All the latest tile trends from Bologna

The Cersaie International Exhibition of Ceramic Tile and Bathroom Furnishings held in Bologna is the exhibition for finding not only the upcoming (and the enduring) trends but also very stylish ideas to take back home. Held at the end of September, let’s see what ‘take’ an Italian interior designer has on this year’s offering.

Elisabetta Rizzato’s award-winning blog Italian Bark (please, no jokes about not barking myself!) embraces the idea that the popularity of ceramic tile is due to the growing demand for personalised design in people’s homes. Well, I certainly go along with that. I also got the impression that ingenuity and creativity of design in layout is even beginning to take some precedence over the tiles themselves. Now, that’s an interesting trend. Here’s a quick run-down of Elizabetta’s blog, with a link at the bottom to have a look at the rest of the images she posted:

Patchwork ‘It was fun to spot many new interesting proposals for patchwork tiles. Other than the usual patchwork of encaustic tiles (that are beautiful but maybe we saw them too much), the decor now is created with new effect such as metallic tiles, hand-drawn decor, raw and used effects’

Unexpected hexagon ‘This year the tiling brands really launched all kinds of hexagonal tiles. The most interesting solutions are de-structured tiles which create different geometries, as well as the hexagonal tiles with new perspectives.’

Chevron pattern ‘Wooden effect tiles already had their moment, but from wood it comes one of the key tiling trends for next year: the Chevron pattern. Tiles have new interesting sizes (lots of brick tiles as well), and many brands launched small sizes with 45 degrees cut that creates interesting patterns’

Mermaid pattern ‘We already talked a lot about pattern as one of the key interior trends for next year.  At this fair I found, other than interesting geometric patterns, a lot of mermaid ones or new patterns with a reference to past architecture’. Love the description as ‘mermaid’! So much nicer than scalloped or fishtail!  Froyle Tiles, you were so, so ahead of the curve but your time has come.

Terrazzo  ‘… Redesigned in new decorative shapes, applied on the floor and on the walls, with small grains or very big patterns’. Suddenly, a lot of uncherished floors in foyers, halls, landings, terraces and public cloakrooms are going to be looking bang up to date.

Polished marble  ‘..at Cersaie it was really about marble effect everywhere: polished, light but also a lot of dark marble, with original effects and sizes’. My take on this is that if marble is used tastefully, rather than fashionably, it has enduring style.

Broken geometries ‘Breaking up the traditional tile grid to explore new shapes and patterns: this is one of the key trends I spotted at Cersaie ‘.

Wow!

We know that lovers of interior design really relish the opportunity to put an individual stamp on their work, and Persian Glazes is a great fit with the current trend of individualism and personalisation. Long may it last!

Check out the rest of Italian Bark‘s Cersaie photos!