What’s New in Tile for 2023
By Julie Sheer
Five trends in new
tile collections were spotted at the
recent International Surface Event 2023 trade show in Las Vegas
After several years of cool neutrals and bright whites in
tile design, warmer tones and bolder colors are making headway. That was clear
from new tile collections on display at the recent TISE trade show in Las
Vegas. While colors are trending bolder, they’re sophisticated and not overly
bright, expressing restrained exuberance after several quiet years. The
International Surface Event 2023 also showcased new and interesting tile shapes
and plenty of gloss and glam.
“The overarching trend is this warming of the palette,” says Emily Holle of
surfaces company MSI. The warmth is showing up in the tile world as well as in
interior design, she says. “We’re seeing a shift from all gray and white to
these blonde, warm, earthy tones, the palette warming up with spicy tones,
things like terra cotta and blush tones, kind of a global influence.”
Many tile displays at TISE included multiple neutral and bold colors — as well
as shapes and textures — within the same collection. “We’re really focusing on
introducing more color, a very popular trend, but also having full collections
of tiles that coordinate with one other, kind of making the design side of it
easier,” says Kathy Greene of Emser Tile.
Here are highlights from the Jan. 31-Feb. 2 trade show for the tile, stone and
floor coverings industries. The new tile collections will be rolling out
throughout 2023.
1. Bolder Colors and Warmer Neutrals
Daltile’s new Farrier collection of glazed ceramic wall tiles, shown here, has an old-world look with uneven surfaces, giving it handcrafted appeal. The six available colors reflect the trend of neutrals with the occasional burst of bold, such as the Blue Roan seen here. The tiles are available in squares and two rectangle options.
The new earthy color palette seen everywhere at the show was embodied in Emser Tile's new Exhale collection of glazed porcelain tiles. The 6-by-12-inch tiles come in five colors.
On display here is Emser’s Exhale in Gris, shown along with
Legati wood-look tile, a new collection of 8-by-47-inch planks in five colors.
Here’s another look at Emser’s new Exhale tile. The color
behind the stovetop is Blanco, with Cielo on the adjoining wall.
2. Textured and Tactile
Tiles with raised, grooved and textured surfaces
are getting more popular and were attention-grabbers at the show. Providing
dimension and movement on a wall or backsplash, they’re becoming even more
touchable. Three-dimensional sculptural tiles like Emser’s new Tubage
collection, seen here, also encompass other current trends of curvy shapes and
glossy, handmade-looking surfaces.
“What’s interesting about Tubage is we’re seeing a
resurgence of people wanting handmade looks,” Greene says. “What’s nice is all
the pieces are slightly different. They work well together, so visually the
colors [within one color choice] aren’t different but there’s slight mottling
and imperfections, so you have almost a patina that comes in, which is intended
to give it a handmade look.”
Emser’s Tubage works vertically or horizontally. The tile also can be installed on a curve or corner and comes in six shades. Shown here is Tubage in White.
Daltile’s new Stencil collection includes a raised half moon surface, shown here in Blush and Grey. The 4-by-12-inch tiles also come in flat and linear surfaces in a variety of muted colors.
This photo shows Daltile’s Stencil linear surface tiles on the wall in the foreground and the half moon version on the background wall. Calm colors and touchable textures are appealing to the senses, says Michelle Corley of Daltile. “This is an example of how interior design is a multisensory experience. We’re not just looking at color; we’re not just looking at design; people are expecting a multisensory experience,” she says.
Here’s a closer look at Emser’s Newtro tile, in the Ocean
color. “When it first came out, people were afraid it would be hard to clean,
but the grooves aren’t that deep; you just wipe it like any other tile. It has
that real artisan look,” Greene says.
Emser’s new Pagoni line encompasses several trends, including tiles with muted tones, unique patterns, a handmade stone look and a raised-surface piano key tile. “For the Pagoni line, everything coordinates with one another, so we’ve got this decorative mosaic wall tile, and all the other components — whether it’s a black tile, whether it’s piano-type style — pick up the colors so you can mix and match. They all blend together,” Greene says.
3. Evolving Shapes and Patterns
Shaped tiles and those with patterns on the surface are as
abundant as ever, and tile designers are getting even more creative with
freshened-up looks. In general, curves are showing up big-time in the tile
world, in updated wave, scallop and fan shapes, as well as in Art Deco-inspired
ovals.
This is Daltile‘s new Perfit Mosaix in the Reverse mosaic in
Saran White and Thassos polished marble. The collection comes in precut 18-inch
sheets to fit most backsplashes for easier installation, Corley says.
Classic penny rounds are having a moment, with contemporary twists like glossy or matte finishes, marble and other natural stones, as well as glass and quartz. “Penny rounds are very popular. They’re kind of nostalgic, and they’re good for a backsplash or a shower floor,” Holle of MSI says. These are MSI’s Athena Gold penny rounds in honed marble.
These fresh-shaped scallops from Arizona Tile’s new S-Series
are in Soft Sage, a color the company’s Adria Harrison says is gaining in
popularity. In addition to scallops, S-Series mosaic shapes will include
rectangles, penny rounds and pickets in six subdued colors.
Hexagons are still a dominant shape in many tile
collections, available in varying sizes and materials and sometimes with
patterned surfaces, such as the 8-inch decorative accent hex called Petal shown
here from Daltile’s new concrete-look Scrapbook collection. Also shown is
Scrapbook’s Keepsake Blue floor tile.
This swirly flower pattern appropriately called Petal is marble and is one of Arizona Tile’s new stone mesh tiles.
4. Stone
Surge
As part of the trend for more earthy textures and hues, both natural and stone-look tiles were seen in abundance at the Vegas show. Whether imitating marble, concrete or other stone, the lookalikes made of porcelain are getting ever more realistic. The backsplash hexagons shown here are from American Olean’s new Primstone collection of stone-look porcelain and ceramic tiles. The company says the cool- and warm-toned tiles are patterned after Lucca stone found in Italy’s Tuscany region. The ceramic mosaic hex tiles and 12-by-24 porcelain floor tiles come in two colors. This photo shows the Buff color.
From the amount of imitation terrazzo tile on display, we appear to be reaching peak terrazzo. Easier to care for than the real thing, these copycats have throwback appeal that fools the eye. “The terrazzo look is always popular and it’s getting even more popular,” Greene says. Fragmento, shown here, is Emser Tile’s new porcelain take on terrazzo, available in large and small speckle options.
“We’re actually seeing a surge in the need for this,” Greene says. “What’s nice about this is it has both warm and cool tones so you can mix it with a warm tone like a wood look, and it’ll look just as good with a gray tone.” Fragmento is available in six speckle and color combinations in 12-by-24-inch tiles and a large-format 24-by-24. Shown here on the floor is the Black Large Speckle version.
Emser’s new Fixt line, pictured, is part of the Enhance collection of porcelain tile mimicking wood, stone, cement and metal in various shades and sizes, all meant to be mixed and matched.
The Mixt line, also in the Enhance collection, comes in brushed, flake, mineral, speck and texture looks in different colors and sizes.
Here’s Emser’s new Fixt tile in the Metal Copper combination.
High-gloss tile surfaces have been popular for years and now the look is being enhanced with surfaces that undulate to capture more light and give the product a handcrafted quality. Bold veining in natural marble and quartzite and their imitations was evident in many of the tiles and slabs on display at the show, including American Olean’s new dramatic marble-look porcelain, Foyer, shown here in the Contrast color, in 24-by-48-inch matte finish tile on the floor and wall and 3-inch hexagons around the tub.
Arizona Tile’s Panther Satin granite has a high-contrasting black background and dramatic swirls of white quartz veins. It comes in bookmatched slabs. Keep in mind it’s a natural stone product that occasionally needs to be sealed.
For the gold diggers out there, many stone and stone-look products are showing up with prominent gold-colored veining, and gold (the real thing as well as a metal mimic) is being included in many porcelain tiles. This is MSI’s Luxor Kona Gold, in a geometric pattern and made from stone and metal.
And finally, a new take on shiny things is Emser’s new light-ready illuminated tiles called Radiant. Designed to be used with waterproof LED strip lights, the tiles can be installed horizontally or vertically in the shower, where water will flow off the tile, Greene says. “It has these grooves — a patented design — where you just slide your LED strips inside so you get this nice soft glow,” she says. The tile will be available in three patterns: Pyramid, Flat and the Concave shown here.
Which tile do you like best?
Cabinet-S-Top | 1977 Medina Road | Medina, OH 44256
330.239.3630 | www.cabinet-s-top.com
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