STYLE BOOK 2025: The New Rules of Tile

Where do today’s tastemakers find inspiration? We put that question to South African tile brand Stiles, and their answer was impressive and unequivocal.

“We’re no longer interested in following the trends on Pinterest or seeking inspiration from past design eras,” say the team. “We are now actively seeking new design stories in unexpected places.”

The team say their current tile offering is based on a bold mix of global influence, local artistry, and fearless individuality. In 2025, interior design is borrowing boldly from fashion, literature, sculpture, and the natural world and tiles are becoming the canvas.

Tiles are no longer just a backdrop, they’re the statement. Whether it’s a wall that ripples with fluted texture, a splashback dressed in jewel tones, or a floor that reads like a work of art, the latest trends are tactile, tonal, and unapologetically expressive. Be inspired with Stiles Tiles.

In this year’s style book, Stiles cite five standout movements redefining how we should think about tiles:

Touch & Feel – The rise of texture and tactile surfaces
Sculptural Surfaces – Fluted, reeded, and ribbed for depth
Prints with Personality – Bold pattern and graphic motifs
Jewel Tones – rich hues that deliver opulence and depth.
Earthy Elegance – Organic, grounded tones and materials

Ready to turn your space into a work of art? Let’s dive into the textures, tones, and stories behind Stiles 2025’s tile trends.

Touch & Feel

Texture isn’t just visual, its visceral. Layered spaces with tactile elements add depth, warmth, and personality. These elements help us to connect to physical and emotional sensations in a space. Thanks to advanced digital printing and glazing technology, tiles now mimic the feel of wood, stone, fabric and even marble. Surfaces with realistic depth beg to be touched and explored. Stiles stock tiles with raised, undulated and embossed formats offering both visual and sensory appeal.

For a contemporary wood-look and texture explore the Revival Chevron tile which has the warmth and characteristic look of oak with a natural soft touch finish. This tile is available in three shades: almond, biondo (blond) and cuoio (leather).

The Zigue Chevron tile has a statement texture with raised zig-zag pattern. It is available in both grey and brown.

The Cortina Stone Millerighe tile features thousands of raised lines, almost like rhythmic lines of braille. This tile is available in four natural colour tones, including Sabbia (sand), avorio (ivory), fumo (smoke) and cenere (ash).

The Brise Grey tile features a series of raised geometric patterns, similar to the bony scales of an armadillo.

Finally, the Pulse White Matt is an exceptionally unique tile. The surface of this white tile is embossed with Bauhaus style patterns.

Sculptural Surfaces

Curves have a fantastic ability to soften harsh edges. Look at any design textbook and it will tell you that organic, or undulating forms have a powerful psychological effect on the human mind. These forms create flow, mimic nature and trigger biophilic responses, promoting relaxation and calm. In short, curves mean comfort. It’s no wonder then, that Stiles would recommend their fluted, reeded, dimpled and curvy tiles in any self-care space.

For a crisp reeded look, browse the Funky Tiles Marmi a marble look tile with a satin finish.

The Funky Tiles Terrazzo has a similar feel with the distinctive speckled finish of terrazzo.

The Tracos Monaco White tile has a fluted surface that can be laid in vertical or horizontal lines.

For a totally playful and fun perspective, view the Dinda Mix Lux tile . This is a simple white tile which appears to have been pressed hundreds of times with a finger. The result looks a bit like jelly tots spilled on a white floor.

The Cuore My C Deluxe range feature classical curvaceous surfaces. The rounded reed-like pattern is reminiscent of ancient Greek and Roman architecture where circular forms and dramatic surfaces dominate. The Cuore tiles have a gloss finish and are suitable for indoor and outdoor applications such as braai areas, fireplace surrounds, and characterful commercial or office spaces. This type of tile is increasingly used to create fluted bases for kitchen islands or bathroom vanities.

https://stiles.co.za/product/ceramic-industries-onda-bianco-300x600mm

In our next chapter, we explore tiles that shout louder: bold prints, expressive patterns, and saturated jewel tones that bring personality to every surface. Look out for part 2 of our blog series.

Find quality tiles at any of the Stiles showrooms or visit their website: stiles.co.za to find out more.