Tiles are no longer the flat, functional objects they once were. One of the biggest tiling trends in 2019 sees textured and 3D tiles making a real statement in the home.
Texture is one of the biggest interior trends of 2019. As we all strive to connect with the real world in our increasingly digital lives, using our sense of touch allows us to reconnect with our surroundings and experience them in a deeper way. Bringing textured objects and surfaces into our homes is becoming more appealing and this trend has now extended to tiles.
As a result, we’ve been seeing collections of tactile tiles that have patterns in relief or that have an embossed or sculpted surface. 3D tiles, in particular, are becoming popular with their futuristic and architectural shape. Geometric and angular tiles have also been given an added sense of movement, dimension and tactility through the introduction of 3D surfaces.
If you’re feeling particularly brave you can choose tiles in bold colours that will really make a statement. If bold colours or busy patterns are not for you, a textured tile in a neutral colour can make a more subtle impact. Choosing textured or 3D tiles in a matte finish can also create visual interest that isn’t too overpowering.
3D tiles can be used to create repeated uniform patterns for a more consistent effect or they can be applied more randomly to create more fractured and unconventional designs. Either way, you can create an exciting, dynamic and abstract feature wall that plays with shadow, light and tactility.
Here we’ve selected Five of the Best textured and 3D tile ranges that have caught our eye. The clear-cut shapes, sinuous ripples, multi-faceted patterns and elegant reliefs that feature on these tiles would add a playful and expressive finish to any industrial interior.
1. Rombini, Mutina
Designed by Erwan and Ronan Bouroullec for Mutina, Rombini is an innovative collection which uses squares, triangles and diamonds in a palette of white, grey, blue, green and red. It is inspired by the concept of vibration and is comprised of tiles, mosaics and 3D elements (Carré, Losange and Triangle).
“Rombini is an alphabet of shapes and colors. The project consists of three models: tile, mosaic and relief elements. It is a collection that offers a complete solution, offering different combinations; rhythmic and colorful connections ranging from the tile to the mosaic, from the mosaic to the relief, from the relief to the tile.” - Erwan and Ronan Bouroullec.
2. Bermondsey, Lindsey Lang
The Bermondsey Collection is a new tile collection designed by Lindsey Lang in collaboration with Domus. It features two 3D cement tiles in subtle pastel shades. The London Chevron 3D cement tiles feature motifs developed from the history of London’s transport network. The beautifully embossed tiles feature raised squares, triangles and stripes and push the boundaries of surface design.
3. Maioliche di Pietra, Lithea
Carved by skilled craftsmen from volcanic rock mined from the foot of Mount Etna, the Maioliche di pietra collection of 3D tiles by Lithea is inspired by the landscape, sea and civilisations of the Mediterranean.
The rectangular tiles feature a variety of low-relief designs in geometric shapes. They can be used in various configurations to create a highly customisable finish. The highly tactile collection makes a real statement due to the interplay of light and shadow that is created.
4. Flutes and Reeds, Kaza Concrete
Flutes and Reeds is a new collection of cast concrete tiles for KAZA Concrete designed by Brooklyn-based architecture studio GRT Architects. The collection is inspired by some of architecture’s oldest surface embellishments, particularly Greek architecture. The ‘Flutes and Reeds’ family includes four individual designs: Single Flute, Triple Flute, Single Reed and Triple Reed.
“We proposed a triangular tile to afford design possibilities by ‘clocking’ tiles in one hundred twenty degree increments and for the different grid arrangements they produce. Each triangle is, in effect, a slice of a ‘normal’ fluted or reeded column. When arranged in a well-behaved fashion they form a surface that would look familiar to the Greeks, overlaid with a subtle, triangular matrix. However, a number of unique patterns emerge when tiles are rotated.”
5. Biscuit, Domus
Available from Domus, Biscuit is a collection of six, opaque, gentle, geometrical and three-dimensional surfaces, designed to create architectural spaces. The wall tiles are brought to life by light and shadow and simultaneously show versatility and simplicity.
