Colour Trends, Design Trends, New Collections, Trends

Italian insight 5: Form & Function

Ceramics of Italy’s 5-part Spring-Summer 2026 Trend Report concludes with Form & Function. Here physical shape and purpose come together. This trend is not just about how a space looks, it’s about how it works. Thanks to its inherent qualities, Italian tile is redefining this role, moving far beyond backsplash and into a high-performance architectural skin. 

A modern bathroom featuring turquoise sinks and toilets against floral patterned walls.
Form & Function: Top Left: HOP by SIMAS; Bottom Left: Breccia Medici by ABKStone; Top Right: Marvel T by Atlas Concorde; Bottom Right: Closer by Imola Ceramica.

In the bathroom, tile has always been a natural choice for its water resistance, antibacterial and low maintenance properties. Now, designers are taking it further with tile drenching; wrapping floors, walls, and even ceilings in a single tile or tonal pattern.

Modern kitchen featuring a marble countertop and backsplash, wooden cabinetry, and stylish pendant lighting.
ABK Stone
Modern kitchen sink with a sleek design, set in a light marble countertop, featuring a faucet and surrounding greenery visible through a large window.
ABK Stone
A tranquil courtyard featuring a rectangular pond with water lilies, surrounded by modern architecture, trees, and seating areas.
Atlas Concorde
Modern bathroom with a freestanding white bathtub on a circular wooden platform, minimalistic cabinetry with a large mirror above, wall shelves displaying decorative items, and a glass shower area. Natural light streaming in from large windows with greenery visible outside.
Atlas Concorde
A modern kitchen featuring a large stone island with a built-in sink and a sleek stovetop, surrounded by light-colored cabinetry and elegant lighting.
Atlas Plan

The result is a spa-like environment that is both practical and immersive, featuring prefabricated washbasins and vanities from premier Italian brands such as La Fabbrica’s Moon Cream and Atlas Concorde’s Nyra Habitat. In the kitchen, porcelain’s non-porous, heat- and scratch-resistant qualities are driving a surge in demand for large-format slabs as countertops. As opposed to other surface materials, it resists liquids, chemicals, and acids, preventing stains from setting.

A modern bedroom featuring a plush bed with a textured blanket, a stylish fireplace, and large glass doors that open to a scenic outdoor view. The room includes a freestanding bathtub and minimalist design elements, creating a serene and elegant atmosphere.
Casalgrande Padana
Modern outdoor patio area featuring a gray sectional sofa, a wooden coffee table, and lush green grass. The patio is surrounded by large glass windows and wooden accents in a contemporary architectural style.
Keep
Top view of a modern kitchen with a large stone countertop, gas burners, and wooden cabinets. A vase with branches and a tea set are arranged on the countertop.
Co-Em
A modern outdoor space featuring a swimming pool, lounge chairs, and umbrellas, surrounded by stone walls and palm trees under a clear blue sky.
Cotto d’Este
A modern outdoor patio with gray stone flooring, featuring a wooden door, potted plants, and two wicker chairs.
Cerdomus

Pushing innovation forward, these slabs are now being paired with invisible induction cooktops, as seen in new offerings from ABKStone, Atlas Plan and in Ceramiche Coem’s Immensa collection, with induction coils embedded beneath the surface, allowing for cooking directly on the countertop. In living spaces, heat-resistant options – such as Casalgrande Padana’s Elements collection – are being applied across fireplace surrounds, while large-format options are also being fabricated into dining, coffee, and conference tables, including MATERIA’s Daino Reale and Shape by Ceramica Fondovalle.

A minimalist bathroom featuring smooth gray stone walls and flooring, with soft ambient lighting along the edges. A simple gray cylinder-shaped holder sits on a ledge alongside rolled towels.
Ceramica del Conca
A modern bathroom with a glass shower, freestanding bathtub, and large window showcasing a view of the ocean and rocky cliff.
Ceramica del Conca
A modern rectangular dining table with a gray marble top supported by two black cylindrical bases, placed on a light-colored tiled floor.
Ceramica Fondovalle
A cozy indoor scene featuring a modern fireplace with a flickering flame, surrounded by beige tiled walls. In the foreground, there are lush green plants, including an agave, and a large decorative pot with a cactus. A comfortable chair and a woven basket add to the inviting atmosphere.
Ceramica Imola
Modern bathroom sink with a minimalist design, featuring a rectangular basin, black faucet, and a stone countertop, illuminated by stylish hanging lights.
La Fabbrica
A modern dining table with a light-colored, smooth surface and unique wooden base, surrounded by stylish upholstered chairs, a decorative vase with dried flowers, and a fruit bowl.
Flakier
Modern outdoor space featuring two loungers adjacent to a swimming pool with an elegant stone deck and subtle lighting.

Unlike natural marble, porcelain resists etching and staining from spilled drinks, making it virtually indestructible. Tile also moves seamlessly outdoors, resisting moisture, temperature changes, and UV exposure without fading. While wood or vinyl may typically sun-bleach, this makes it ideal for pavers and high-traffic areas like pool decks and patios, as seen in new collections such as Tufo by Cerdomus, Solaris by Cotto d’Este, Trevi by Ceramiche Keope, and Menhir by Ceramiche Supergres. Additionally, architects are also specifying porcelain for exterior façades, where it acts as a protective layer against UV rays and moisture while extending the interior aesthetic outward.

More at: https://www.italytile.com/

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