2019 Tile Trends: The Experts Predict What’s Next!

With the new year on our doorstep, you may be wondering what the biggest tile trends will be for 2019. With such a huge choice of tile designs on the market, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed with indecision on what will give your room design lasting impact.  We decided to reach out once again to our resident interior design experts to let us know what they think the top tile trends will be for the coming year.

If you are planning a project in 2019 using tiles, these are the latest looks you’ll be seeing well into the new year and beyond.

Tiles in Unexpected Places

Tiles are not just for your kitchen and bathrooms anymore, tiles can be used on your walls and floors in any room. Feature walls, chimney breasts, hallway floors; the range of designs, colours, formats and finishes holds its own against wallpapers and paint. A real contender for all surfaces. ~ Karen Knox, Making Spaces

 

Tiles are being used in nearly every area of the home now. I have seen them used as headboards in bedrooms and also below the dado rail in a hall as a great way to introduce colour and pattern. It’s also practical against the daily onslaught of sticky fingers, school bags and bikes. ~ Kate Watson-Smyth, Mad About the House

Textured Surfaces

Texture is set to be a big trend in 2019. We will see collections of tactile tiles that have patterns in relief or that have an embossed or sculpted surface. 3D tiles, in particular, look set to become popular with their futuristic and architectural shape creating an eye-catching feature. Geometric and angular tiles will be given an added sense of movement, dimension and tactility through the introduction of 3D surfaces. ~ Stacey Sheppard, Design Sheppard

I’m seeing raised and embossed patterns more and more these days. They are the perfect addition to a more neutral look as they add just a bit of texture and interest to any space without overwhelming the senses. ~ Kimberly Duran, Swoon Worthy

Wood Effect Tiles and Digital Printing

Technological advances mean that we will be seeing some exciting new developments in tile trends next year. Digital printing has come on leaps and bounds and tiles with faux finishes are now hyper-realistic. Ceramic and porcelain tiles that mimic wood, stone, granite or concrete are cheaper, lighter, easier to install and often easier to maintain than the real thing giving them a definite edge. Faux tiles are no longer one-dimensional replicas, instead, the image is deeply embedded in the surface which even gives it a realistic and convincing texture. ~ Stacey Sheppard, Design Sheppard

Wood effect tiles have proved popular during 2018 and this is likely to continue into 2019. They’re so versatile for numerous projects and available in a variety of colour tones and textures. ~ Rachel Newcombe, Fresh Design Blog

Tiles that look like wood are a more practical option in bathrooms and kitchens – and work well with underfloor heating. But have the look – and most importantly – the feel of real wood. ~ Maxine Brady, We Love Home

 

An Injection of Colour and Pattern

I think bright, bold and patterned tiles are going to be popular, both in use on walls and floors. For the kitchen, they’re perfect for injecting some individual style and design into the room and used on floors, patterned tiles can make a bold statement.  Creating your own patterns with tiles is on the rise too. For example, using long thin tiles to create a herringbone pattern. It’s a classic style but can be given a contemporary vibe with the use of textured tiles. ~ Rachel Newcombe, Fresh Design Blog

We are becoming much more adventurous in our use of tiles and the manufacturers are responding to that, so I think we will see a lot more pattern in tiles but also plain tiles laid in patterns. The metro is always a classic when laid in classic brick style but expect to see more herringbone and vertical patterns in 2019. You can be quite adventurous with this – starting with a mix of dark tiles on the floor and taking them up over the wall and phasing them out the higher you go. ~ Kate Watson-Smyth, Mad About the House

From plain white metro tiles, in brick, herringbone formation or stacked horizontally or vertically. Used with either complementary or contrasting, coloured grout, you’d be hard pressed to choose a simpler and more cost effect tile for your home renovations. ~ Karen Knox, Making Spaces

 

Large-Scale Tiles

Technology is also enabling the production of much larger format tiles. These tiles are getting thinner making them more lightweight and easier to work with and install.  ~ Stacey Sheppard, Design Sheppard

Large-scale tiles are perfect when you want to create real impact, especially in an open floor plan. There are fewer grout lines which mean the space will feel calmer and more open and will give any room a more luxurious look. ~ Kimberly Duran, Swoon Worthy

Star Patterns

I’ve seen a rise of star prints in tiles, especially on Instagram. Bold stars, tiles that make up star prints when laid or tiny dotted stars. ~ Maxine Brady, We Love Home

Large-scale star patterns are really popular at the moment – it’s a classic pattern that marries both contemporary and traditional designs. Carole Poirot, Mademoiselle Poirot

 

Imperfection, Artisan Tiles, and Unusual Shapes

As we get more adventurous, we want to choose tiles that make our spaces more unique to us. I’m seeing lots of artisan-inspired designs. Historical patterns in today’s colours. A little bit wonky and imperfect. Just as handmade would be. ~ Carole King, Dear Designer

Handmade, ‘artisan’ or encaustic tiles are perfect for restoring period properties and adding character and interest to more contemporary homes. ~ Karen Knox, Making Spaces

In 2019, we will be seeing tiles that have a more organic shape inspired by the natural world. Hexagon tiles are giving way to tiles in more unusual shapes. Scalloped fish scale tiles, leaf shapes and teardrops, triangular and circular tiles, even star shapes will add another layer of interest to tiled surfaces. ~ Stacey Sheppard, Design Sheppard

 

The Art of Mixing and Matching

A trend which has already been around this year but I think will be embraced fully in 2019 is ‘mix not match’ – I think we will see more homes using tiles in an eclectic way, mixing materials, colours, patterns, textures, shapes and sizes. ~ Sara Morrison, Interiors Family

I have definitely seen the trend to combine tiles and other flooring products like wood together. As a lover of light, white Scandi interiors, I try to bring some relief from all the white by the use of texture. I think combining hardwood with tiled flooring in a staggered pattern will add interest to large floor spaces in 2019, especially as the open plan concept homes continue to grow in popularity. ~ Karen Jones, The White Approach

 

The Element of Surprise

People are becoming more adventurous with their bathroom designs. They are demanding more. They want these rooms to feel beautiful and bespoke and tiles are a great way to achieve this. I think in 2019 we will see people using more and more tiles with texture, pattern and colour. Tiles that don’t even look like tiles. They want the unexpected as you venture into these bathrooms. That element of surprise. ~ Fiona Duke, Fiona Duke Interiors

 

Modern Monochrome

I think 2019 will see an appetite for more black and white. The restrained colour palette can make for a great opportunity to play with pattern in the tiles themselves, for those bold, graphic design chasers out there. Paired with lots of greenery in plants and the coveted matt black tap ware – it’s a winning combination that won’t date! ~ Clare Elise, Clare Elise Interiors

With so many darker colours coming into interiors for the last few years, it’s only natural that our kitchens and bathrooms would follow suit. Black and dark tiles are a great way to add contrast to a kitchen or bathroom and they look wonderful mixed with warmer metallics like brass and gold. ~ Kimberly Duran, Swoon Worthy

 

Contemporary Farmhouse

If you prefer a more traditional, farmhouse interior trend, you can’t go wrong with muted cream and ivory wall tiles, set off against classic Travertine and Limestone tiles on the floor for a modern take on a cottage look in your home. The beauty of farmhouse look tiles is that they age timelessly in the home and are perfectly designed for wear and tear. ~ Fiona Duffy, Fifi McGee

I don’t think metro tiles will ever go out of style as they are such a classic now. But I am seeing more with subtlely textured surfaces and a high-gloss finish. It’s a great way to span tradition with a more contemporary look, even in a period property. ~ Kimberly Duran, Swoon Worthy

 

So there you have it…eleven different trends from those in the know that are going to be big news in 2019. As you can see, there’s something for everyone, no matter what your style. Which is your favourite? Remember, if you’re planning a project using tiles in the coming year, be sure to take advantage of our free cut tile sample service to make your decision even easier.

You might also enjoy these posts on The Tile Mountain blog…

Tiles of the Unexpected: Unlikely Tile Trends that Gripped 2018

2018 Tile Trends: The Experts Predict What’s Next!

10 New Ways to Lay Wall Tiles and Floor Tiles