7 hot trends in home tiles for walls and floors, from synthetic wood and bold colors to the comeback of hexagonal retro tiles
With two of their own dogs and six other dogs belonging to family members who visit frequently, Jack and Carol Banowsky are aware that puppydog nails and wooden floors don’t go well together. When it came to picking the floor for their new home in Boerne, the couple laid a scratch-resistant porcelain tile made of imitation wood.
“We’ve had hardwood floors before and we know what dogs can do with them,” said Carol Banowsky. “We didn’t want to make that mistake again.”
Tiles that look like wood and other materials are just one tile trend for walls and floors that experts are expecting a lot more from in 2021. Others include encaustic tiles made from porcelain and ceramics, the return of hexagonal tiles, and tiles made from mixed material materials, including metal and glass.
Here are seven tile trends that are in store for you next year:
Bolder encaustic tile: Encaustic tile floors with their colorful, meaningful patterns are becoming increasingly popular in kitchens, entrance areas, winter gardens, bathrooms and utility rooms. And when made from porcelain or ceramic, which is made on a clay basis, they are more durable while keeping their vibrant colors longer than traditional cement-based tiles, which are prone to fading or bleeding over time. Prices start at $ 4.95 to $ 6.99 per square foot.
Art materials: From wood to Carrara marble, new tile styles are available that can mimic virtually any natural material, often at a fraction of the price. For example, porcelain can be made to have the deep, rich look of marble while being more durable and easier to maintain – no annual sealing is required. Synthetic wood is available with realistic grain and in colors from light pine to dark mahogany. Prices start at as low as $ 2.99 per square foot.
Metal coated: When various metals, including copper, are fused into a porcelain tile, they create decorative embellishments on shower floors, in wall niches and kitchen splashbacks, and as simple ribbons along a bathroom wall. Prices start at $ 12.95 per square foot.
Large format tile: According to Kelly Vallejo, designer at Royal Tile, tiles that are 24 “by 48” or larger are becoming increasingly popular, especially in larger homes where they fill the space with fewer grout lines. Large-format tiles can be difficult to work with, she warns. So make sure your installer knows how to set them properly.
Hexagonal tiles: This six-sided, so old-it-new-again style is a blast from the past and comes in a variety of sizes, including the 1-inch pinwheels that you might remember from grandmother’s bathroom floor. For this modern yet retro look, newer models with a diameter of up to 30 cm are also available. Starts at $ 5.99 per square foot.
Mosaic: By mixing different materials like glass, chrome, and Carrara marble, a tile wall can be connected to the rest of a shower or kitchen while some pizza is added. The Bling is more expensive, however, with prices starting at $ 9.99 per square foot.
Colour: After years of grays, taupes and other neutral colors, Stacy Blair, designer and project manager at Sunn Carpets and Interiors, expects a better New Year when the mood in the country brightens. That means more jewel tones like sapphire blue, garnet red, and emerald green. These colored tiles, which stand for example in front of monochrome cabinets in strong brown or white tones, cause a sensation in the kitchen, bathroom or laundry room.
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