The hottest tile trends straight out of Italy

Like every other creative industry, the worlds of architecture and interior design are driven by trends.

Some trends are primarily shaped by cultural factors: conversations dictated by the zeitgeist, commonly facilitated by social media. Their creation is more of an organic byproduct of these forces, with no one person or entity influencing behind the scenes.

Then there are the trendsetters: people, groups or entities who wield significant influence over an industry – think Anna Wintour and her stewardship of US Vogue. In the fashion world, the events where the most influential minds come together are often a nucleus of trend-setting, the pinnacle of which is the Met Gala.

For the ceramic tiles industry, the equivalent of the Met Gala is the Cersaie showcase, and it has a global impact on trends in interiors.

An international showcase for surface design, bathroom furnishings and finishes hosted in the Italian city of Bologna, it’s an annual hotbed of the latest trends and styles in tiles, and it’s where architects, designers, retailers and installers alike can glean inspiration for their next ranges or projects.

Neville Colbert, managing director of Tile Warehouse, is an old hand when it comes to Cersaie. “It’s the industry event where all the latest products from the best factories in the world are displayed,” says Colbert.

“It’s also the perfect place for stakeholders across the industry from all corners of the world to catch up and share ideas. I learn a lot every year – it’s where you go to see the latest designs and learn about new innovations and trends.”

September 2022’s Cersaie exhibition, like its predecessors, showcased the latest industry innovations and hottest new designs.

One especially memorable solution was continuous tiling: products that flow from a building’s exterior seamlessly into its interior.

“Another real trend was the inside/outside material in larger format size of 1000x1000mm,” says Colbert. “Meeting all slip resistance codes, the tiles are designed specifically to travel from decks through to living rooms, kitchens, dining rooms and bedrooms.”

Tiles that look like wallpaper were also prevalent at Cersaie - and Tile Warehouse have sourced ranges from Italy, Portugal and Spain in classic floral patterns to reflect this. 

“These tiles are designed to give the illusion of a wallpapered wall with the added durability and practicality of tiles,” says Colbert. 

“They’re increasing in popularity because they’re resistant to scratches, stains, and fading, and they're a practical choice for ease of cleaning and longevity.”

Then there is the reinvention of ‘brick shapes’ – more commonly known as subway tiling, which has been immensely popular for many years. Colbert says the new take on coloured brick tiling achieves a modern flair while still being slightly rustic.

“The collection that we found inspirational in this context was the Ghent range,” says Colbert. “They’re a conventional size at 69 x 240mm, but you can mix and match with a combination matte and polish finish. So when you put them up, you can get a soft palette while also having different textures.”

Texture was an entirely separate trend unto itself. “We saw a lot of chiselled and embossed surfaces at the showcase, which of course can introduce a whole new feel and vibe,” says Colbert. “This made itself present in new textural touches on various tile types, including slate and terracotta.”

This latter finish was yet another trend that Colbert noticed – one that transported him 30 years back. “Some of the terracotta I saw was almost an exact replica of the tiles I used to import back in the 1990s. I actually wasn’t surprised when I saw that because I’ve noticed lately that the base tones of terracotta have been turning up in a lot of interior design projects.”

In many ways, Colbert says, the entire experience was like getting into a time machine.

“It’s so interesting; it was a bit like returning to a showcase I went to 25 years ago. Seeing the terracottas, slates, bricks and aggregate looks – it seems nostalgia has a grip at the moment!

“The big difference now is that the tiles are virtually all porcelain - and of significantly higher quality and design definition.”

Learn more about Tile Warehouse and its latest ranges of tiles.