9 Tile Trends That You’ll See Everywhere in 2018
While many interior design trends come and go, tile lovers are fans for life — and the tile trends for 2018 are made for tile fanatics. So we spoke to an expert — Rachel Gilding, Beaumont Tiles’ strategic designer, to find out what tile lovers can expect to see in 2018.
Gilding recently visited the Cersaie Trade Fair — known for being the world’s largest tile and bathroom ware exhibition. The Italian design fair regularly uncovers global tile trends, and this year, tiling trends are predicted to be colorful, textural, and all things grounded in authenticity. So whether you’re looking exploring tiles for bathrooms, kitchen slashbacks or even a living room, look no further. Here, we break down not only the 2018 tile trends themselves, but insights on how to execute each trend with professional precision.
Fish Scale/Scallop Tiles
Mermaid food and makeup was everywhere in 2017, so it’s no surprise a sophisticated take on the trend is quickly gaining traction on Instagram and Pinterest home decor blogs. Most commonly referred to “scallop tiles,” this whimsical decor trend has been embraced and tweaked for sophistication in 2018. Whereas typical mermaid trends predominantly featured pastel and candy colors, in the decor sphere, tasteful, muted tones and navy blues are the color palettes of choice. According to Gilding, “Palette direction is most certainly pushing the boundaries, blue being the dominating hue, from blackened blues to denim blues, with hints of green and undertones of metallic.”
Colored Grout and Contrast Inlays
Colored grout lends a fun, graphic aesthetic to simple tiling and adds a punchy, playful element to a room. Bright tones like pink, blue, and green contrast well against dark, moody tiling. Gold inlay is often used because it helps to emphasize the length of a room and accentuates the width, making rooms appear more spacious. It’s also a great focal point to base decor choices off of — if you have gold or copper inlays, matching (gold or copper) or contrasting (black matte or charcoal) decor will pair nicely.
Mismatched Patchwork Tiles
While it may be a divisive trend, it’s hard to ignore the rise of patchwork tiles on social media. From luxury fashion brands to design firms, patchwork tiles are having a clear moment as travel-inspired home decor grows in popularity. It’s also a great way to use up leftover (often discounted) tiling from stores or previous renovations. Our tip? When you’re dealing with mismatched tiling, don’t vary the size, shape, or color palette and vice versa — always have a single consistent feature.
Round Tiles
Round tiles are 2018’s answer to subway tiles, and their versatility definitely has something to do with it. Experimenting with contrasting or matching grout is a great way to give round tiles a more contemporary, urban feel. In graphic black and white or luxurious copper and gold, the humble round tile is a timeless, slow-burn decor trend that will go the distance.
Embracing Variation
The design world is no longer concerned with absolute consistency, instead embracing natural variation and unique imperfections that natural materials have to offer. This year’s decor trends point towards showcasing tiles with interesting differences in tone, shade, color, and design. “Instead of hiding natural shade variation, 2018 celebrates the intense mix of organic materials and their distinct designs; variation is a celebrated focal point,” Gilding says.
Tonal
A decidedly more minimalist, low-key approach to the natural variation trend, tonal tiles can make a room feel bigger, more serene, and give a space a contemporary edge. It’s also a relatively simple look to achieve. Choose tiles in three or four close shades of any one color, and presto.
Herringbone
If you’re not quite over the subway tile trend but want a more fresh approach, laying your tiling in a herrinbone pattern is a great alternative. Herringbone tiles have remained steadily popular since 2015, rendering them a modern classic. Whether it’s the bathroom or the kitchen, this trend can be made to suit everything from contemporary homes to country-chic abodes.
Bohemian Mosaic Tiles
The luxe-bohemian trend refuses to die, and its staying power is one of the many reasons to get behind this wordly, wanderlust-inspired look. Mosaic styles are aplenty, and can be used in pretty much every room in the house with none of them out of place. Pro tip: Stick to monochromatic iterations for even more staying power.
Large Floor and Wall Times
Large-scale tiles began gaining traction in 2017, and this year the existing large slab trend is pointing towards even bigger and bolder levels. “Look for styles in cement, stone, terrazzo, marble, timber, or fabric lookalikes,” Gilding says.
This post was written by Nikki Chowdury. For more, check out our sister site Homes to Love.
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