What’s one of the quickest ways to make a major shift in your home’s style this year? With some brand-new tile, of course. Whether you’re eyeing your backsplash, fireplace, or bathroom floors, manufacturers are turning out an inspiring array of options for any space, style, or budget.

Each autumn, more than 100,000 designers, installers, and buyers from the tile world descend upon Bologna, Italy, to attend Cersaie, an international exhibition of ceramic tile and bathroom furnishings. There, manufacturers display hundreds of new collections that demonstrate the latest in tile style and technology. Here, we’ve gathered a few of the biggest trends from Cersaie’s 36th-annual exhibition, as identified by Ceramics of Italy, a collective of Italian manufacturers of ceramic tiles, sanitary ware, and tableware that are members of Confindustria Ceramica (the Italian Association of Ceramics).

Cà Foscari Outdoor porcelain stoneware tile, by La Fabbrica. Photo courtesy of Ceramics of Italy
Vetrite Gem Glass laminated glass tile in Cliff, by Sicis. Photo courtesy of Ceramics of Italy
Yosemite porcelain stoneware slabs shown in Rock Bocciardata, by Blustyle. Photo courtesy of Ceramics of Italy

Trend #1: New Applications

Many tile manufacturers have begun expanding their range of tile thicknesses, which allows for many new applications, from kitchen countertops to bathroom vanities to dining tables. La Fabbrica’s wood-grained Cà Foscari outdoor tile replaces patio pavers or wood decking, Blustyle’s Yosemite collection of porcelain stoneware slabs can cover a driveway, and Sicis’ Vetrite large-format thin glass panels offer beautiful color and visual texture for furniture, countertops, doors, lighting, and more.

Wide&Style Papillon ceramic wallcovering by ABK. Photo courtesy of Ceramics of Italy
Felix the Cat ceramic tiles by Del Conca. Photo courtesy of Ceramics of Italy
Bold wall tiles in Bold Mustard by Marca Corona. Photo courtesy of Ceramics of Italy

Trend #2: Playful Patterns

Want to have some fun with your powder room walls or shower tile? The options—from polka dots to puzzle pieces to 3-D tiles that look like giant Lego bricks—are overwhelming. A few of our favorites: ABK’s Wide&Style collection of ceramic wall-coverings (we love the butterfly-bedecked Papillon pattern), Del Conca’s illustrated Felix the Cat ceramic tiles, and, of course, those Lego-like Bold wall tiles by Marca Corona.

Stardust ceramic tiles by Refin. Photo courtesy of Ceramics of Italy
Étoile Illusion tile from the Étoile de Rex collection by Rex. Photo courtesy of Ceramics of Italy
IM Italian Marble (wall tile) in Sahara Noir, Folio 6.0 collection by Edilgres. Photo courtesy of Ceramics of Italy

Trend #3: Rare Marbles

Forget Carrara or travertine. These days, tile makers are scouring quarries for unique colors and veining, then harnessing the power of digital manipulation to design realistic interpretations in durable ceramic. Refin took inspiration from the night sky when creating Stardust, a ceramic tile that features ton-sur-ton vein patterns and sparkling flecks of metal, while Rex searched from Brazil to the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines mountains to find the new and rare marbles it replicates in its Étoile de Rex collection of ceramic tiles.

Rilievi 3-D wall tile in Oltremare by Zaven for Cedit. Photo courtesy of Ceramics of Italy
OT 07026 collection tile in Pavone by Cerasarda. Photo courtesy of Ceramics of Italy
Kodici tile in glossy finish, Dekorami by Marcante-Testa for Ceramica Vogue. Photo courtesy of Ceramics of Italy

Trend #4: Moody Blues

The color blue is trending in a big way this year, and there’s a hue to complement almost any decor. We love the 3-D relief tile in electric blue from the Rilievi collection by Zaven, and the Oceano, Pavone, and Menta hues in Cerasarda’s OT 07026 collection, which evoke the turquoise waters along the Sardinian coast. And, coming soon is the cool Dekorami collection of glazed stoneware tiles designed by the Marcante-Testa firm for Ceramica Vogue, which combines 3-D geometric patterns and a glossy finish for a look that’s a little traditional, a little modern.

Purple Flower wall panel from the I Decorativi collection by Fuoriformato. Photo courtesy of Ceramics of Italy
Garden tile in Sun by Unica. Photo courtesy of Ceramics of Italy

Trend #5: Big, Bold Patterns

Many manufacturers are using large-format tiles to showcase equally big patterns that create the look of wallpaper. Case in point: Fuoriformato’s massive panels in the I Decorativi collection are all you need to create a major statement wall. Or, for an instant mood boost, try Unica’s floral Garden tiles, which come in happy green and yellow hues.

Lakewood porcelain stoneware planks by Ceramica Sant’Agostino. Photo courtesy of Ceramics of Italy
Cava Bianco and Domum (inset) porcelain tiles from the Cava collection by Vallelunga & Co. Photo courtesy of Ceramics of Italy
Circle marble resin tile in Gray, from the Cube collection by Made+39. Photo courtesy of Ceramics of Italy

Trend #6: Touchable Textures

An irresistible array of new surface finishes and textures might make you forget all about pattern. Ceramica Sant’Agostino’s Lakewood porcelain stoneware planks look just like oiled wood with a hand-planed surface, while the marble look and satin finish of Vallelunga & Company’s Cava tiles evoke an ancient European church floor. But the tile we’re just dying to touch is Made+39’s Cube, a fresh take on the mosaic that combines hollowed out and relief shapes in a variety of thicknesses to play with light and shadow.

Miami collection glazed porcelain stoneware tile by Cir. Photo courtesy of Ceramics of Italy
Swing Beige Multicolor 01 tile by Ceramica Rondine. Photo courtesy of Ceramics of Italy
Wild Berry tile from the Wide&Style collection for ABK. Photo courtesy of Ceramics of Italy

Trend #7: New Takes on Tradition

Beloved historical patterns get a fresh twist in the hands of makers including Cir (see their Miami collection), Ceramica Rondine (whose Swing series mixes Op-Art and Art Déco influences), and ABK (what powder room wouldn’t love their Wide&Style collection’s Wild Berry pattern?).