Five Tile Trends You’ll Love
Article by Laura Zarnke, Writer and Content Strategist
For all of us at Sansa Interiors, a classic subway tile will never go out of style but, we have to admit that we’re craving something with a little more personality this year. And the trends are following suit.
No longer are these small slates being constrained by straight lines or sequestered to playing a supporting role. This year, we’re seeing more and more designs leaving the tile basics behind and opting for solutions with more colour, unique patterns, and more versatile materials - and we couldn’t be happier.
Here, we share the top five tile trends we love:
Captivating Colours
While we’re not ready to say goodbye to a crisp, white palette quite yet, adding colour thoughtfully is a great way to stay on-trend and bring your tile design into 2022. Walls, doors and millwork are getting colourful facelifts with greens, blues, mauves and yellows, and tile choices are following the trend, too.
Two colour palettes are dominating the tile trends of 2022, and they couldn’t be more opposite – or more beautiful.
Earthy and Organic: There’s no surprise this colour palette is here to stay for 2022. Design trends continue to turn towards nature-inspired living and so too are our colour and material palettes. The Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams Colour of the Year selections agree. This play on a calming sage is the perfect backdrop for a relaxing oasis, and tiles are following suit. We’re also seeing plenty of nature-inspired greys, creams and browns, which are adding a natural softness to design. The clear focused for this trend is on relaxation, bringing the outdoors in and creating that ever-enticing spa-like feel.
Bold and Moody: With this trend, we’re seeing high-contrast, well-balanced palettes bringing back some of the lost drama of recent years. Jewel toned colours help to make a statement while adding some much-needed vibrancy. We’re happy to see that undertones continue to mesh well with recent year’s natural trends, and nods to the outdoors still carry through, but this trend is bright, bold, and unapologetically beautiful.
2. Play with Pattern
There’s no doubt about it: patterns are making a comeback. Much like the recent resurgence of wallpaper – with a cool and modern twist – tile patterns are being used to bring any design to life. In this year’s tile trends, we’re seeing everything from florals and geometrics to curves and statement pieces that can find a home in just about any room.
But playing with pattern doesn’t mean throwing your favourites out the window. One way we’re seeing this trend put a contemporary spin on a traditional tile is by playing with its arrangement. Turn a traditional subway tile on a 45° angle and you’ve got a bold and beautiful chevron pattern that adds visual interest and charm. We used this technique in a recent renovation of an Etobicoke home. If you’re looking for something more stylish, try flipping a slim rectangular tile vertically to create long lines of stacked tiles. This pattern can create a surprisingly dramatic effect, especially when using unexpected shades.
Tiles themselves are also becoming increasingly more available in unique and intricate shapes, which automatically creates appealing patterns that are sure to draw attention. Fall in love with something outside the box to really bring this trend to life, like a Moroccan Fish Scale or a Picket shape. If you’re moving outside your comfort zone, don’t forget to choose a pattern that complements the rest of your design otherwise your eye-catching accent might compete with the rest of your space.
One tip for making the most of your tile pattern: use a contrasting grout to make the pattern of your tiles really pop!
3. Mix and Match
Rather than relying on a uniform swath of material, this year we’re seeing some eye-catching designs that explore unique mixes of tile shapes, sizes, styles and colours!
There are plenty of ways to bring some of this tile trend into your design. Mix hexagons with a chevron pattern on a neighbouring wall, or pair penny tiles with thin rectangular slates to create interest by juxtaposing the two simple shapes. Or create an artful arrangement using a curated selection of patterns and solids.
Tiles also change the very surface of a wall or floor. Why not use them to create depth and to transform the way a space feels? This year, we’re seeing tile applications that break all the rules and bring rich texture, vivid colours and out-of-the-box layouts into any design – along with a little bit more fun!
4. Inspired by Nature
There’s no question that design trends in 2022 will continue to focus on helping us regain our connection to the natural world. Biophilic design – a concept that seeks to connect occupants more closely to nature – continues to be an approach that we love, and this is translating into tile trends, too.
We’re seeing this emerge in a few different ways: through natural colour and material palettes that add an air of the outdoors, as well as a focus on sustainability. On-trend earthy colours such as soft greens, blues, pinks and brown tones are certainly hot right now and offer an alternative to what we think of as “neutral”. Tiles made of natural materials such as marble, slate and even travertine provide the perfect backdrop for your home – and for your lush collection of greenery.
Offering a timeless sensibility, natural stone also delivers on another aspect of interior design that is close to our hearts and gaining traction: sustainability. With a return to organic realism, natural stone tiles are making their way back into designers’ palettes and are much more environmentally sustainable than other materials – both in production and in the lifetime of beauty they offer.
At Sansa Interiors, we love designing with nature in mind. Read more of our tips on how to create nature-inspired design in our recent blog post.
5.Unusual Applications
While we’re used to seeing tiles used in areas like the bathroom, kitchen, and laundry room, where floors and walls need to be easy to clean and durable, what we’re loving right now is the out-of-the-box thinking when it comes to tile trends in 2022.
Tiles are literally popping up everywhere: behind built-in millwork, extending beyond the front entryway, wrapping across the ceiling, and even pushing the boundaries of the interior to create a seamless connection to the outdoors.
Accent walls are also making a resurgence and tile is playing a starring role. This year is all about bold statements and unique colours and textures. The inherent natural beauty of these small slates of material makes them the perfect solution to bring a creative accent idea to life.
Looking to try out this trend but not ready to commit to a whole wall? Experiment in smaller nooks around the house, like behind a built-in desk, that would benefit from a splash of colour and geometric shape.
Final Thoughts on Tile Trends
Overall, we’re seeing designers and homeowners leaning a little more towards modern layouts, brighter pops of colour and playful shapes and applications.
Remember: when you create interesting focal points and cool moments, a room will automatically feel more coherent and complete. Every space requires special consideration and a strong conceptual direction to help tie it all together, but a good rule of thumb is to pick one or two areas of interest to highlight – something the right tile choice can easily help you do.
What we love the most about these five tile trends is that no matter the aesthetic you’re going for, you’ll be able to find inspiration and incorporate at least one into your space!
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