From tiles that look exactly like natural stone, through to those that nail the fluted look, or bring intricate geometric shapes to a design, we round up the latest bathroom tile launches to see what's trending now. By Emma Hedges.
The power of the backdrop in an interior should never be underestimated, and what goes on the walls and floors of a bathroom can have a profound effect on the ultimate success of the entire scheme. A look at the latest exciting tile products on the market shows that there are endless possibilities, and that manufacturers are outdoing themselves when it comes to originality and flair.
5 hot summer bathroom tile trends:
1. NATURAL SELECTION
We're hearing a lot about how the post-pandemic consumer is craving the soothing tones and textures of nature, and this has prompted the launch of an array of natural lookalikes in soft and warm neutral tones. These are perfect for allowing bathroom products to take centre stage in a design, as they sit back to enable stronger finishes, colours and silhouettes to catch the eye. Additionally, they are available in increasingly large-scale tile formats, which is a particular advantage in a bathroom design.
2. GREEN AGENDA
An extension of the natural trend is the continuing fascination with bringing the outside in, and green is the perfect vehicle for doing this. While colour drenching has also been a key theme in interiors, the latest tile collections enable designers to saturate a space in a single hue, but introduce subtle variations within that so that it doesn't feel overwhelming.
3. FINE LINES
The fluted look has been gaining ground for a while and has made its way through various surfaces, now arriving at tiles. While the interplay between light and shadow in fluted tile surfaces can create some stunning visual effects, adding fine vertical lines to a wall is surprisingly powerful when it comes to creating depth in a space.
4. RUSTIC LIFESTYLE
While some trend watchers are citing our experience with the pandemic as the reason we're harking back to the cosy simplicity of times gone by, others might say that the appeal of rustic living has never really gone out of fashion. Either way, manufacturers are responding with a raft of new products that evoke the rustic look with a distressed and well-worn feel.
5. COMPARE AND CONTRAST
An advantage of the latest stone-effect products is that they work particularly well as a foil for stronger designs, and many manufacturers are showcasing punchier, decorative tiles featuring striking geometric motifs alongside a more natural-looking partner.
