Trends in U.S. tile and stone often represent global influences that have been shaped to meet the needs of the American consumer. This year’s tile trends are no different, reflecting the need for self-expression, hygiene and even mental clarity—emerging trends seen around the world.
Following is an overview:
Self-expression
The COVID-19 pandemic has (and will) continue to have a lasting impression on consumers around the world. One major shift has been the ongoing stay-at-home lifestyle that has been born of work-from-home orders, school closings and the like. As such, consumers have embraced home again, unlike the industry has seen in decades. Many consumers continue to find themselves working and teaching from home and, as such, are demanding a more comfortable environment to do so.
Enter self-expression.
Whether through nuanced geometrical shapes, hexagonal laying patterns or subtle and/or extreme texturing, deco continues to be a massive trend in tile that consumers are using to help support their own particular sense of style as they build back their safe spaces.
Hygiene
There’s no question a newfound attention to cleanability and hygiene is on the horizon—even when it comes to products like flooring. This trend is not limited to the ceramic and stone category, but it is one of the only categories with inherently hygienic properties.
Since its creation many centuries ago, tile and stone flooring has held vast hygienic properties that are now just beginning to be brought to the forefront. For example, tile is inherently easy to clean, antibacterial, antimicrobial and hypoallergenic. This trend also focuses on natural products that don’t add to the pollutants already found within the home, whether through the product itself or those needed to clean it. Tile shines on all these accounts as well as it contains no volatile organic compounds, formaldehyde, PVC or plastic, making it inherently non-toxic.
Wellness
Wellness will be a key factor for the foreseeable future with much attention being placed on a return to mental clarity and balance for the average consumer. That will include creating spaces that focus on stress reduction, creativity and overall well-being. Aligned with the idea of hygiene, this trend also focuses on nature and natural products but with more of a focus on biophilic elements. Comforting blues and greens will enter the scene here meant to replicate the colors of the natural environment, as will shapes and textures that exude calming effects such as water features. The utilization of sustainable products will also be important here, and ceramic tile and natural stone fit the bill.
