Top five ceramic surface trends for Spring/Summer 2025

(June 2025) | Fresh off a highly successful edition of Coverings 2025, in Orlando, Florida, Ceramics of Italy is unveiling its 2025 Spring-Summer Trend Report. Throughout 2025, Italian ceramic and porcelain tile design has continued to evolve with a bold, yet thoughtful focus on emotion, materiality and craft.  New collections featuring a kaleidoscope of colors, nature-inspired palettes, artisanal details, timeless glamour and innovative surface applications were seen across the show floor – capturing a global shift toward calm, authenticity and connection. With a renewed appreciation for heritage and the handmade, tile is no longer just a surface choice; it’s a statement. Advancements in technology are unlocking new sizes, formats, and textures, brought to life in a cleaner, more conscious way that underscores the industry’s commitment to sustainable, high-performance design. Sculptural forms and finishes that play with light take center stage, while Art Deco styles make a bold comeback through expressive geometries. From full-surface cladding applications to human-centric design, this season’s top five trends spotlight the collaborative connection and undeniable style from Italian tile manufacturers that continue to push the industry forward.

Kaleidoscope of Color

The warmer months are bringing a fresh burst of energy to tile design, and Ceramics of Italy member brands are embracing it with expressive palettes and captivating patterns. This season, there’s no single dominant shade; instead, there’s a kaleidoscope of earthy neutrals that offer a sense of stability and balance, along with soft pastels, bold, whimsical hues and nature-inspired tones. From the sun-soaked warmth of terracotta red to electric and Mediterranean blues, colors are being used to evoke emotion and transform spaces. New color-centric collections play with muted yellows, dusty pinks, and greys, expressed through decorative patterns and textures. Greens are also flourishing, exploring sage and emerald shades that mirror nature’s vitality. Meanwhile, the “color drenching” trend continues to gain traction, enveloping rooms in saturated or more muted tones from floor to ceiling for a striking, cohesive look. Whether it’s the rhythmic vibrancy or calming hues that offer a delicate touch, the latest collections invite a sense of escapism and a deeper connection to nature.

Anthroform

A new wave in tile design is reimagining human culture and connection through a thoughtful blend of history, material heritage, and storytelling. Italian brands are at the forefront, collaborating with renowned designers like Paola Navone, Simone Bonanni, Claudia Carpenito, AMDL Circle, Letizia Ballotti and Elisa Ossino to infuse contemporary surfaces with a poetic, human-centric sensibility. Others are deepening ties to the land by partnering with celebrated suppliers of natural materials such as wood or lava stone, channeling decades of expertise into hyper-realistic ceramic renditions of natural materials. Italian manufacturers are also looking outward, to architecture, heritage, and the spaces where cultures meet. References range from the vibrant dwellings of Indonesia’s Kampung village to the refined stone of Italian palazzos. Inspiration from materials like ancient Occitan limestone speaks to the architectural languages born at the crossroads of civilizations. Symbolic patterns, inspired by the shared visual language of civilizations like the Messapia, bring ancient motifs into contemporary focus. Some collections revisit the Mediterranean ceramic tradition with hand-forged square and brick aesthetics and 19th-century tile patterns, while others evoke rammed earth construction – an age-old building method intrinsic to regional identity. Manufacturers are also embracing extruded forms that honor artisanal terracotta latticework, as well as the textures and patterns of antique textiles. Together, these designs form a rich anthology – one that reinterprets cultural memory and material legacy through a distinctly modern lens.

Art Deco

Art Deco is making a bold comeback in tile, where timeless glamour meets sharp geometry. Today’s designs reimagine classic motifs like chevrons, arches, circles, and squares, showcasing dramatic arrangements. True to traditional Deco style, many of these collections thrive on high contrast – dark, moody tones set against lighter hues in eye-catching matte and glossy surfaces for maximum impact. Monochromatic palettes, rich jewel tones, and earthy hues capture the essence of a golden era while embracing contemporary, cutting-edge design. The result is a striking revival that channels Art Deco’s opulence through a modern lens that is bold, elegant, and unmistakably current.

Lightscape

Tile is no longer just a surface – it’s a canvas for light. Today’s most compelling designs are embracing light, not just in how it’s illuminated, but in how it reflects, refracts, and plays with it. Italian manufacturers are leading this trend, pushing boundaries with tile finishes, formats, and technologies that transform the way spaces glow and shimmer. Large-format porcelain slabs in onyx, marble, and stone effects now mimic the depth and glow of backlighting, thanks to advanced digital and layering techniques. The result is a luminous – almost translucent – surface that feels both modern and luxurious. Adding to this dialogue between form and illumination, lattice-style tiles are emerging as sculptural elements in their own right – installed as room dividers or exterior walls, they cast ever-changing shadows and light patterns that animate a space. Meanwhile, the combination of matte and glossy finishes, strategically placed to catch and refract light, creates movement across walls and floors. Brands are also exploring light interaction through innovative production and finishing techniques that reproduce marble’s shimmering crystallization or add a glittering layer to surfaces, while others beautifully recreate the charm of antiqued mirror effects for a distinctive vintage allure. These details, paired with the playful colors and patterns that are also on the rise, not only add personality but make interiors feel brighter, more joyful, and full of life.

Surface Cladding

Tile is no longer confined to floors and walls. With its versatility, durability, and ability to mimic natural materials like marble and wood, tile is being applied everywhere, transforming into a multifunctional design element that extends into spaces in new, unexpected ways. Italian manufacturers are redefining tile as a statement surface – from countertops and cooktops to porcelain tables and tile-wrapped islands from large slab brands. Communal areas – from dining rooms and living spaces to offices and hospitality lounges – are emerging as showpieces for tile design, incorporating everything from dramatic fireplace surrounds to striking gathering tables and workstations. In the bathroom, prefabricated vanities and washbasins are taking center stage. Some collections take surface cladding even further, wrapping walls, bars, and appliances for a total-room look. Outside, tile is making a bold impact with innovative applications, which clads kitchen and bar areas in sleek porcelain finishes, while small, brick tiles alongside large-format porcelain panels are increasingly being specified for outdoor wall cladding and building facades. As tile evolves beyond traditional applications – from furniture to architectural features – it’s redefining surfaces with versatility and style, becoming a central element in design.

For additional products and inspiration, visit the product gallery. For information on individual companies across the Italian ceramic sector, visit the Italian Ceramic Finder.