7 Trends That Emerged from the 2019 Italian Ceramic Tile Show

Cersaie, one of the most important tile shows, wrapped up its 37th edition last month and bas-relief, flora, and terracotta looks were among the trends that emerged from the show.

Held every year in Bologna, Italy, Cersaie brings together almost 900 exhibitors of ceramic tile as well as bathroom furnishings. This year’s record attendance of 112,340 was up by about 0.2 percent compared to 2018, which included 52,997 international visitors.

Though the show has become an important place for European bath products in recent years, most people come from all over the world for the cutting-edge ceramic tiles that are unveiled every year.

Popular trends that have emerged from previous shows include extra large sizes, retro looks, encaustic cement, and metallic influence, but this year seven different styles stood out.

Bas Relief

Relief is a centuries-old sculptural technique that has been used by artisans to add depth and drama to the built environment--from the frieze of the Parthenon to Trajan’s column in Rome. This year’s tile collections were full of relief, from ridges and creases to more sculptural surfaces, such as boiserie.

1 Ceramics of Italy trends Bas Relief

Clockwise from Top Left: Fioranese FIO.Block , Valelunga Soffio , Made+39 Drapes , Atlas Concorde Aix

Speckled

Given postmodernism’s recent comeback, it’s not surprising to see speckled surfaces as one of this year’s biggest trends. Micro and macro fragments, technicolor dots and playful interpretations of terrazzo all played a starring role in dozens of new introductions.

2 Ceramics of Italy tile trends Speckled

Clockwise from Top Left: Casalgrande Padana Macro, Refin Risseu, Leonardo Overcome, Marca Corona Foyer

Precious

From designs emulating rare marbles and semi-precious stones to tiles with an iridescent finish reminiscent of Akoya pearls, preciousness was the name of the game for dozens of manufacturers this year. It also gives designers a chance to source rare and precious materials without depleting the Earth’s natural resources, brands say.

3 Ceramics of Italy tile trends Precious

Clockwise from Top: Valentino by Ceramiche Piemme Opulence, NAXOS Rhapsody, LaFaenza Oro

Blended Materials

One of the advantages of digital printing is the ability to reproduce the look of just about any material. With unlimited possibilities at their fingertips, Italian tile companies are blending material effects, such as wood and concrete or marble and terrazzo, to create original typologies and new opportunities in interior design.

4 Ceramics of Italy tile trends Blended Materials

Clockwise from Top Left: Provenza Alter, Piemme Materia, Fire Arcadia, Del Conca Timeline

Flora

Designers know that a touch of greenery can add comfort or whimsy to any space--not to mention the psychological benefits of biophilia. This year’s tile collections offered a range of floral options, from hyper-realistic green walls to playful palm prints.

5 Ceramics of Italy tile trends Flora

Clockwise from Left: Colli di Sassuolo Extra, Florim I Filati di Rex, Francesco de Maio Verde Verticale

Terracotta and Sage

Italians do not shy away from color, which was obvious at this year’s show. Similar to Salone last spring, a warm color palette saturated the show floor, but sage and terracotta were the most popular hues. They were shown separately and occasionally paired together.

6 Ceramics of Italy tile trends Terracotta and Sage

Clockwise from Left: ABK Wide & Style, Sant’Agostino SPRING, Decoratori Bassanesi Rocket

Psychedelic

They say “everything old is new again,” and the same is true for tile! Radical references to the 1960’s and 70’s were plentiful, with psychedelic colors, playful geometries and trippy patterns galore.

7 Ceramics of Italy tile trends Psychedelic