Cevisama 2024 took place at Feria Valencia from 24th - 28th February and showcased the very best of the Spanish tile industry in terms of design, innovation, quality and inspiration. Emma Hedges went along with Tile of Spain to have a look at the latest trends.
Cevisama, the international trade fair for the Spanish ceramic tile sector, was back at Feria Valencia and this year it was celebrating its 40th anniversary. Figures published on the last day of the fair indicated that the number of trade visitors had already exceeded 70,000, so organisers predict that once the final count is complete, they will be roughly the same number of total visitors as last year's 74,000. Early figures also indicated that there was a 4-point increase in the number of international buyers at this year's show, with most foreign visitors flying in from France, US, UK, Italy and Germany.
7 KEY TILE TRENDS SPOTTED AT CEVISAMA 2024.
1. Raw & Industrial
Ageing and rusting sheet metal lookalikes were back at the show with renewed enthusiasm. Offering the convincingly authentic appearance of natural patina and the effect of growing more beautiful as time passes, these tiles combine elegance with character – an advantage for designers seeking to create a welcoming space.
2. Earthy & Natural
Large formats were all the rage, offering a seamlessness and grout-free appearance that works well for both showering spaces and work surfaces. However, change was afoot and classic black-on-white 'calacatta marble' look tiles were less in evidence among the new products than in previous years. Instead, grittier stone lookalikes, from travertine through to slate and lava rock, were making an entrance, and bringing with them a natural and intriguingly rugged feel.
3. Touch Wood
The sheer quality of the way in which tiles can imitate natural materials continues to improve, with details becoming more refined and textures more convincing thanks to evolving printing and firing techniques. The latest wood effect products are a case in point – a development that can offer kitchen and bathroom retailers and designers more freedom with their creations. With none of the maintenance headaches of real wood, and extremely strong and hardwearing, it's easy to see how tiles are coming into their own in hardworking, high traffic areas such as kitchens, and places exposed to moisture such as bathrooms.
4. The Magic Flute
The fluted trend was everywhere, having made its way onto every stand and virtually every kind of tile, from marble to terrazzo. Of particular interest to bathroom designers is the variety of new fluted wood effect tiles on offer, presenting the ideal way to incorporate the fluted wood look into spaces where humidity can be a problem for the real thing.
5. Straight up
The love of the vertical look is an extension of the fluted trend, as well as the current trend for placing subway wall tiles in a vertical stacked laying pattern. Volumetric tiles that take this theme to the next level were making an appearance, with all sorts of intriguing variations and imaginative interpretations that play with light and shadow.
6. Terracotta Army
The soft, warm tones of terracotta were enjoying a major resurgence at the show. Blending the trend for earthy and natural hues with a love of all things artisanal, this colour evokes a feelgood sense of nostalgia, and brings sunshine into any interior.
7. Shades of Green
Another colour that was making an impact at the show was green, in all its different guises and interpretations. As ever, manufacturers were showcasing all sorts of inspiring ways to use it in an interior, varying from a subtle wash approach through to vibrant emerald for something fresh and invigorating.
Save the date: Next year's Cevisama takes place at Feria Valencia from 24th - 28th February 2025.
