Coming off the Cersaie tile show in Bologna, Italy, and Boutique Design New York, Ceramics of Italy has released its most recent trend report outlining the top themes you will see in the coming year. 

“Thanks to digital technology 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 customization,” the group says. “The Ceramics of Italy Trend Report examines these trends, demonstrating how material innovation and artistic expression are transforming porcelain and ceramic into the most versatile, durable and design-driven hard surface on the market.”

Here are the five trends to watch:

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Tile as Art

Italian tilemakers are embracing bold graphic effects and optical illusions, positioning ceramic tile as a sophisticated alternative to traditional wallpaper or framed artwork. The new collections “create the opportunity for diverse and decorative storytelling that sets the artistic foundation of the space,” Ceramics of Italy says. “Designers are now crafting dynamic, continuous murals exemplified by intricate, narrative-driven designs.” Examples of this look include strong geometric and metallic graphic identities, animal prints, floral and aquatic looks. Brands include Tonalite, Laminam, Decoratori Bassanesi, Gruppo Romani, Antiche Fornaci D’Agostino and Ceramica Bardelli. 

Organic Minimalism 

This season Italian manufacturers are emphasizing tranquility, texture and lasting stone effects, which they have always done well. This trend represents a collective return to structured, quiet spaces, desaturated tones and the integrity of durable materials. “This approach elevates raw, elemental surfaces such as concrete and stone looks, into refined, tactile expressions of calm, sophisticated design,” the group says. “Reflecting a quest for peace, Refin’s Osmos collection reinterprets cement with deep, organic, and materialized graphics, featuring subtle marble-like veins that create a sophisticated, post-industrial foundation. Mirage’s Nöriven champions timeless modernity by revamping Portland stone, showcasing dimensional decorative details and sophisticated tactile texture that capture light with breathtaking realism in naturally cool tones. Other brands producing these looks include Pastorelli, Marca Corona, Ceramiche Coem, Ceramiche Caesar, Fincibec and Naxos.

Color Drenching 

These days interiors are increasingly being enveloped in a single, intense hue, creating dramatic, emotionally rich environments, Ceramics of Italy says. This approach champions the unapologetic use of one deeply saturated tone applied monolithically, turning color into the primary architectural feature rather than an accent. “Often described as a ‘drenching’ technique, this blurs the boundaries between floors and walls, transforming a room into a fully immersive, uninterrupted visual experience,” the group says. “Italian tile manufacturers are embracing this moment, harnessing porcelain’s durable, high-performance nature to create bold, lasting color statements that redefine entire rooms with effortless impact.” Some of the brands offering the trend include Lea Ceramiche, Cerasarda, Ceramica del Conca, Ceramiche Supergres and Cotto d’Este.

Architectural Integration 

Tile is signaling a new design direction–one where it moves beyond decoration to become an enduring architectural element. “Evolving past its traditional role as a surface finish, ceramic and porcelain tile are now shaping integrated, fabricated forms that blur the line between furniture and structure,” Ceramics of Italy says. “With advanced fabrication technologies and the versatility of both small and large-format porcelain, Italian manufacturers are crafting customizable pieces that merge form and function into seamless, sculptural environments.” Across bathroom settings, collections such as La Fabbrica’s Moon Cream and Ceramiche Supergres’s Kave showcase this evolution through wall-mounted and freestanding washbasins and vanities that share a unified surface language. Large-format slabs from Atlas Plan, along with the bold marble and stone effects of Versace Ceramics’ V Stone and Ceramiche Refin’s Prestigio, extend this architectural continuity to kitchen islands, cooktops and full-height cladding.

Surface Technologies

 Ceramics of Italy says Italian manufacturers continue to pioneer new surface technologies that merge visual sophistication with technical mastery. “This season’s innovations elevate ceramic and porcelain tile from a purely decorative medium to one that actively transforms the experience of space–through touch, texture, light and function,” the group says. “Collections like Tratti by Fioranese play with depth and reflection, using sculptural reliefs to draw shifting shadows that animate interiors, while Glint by Ceramiche Refin–created in collaboration with artist Quayola–translates the fluid geometry of rippling water into a bas-relief surface using advanced mold techniques.” The group adds that Forever Color by Cir explores the dialogue between finish and chromatic intensity, juxtaposing glossy and matte effects for richly tactile variation. On the technical frontier, Italgraniti’s I Cementi employs RealUp and StrideUp technologies to achieve unprecedented dimensional depth and slip resistance with a silky touch. “Casalgrande Padana pushes innovation even further, integrating induction cooktop systems directly into porcelain countertops with its Ghost collection, while the brand’s Aquatio collection extends this technical precision to the bath with an expansive offering of removable shower trays,” the group says.