Tiling Trends

Bespoke Patchwork Encaustic Tiles from Alhambra Tiles used on the floor to zone the living area.

Bespoke patchwork encaustic tiles from Alhambra Home & Garden

It’s official, I am obsessed with tiles! Wall tiles and floor tiles have been on my mind for months now. Admittedly, I’ve always been pretty obsessed but since thinking about renovating my own kitchen and bathroom the situation has become far more serious. I am so indecisive when it comes to my own home and being an ardent researcher certainly does not help matters. But in my pursuit of the perfect tiles I have come across a couple of tiling trends that are sure to be big this year and I wanted to share them with you guys. So here goes…

Bespoke patchwork encaustic tiles from Alhambra Home & Garden used to zone the living area

Bespoke patchwork encaustic tiles from Alhambra Home & Garden

I have noticed lots of wonderful images of floor tiles being used almost like area rugs. Rectangular blocks of patterned tiles are placed strategically within a room to ‘zone’ the different areas and do away with the need for a vertical partition. This is particularly helpful in large open plan spaces where all the internal walls that would otherwise define the separate areas may have been removed.

Blue Bolero tiles from the Odyssey collection by Original Style

Blue Bolero tiles from the Odyssey collection by Original Style

The patterned tiles are often surrounded by very plain and simple tiles so that the contrast makes even more of a statement. In some of the images I have seen there is a larger expanse of patterned tiles that dominate the floor leaving a simple border around the edge of the room. And the tiles don’t even have to be made from the same material, but more on that later.

Moments Floor And Wall Tiles from Tile Mountain used to zone the living area and the kitchen

Moments Floor And Wall Tiles from Tile Mountain

Whilst this effect can be used to differentiate two distinct spaces, it can also be used to create a flow and seamlessly connect two separate rooms into one coherent space.

Picasso Natural Light patterned porcelain tile from Alhambra Home & GardenPicasso Natural Light patterned porcelain tile from Alhambra Home & Garden

Zeinah Moroccan Tiles

Zeinah Moroccan Tiles from Walls and Floors

Zellij Patchwork Tiles from Walls and Floors

Zellij Patchwork Tiles from Walls and Floors

So that is one trend I have identified for 2016 and the second is the use of tiles in different materials, shapes or shades for the same floor. For example wood flooring (or tiles that look like wood) may be used alongside stone (or tiles that look like stone). And I also noticed that a lot of these techniques feature hexagon tiles, which are my current tiling crush.

Misty Fjord™ Hexagon Polished Tile from Topps Tiles

Misty Fjord™ Hexagon Polished Tile from Topps Tiles

Rokkakkei Hexagon Tiles from Walls and Floors Ltd

Rokkakkei Hexagon Tiles from Walls and Floors Ltd

Modern Industrial Giant Hexagon floor tile from Alhambra Home & Garden

Modern Industrial Giant Hexagon floor tile from Alhambra Home & Garden

Surface Mate tiles in Marble Bianco and Terra in Fumo

Surface Mate tiles in Marble Bianco and Terra in Fumo

Have you guys noticed these tiling trends popping up recently? What do you think of them? Are you a fan of hexagonal tiles? I’d love to hear your thoughts so leave me a comment!

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