Tile trends continue to evolve, with new styles and designs emerging each year. Recently, tile manufacturers have been experimenting more with pattern, texture, and geometry to create unique and eye-catching looks. From intricate patterns to bold geometrics, new tile collections are pushing creative boundaries in exciting ways. Read on to learn about some of the top new tile trends playing with pattern and geometry.
Mixing Patterns and Textures
One of the biggest tile trends right now is combining multiple patterns and textures within a single tile collection. This allows for more visual interest and depth, as different shapes, lines, and textures interplay with one another. Some examples of popular pattern mixing include:
Chevrons Meet Hexagons
Chevron patterns are being artfully blended with hexagonal tile shapes to create a sense of movement and dimensionality. The contrast between the sharp points of the chevrons and the flat planes of the hexagons makes for impactful designs. Brands like Clé Tile and Fireclay Tile have introduced collections that mix these geometrics.
Tribal Meets Moroccan
Richly patterned tribal designs are being mixed with Moroccan motifs like lace and filigree. This blend of styles results in tiles that have an exotic, worldly look. Major players like Ann Sacks bring these patterns together in intricately detailed collections.
Concrete Accents
Tiles that mimic rough concrete or stone textures are now being accented with glossy geometric patterns. The matte, muted concrete provides an organic base for the bold and shiny geometry to stand out. Florim offers many examples of this trend in their tile lines.
Optical Illusions
Three-dimensional optical illusions are heating up in the world of tile design. Tiles are being made with angles, contours, and dimensions that trick the eye. This creates a sense of movement and depth within the tilework. Some popular examples include:
Multi-Level Dimensions
Some tile designs use stepped levels and height variances to add the illusion of 3D shapes and contours. This sculptural style makes walls and floors appear more dynamic. Brands like La Fabbrica or Porcelanosa offer these dimension-playing tiles.
Angled Lines
Tiles with lines set at alternating angles can make for striking optical effects. As the eye moves across the tiled surface, the angles create the impression of depth and motion. Tile companies like Ornamenta make lines and geometry the focus through angled designs.
Mirrored Patterns
Reflective, mirrored patterns are an innovative way to bring optical illusions to tile. The designs are screen-printed using mirrored inks that bounce light and reflect the environment, making the patterns appear to shift and move as you walk by. Companies like Trend Group are pioneers in this technology.
Morphed Geometrics
Geometric shapes like hexagons and triangles are being twisted, overlapped, and morphed together in unexpected ways. This creates geometrics with a more fluid, organic look rather than rigid perfection. Some examples include:
Overlapping Shapes
Geometric tile designs are overlapping shapes like circles, squares, or triangles to form new hybrid shapes and patterns. Oversized designs also help exaggerate this effect. Brands like Clé Tile overlap circles or blend triangles and diamonds.
Deconstructed Patterns
Some tile patterns take perfect geometrics and deconstruct them with uneven lines and crooked angles. This makes the shapes appear hand-drawn and injected with artistic flair. Azulev offers creative deconstructed hexagons and zig-zag patterns.
Morphing Grids
Straight-lined tile grids are being shifted to form curved, rippling, or branching patterns. This adds a sense of movement and fluidity to the geometric foundation. Eurotile’s patterns morph rigid grids into sweeping waves or splintering branches.
Boldly Hued Geometrics
Vibrant, saturated colors are also trending in combination with bold geometric patterns. This creates a dramatic, energetic look with powerful visual impact. Some examples include:
1970s Inspiration
The 1970s are back as inspiration with collections featuring retro geometrics bathed in vibrant hues like burnt orange, mustard yellow, avocado green and fuchsia. Patterned hexagons, sweeping curves, and zig-zag lines define this trend. Marca Corona draws directly from 70s style in their tile designs.
Geometric Jolts
For some extra pop, tile brands are combining solidly colored tiles with bursts of bright geometric patterns. This adds a colorful jolt of energy and contrast to tile layouts. Florim uses this trend effectively in patchwork-style tile designs.
Moroccan Accents
Vividly colored Moroccan-inspired patterns like mosaics, chevrons, and multi-pointed stars are being interspersed as colorful accents within wider tile fields. This look brings energy and exotic flair. Marazzi utilizes this motif across several of their collections.
Multi-Size Patterns
In addition to bold colors and geometrics, playing with scale has become a top new tile trend. Patterns are being created across differently sized tiles for unique effects as the design scales up and down. Some examples include:
Scaled-Up Chevrons
Chevron patterns being scaled to wider tile widths exaggerates the zig-zag effect. The chevrons appear bolder and more prominent as tile size increases. Mercury Mosaics uses scaled sizing to amp up chevron designs.
Oversized Patterns
Oversized tile formats allow for larger-scale pattern details. Extra wide planks or large rectangular tiles let brands create blown-up geometrics and intriguing repeats. La Fabbrica’s oversized designs make a dramatic statement.
Stepped Formats
Combining square, rectangular, and plank tiles in stepped formations also creates opportunities for patterns to grow and shrink as they move across the tiles. Florim’s Just Fit collection builds zig-zags and starbursts through mixed sizing.
Natural Looks with Geometry
Geometry is also making its way into more natural tile looks, for a blend of organic and geometric aesthetics. The patterns add visual interest to wood or cement style tiles with more subtle flair. Some examples include:
Geometric Cement
Cement-look tiles are being enhanced with geo accents like small zig-zags, angled lines, or circular motifs. This adds subtle pattern pop without overwhelming the muted concrete base. Casa Dolce Casa does this well in cement tile lines like E-Volution.
Linear Wood Looks
Wood-look planks are getting updated with linear geo patterns like striated lines, checkered dots, or triangle edge detailing. The patterns accent the grain and texture. Del Conca’s Passion of Wood collection uses lines and triangles decoratively.
Circle Motifs
Some wood-look tiles incorporate a subtle field of tiny circle cut-outs that get noticed at certain angles and lighting. This delicate detail interrupts the plank space with texture and shape. Florim introduces circle cut motifs in their Within Wood line.
Statement Ceiling Tiles
Another notable tile trend is using geometric or ornate tile designs on ceilings to create dramatic focal points overhead. Intricate Moroccan, Persian, or Byzantine-inspired patterns adorned ceilings historically, and this is being resurrected in modern interiors. Some examples include:
Byzantine-Inspired
The Byzantine empire was known for ornate ceiling mosaics featuring interlocking geometric starbursts in golds and blues. Modern tile collections are bringing these medieval patterns back to life, like the Eastern Elegance line by Mercury Mosaics.
Persian Florals
The Persian empire favored vibrant floral patterns and motifs painted across palace ceilings. Brands like Clé Tile are reinventing these looks with bold florals and medallions in tiles that pop against white ceilings.
Moroccan Tiles
Moroccan zellige tiles traditionally formed geometric and starburst patterns across ceilings, walls, and floors in palaces. Colorful patterned ceiling tiles with octagons, chevrons, and mosaics callback to the exotic Moroccan style.
Patterned Tile Rugs
In addition to walls and backsplashes, patterned and geometric tiles are being used to create decorative rug-like accents on floors. The tiled “rugs” provide artistic focal points within wider floor spaces. Some leading examples include:
Mediterranean Flair
Spanish and Moorish tile motifs likerelief patterns, starbursts, and 8-pointed details arranged in rug layouts add Mediterranean character to floors. Casa Dolce Casa captures this look in their Mediterraneo Patchwork floor inserts.
Central Focus Points
Placing ornate tile rug inserts within minimalist spaces makes them stand out as a central focus point. Geometric shapes and botanical designs work well in this application, like the Hugo rug tile collection by Clé Tile.
Defining Areas
Laying tile rugs underneath furniture groupings or in entryways defines those spaces in an eye-catching way. Patterned rug tiles help unify vignettes. Fireclay Tile specializes in artful rug tiles for decorative floors.
Unique Pattern Applications
In addition to covering floors and walls, tile companies are also dreaming up novel ways to apply patterns and geometry. This expands the possibilities for tile in interiors and exteriors. Some innovative applications include:
Three-Dimensional Tiles
3D tile shapes like concave hexagons, bowed diamonds, or corrugated squares add an extra dimension for pattern play. Brands like Mutina push the boundaries with 3D tiles.
Tile Furniture
Geometric tile patterns are moving beyond floors and walls to furniture. Tables, chairs, shelves, and more are getting hand-tiled with motifs for customizable flair. Azulev offers tiled furniture as part of their offerings.
Pipe Covers
Exposed pipes and columns can get dressed up with patterned and geometric tile covers. This hides the mechanics while adding visual interest. Marazzi provides pipe wrap solutions through their Aqua Bay line.
Pattern Layering
Using multiple tile patterns within a space is another way to make exciting new combinations. Tiles with different prints and geometries are layered together across floors, walls, backsplashes, and even ceilings for captivating mixed motifs. Think chevron floors with Moroccan shower tiles plus a geometric backsplash. Get creative and discover harmonious ways to blend, mix and overlap richly patterned tiles from various collections for your own signature look.
The world of tile design continues to push boundaries, using pattern, texture, color, and geometry to create tileworks that are truly artistic showstoppers. As these new trends demonstrate, tiles present infinite possibilities for adding visual flair and personality to any space, whether through boldly colored geometrics, optical illusions, artful blends of prints, or novel new uses for tiles. Pattern-play tiles make every interior feel curated, collected, and ultimately more compelling and couture.
Frequently Asked Questions About New Tile Trends Playing with Pattern and Geometry
Tile design is changing rapidly, with exciting new trends emerging around pattern, shape, and geometry. If you’re considering an upcoming tile project, you may have some questions around these fresh new styles. Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the newest tile trends playing with patterns and geometry:
Are patterned tiles harder to install?
It depends on the complexity of the pattern. For simpler repeating patterns like chevrons or basic mosaics, the installation is comparable to straight-laid tiles. More intricate designs with uneven edges or multi-directional patterns do require more time and skill to get right. Always have complicated patterns installed by an experienced tile pro.
How do I choose multiple patterns for one space?
Start by choosing one central patterned tile collection that speaks to you for the main area, like a Moroccan cement-look tile for the floor. Then add small accents of other geometric or patterned tiles that complement it, like a mosaic backsplash or patterned rug tile. Tiles from different collections will coordinate if they share similar colors.
What pattern trends work for small spaces?
For small spaces, stick with smaller-scale tiles and less busy patterns. Petite mosaics, brick-laid patterns, or uniformly sized geometrics keep things visually clean and spacious. Avoid oversized or heavily layered patterns.
Where are the best places to use statement pattern tiles?
Eye-catching pattern tiles make great focal points in defined spaces like backsplashes, shower floors, niches, fireplace surrounds, or doorway entries rather than entire rooms. They can be too overwhelming in wide expanses.
Do bold patterned tiles go out of style quickly?
Not necessarily, if you stick with classic patterns like chevrons, herringbones, hexagons, or mosaics in timeless colors. Trendy prints may look dated after a few years, but basic geometrics and ethnic patterns will always infuse spaces with timeless character.
Can I mix and match patterned tile brands?
Absolutely! Mixing across collections is encouraged to achieve customized combinations. Just ensure all tiles are the same thickness and quality standard. Coordinating varied but compatible patterns and colors creates eclectic harmony.
Tile design is undergoing an exciting evolution, but tile installations can still be daunting. If you have any concerns about configuring, matching, or installing patterned tile collections properly in your space, don’t hesitate to hire a professional tile contractor. Their expertise will ensure a cohesive and well-executed design that you’ll enjoy for decades to come. While striking tile patterns are captivating, they require extra skill to place correctly.
Conclusion
Pattern and geometry playtime has clearly arrived in the world of tile design. From boldly colored Moroccan mosaics, to fluid deconstructed geometrics, to steps and levels creating 3D optical illusions, there is an endless array of options for injecting excitement into your space. Combining patterns across floors, walls, backsplashes, rugs, and even ceilings and furniture enables designers to create fully layered, living works of art.
When thoughtfully combined and executed, these graphic, artistic tiles infuse spaces with energy, movement, and drama unlike any sleek neutral tile could. Stepping into a well-composed space mixing multiple print tiles feels like entering a wonderland of visual interest and tales waiting to be told. Just take care to intentionally balance colors, shapes, and scales when mixing across patterned collections for pleasing cohesion.
While installing intricately patterned tiles poses challenges and is best left to experienced professionals, the impact is well worth the care put into the details. Follow the new tile trends playing with exciting patterns and geometry to make your home or commercial space a conversation-starting masterpiece.
