Six trends from Tile of Spain’s Leading Manufacturers
The 40th edition of the annual international trade fair for ceramics, Cevisama, recently returned to Valencia, Spain, for its 2024 instalment. Enki took to the show with Tile of Spain to discover the latest celebration of design, innovation and sustainability from Tile of Spain’s leading manufacturers in ceramic and porcelain tiles. Each impressive space was filled with the new creative collections and a surprising sensory appeal of colour, texture and shape that is setting the stage for a year of exciting architectural and interior design projects.
Returning to the UK, we share our top six tile trends from Cevisama – from going back to basics and inhabiting a space that draws in the elements from natural surroundings, to bold colour palettes that echo exhilaration yet timelessness, and intricate details with an artisanal touch through small format designs.
A touch of terracotta
Terracotta – essentially baked earth – is a natural material that has been used in the production of tiles for centuries. At Cevisama, it was clear to see Spanish tile manufacturers are continuing to employ terracotta and clay tones to weave rusticity into a luxurious space. The subtle addition of terracotta adds a welcoming warmth to a modern design, whether that’s a tiled section of a wall or a surface. Or, when terracotta rules a space, which could look like the complete covering of a kitchen floor that then trickles into other living spaces, it creates a serene Mediterranean-like sanctuary all year round.
Think big
Large format tiles have become a staple for contemporary design in both residential and commercial projects, especially when it comes to blending indoor and outdoor spaces. Possessing unmatched versatility and sleek finishes, larger formats replicate highly desired materials, from concrete to marble, in a range of gloss or matte finishes. Developments in design from Spanish tile manufacturers, including the addition of non-slip, ventilation and resistance features, make these tiles an option with high-performance qualities.
Embrace Pattern
The Spanish tile industry is well known for its approach to artisanal craftsmanship through small format tiles. You have everything from traditional colour palettes and abstract motifs, to geometric shapes and patterns, and when mixed and matched these add a playful edge to your space. This year, Spanish tile brands also showcased a modern take on traditional patterns, where the disposition of colours and shapes are scattered – at what almost seems at random – through a design. This reveals an eye-catching effect that adds definition to floors and surfaces.
Natural instinct
Porcelain and ceramic tiles that mimic the materials of the natural world, such as timber, stone and rock, have never bore a closer resemblance to the real thing thanks to the latest modern technology. Natural characteristics of these materials add a welcoming warmth to any room, as well as the ultimate feeling of well-being. And with a continued longing for natural materials in homes and commercial builds, offerings from Spanish tile brands prove to be a more sustainable suitor.
Rectangular relief
Spanish tile brands at Cevisima highlighted how to achieve detail in design whilst maintaining a modern aesthetic within their projects. Focusing on the humble rectangular format tile; when this shape fills a space on floors and walls, it creates an intricate, yet uniform style that visually elongates its surroundings. Whether its floor-to-ceiling brick-shaped tiles or rectangular slithers, with an abundance of colour palettes to choose from, this format adds a touch of craftsmanship to modern interiors.
Creative contrast
A call for creativity was featured throughout Cevisama, where collections from Spanish tile brands combined unexpected unions of texture, shape and colour inspired originality. This showcased just how mixing and matching tile designs can be a simple way to add personality to a kitchen or bathroom, or as a tool to draw the eye to the details in and around the room. The creative freedom is endless with this trend, however, notable pairings from Spanish tile brands included patterned designs amongst a bold block colour, glossy and matte finishes that play with light, and stark contrasts of light and dark tones.
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