porcelain tile and the material it mimics. Below are some of the popular materials represented in tile this year.
Wood. Thanks to new abilities to layer in colors and textures, such as wire-brushing, porcelain tiles have never looked more like hardwood flooring.
Tile: Arrow Mosaic in Fauna, StonePeak Ceramics
When I attended Coverings in 2013, digitally printed tile was transforming the industry. Five years later, manufacturers have taken the process to new levels, adding layers of luster and texture. Digital printing has become so good that it’s hard to see the difference between porcelain tile and the material it mimics. Below are some of the popular materials represented in tile this year.
Wood. Thanks to new abilities to layer in colors and textures, such as wire-brushing, porcelain tiles have never looked more like hardwood flooring.
Tile: Arrow Mosaic in Fauna, StonePeak Ceramics
Parquet. The geometric and blocky look of parquet is making a comeback. Tile offers a durable, low-maintenance way to get the look of this classic wood flooring material, particularly in rooms where the floors take a beating from lots of foot traffic, sand or moisture.
Tile: Woodland collection, Equipe Cerámicas; browse wood-look tiles
Tile: Woodland collection, Equipe Cerámicas; browse wood-look tiles
Cork. The rich textured look of cork is now available in large-format porcelain tile slabs.
Tile: Fiandre USA
Find a designer to help you select tile for your space
Tile: Fiandre USA
Find a designer to help you select tile for your space
Terrazzo. There were very convincing terrazzo-look tiles all over the show.
Tile: American Wonder Porcelain
Tile: American Wonder Porcelain
Concrete. The industrial look of concrete is still going strong, and its look is widely available in porcelain tile in a range of sizes.
Tile: Stonecrete collection, StonePeak Ceramics
Tile: Stonecrete collection, StonePeak Ceramics
Cor-Ten steel. Digitally printed porcelain tiles can bring the rusty coloration and patinated look of Cor-Ten steel to floors, walls, countertops and fireplace surrounds, indoors and out.
Why go faux? At this point, you may be wondering why you would want to use realistic porcelain tile instead of the actual materials. This is a personal choice, but there are a lot of answers in the pro column for porcelain. Tile is durable, it’s easy to clean, it’s hypoallergenic (pollen and dust mites have nowhere to hide in porcelain tile), it doesn’t emit volatile organic compounds, and it’s mold- and mildew-resistant.
Aesthetically, choosing tile to represent certain materials is part of a larger polished-industrial look that’s trending now. This is an industrial-inspired look, but with finishes that are more user-friendly, polished and clean.
Tile: Corten, Cotto d’Este
Why go faux? At this point, you may be wondering why you would want to use realistic porcelain tile instead of the actual materials. This is a personal choice, but there are a lot of answers in the pro column for porcelain. Tile is durable, it’s easy to clean, it’s hypoallergenic (pollen and dust mites have nowhere to hide in porcelain tile), it doesn’t emit volatile organic compounds, and it’s mold- and mildew-resistant.
Aesthetically, choosing tile to represent certain materials is part of a larger polished-industrial look that’s trending now. This is an industrial-inspired look, but with finishes that are more user-friendly, polished and clean.
Tile: Corten, Cotto d’Este
Trend No. 3: Playful Digital Printing
Surprise. This porcelain tile that looks like oriented strand board was one of the cheekiest tiles at the show. There’s something ironic about bringing the look of this subflooring material to the surface and celebrating it but giving it a smooth finish. But it’s good irony.
Tile: Strand, Vives
Surprise. This porcelain tile that looks like oriented strand board was one of the cheekiest tiles at the show. There’s something ironic about bringing the look of this subflooring material to the surface and celebrating it but giving it a smooth finish. But it’s good irony.
Tile: Strand, Vives
Personality. This heavily tattooed bulldog design shows how playful tile can be now.
Tile: Glimpse Bulldog, Aparici
Tile: Glimpse Bulldog, Aparici
Textile inspired. Tile designers are taking inspiration from textiles, including tartan and houndstooth. The inspiration was not just in pattern but also in three-dimensional textures inspired by fabrics like linen and burlap.
Tile: Soul collection, Landmark Ceramics; check out more fabric-inspired tiles
Tile: Soul collection, Landmark Ceramics; check out more fabric-inspired tiles
Trend No. 4: Seamlessness
Tile companies have responded to our desire for a seamless look from indoors to out and from floor to ceiling. This means that they are producing the same tile patterns in the different thicknesses required for different purposes (for example, outdoor flooring use requires a thickness of about three-quarters of an inch, while indoor flooring requires only half that, and large-format slabs for walls can be ultraslim). Now you can continue the same tile pattern from the patio across the living room floor and up the kitchen island or the walls.
Tile: Cotto d’Este
Tile companies have responded to our desire for a seamless look from indoors to out and from floor to ceiling. This means that they are producing the same tile patterns in the different thicknesses required for different purposes (for example, outdoor flooring use requires a thickness of about three-quarters of an inch, while indoor flooring requires only half that, and large-format slabs for walls can be ultraslim). Now you can continue the same tile pattern from the patio across the living room floor and up the kitchen island or the walls.
Tile: Cotto d’Este
In this bathroom vignette, the natural stonelike pattern extends from the floor to wrap the vanity and sinks, and then continues up the walls.
Tile: Fiandre USA
Tile: Fiandre USA
Trend No. 5: Colors Beyond Black, White and Gray
One trend expert I talked with at the show estimated that American tile purchases are about 50 percent white and 50 percent every other color put together — sounds about right. While tile in black and white (and gray) is still very popular around the world, other colors are resonating with designers and homeowners.
Tile: Marca Corona
One trend expert I talked with at the show estimated that American tile purchases are about 50 percent white and 50 percent every other color put together — sounds about right. While tile in black and white (and gray) is still very popular around the world, other colors are resonating with designers and homeowners.
Tile: Marca Corona
Earth tones. Saturated tones inspired by nature — blues, terra cottas and ochers — are becoming more popular in Europe, particularly in Italy and Spain, which are among the top-five tile importers to the U.S. This photo shows tiles in a matte finish, which is also trending in Europe.
Tile: Marca Corona
Tile: Marca Corona
These earth tones showed up in digitally printed porcelain tiles that look like concrete.
Tile: Industrial Chic Colors collection, Ceramica Rondine
Tile: Industrial Chic Colors collection, Ceramica Rondine
Creams and off-whites. Those creamy neutrals that you may have thought had been forever tossed aside for 50 shades of gray didn’t really go away. They were just taking a little break, and now they are rejuvenated and ready to rule again.
Tile: Ragno
Tile: Ragno
Dark blues. Navy, denim, midnight, indigo and other inky blues are trending as classic and edgy alternatives to charcoal and black.
Square tile, once dumped for subway, is making a comeback. It never really disappeared in Europe and is gaining in popularity in the U.S.
Tile: American Wonder Porcelain
Square tile, once dumped for subway, is making a comeback. It never really disappeared in Europe and is gaining in popularity in the U.S.
Tile: American Wonder Porcelain
This was just the tip of the tile-style iceberg this year. Also coming our way: amazing glass mosaic tile, such as this wood look; shimmering metallic tile; and popular shapes like hexagons and fish scales.
Tell us: What new tile styles are you drawn to? Or do you prefer the old favorites?
Tile: Convergence collection, Crossville
More
Let’s Talk Tile: An Alphabetical Guide to Tile Terminology
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Tell us: What new tile styles are you drawn to? Or do you prefer the old favorites?
Tile: Convergence collection, Crossville
More
Let’s Talk Tile: An Alphabetical Guide to Tile Terminology
Browse tile by color, shape, material and more
The most exciting trend I saw at this year’s show in Atlanta was wallpaper-like tile and the new possibilities it affords designers. With large-format thin slabs, tile is taking over walls from floor to ceiling. We’ve seen this in action with digitally printed porcelain that looks like natural stone or wood, and we’ve seen it used mostly in bathrooms.
But the latest collections offer a variety of patterns and murals suitable for any room. These slabs from Cotto d’Este are about 3¼ feet wide by 10 feet high and only about an eighth of an inch thick.