Products Trends
Countdown to Cersaie 2025: a showcase for trends
(September 2025) | Ceramic surfaces have long been valued for their functionality, durability and hygiene, making them the most popular material not only for kitchens and bathrooms but increasingly also for living spaces and outdoor areas. Alongside their technical characteristics, what they really stand out for today is their aesthetic versatility. Thanks to digital innovation and advanced surface research, the latest collections feature striking decorative effects, highly realistic reproductions of natural materials and sizes that offer ever greater scope for customisation. This evolution has established ceramic tiles as genuine design elements capable of enhancing the style of any interior or exterior.
These are three of the key trends to watch out for at the next edition of Cersaie, the 42nd International Exhibition of Ceramic Tile and Bathroom Furnishings due to be held in Bologna from 22 to 26 September 2025. The show was already fully booked three months before its opening, with 155,000 sqm of exhibition space and more than 620 exhibitor companies from all over the world. It will be a unique opportunity to discover emerging trends, meet industry leaders and attend an extensive programme of thematic conferences.
Optical effects: ceramics as a visual statement
Ceramic surfaces are taking on an active role in interior and architectural design, thanks to bold graphic effects that interact with light, space and touch. Decoration is no longer purely visual, as three-dimensional textures such as reliefs, incisions and surface treatments add depth and tactility. Light becomes part of the composition itself, with grazing illumination and direct reflections highlighting volumes, shade variations and details such as tone-on-tone patterns, stripes, bold veining or metallic finishes. The preferred colour palette draws on warm, natural shades ranging from sand to sage green and terracotta, often combined with metallic accents like gold and bronze to add elegance and sophistication. At the same time, more graphic and contemporary options are also emerging, with geometric patterns, abstract designs and floral motifs that use colour contrasts – in some cases within a single tile – to create dynamic, eye-catching compositions. These optical effects not only decorate but also bring rhythm and identity to a space, establishing ceramic as an expressive, standout material.
Stone and wood: realism in ceramics
Natural realism is seeing a strong resurgence in 2025 in the form of ceramic surfaces that replicate wood, stone, marble and other natural materials with impressive accuracy while maintaining all the advantages of porcelain stoneware in terms of durability, strength and easy maintenance. Thanks to advanced technologies such as high-definition digital printing and through-body veining, wood-effect tiles reproduce the grain, knots, colours and even the tactile feel of the original material. These surfaces are particularly popular in contract design and residential projects, especially for damp spaces such as bathrooms and kitchens, as well as outdoors, where they offer a natural look without the drawbacks of real wood.
Stone-effect surfaces are being produced in a wider colour palette, from neutral mineral tones to rich shades of green, blue, terracotta and anthracite. Marble-effect designs are available in glossy or matt finishes, with striking veining that brings timeless elegance to floors and walls. Alongside these aesthetic refinements, there is growing attention to sustainability, with many companies now adopting lower-impact production processes and using recycled and recyclable materials to create products that combine beauty with environmental responsibility. At a time when interior design choices are increasingly influenced by a desire for nature and authenticity, wood- and stone-effect ceramic surfaces offer a versatile and durable solution. They bring warmth and character to interiors while staying true to the spirit of contemporary design.
Innovative formats: design with a personal touch
In 2025, ceramic tiles are expanding their creative possibilities through new and innovative sizes that respond both to contemporary design needs and the demand for personalisation. Large formats such as 120×280 cm and above are becoming increasingly popular for their ability to create continuous surfaces with very few joints, which enhances the material look of the tiling. Ideal for floors, walls, countertops, washbasins, kitchen worktops and custom furniture, these porcelain surfaces embrace the “total look” concept, using the same finish across an entire space to create a sense of harmony and visual consistency.
At the same time we are seeing renewed interest in small formats, such as hexagons, 6×24 cm strips, trapezoids and irregular shapes that allow for dynamic, sophisticated compositions. Modularity becomes a key design tool, with innovative installation patterns and graphic effects bringing a sense of rhythm to surfaces. Small formats are particularly effective for geometric patterns, relief textures and tactile finishes that bring personality even to compact spaces.
Customisation is another key focus of research. Advanced digital printing makes it possible to apply bespoke patterns, decorations and textures to any format, opening up almost limitless creative potential. As a result, ceramics are no longer just surface coverings but versatile design elements that can adapt to any style, from minimalist to the most decorative, while combining technical performance with beauty and identity in everyday spaces.
