Tile Trend Round-Up: The Best Tile Design Trends of 2020
2020 was a strange year for many people, but some beautiful flooring and tile trends emerged nonetheless. Here's a look at some of the best.
2020 saw a lot of us spend far more time at home than ever before. And that apparently led to 30% of us deciding our flooring was the worst part of our house.
With all the flooring options out there, it can get overwhelming to match the perfect materials to the perfect room, but here's one you should definitely keep in mind: tile. It's durable, easy to care for, and comes in a ton of varieties for every budget. It's also a great fit for most of the rooms in your house.
Not sure where to begin? Here's a look at some of the top tile trends of 2020 to get the ideas flowing.
Tile In Disguise
You know all those inspiration pics you've ripped out of magazines and pinned on Pinterest? Take a closer look at the floors. Many of the hardwood, marble, and concrete floors are actually tile.
Faux-wood tile offers the best of both materials: the beauty and versatility of hardwoods with the durability and easy maintenance of tile. Wood tiles hold up to foot traffic, pets, scratches, and messes. They're perfect for laundry rooms, bathrooms, and basements, or any wet or damp areas.
As a bonus, they're a better choice for the environment since no trees are harvested in the making of your upgraded floor.
Have you been eyeing popular flooring trends like terrazzo or marble? The ceramic or porcelain tile versions require much less maintenance than the originals and last longer.
What about concrete floors? Tile offers easier installation and, like all the other options mentioned here, can be replaced by tile if needed.
Play With Scale and Texture
2020 saw an increase in tile designs that use scale and texture to elevate a room.
Large-format tile is a growing trend that doubles and sometimes triples the standard 12"x12" tile. It works in a variety of finishes and requires fewer grout lines, so the result is streamlined and modern.
Or go in the opposite direction by using penny tile, small hexagonal tile, or pebble mosaic tile depending on your aesthetic. These bring tons of character to a more traditional design.
For texture, look again to the wood grain of faux-wood tiles. Or choose a cement or encaustic tile with its handmade texture and choice of glazed or unglazed finish. And if you want a more modern touch, a matte finish on whichever type of tile you choose will do the trick.
Be Bold With Pattern and Color
All-white and neutral designs are classic for a reason. But 2020 trends showed that homeowners love the charm of pattern and color.
Skip the rectangles and install trapezoids, hexagons, and diamond shapes in an outside-the-grid layout. Pick a tile with patterns that can be configured in any number of different ways, making your floor a customized piece. Bring the outdoors in with tiles that mimic precious stones or granite.
Meanwhile, 2020 also brought a return to rich color in floor design. Warmer tones like terra-cotta and succulent green. Dusty rose, dark jewel tones, and even black have all emerged as alternatives to neutrals.
Mixing colors and patterns has also been popular, along with using grout as a standout color accessory.
Kitchen and Bathroom Tile Trends
When you think of using tile in your house, kitchens and bathrooms are the first areas that come to mind. And rightly so, since tiles are waterproof and have been used in areas that get wet since the Roman Baths. They're also resistant to mold and bacteria, which is a huge plus for these two areas of your home.
For kitchens, 2020 saw retro style come back bigger than ever. The classic black-and-white checkerboard tile is still a hit. and cafe mosaic tiles, also in black and white, make your kitchen feel like your favorite bistro. Or add color to your mosaic mix for something completely contemporary and new.
Farmhouse chic and rustic design remains popular and pairs well with faux-wood tile or neutral rectangular tile in a herringbone pattern.
For a bathroom remodel, tile floor possibilities are endless. If you want to stick with an all-white look, take the floors to the next level with a subtle marble-look tile. Or focus on a deep, matte gray for your neutral.
Give small bathrooms a jolt of personality with cement tiles in a bold geometric pattern. Make it feel like a beach getaway with pebbled mosaic tile. Incorporate bathroom tiling embedded with speckled bits of glass for a glam update.
And carry the floor tile up the walls or the shower surround to make an impressive statement. 2020 saw all these in spades.
Pretty and Functional
Tile isn't just for show. As we've seen, its easy maintenance and durability are benefits for your lifestyle as well. Especially if you live in areas where hardwoods, laminates, or vinyl flooring don't hold up to environmental factors.
Slip-resistant tile is another lifestyle benefit from tile flooring that became popular in 2020. More people are aging in place, and that can require some upgrades to increase the safety factor of your home.
Because bathrooms can be particularly dangerous, try using a textured natural stone or non-slip ceramic or porcelain tile in your designs. These tiles are created with a nanostructured surface that is comfortable and keeps you stable.
And, of course, heated tile floors are an excellent option if you live in cooler areas or just like toasty feet in the morning.
So Many Options
If you're tired of thinking bad thoughts about one of the biggest features of your home, tile flooring is the way to go. And hopefully, one of these 2020 tile trends will help you on your way to new flooring in 2021.
Contact us at Eagle Flooring West to find the perfect tile flooring for your Phoenix home.
