Once a simple decorative gesture, ceramic tile has become a fundamental element of design capable of transforming spaces into immersive, multi-sensory experiences. At Cersaie 2025, Italy’s annual exhibition of ceramic and porcelain, manufacturers showcased the dramatic and impactful power of stoneware with abandon — imagery was hyper-realistic, colour saturation was full-body, surfaces were intricately sculpted to play with light and shadow, and textures effectively mimicked everything from natural stone to delicate fabrics — offering designers an unparalleled level of creative freedom.

Past Influences

Referencing everything from architectural movements to traditional dance, these tiles are steeped in history

1 Brutus by 41zero42

One of four new collections by perennial favourite 41zero42, Brutus highlights the beauty of imperfection. Drawing a parallel between European and South American brutalism, the HD digitally coloured body porcelain includes a granite-effect mosaic in smooth and rugged finishes that exemplifies the raw appeal of irregular shapes and rough surfaces.

2 Gravel by Ceramica Sant’Agostino

Evoking the passage of time on a well-travelled road, Gravel from Ceramica Sant’Agostino brings the industrial look of pockmarked concrete to porcelain stoneware. Offered in four neutral tones — Light, Sand, Pearl and Grey — the collection is at once old-world and of-the-moment.

3 Quadrille by Decoratori Bassanesi

Swedish designer Clara von Zweigbergk combines modern and retro motifs in her charming Quadrille collection for Decoratori Bassanesi. Named after the popular dance from the 18th and 19th centuries, the glazed porcelain series features six geometric patterns (and two solids) in shades of burgundy, forest green and dusty blue that create visual rhythm through repetition.

3D Effect

Playing with light and shadow, textured and sculpted tiles invite multi-sensory exploration

1 Terrae by Mirage

A collaboration with AMDL Circle, Terrae from Mirage is a compelling “narrative system” composed of three lines of textured ceramic surfaces: the embossed geometric patterns of Atmo, the pitted industrial resin floor–inspired Idro, and Lito (shown) — 3-D modules that can be used to build partitions and screens.

2 Boton Tiles by Cimento

With high-gloss and irregular surfaces, the Boton wall cladding designed by Patricia Urquiola for Cimento captures and reflects light in extraordinary ways. Made from a special cement-based compound with mineral aggregates and natural binders, the porous-looking panels also feature a sustainable variant that integrates microalgae.

3 Tratti by Fioranese

Shaping light with shadows, the three simple yet sophisticated sculpted surfaces of the Tratti porcelain brick tiles from Fioranese can be used alone or mixed and matched to introduce varied movement and depth to interior spaces.

Soft Warmth

Subtle patterns and subdued palettes lend elegance to neutrality

1 Milano Sublime by Coem

Paying reverence to the Duomo, Milano Sublime from Coem authentically reinterprets the cathedral’s Candoglia marble as a ceramic surface. It’s offered in two elegant shades: Puro, with a luminous pale pink ground and crisp grey veining, and Lume, denoted by pinkish-grey streaks across a warm ivory base.

2 Ink by Ceramiche Refin

Imprinted with a swirling pattern reminiscent of cross-hatching, Ink from Ceramiche Refin has a quiet and nuanced appearance that shifts and meanders in different directions, depending on the layout. This artistic gesture is enhanced by the three neutral, three saturated and two moody tones in which the ceramic collection is offered.

3 Elements by Casalgrande Padana

Featuring three complementary surface finishes — the wood-effect Essence, the richly detailed Pebbles and the plaster-like Texture — Elements from Casalgrande Padana is a cohesive offering for a variety of settings. Each porcelain tile comes in either a soft-touch or slatted finish and six muted colours.