Tile suppliers like CTD Architectural Tiles work hard year-round to curate the most attractive and innovative products on the market, ensuring customers have access to both classic styles and the latest trends. But with so many considerations for creating a striking feature wall or floor beyond the use of a single block colour, it can be difficult to know where to start. In this article, Andrew Sadler, Sales Director – Architectural at leading tile supplier CTD Architectural Tiles, discusses the latest trends available in the tile market to make a real style statement through a feature wall or floor installation.
Modern classics
It’s no surprise that classic-style tiles have remained a popular design choice. With applications across all sectors, it’s the ideal way to create a subtle yet striking feature wall or floor. Taking their inspiration from the pre-Renaissance masters and handcrafted artisanal tiles from the Mediterranean, modern classics have become a go-to for designers looking to make an impact.
Even the most natural shades of tile – such as those inspired by aged plaster – can create a beautiful effect, perfect for feature walls and floors. However, anyone looking to make a real style statement can benefit from new and expanded ranges that offer bolder colours and patterns but still feature the classic, handcrafted-style finish proving infinitely popular.
Although these tiles are inspired by classic designs and materials, they benefit from the lead times of modern production – truly offering the best of both worlds.
Interchangeable patterns
Handcrafted-style tiles are also often used to create feature walls or feature floors thanks to the uniqueness of the individual tiles, allowing users to create a one-of-a-kind, eye-catching space. But you don’t need to use artisanal-style tiles to create a unique effect for feature walls and floors, and a vast selection of tiles have been created with the use of patterns at the forefront. Collections that feature interchangeable tiles – whether through a handcrafted appearance or colour and shape – are becoming increasingly popular for use in feature walls and floors as they allow designers to truly flex their creative muscles.
Many manufacturers are now taking this into consideration and creating tile ranges that feature a vast array of colours, shapes and patterns. This is a key consideration for CTD Architectural Tiles as we curate collections. Any designer wanting to create an eye-catching feature wall or floor should consider choosing tiles that can be used interchangeably – from using contrasting colours to a combination of vertical and horizontal tiles.
Matt and gloss
Matt versus gloss is the age-old question when it comes to choosing tiles, but one of the latest trends for feature walls, in particular, shows that it doesn’t need to be one or the other. Several tile collections, available through suppliers including CTD Architectural Tiles, include beautiful products which use a combination of both matt and gloss surfaces.
Tiles featuring a matt background and glossy finish are proving popular among designers looking to make a real impact and are particularly sought after for commercial sector projects such as bars and restaurants.
Alternatively, another way to create a striking feature wall using the interplay between matt and gloss effects is to choose a product where matt and gloss tiles are separate but work perfectly together. This is a great way for designers to get creative and install a unique feature wall that alternates between matt and gloss for a stylish end result.
Lighting the way
The interaction between light and surfaces has long been used in design, with glossy tiles in particular used heavily in the commercial sector to make spaces appear bigger and brighter. It’s also important to consider the light reflectance values of tiles, especially in the design of public spaces under the Equality Act 2010, which requires public areas to be accessible to those with complex needs. Beyond using light for practical purposes in design, it’s also a popular way to create an eye-catching feature wall or floor.
Tiles that have been designed to maximise lighting are becoming increasingly in demand across all sectors, and because of this, we’re seeing more and more manufacturers producing tile collections comprising products that cleverly interact with lighting to create stunning visual effects. For example, the Bow tile collection, which is available through CTD Architectural Tiles, features a relief pattern designed to interact with light in order to create shadow effects for a beautiful and unique finish – making it the ideal choice for feature walls.
When it comes to designing an eye-catching space, feature walls and floors remain a popular choice, and it’s easy to see why. Thanks to modern production methods, the possibilities are almost endless. But, with so many design options available, we recommend speaking to your chosen tile supplier for advice and recommendations for the right products to bring your vision to life. It’s also worth requesting samples of your favourite tiles to really get a look and feel for the finished result.
