You don’t need to keep up with every fleeting trend regarding your home’s tile flooring. However, you can benefit from understanding what’s currently in. For example, water-resistant wood-like tiles or ultra-durable porcelain stoneware tiles might be perfect for high-traffic areas or kitchens. Furthermore, tile trends can influence the design of your space. While personal taste is ultimately what matters, being aware of popular styles can steer you towards timeless options or help your home from looking dated. So, understanding current tile trends empowers you to make informed decisions that enhance your home’s functionality and aesthetics.

 

We’ve asked floor experts and designers to discuss current tile flooring trends to help you decide on a stylish, updated, and practical look.

 

Ditch Glossy, Welcome Matte and Textured

 

In recent years, some tile flooring trends have fallen out of favour as interior design preferences evolve. One notable shift is away from glossy tiles. Glossy tiles used to reign supreme, thanks to their shiny, reflective surfaces and the fact that they are easy floors to clean and maintain. 

 

But these days, glossy tiles are considered less desirable due to their propensity to show smudges, water spots, and scratches. Homeowners and designers are gravitating increasingly towards matte finishes, which offer a more understated, sophisticated look and better hide imperfections.

 

Textured surfaces are also taking center stage. These provide a more comfortable underfoot experience and a touch of visual interest. Think about fluted tiles with soft ridges or natural stone looks with a subtle variation in texture.

 

Goodbye Bold and Vibrant, Hello Neutral and Subdued

 

Another declining trend is using overly bold and vibrant colours in tile flooring. Bright, flashy, or creative flooring, once popular for making a statement, is now replaced by more neutral, earthy tones. These subdued hues provide a timeless appeal and greater interior design flexibility, allowing other decor elements to stand out without clashing. 

 

This shift towards neutral colours also aligns with the growing preference for creating calm, serene living spaces.

 

Simple Trumps Intricate

 

Intricate and highly patterned tiles are also losing their appeal. While detailed patterns and mosaics can add character and visual interest, they can also overwhelm a space and make it feel cluttered. Instead, the trend is moving towards simpler, more uniform tile designs offering a clean, minimalist aesthetic. 

 

The minimalist approach in tile flooring is easier on the eyes and easier to maintain and coordinate with various styles and furnishings, making it a more practical and versatile choice for modern homes.

 

Size (Now) Matters

 

In addition to moving away from glossy finishes and vibrant colours, another trend falling out of favour is using small-sized tiles. Tiny tiles, such as those used in traditional mosaics or small subway tiles, are being replaced by larger format tiles. Large tiles create fewer grout lines, resulting in a cleaner, more cohesive look and making spaces appear larger and more open. 

 

Larger tiles also require less maintenance as there are fewer grout lines to clean, contributing to their growing popularity over smaller tile options.

 

Warm Over Cold

 

The trend of using cold, stark white tiles is also waning. While white tiles can create a clean and bright appearance, they often lack warmth and can make a space feel sterile or clinical. Designers now favour warmer tones and natural-looking materials that add texture and coziness to a room. 

 

Stone-look tiles, wood-look tiles, and those with subtle veining or natural imperfections are becoming more popular as they offer a more inviting and organic feel than plain white tiles.

 

Go for Innovative and Durable Materials

 

Finally, the use of traditional ceramic tiles is declining as more innovative and durable materials gain traction. Porcelain tiles, for example, are becoming the preferred choice due to their superior durability, water resistance, and ability to mimic the look of natural materials like stone and wood. 

 

Additionally, advancements in tile technology have introduced options such as luxury vinyl tiles and engineered stone, which offer enhanced performance and aesthetic appeal. These newer materials provide homeowners with more practical and stylish options, leading to a shift away from conventional ceramic tiles.

 

The Bottom Line

 

Tile flooring trends are shifting towards more practical and aesthetically pleasing options. Glossy tiles and vibrant colours are replaced by matte finishes and neutral, earthy tones, creating a more sophisticated and versatile look. Large format tiles are favoured over smaller ones for their clean, expansive appearance and reduced maintenance. Warmer tones and natural-looking materials are preferred to add texture and coziness, moving away from cold, stark white tiles. Additionally, innovative materials like porcelain and luxury vinyl are overtaking traditional ceramic tiles due to their superior durability and design versatility.

 

So, while keeping up with the latest tile flooring trends is optional—because your personal taste and preference will always be the top priority—knowing today’s popular choices when starting with a clean slate has advantages. It will help make your space look more timeless and allow you to take advantage of new flooring technologies.

If you need to visualize what your room would look like with a certain type of flooring, you don’t need to rack your brain because you can use our room visualizer tool.