The 2019 Coverings was full of opposing forces—large-format slabs next to tiny mosaics, and bold graphics paired with hyperrealistic wood and concrete effects.
The 30th anniversary of the free trade show for the tile and stone industry, the largest of its kind in North America, took Orlando by storm. More than 1,100 exhibitors from more than 40 countries filled the South and North halls of the Orange County Convention Center. Coverings is co-owned by Ceramics of Italy, the Tile Council of North America, Tile of Spain, the Ceramic Tile Distributors Association, and the National Tile Contractors Association.
The show floor featured many breathtaking displays of what technology can do for the ceramics industry, from extremely large slabs (the largest we saw was more than 5 feet by 10 feet) to unbelievably realistic renditions of wood and stone looks created with digital printing.
WATCH: TILE TRENDS FROM COVERINGS 2019
Slabs have been growing larger for a number of years, but this year the expansion of large slab options seemed to coincide with a resurgence in small-format tiles, specifically in bold colors and geometric prints. These smaller formats are a great place to mix and match, and manufacturers are providing patterns and solids, neutrals and colors, and even wood, concrete, and stone looks within the same collections.
Natural looks also went geometric, with several manufacturers featuring creative patterns in different shades of wood, or even wood mixed with concrete or other materials within the same tile. In addition, the consumer desire for nature-inspired looks moved beyond wood and stone this year to include digital floral prints in bold colors.
Overall, the show brought incredible variety, a good reminder that if you can dream it, you can probably design it in tile. Check out 18 of our favorite looks from the show below.
1. Ceramica Fioranese, Dot
2. Colorker Group, Amazonia
3. Fiandre, Maximum Marmi Sahara Noir
4. Marca Corona, Lagom
5. Sicis, Vetrite Lagoon
6. Aparici, Gatsby Collection
7. Fincibec, Naxos Shiny
8. Florida Tile, Excursion, Sequoia and Badlands (top), Rainier and Sequoia (bottom)
9. Harmony, Dash by Raw Color
10. Saloni, Brilliant
11. Realonda, Ivy relief in teal and mist
12. Cotto D’Este, Wonderwall in Dream
13. Fanal, Heritage Series Walnut with terrazzo
14. Iris, Diesel Glass Block
15. Vives, Resort Collection Osaka Multicolor
16. Stonepeak, Plane 2.0 Cobra
17. Lamosa, Zephyros
18. Flaviker, Rebel
