It’s a new year, and a new moment to be choosing tile. While 2020 will go down as the year of Coronavirus, the “stay at home” order offers time to consider your choices. Tile is one of the hottest trends in home décor because it can be as simple or complex or eccentric as the homeowner themselves.
Experts point to statement tile being the new rage as,similar to a painted feature wall, homeowners can make a big statement without overwhelming an entire room. From oversized water jets to beautiful porcelains that mimic precious gemstones, most experts agree bold colors and patterns, particularly florals, are the tile trends in 2020.
Floral Patterns on tiles allow homeowners to enjoy beautiful blooms in their space. Dawn Totty of Dawn D Totty Designs points out, “Bold and Patterned Tiles in Geometric & Floral With Saturated Colors Are Dominating Current And Future Tile Trends!” From playful, botanical-based prints to wild, canopy-inspired prints, here is something that will suit everyone’s taste-buds. A small amount can make a big splash!
Elizabeth Scruggs of Superior Construction and Design and Kristie Barnett from The Decorologist both agree that Encaustic tile is also a hot new trend in tile design. Encaustic tile is a type of ceramic tile that has the surface pattern made from different colors of clay rather than glaze. Ranging from two to six colors, the pattern gives the appearance being inlaid into the body of the tile. The benefit of this technique is that the design remains as the tile itself wears down. Though the term Encaustic holds a different meaning today than it did when it was invented, the designs combined with bold colors create a multitude of unique looks for homeowners. Encaustic tile offers homeowners the opportunity to bring art into their space in a unique way.
Irene Williams of Crossville, Inc agrees that pattern and color are returning to tile design, she adds, “Thanks to advanced digital printing technology, tile makers are able to create natural looks and unique styles unlike ever before. That means the visuals available to consumers today are unparalleled.” What that means for homeowners who are either building or renovating: unique choices through technology. Williams continues, “Technology has taken tile design and production to another level in recent years. The surface visuals of tile today offer more varied and nuanced looks than ever before. That’s thanks to digital print technology applied in combination with traditional glazing techniques.”
Regarding color, experts say black, white, and neutrals are all still popular, but bold, rich, gemstone tones are gaining ground. Gemstones color and finishes, made from rich, deep hues that mimic some of the world’s most ethereal pieces, will satiate any space’s craving for a unique touch. Rich and bold tiles reveal a homeowner’s unique touch in a space while also opening the door for future inspiration and changes down the road. Williams points out, “the deep blue-green of the ocean rises up to meet woodsy forest tones of brown and green [are popular]. Look for bright and cheery accents of sunny yellow, moss green, and mango for some variety and punch. Historically Grounded colors: Black is back again along with a sea of strikingly deep, sophisticated neoclassical colors like aubergine, emerald, citrine, petrol, cobalt, and sapphire.” Tile sizes and shapes, and lay patterns, are changing – and staying the same. Daltile’s Lisa Mcneese reports that while subway tiles are still going strong, the trend is toward larger sizes such as 4x12sand 4x16s. “And we aren’t necessarily installing them in a horizontal brick lay. Sometimes we are straight stacking them or soldier stacking them vertically, even making a herringbone pattern with them.”
Everything from standard subway tiles to hexagon, glass and chevron, along with large format natural tiles are all present in tile design. What that does for homeowners is offers them unique choices. Subway tile remains a classic, according to Irene Williams for Crossville Tile, Inc., “It’s perpetually popular. However,today we’re seeing more variations of the long beloved favorite: more generous dimensions to the rectangle, beveling on the edges, and more color options. And people love playing with grout color to make their subway tile installations more customized to their styles.” What that means for homeowners is putting their own spin on a space while using standard materials or turning the tables and using unique materials in standard ways.
Most agree that tile sizes are getting bigger but note that combining sizes might be the best option to create that specialty look a homeowner is looking for. Whitney Sherrard of Keller Williams notes, “A combination creates dimension in the space.” Dawn Totty adds, “small mosaics are wonderful in powder and laundry rooms and extra large tiles in kitchens create a clean and seamless appeal.” Ultimately it depends on the homeowner and the space. Large tiles are the newest TOY because the
Going in another direction, Lindsey Sheets of Red Rock Tileworks offers up, “Glazed Brick works great with the modern farmhouse look and has a nice rustic texture with manufacturing capability is now available to make very large format tiles. Yet mosaics with the details and smaller sizes continue to gain in popularity.
Going in another direction, Lindsey Sheets of Red Rock Tileworks offers up, “Glazed Brick works great with the modern farmhouse look and has a nice rustic texture with a real timeless feel. Geometric tiles like our Linea and Circa Collection are very popular within the design community as well. These tiles have a modern aesthetic with cool low relief design that makes them perfect for wet areas.”
Irene Williams of Crossville Inc adds, “today we’re seeing more variations of the long beloved favorite: more generous dimensions to the rectangle, beveling on the edges, and more color options. And people love playing with grout color to make their subway tile installations more customized to their styles.” As with most decorating trends, versatility plays a big role for homeowners. Most of us want something that is unique to how we live in the space. For 2020, the patterns that will get the most attention are ones that have dozens, or in some cases, hundreds, of unique lay patterns at their disposal. While simplicity is often the best bet for clean lines, creating an individualized look with tile holds endless options
Sources in the Greater Nashville area including:
Capitol Homes, Inc Franklin 615/516-2930
Carriage House Custom Homes and Interiors, Inc Franklin 615/727-2564
Cobb Home Innovations, LLC Woodbury 615/439-0438
Coldwell Banker Knoxville 865/548-0952
Crossville Tile Crossville 931/ 484-2110
Daltile Nashville Nashville 629/ 208-7199
Dawn D. Totty Interior Designs Jasper 615/339-9919
Decorating Den Interiors Nashville 615/ 469-7334
The Decorologist Nashville 615/714-7034
Elite Installation Hendersonville 615/ 266-9370
Emser Tile Nashville 615/ 297-9299
Exit Realty Music Row 615/830-5050
Floorz Brentwood 615/ 771-7669
Isabella James Nashville 615/342-9701
Jennifer Jones Design Nashville 615/ 3354-8907
Just Design This Auburntown 615/ 606-8450
JW Nash and Company Nashville 615/513-8593
Katy Bell Interiors Brentwood 615/812-0087
Keller Williams Nashville 615/330-0184
Kenny & Company Nashville 615/ 782-8000
Louisville Tile Nashville 615/ 248-8452
Milestone Design Center Nashville 615/ 712-9100
Realty Trust Residential Brentwood 615/596-6583
Red Rock Tileworks Nashville 888/ 348-8453
Robert F. Henry Tile Company Nashville 615/ 988-1893
Sara Ray Interiors, Nashville, 615/254-6329
Slyman Real Estate Knoxville 865/924-7729
Southeastern Salvage Nashville 615/ 244-1001
Stone Source Nashville 615/ 244-6448
Superior Construction and Design Lebanon 615/969-3354
The Tile Shop Franklin 615/655-5112,
Traditions in Tile Nashville
615/ 942-3182