Valencia, Spain—Tile of Spain manufacturers returned to Spain earlier this month to bring their latest products and innovations to Cevisama, the International Fair for Ceramic Tiles and Bathroom Furnishings. This year’s annual show took place from February 3-7 and was held at the Feria Valencia center here.
During the Tile of Spain press conference, Vicente Nomdedeu, the president of The Spanish Ceramic Tile Manufacturers Association (ASCER), highlighted the 2019 production, sales and exports figures that reflect the strength of Spain’s industrial sector. The Spanish tile industry surpassed the levels of success of those obtained in 2018 with overall sales increasing by 4%, according to Nomdedeu. With approximately 75% of all sales made abroad, Spain currently exports to 185 countries worldwide with a total export growth of 3% since 2018.
What’s trending 2020
The 38th edition of Cevisama saw 800 exhibitors showcase their new collections to more than 90,000 industry professionals from all over the world. With no shortage of new styles to inspire interior and exterior design, the following highlights the most prominent trends and innovations on display by Tile of Spain USA’s featured companies:
Modern metallics
Neutral tones enhanced by metallic motifs will shine strong this year. The iridescent reflections seen in the Akila collection from Azteca, Stardust collection from Fanal, Iron 4D collection from Museum and Grespania’s Patina collection bring an edge of luxury and reflect natural light to visually expand a space.
Artful inspirations
Geometric patterns and eccentric graphics make their way back to the forefront of tile design after years of toned-down styles. Whimsical looks including Vives’ art déco inspired Pop collection, Aparici’s Altea collection and Arcana’s uniquely designed wood-look collection Komi, make bold statements and aim to turn spaces into true works of art.
Calming colors
Soft pastels and soothing hues were in abundance this year. Travel from Emotion Ceramics, Clash by Rocersa and the Bow collection from Harmony gradually shift away from the neutral color palette that has been in high demand over the past few years and subtly bring color to interiors. Muted pinks, blues and greens visually enrich environments and lend a relaxing atmosphere.
Three dimensional details
It’s not just colors and patterns making waves in 2020. From curved ridges and beveled surfaces to concaved details, manufacturers are experimenting with texture and dimension that quite literally raises the bar in interior design. Wall tiles like the Donna collection by Peronda, the Underground collection from Keraben Grupo and Natucer’s custom D’autore series portray this unique trend to create a one-of-a-kind look.
Resurgence of shapes and decorative tiles
Iconic and bespoke shaped tile stood out among its conventional counterparts. The shapes featured in Cevica’s Chintz collection, Roca Tile’s Rockart collection, Apavisa’s Intuition collection and Onix’s Hex XL collection allow for more interesting layouts and bring a sense of sophistication to designs that have not been seen in recent years.
A return to traditional formats
In contrast to unique shapes, traditional formats were in abundance with a return of subway tile in small and square formats. New collections including Pierre by Small Size, Delice by Gayafores and Antiqva by Equipe offer both interior and exterior solutions for all types of surfaces.