8 Key Surface Trends for the Year Ahead
Discover the themes that were influencing manufacturers at the Surface Design Show 2025
This year’s Surface Design Show (4-6 February) hosted more than 180 exhibitors at London’s Business Design Centre. The event shone a spotlight on the latest innovations to inspire architects and designers when they’re sourcing both internal and external surface materials. We went along to find out what themes and trends are influencing brands right now.
2. Barely there patterns
Many of the minimal surfaces that were so popular over the past decade have been replaced by pattern at recent design events. And at this year’s Surface Design Show, many brands were embracing pattern in an almost ethereal way. Stands showcased wood panels, stone flooring and textiles with subtle, faded patterns that emerged from the material.
At the 3D Wall Panels Italia exhibit, for example, there was a beautiful wood panel on show with a floral pattern subtly blending in with the wood grain, while 2TEC2’s Alhambra (pictured) and Palma collections of woven flooring featured soft, intricate designs.
Many of the minimal surfaces that were so popular over the past decade have been replaced by pattern at recent design events. And at this year’s Surface Design Show, many brands were embracing pattern in an almost ethereal way. Stands showcased wood panels, stone flooring and textiles with subtle, faded patterns that emerged from the material.
At the 3D Wall Panels Italia exhibit, for example, there was a beautiful wood panel on show with a floral pattern subtly blending in with the wood grain, while 2TEC2’s Alhambra (pictured) and Palma collections of woven flooring featured soft, intricate designs.
3. Coarse, matt textures
Designers at the event were introducing interesting, tactile elements to surfaces, often using recycled ingredients. Alusid’s Mas tiles (pictured) made from a range of products aggregated from different industries and the company’s own production process, had a matt texture with coarser grains than usual.
On the Surface Spotlight stand, Hybrid & Icon’s Raw Earth surfaces had a rough texture as a result of the raw earth, clay, stones, and metals used during manufacturing.
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Designers at the event were introducing interesting, tactile elements to surfaces, often using recycled ingredients. Alusid’s Mas tiles (pictured) made from a range of products aggregated from different industries and the company’s own production process, had a matt texture with coarser grains than usual.
On the Surface Spotlight stand, Hybrid & Icon’s Raw Earth surfaces had a rough texture as a result of the raw earth, clay, stones, and metals used during manufacturing.
Houzz is a great place to find the right professional for your project. Read client reviews of renovation experts in your area in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
4. 3D curved reliefs
The popularity of pattern and texture came together in the form of 3D relief designs at many of the event’s stands. 3D Wall Panels Italia, for example, showcased its 3D ceramic tiles, which feature raised and sunken geometric and arched shapes.
Lux Pottery, meanwhile, displayed handmade sculptural tiles (pictured), again with curved patterns. On the website, owner and designer Trix Newham explains that the “colour palette and glazing style makes the work irresistible to touch, inviting people to pause and engage with the pieces on a sensory level”.
We saw more of these designs on the Panespol stand, but this time in the form of decorative panels made of rope. Each Cuerdas panel is adorned with cord that’s been shaped into circles, lines and chevrons to create an interesting, tactile surface.
The popularity of pattern and texture came together in the form of 3D relief designs at many of the event’s stands. 3D Wall Panels Italia, for example, showcased its 3D ceramic tiles, which feature raised and sunken geometric and arched shapes.
Lux Pottery, meanwhile, displayed handmade sculptural tiles (pictured), again with curved patterns. On the website, owner and designer Trix Newham explains that the “colour palette and glazing style makes the work irresistible to touch, inviting people to pause and engage with the pieces on a sensory level”.
We saw more of these designs on the Panespol stand, but this time in the form of decorative panels made of rope. Each Cuerdas panel is adorned with cord that’s been shaped into circles, lines and chevrons to create an interesting, tactile surface.
5. Sophisticated terrazzo
While bright terrazzo has been popular for a few years now, some brands were showcasing more subtle interpretations.
Bealstone’s collection of terrazzo surfaces were on display in a range of pastel tones, such as pale blue and pink, as well as muted grey and sage.
Elsewhere, Foresso showcased its timber terrazzo (pictured). The surfaces are made of wood offcuts and come in natural shades, as well as soft green, grey and pale blue.
While bright terrazzo has been popular for a few years now, some brands were showcasing more subtle interpretations.
Bealstone’s collection of terrazzo surfaces were on display in a range of pastel tones, such as pale blue and pink, as well as muted grey and sage.
Elsewhere, Foresso showcased its timber terrazzo (pictured). The surfaces are made of wood offcuts and come in natural shades, as well as soft green, grey and pale blue.
6. Materials with a nostalgic feel
There was a celebration of the old at the show this year, with brands displaying surfaces that had a nostalgic feel. Sandeco’s Nostalgie decorative coatings, made from acrylic emulsion reinforced with fibres, feature an antique stone effect, giving them a traditional look, while Mega Glass showcased its antique glass range of mirrors in silver, bronze and grey.
There was more nostalgia at the Valpaint stand, where the brand displayed its Meteore Cemento range of vintage-effect, stone-like coatings (pictured).
There was a celebration of the old at the show this year, with brands displaying surfaces that had a nostalgic feel. Sandeco’s Nostalgie decorative coatings, made from acrylic emulsion reinforced with fibres, feature an antique stone effect, giving them a traditional look, while Mega Glass showcased its antique glass range of mirrors in silver, bronze and grey.
There was more nostalgia at the Valpaint stand, where the brand displayed its Meteore Cemento range of vintage-effect, stone-like coatings (pictured).
7. Futureproofed craftsmanship
The rapid growth in technology can lead to anxiety that human production will be superseded, but designers at this year’s show put paid to those worries by celebrating the intertwining of AI and craft.
At the Surface Spotlight stand, Francesca Müller displayed her Artisan Intelligence range of woven fabrics (pictured), which fuse artificial intelligence and textile design. In her work, Francesca uses AI as an inspiration tool, but creates the intricate pieces using the hands-on craft of weaving.
Elsewhere, the Italian marble manufacturer, Serafini, was showcasing surfaces created with the use of cutting-edge technology, then beautifully finished by skilled artisans.
The rapid growth in technology can lead to anxiety that human production will be superseded, but designers at this year’s show put paid to those worries by celebrating the intertwining of AI and craft.
At the Surface Spotlight stand, Francesca Müller displayed her Artisan Intelligence range of woven fabrics (pictured), which fuse artificial intelligence and textile design. In her work, Francesca uses AI as an inspiration tool, but creates the intricate pieces using the hands-on craft of weaving.
Elsewhere, the Italian marble manufacturer, Serafini, was showcasing surfaces created with the use of cutting-edge technology, then beautifully finished by skilled artisans.
8. Warm, natural colours
We’ve seen nature-inspired, autumnal colour palettes at many of the design fairs recently and the Surface Design Show was no exception. Materials in soft greens, reds and ochres were abundant among the stands. At the Forescolor display, for instance, the brand’s MDF alternative surfaces were on show in a range of hues from wine red to green and yellow.
Mundy Veneer also showed off a warm palette with its newly launched Luxe Edit (pictured). These natural wood veneers were dyed in deep, velvety hues to highlight the move towards richer, cosier interior shades.
Tell us…
Did you go along to the Surface Design Show this year? What stood out to you, and which of these surface trends is your favourite? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
We’ve seen nature-inspired, autumnal colour palettes at many of the design fairs recently and the Surface Design Show was no exception. Materials in soft greens, reds and ochres were abundant among the stands. At the Forescolor display, for instance, the brand’s MDF alternative surfaces were on show in a range of hues from wine red to green and yellow.
Mundy Veneer also showed off a warm palette with its newly launched Luxe Edit (pictured). These natural wood veneers were dyed in deep, velvety hues to highlight the move towards richer, cosier interior shades.
Tell us…
Did you go along to the Surface Design Show this year? What stood out to you, and which of these surface trends is your favourite? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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The theme of this year’s show was Creative Conscience, with the organisers spotlighting materials that fuse functionality, aesthetics and sustainability.
“The theme focuses on the future of materials for the built environment, driven by developments in technology, a heightened focus on sustainability, and a deeper understanding of human needs,” the show’s director, Nickie West, explained.
A number of the brands at the show had this ethos in mind, displaying surfaces that were created sustainably and use technology to ensure they’re durable in order to avoid waste.
Transformad’s Tmatt super-matt surface collection (pictured) has an anti-fingerprint finish, is scratch-resistant, and has self-regenerative properties. It’s also made without the use of solvents to up its environmentally friendly credentials.
Similarly, Koukos de Lab highlighted its Koukoutsi surfaces, which are made from repurposed eco-waste. The materials are available in various thicknesses and finishes, and are easy to maintain and repair. They can also be refurbished or transformed into new products when they’re no longer needed.