Colours, Surfaces, and Shapes That Will Define the Year Ahead
Cersaie 2025 once again proved to be the global stage for unveiling the future of ceramics, bathroom design, and interior innovation. This year’s exhibition revealed a compelling convergence of nature, art, and architecture — showing us that the next wave of interior design will be defined by emotion, materiality, and purpose.
From sculptural bathroom fixtures to hyper-realistic stone finishes, the message was clear: 2026 interiors will be beautiful, functional, and deeply personal.
Here are the key design trends shaping the year ahead — and the standout collections that embody them.
Nature-Inspired Surfaces
Organic textures, natural stone looks, and earthy colour palettes dominated the fair. Brands leaned into high-tech realism to bring the raw beauty of the natural world indoors.
Notably, Gruppo Cerdisa Ricchetti introduced Archisalt and Neolitica, two collections that translate the quiet strength of stone into expressive surfaces. From the serene veining of Breccia Aurora to the grounded earthiness of Jura, each tile tells a story of place and emotion.
Marazzi echoed this trend with Mystone Pietra di Sicilia and Mystone Tivoli, both reinterpreting Italian stone with stunning clarity — enhanced by advanced 3D ink technology for added depth and authenticity.
These collections exemplify a key theme for 2026: organic sophistication, where surfaces feel tactile, immersive, and emotionally resonant.
Sculptural Forms
Fluid, three-dimensional forms are replacing rigid minimalism, adding movement and softness to interiors.
This was most evident in the bathroom sector, where Flaminia unveiled Norma — a freestanding washbasin by Elena Salmistraro that fuses sculptural curves with practical design, including an integrated countertop. Across ceramics, textured wall tiles and 3D reliefs added visual and physical depth, turning surfaces into architectural statements.
Bold Colour Statements
Colour is making a confident return — not just as an accent but as a central design feature. We saw rich, saturated hues like burgundy, terracotta, deep greens, and sunlit yellows used in striking combinations or bold monochrome installations.
WOW Design led the charge here, pushing ceramics into an artistic realm. Their collections mixed daring colour palettes with playful textures, elevating tiles from background elements to focal points full of personality.
Two-Tone & Layered Finishes
Designers are embracing tonal contrast to add depth and sophistication — particularly in minimalist contexts.
Flaminia’s Monotwin washbasin, reimagined in two-tone Stripes finishes like Cenere/Carbone, adds visual intrigue without overwhelming a space. Similarly, Bongio’s TAIT faucet line combines essential geometry with subtle contrast, offering understated luxury through material layering and proportion.
This trend speaks to a refined, nuanced approach: complex simplicity through thoughtful contrasts.
Integrated Functionality
Form meets function in the most seamless ways. Integrated countertops, colour-matched accessories, and built-in storage are becoming standard in both kitchens and bathrooms.
Flaminia’s updated App collection now includes matching seat covers for their coloured WCs — a subtle but impactful push toward cohesive monochrome styling. Products like Link51, a compact back-to-wall toilet from the Link collection, show how function and form can coexist beautifully in tight spaces.
Compact Living Solutions
Urban living continues to influence design innovation. Brands are responding with slimmer, smarter products that optimise space without compromising on aesthetics.
From reduced-depth fixtures like Link51 to modular tile systems and versatile faucets like Bongio’s TAIT, 2026 will see more solutions tailored to small-scale living — blending comfort with efficiency.
Looking Ahead: Design That Connects
Cersaie 2025 revealed more than just new collections; it presented a vision of interiors that are intuitive, artistic, and emotionally connected.
As we look toward 2026, expect spaces that blend material innovation with human-centred design — where every surface, shape, and shade has a story to tell.
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