The hottest tile trends of 2020
Colour-popping textures and quirky shapes are finding their way on to floors and walls, finds Jessica Doyle
Given the design industry’s ongoing preoccupation with eye-popping colours, patterns and textures, it was only a matter of time before it crossed over into tiles. Neutral limestone, travertine and marble have been the dominant style for years – but increasingly, it’s all about using your walls and floors as a canvas with which to make more of a decorative statement.
Compared with paint or wallpaper, tiling is a far more permanent choice, so any notion of tile “trends” are best taken with a pinch of salt. Still, that hunger for newness has resulted in a burgeoning choice of shapes and shades on the market. So whatever your preferred aesthetic, there will be a tile that will help you realise it.
Here, then, are some of the new tile looks that are here to stay.
Get creative with metro tiles
To some, the metro tile – those glossy-white ceramic rectangles that give London Underground stations a utilitarian élan – has become a bit of a home design cliché. The trick is to lay the incredibly versatile shape in more interesting patterns.
According to Leanne Robey, senior designer at bathroom company Ripples, “putting a spin on the metro tile is now a big trend. Geometric patterns are a great way to channel some fun through your bathroom, cloakroom or en suite this year.
“Leave ladder and brick-bond patterns behind and choose a more interesting design option like basket weave, vertical stacked or diagonal herringbone.” Metro tiles are coming in an increasing variety of colours (and even metal and mirrored finishes), allowing endless experimentation; consider a horizontal or vertical striped design in contrasting colours, or a wall of white tiles with the odd brightly coloured one added to the mix to break up the monochrome look.
Think also of the surface of the tile to give them a more interesting look when laid en masse.
Try new shapes
For those who want to go beyond rectangular and square-shaped tiles, there are now plenty of alternatives. Penny tiles – sheets of tiny circles or hexagons – are the new (time-saving…) way to do mosaics: they look pretty and also feel tactile underfoot. Larger hexagons are also an option, and look effective if you want to try an ombré effect up or down a wall.
Fish-scale or fan-shaped tiles are being hailed by some as the new metro. As Damla Turgut, founder of Otto Tiles, says: “Their rounded shape and curved lines provide a welcome escape from classic square, metro brick tiles and angular geometric patterns.” It also ties in with the current trend for curved furniture and, more widely, art-deco styling.
Consider colour
The maximalism trend has filled the shops with tiles in a rainbow of colours, but it might be wise to choose a shade with staying power, such as green or pink – both fashionable at the moment, but also likely to stick around.
Interiors blogger Lisa Dawson, who is a fan of Ca’ Pietra’s Colour Pop range, advises focusing on your “core style”, rather than thinking too much about what’s on trend. “Going for neutrals or subtle tones means that you can update your look easily with tonal accessories,” she says. “You’re less likely to get bored of your scheme if it’s adaptable.”
And “neutral” doesn’t have to mean white, cream or taupe: modern neutrals are not necessarily pigment-free, so muted pinks, blues, greens and yellows would all fit in with this palette.
Terracotta is another shade that has been a hit across the homeware scene, from rust-coloured sofas and claytoned walls to a resurgence of earthenware ceramics, so it makes sense that it would cross over into tiles.
Again, it doesn’t have to make a strong statement: pale, rough-hewn terracotta floor tiles add warmth to a kitchen, particularly when teamed with dusky pink ones on the walls.
Go for pattern
Tiles are well-suited to geometric patterns, and a single “odd” tile can look punchy. But introduce a feeling of calm and balance by using the same shapes and colours repeated over a wall or floor.
For a more traditional look, try florals: Portuguese-style blue-and-white ceramic tiles are having a moment, but they’ll look classic, rather than dated, in a few years’ time.
Terrazzo – a concrete-like municipal finish – has been appearing on everything from furniture to wallpapers, and it works well on tiles: Balineum’s come in pretty shades of pink, green, blue and honey, while Ca’ Pietra’s are a more abstract take, in a large square format that makes them an affordable option for floors.
Tile your furniture
Tiles don’t have to be limited to floors and walls: at her London home, interior designer Emma Gurner has installed Bert & May’s Split Shift geometric tiles on the sides of her kitchen island. This adds interest to a part of the kitchen that is often devoid of pattern, and is also more practical than wood or MDF panelling. The tiles come in three designs that can be mixed and matched to make different patterns.
Mix it up
For lovers of pale marble, or those who like the freshness of an all-white look, try playing around with different shapes and formats: hexagon tiles on the floor and bands of square and metro on the walls, separated by slim border tiles, for example. 3D wall tiles are another way to add movement and interest to an otherwise pattern-free space.
For a bolder look, consider mixing up colours and patterns as well as shapes: a single feature wall of colourful tiles in a shower enclosure allows you to make a statement.
Take it outside
Continuing the tiles on your kitchen floor out into the garden is a triedand-tested way of bringing the outside in and making your home feel more spacious. Stone and porcelain tiles in neutral tones are the usual choice for this, but you don’t have to stick to pale colours. Ca’ Pietra’s new Brompton tiles have a geometric pattern (and a high anti-slip finish) and come in a choice of zingy colours, including cherry red, forest green and a soft teal blue.