Four Modern Tile Trends from Cevisama19 | The TOA Blog About Tile & More

When you're in the tile business as Tile Outlets of America is, you go to tile shows like Cevisama in Spain. That's where Kate, Michele, and Warren discovered four modern tile trends to share with you.

Four Modern Tile Trends from Cevisama

Every year, Cevisama showcases the latest in ceramic tiles, bathroom and kitchen equipment, natural stone, raw materials, frits, glazes, and ceramic colorants, ceramic roof tiles, and bricks, building materials and hardware.

This year's show was exciting with many exciting design innovations to consider.

Yes, you still see evolutions in wood planks and other more traditional tile choices. What truly stands out, though, are strong decorative design elements and patterns, bold marble influences in large formats and unusual combinations of patterns and styles. The best descriptor for these trends is modern.

Let's break out the trends we saw into more detail focusing on these four categories:

• Bold, Strong, Marble-Influenced Designs
• Decorative Tile Patterns
• Hexagon Tile
• Sleek Modern Looks

1 - Bold, Strong, Marble-Influenced Designs

This trend combines two other trends: large-sized porcelain tile panels and amazing inkjet printing technology that captures swirls, veining, and patterns that you would expect to only find in nature. As a result, you have larger-than-life designs that are strong and bold with lots of character. A definite wow factor!

Many look like marble slabs.

Because these are porcelain, you can use them on walls, floors, tabletops, and counters. The possibilities are endlessly intriguing.

You can get these formats in polished or matte depending on your preference.

Notice, too, how they can be cut into intricate designs as you see below.

By the way, notice the fireplace features. You might not need an actual fireplace in Southwest Florida, however, the feature is ideal for showing off tile and creating a stunning design element.

Notice the classic Carrara marble veining on the top right.

The fireplace features below add depth, texture and sleek modern design to these vignettes.

Metal looks continue strong. These looks that combine lace fabric patterns with distressed metallic effects look delicate and elegant. They will work in residential and commercial environments.

The floor tiles have a floral quality.

Even pebble and wood looks have been reinterpreted. Look at these fun bold designs. Pebble walls combined with a slate floor tile design filled with movement on the left below.

The picture on the right shows that floor tile on both the walls and the floor.

2 - Decorative Tile Patterns

Here's another aspect of bold: strongly patterned decorative tiles that incorporate different looks and color palettes.

Here you see traditional patterns reinterpreted, combined with geometric looks and installed with other types of tile.

For example, look at the two images below with bold decorative floors. Notice the green mosaic feature wall on the left and the two different rectangular wall tile colors on the right.

Or, consider a decorative tile feature wall behind the vanity combined with a concrete-look floor and wall on the left.

Or an interesting combination of square decorative patterns on the floor and rectangular wall formats on the right.

We noticed lots of color.

Look at the two images below: decorative tiles in square and rectangular formats with plenty of Blue. Blue remains one of the feature colors of the show.

Decorative tiles with texture and 3D dimension for feature walls caught our eye.

These tiles are in many different colors and variety of shapes. Whether you're accenting a bathroom wall or highlighting a fireplace in your main living space, there are options for everyone.

Below you see another example of three-dimensional decorative tile.

When it comes to decorative tile, you'll find bold wood plank tile designs that look like parquet looks – flooring composed of wooden blocks arranged in a geometric pattern.

3 - Hexagon Tiles

Hexagon tiles continue to grow and evolve in the tile business. Not only can you find them in mosaic formats, but you can also find them in 20” formats.

Here you see Kate in front of a hexagon color collection of Hexagon tiles from Codicer.

Hexagons are also evolving from a color and pattern perspective.

If you are looking for more color and patterns, you'll have many designs and color palettes to select from. In fact, Tile Outlets stocks two of these hexagon tiles with Aquamarine colors and one with Grey tones.

Look at this pattern combining solid shades of blue with small patterns. (Notice the large format hexagon floor tile in the background).

These hexagons feature a reverse bevel on the wall tiles and solid flat hexagons on the floor. The color tones are rustic.

Or you can find hexagons with design 3D elements as you see on the left.

One of my favorite hexagons from the show are these decorative 3D detailed wall features that are glazed and matte in design. You'll find yourself drawn to them and just want to touch them.

Here's an example of one that mimics an actual wood carved design. Can you see the hexagon?

These hexagons come in fun colors and designs.

Depending on how you turn the tiles, you will create different patterns. The pink zig zag tile in the middle is the same as the light blue tile in the picture on the right.

Here's a twist of hexagons.

These diamond shape tiles below will create a giant hexagon in a wood plank tile design. Do you see the cube design as well?

4 - Sleek, Modern Looks in Tile

We noticed sleek, modern looks everywhere. Here are several that truly catch that clean and elegant style.

Grey Tones

Grey tones remain popular. Look how beautifully the grey linear floor tiles highlight those behind the tub with the same look.

You can use two-tone tiles to have this look too with a darker or lighter tone on the floor or walls.

Here's another feature using grey subway glass or ceramic in a slightly darker shade of grey than the grey floor tiles used. If you want a pop of color, change out your towels.

You can use two different colors of tiles to showcase a feature wall. This doesn’t have to be dramatic to work; subtle, soft color choices work.

Tone-on-Tone Color

Tone on tone is another look you can create by using wall tiles and mosaics that are similar in color. This shade of dusty pink is one that showed up repeatedly.

Notice that the floor tile is just a neutral color to not overdo the dramatic look.

Touches of 3-Dimensions on the Walls

Try combining a 3D dimensional tile with a coordinating flat wall tile. These are fun to use as an accent wall or even a linear line in your shower or bathroom wall.

Wood Planks in Showers

Wood planks in the shower! Yes, these are great looks for a modern bathroom. You can use them on the floors or walls.

Here you will see another example of the decorative 3D dimensional wall tile used on one wall of the shower and wood planks on the walls and floors. Notice how well the look works with a linear drain.

If you don’t want wall to wall wood planks, you can also achieve this look by accenting one wall in your shower with wood planks.

What's Your Reaction to These Four Modern Tile Trends?

Which of these modern tile trends do you prefer?

We hope you enjoyed our exploration of some design ideas we saw at Cevisama 2019.

We did and all three of us who attended the show this year -- Warren Lampert, President & CFO, Michele Hoover, VP of Operations and Kate Spencer, VP Purchasing and Business Development -- hope you'll visit one of the three Tile Outlets of America stores to shop for some of these looks.

Thanks for reading.

Kate