5 Forthcoming Wall & Floor Tile Trends for 2024 as Seen at Cersaie
Sponsored Content: This post has been sponsored by Casalgrande Padana. As usual, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
In September, Cersaie - the international exhibition of surface design, bathroom furniture and finishes - took place in Bologna, Italy. Now in its 40th year, Cersaie 2023 had over 600 exhibitors, while over 600,00 people attended to see the latest new design trends, products and technologies for floor and wall surface coverings. Showcasing their latest collections at the well-respected trade show was Casalgrande Padana: one of the leading design and manufacturing companies of ceramic porcelain stoneware who have been producing innovative and environment-friendly floor, wall and cladding tiles for over 60 years. Always at the forefront of technological innovation and continuously breaking new ground within the industry, Casalgrande Padana revealed five new wall and floor tile trends at Cersaie that will be huge within interior design for 2024.
The Top 5 Wall & Floor Tile Trends For Kitchens, Bathrooms & Flooring as Predicted For 2024:
Surface Drenching
Rare Stone Effects
Low-Relief Veining Design
Travertine Shades
Beechwood
An Aquatio shower tray in Metropolis, Sand, by Casalgrande Padana.
Surface Drenching
Colour-drenching is a popular interior design term coined for painting all surfaces in the room (typically the walls, ceiling and woodwork) in the same colour. Rather than the traditional expectation that one colour is painted on the walls while the ceiling, architrave and windows always remain white, colour-drenching blends rather than sections off surfaces; the end result is that smaller or low-ceilinged spaces can feel bigger and more cohesive. It is therefore unsurprising that this favoured modern paint effect will now make the leap over into bathroom design for 2024 via ‘Surface Drenching’.
Surface Drenching involves every surface within a room being the same as the next; this includes but is not limited to the same tile surface being used on both the walls and the floor, but additionally incorporates washbasins, shower trays and shelves also constructed from the same material. The end result is a sweeping, unbroken effect where the greater surface areas are unspoiled via traditional white fittings and sanitaryware.
At Cersaie, Casalgrande Padana introduced Aquatio: the new range of sinks, showering trays and bathroom shelving made with Casalgrande Padana porcelain stoneware to match their wide range of wall and floor tiles. The launch of Aquatio allows for a seamless, uninterrupted bathroom design, where surfaces are harmonised and interflowing when combined with floor and wall coverings made from the same collection.
Pure marble sinks and shelving have often featured within high-end interior design, but the truth is that natural, porous stone isn’t equipped to deal with the reality of modern living: staining and surface damage make it an unrealistic option for a hard-working home. The launch of the Aquatio collection changes this; it allows the opportunity to integrate marble-effect and concrete-look sinks and basins with all the stubborn durability of porcelain.
Available as both built-in single or double basins, countertop sinks and freestanding truncated pyramid washbasins, the Aquatio collection allows the option for Casalgrande Padana’s exclusive Bios Antibacterial® silver-based treatment, helping to eliminate 99% of bacteria from the surface (while also combating odours, mould, yeasts and fungi).
Rare Stone Effects
While marble and limestone surface replications are commonplace for decorative wall and floor tiles, Casalgrande Padana’s commitment to extensive research and experimentation always pushes the boundaries within surface design and enables the brand to replicate the tactile texture and effects of a wider range of natural rocks and stones. At Cersaie 2023, Casalgrande Padana presented Stonetech: a technical tile collection inspired by the rocks found within the Central Alps. The highly durable porcelain stoneware tiles that make up Stonetech are constructed from various size fragments of marble, quartz and feldspar combined within the slab for a random repetition of irregular patterns. The uncommon and usual nature of Stonetech makes for a unique and noteworthy interior that’s wholly individual and stands out from mainstream tile design.
Stonetech is available in five colours and three formats, with a 9 mm thickness and a natural or anti-slip bush hammered finish.
Low-Relief Veining Design
While designers and architects are always on the lookout for the ‘next big thing’ in surface design, for customers and consumers, timeless design and sophistication are key. When you invest in your home - especially in more expensive areas such as the bathroom, kitchen and flooring - a modern look with a classic style is often the most desired choice.
Marble remains one of the most sought-after and admired natural stone surfaces, but its porous nature and regular upkeep (natural stone requires frequent sealing) make it unsuitable to install within most hard-working, busy homes. Recognising this preference for marble, Italian tile manufacturers Casalgrande Padana have invested heavily in aesthetic and technical research to design Marmona: a high-level replication of the low-relief veining of the world’s finest marble. The Marmona collection of porcelain stoneware wall and floor tiles feature intricate streaks and well-proportioned colour contrasts for a smooth, ultra-realistic three-dimensional look of natural marble.
The Marmora collection comes in six colours, four finishes and various size formats.
Marmona is durable, non-absorbent, fire-resistant and does not stain or fade. The collection can also be fully recycled (like all of Casalgrande Padana’s porcelain stoneware) as Marmona tiles are made solely with environmentally sustainable natural, raw materials.
Travertine Shades
There has been a return in the popularity of travertine stone within interior design over the past couple of years. While this limestone has been used architecturally for decades, the continuous inclusion of angular cut travertine coffee tables and polished travertine lamp bases within modern and desired interior schemes has reignited the preference for travertine over other surface materials.
The Pietra Tiburtina collection is available in a vein-cut version (which emphasises the lengthwise layers of limestone) alongside a cross-cut version (which highlights the subtle cloud-like effects of natural travertine.)
With its soft and sandy appearance, travertine blends well with contemporary furniture and fixtures making it easy to see why the material has again become so fashionable. However, travertine is high-maintenance and sensitive and chips easily, which is why Casalgrande Padana has developed Pietra Tiburtina: a robust porcelain stoneware collection that draws inspiration from the finest travertine stone found in nature, replicating its typical colours and appearance.
Available in four different travertine shades, a variety of finishes and a wide range of sizes, Pietra Tiburtina wall and floor tiles can be used both indoors and outside of the home. The collection can be used to create beautifully on-trend bathrooms, kitchens and indoor and outdoor flooring, while its robust nature also provides the opportunity to create bespoke furnishings, partition walls, countertops, cabinetry, washbasins, shower trays, shelves and tables with a hard-wearing, impermeable finish.
Beechwood
The use of wood is so important within interior design. The organic nature and natural warmth of the material add character and depth within a room and its connection to nature generates a soothing and calming effect on our mood. Like colour, different types of wood go in and out of style. Light, bleached Nordic-style woods have been favoured in recent years; while rich walnut wood shades have risen in popularity with the return of vintage furniture (via the love for Cottagecore). In 2024, it is the character and tone of beech wood that is expected to be the ‘du jour’ wood of choice within our homes. Predominantly grown across Central Europe, beech wood is recognisable due to its lack of visible growth rings and its light surface colour.
While wood is visually appealing, it’s a highly inappropriate material to use in spaces where there are steamy or damp conditions (like shower rooms or outdoor structures that will be prone to algae and rot). Wood is also hard to deep clean and it requires a high level of upkeep to keep it pristine. This is why Casalgrande Padana has launched Project Wood: a new, durable porcelain stoneware tile collection inspired by the warm tones of beech wood. With its comprehensive and realistic replication of beech, the porcelain stoneware planks of Project Wood meticulously demonstrate the veining and grain of its real counterpart, allowing for all the aesthetic components of wood (without the implications of warping and rot). Ultimately, the hard-wearing resistance of Project Wood’s porcelain stoneware provides the opportunity to include the beauty of wood within an interior or exterior design scheme, without the high maintenance and structural flaw of the natural material.
Project Wood is available in five colours and two formats (including an anti-slip finish for outdoor use which can be laid onto screed with an adhesive).
All of Casalgrande Padana’s new collections and trends can be found now on their website.
All imagery contained within this post belongs to and is used courtesy of Casalgrande Padana.
