Philippa Turrell asks will the trend for seamless surface and enhanced designs of wall panelling kill off the market for traditional tiles?

Walls and floor coverings have long been dominated by tiles as the go-to for interior design decoration. Hardwearing and waterproof, with the ability to provide an array of fashions and styles, it’s unsurprising they continue to be key for bathroom and kitchen projects. However a recent trend in tiling, for larger format sizes offering a seamless appearance, has also benefitted the market for alternative floor and wall coverings. Marketing director at Bushboard Jo Gilhooly explains: “At a time when we are seeing tiling in the bathroom develop into larger size formats to mimimise joints and grout lines to achieve a streamlined look, consumers and retailers increasingly recognise that wallpanelling delivers that look exactly and this is driving sales significantly.” In fact, such has been the move towards waterproof panelling, product director for Showerwall Claire Lambert comments: “Wallpanelling, as an alternative to tiles, has experienced a seismic shift in recent years and we believe it is the fastest growing category in the bathroom sector.”

Spanning budgets

Used in both contract and the RMI (repair, maintenance and improvement) sectors, wallpanelling spans from premium surfacing such as porcelain and quartz through to more cost-effective offerings such as laminate. And panelling is increasingly coming to the fore as a design choice rather than a compromise.  Certainly, Claire Lambert of Showerwall says retailers and consumers “no longer see it as a cheaper alternative to tiling and instead choose it ahead of tiling because they regard it as a stylish and hygienic product that is much more suited to modern life.” It can be used for walls and floor coverings, and in the development of the latest porcelain and sintered stone offers can also be used outside, in line with ‘bringing the outside in’. Managing director of CRL Stone Simon Boocock comments: “Our range of porcelain is suitable for all areas of interior design and is UV stable, making it ideal for exterior use too. This offers consumers a level of consistency in situations such as open-plan kitchens that lead out to a rear garden. The non-porous and extremely durable nature of the material also means it is increasingly being chosen for the bathroom, both for flooring and wall.”

Sponsored Video

Lauren Goodbrand of Kitchens International on winning the Kbsa Concept Designer Award 2024

Mirroring nature

It is the ability of wallpanelling to bring in natural trends into the home, whether using the material internally and externally, or through the likes of stone and wood replicas, which has helped see it become an accepted option. Developments in realistic print and texture technology have been central to panelling upping its game in design and ultimately sales. Product specialist at IDS Stephanie Harris points out: “Times are changing and the designs coming through on PVC wall panelling are much more advanced, offering finishes that mirror natural stone and marble. The surface has traditionally always been gloss, however we are seeing much more in the way of matt textures now. There are also smart innovations giving the look and feel of tiles with realistic grout lines at a much lower cost.” And for retailers and designers who want to ensure they are hitting the mark in the sense of trends, Jo Gilhooly highlights the most popular choices: “Design wise, there’s a trend for weathered timbers, concrete and soft greys and there are selling well for us right now.”

Practical benefits

Yet it’s not only the look of wallpanelling that is helping sway sales but its practical benefits of ease of installation, as they don’t require a ‘wet trade’, and being able to keep clean with fewer grout lines to harbour dirt. While this is often considered for the bathroom walls, which could suffer from mould, it can also be beneficial for kitchens too. Director of Karonia Andrew Pickup says it is true of solid surfacing with its Mistral range: “The benefits of this Mistral solution over conventional tiling are that it’s quick and easy to install and requires little maintenance. As a completely non-porous material, Mistral is robust, hygienic and wipe clean. In terms of design, it offers a seamless continuation of the worksurface for a very neat and co-ordinated finish.”

However, it’s not simply walls which can benefit from panelling, Stephanie Harris of IDS points to the importance of using it for the kitchen ceiling too: “The largest market for PVC tends to be bathrooms; however we have seen a shift in sales towards kitchen retailers as consumers switch on to the benefits it can add in the kitchen area. Ceilings have a tendency to harbour the grease and dirt from cooking, making it hard to clean and often meaning painting over dirt and grime. Using a PVC product likes Proplas on the ceilings eliminates this, as it is easy to wipe down and clean the grease straight off.”

And with an ageing population, the ease of cleaning is only going to become more important for those who are infirm or for busy homes with time-pressured owners, or those with multiple generations. Jo Gilhooly adds: “If you also factor in that more and more people are planning their next bathroom to be future-proof with level access wetrooms for ease of use and maintenance as they are, then the argument for panelling as an alternative to tile is stronger than ever.”

Taking over tiles

So with design trends for larger format, a blurring of design trends through improved printing and textures and ease of keeping clean, does this signal the end of the traditional tile? Claire Lambert of Showerwall says not, and believes panelling is only going to grow in strength, as she concludes: “There will always be a market for tiles; it would be arrogant to say otherwise. However, I think tile companies are viewing the competition from wall panels far more seriously than they did five years’ ago and know that the genie is well out of the bottle now. It’s the ‘wonder product’ to watch.”

Philippa Turrell asks will the trend for seamless surface and enhanced designs of wall panelling kill off the market for traditional tiles?

Walls and floor coverings have long been dominated by tiles as the go-to for interior design decoration. Hardwearing and waterproof, with the ability to provide an array of fashions and styles, it’s unsurprising they continue to be key for bathroom and kitchen projects. However a recent trend in tiling, for larger format sizes offering a seamless appearance, has also benefitted the market for alternative floor and wall coverings. Marketing director at Bushboard Jo Gilhooly explains: “At a time when we are seeing tiling in the bathroom develop into larger size formats to mimimise joints and grout lines to achieve a streamlined look, consumers and retailers increasingly recognise that wallpanelling delivers that look exactly and this is driving sales significantly.” In fact, such has been the move towards waterproof panelling, product director for Showerwall Claire Lambert comments: “Wallpanelling, as an alternative to tiles, has experienced a seismic shift in recent years and we believe it is the fastest growing category in the bathroom sector.”

Spanning budgets

Used in both contract and the RMI (repair, maintenance and improvement) sectors, wallpanelling spans from premium surfacing such as porcelain and quartz through to more cost-effective offerings such as laminate. And panelling is increasingly coming to the fore as a design choice rather than a compromise.  Certainly, Claire Lambert of Showerwall says retailers and consumers “no longer see it as a cheaper alternative to tiling and instead choose it ahead of tiling because they regard it as a stylish and hygienic product that is much more suited to modern life.” It can be used for walls and floor coverings, and in the development of the latest porcelain and sintered stone offers can also be used outside, in line with ‘bringing the outside in’. Managing director of CRL Stone Simon Boocock comments: “Our range of porcelain is suitable for all areas of interior design and is UV stable, making it ideal for exterior use too. This offers consumers a level of consistency in situations such as open-plan kitchens that lead out to a rear garden. The non-porous and extremely durable nature of the material also means it is increasingly being chosen for the bathroom, both for flooring and wall.”

Sponsored Video

Lauren Goodbrand of Kitchens International on winning the Kbsa Concept Designer Award 2024

Mirroring nature

It is the ability of wallpanelling to bring in natural trends into the home, whether using the material internally and externally, or through the likes of stone and wood replicas, which has helped see it become an accepted option. Developments in realistic print and texture technology have been central to panelling upping its game in design and ultimately sales. Product specialist at IDS Stephanie Harris points out: “Times are changing and the designs coming through on PVC wall panelling are much more advanced, offering finishes that mirror natural stone and marble. The surface has traditionally always been gloss, however we are seeing much more in the way of matt textures now. There are also smart innovations giving the look and feel of tiles with realistic grout lines at a much lower cost.” And for retailers and designers who want to ensure they are hitting the mark in the sense of trends, Jo Gilhooly highlights the most popular choices: “Design wise, there’s a trend for weathered timbers, concrete and soft greys and there are selling well for us right now.”

Practical benefits

Yet it’s not only the look of wallpanelling that is helping sway sales but its practical benefits of ease of installation, as they don’t require a ‘wet trade’, and being able to keep clean with fewer grout lines to harbour dirt. While this is often considered for the bathroom walls, which could suffer from mould, it can also be beneficial for kitchens too. Director of Karonia Andrew Pickup says it is true of solid surfacing with its Mistral range: “The benefits of this Mistral solution over conventional tiling are that it’s quick and easy to install and requires little maintenance. As a completely non-porous material, Mistral is robust, hygienic and wipe clean. In terms of design, it offers a seamless continuation of the worksurface for a very neat and co-ordinated finish.”

However, it’s not simply walls which can benefit from panelling, Stephanie Harris of IDS points to the importance of using it for the kitchen ceiling too: “The largest market for PVC tends to be bathrooms; however we have seen a shift in sales towards kitchen retailers as consumers switch on to the benefits it can add in the kitchen area. Ceilings have a tendency to harbour the grease and dirt from cooking, making it hard to clean and often meaning painting over dirt and grime. Using a PVC product likes Proplas on the ceilings eliminates this, as it is easy to wipe down and clean the grease straight off.”

And with an ageing population, the ease of cleaning is only going to become more important for those who are infirm or for busy homes with time-pressured owners, or those with multiple generations. Jo Gilhooly adds: “If you also factor in that more and more people are planning their next bathroom to be future-proof with level access wetrooms for ease of use and maintenance as they are, then the argument for panelling as an alternative to tile is stronger than ever.”

Taking over tiles

So with design trends for larger format, a blurring of design trends through improved printing and textures and ease of keeping clean, does this signal the end of the traditional tile? Claire Lambert of Showerwall says not, and believes panelling is only going to grow in strength, as she concludes: “There will always be a market for tiles; it would be arrogant to say otherwise. However, I think tile companies are viewing the competition from wall panels far more seriously than they did five years’ ago and know that the genie is well out of the bottle now. It’s the ‘wonder product’ to watch.”

Philippa Turrell asks will the trend for seamless surface and enhanced designs of wall panelling kill off the market for traditional tiles?

Walls and floor coverings have long been dominated by tiles as the go-to for interior design decoration. Hardwearing and waterproof, with the ability to provide an array of fashions and styles, it’s unsurprising they continue to be key for bathroom and kitchen projects. However a recent trend in tiling, for larger format sizes offering a seamless appearance, has also benefitted the market for alternative floor and wall coverings. Marketing director at Bushboard Jo Gilhooly explains: “At a time when we are seeing tiling in the bathroom develop into larger size formats to mimimise joints and grout lines to achieve a streamlined look, consumers and retailers increasingly recognise that wallpanelling delivers that look exactly and this is driving sales significantly.” In fact, such has been the move towards waterproof panelling, product director for Showerwall Claire Lambert comments: “Wallpanelling, as an alternative to tiles, has experienced a seismic shift in recent years and we believe it is the fastest growing category in the bathroom sector.”

Spanning budgets

Used in both contract and the RMI (repair, maintenance and improvement) sectors, wallpanelling spans from premium surfacing such as porcelain and quartz through to more cost-effective offerings such as laminate. And panelling is increasingly coming to the fore as a design choice rather than a compromise.  Certainly, Claire Lambert of Showerwall says retailers and consumers “no longer see it as a cheaper alternative to tiling and instead choose it ahead of tiling because they regard it as a stylish and hygienic product that is much more suited to modern life.” It can be used for walls and floor coverings, and in the development of the latest porcelain and sintered stone offers can also be used outside, in line with ‘bringing the outside in’. Managing director of CRL Stone Simon Boocock comments: “Our range of porcelain is suitable for all areas of interior design and is UV stable, making it ideal for exterior use too. This offers consumers a level of consistency in situations such as open-plan kitchens that lead out to a rear garden. The non-porous and extremely durable nature of the material also means it is increasingly being chosen for the bathroom, both for flooring and wall.”

Sponsored Video

Lauren Goodbrand of Kitchens International on winning the Kbsa Concept Designer Award 2024

Mirroring nature

It is the ability of wallpanelling to bring in natural trends into the home, whether using the material internally and externally, or through the likes of stone and wood replicas, which has helped see it become an accepted option. Developments in realistic print and texture technology have been central to panelling upping its game in design and ultimately sales. Product specialist at IDS Stephanie Harris points out: “Times are changing and the designs coming through on PVC wall panelling are much more advanced, offering finishes that mirror natural stone and marble. The surface has traditionally always been gloss, however we are seeing much more in the way of matt textures now. There are also smart innovations giving the look and feel of tiles with realistic grout lines at a much lower cost.” And for retailers and designers who want to ensure they are hitting the mark in the sense of trends, Jo Gilhooly highlights the most popular choices: “Design wise, there’s a trend for weathered timbers, concrete and soft greys and there are selling well for us right now.”

Practical benefits

Yet it’s not only the look of wallpanelling that is helping sway sales but its practical benefits of ease of installation, as they don’t require a ‘wet trade’, and being able to keep clean with fewer grout lines to harbour dirt. While this is often considered for the bathroom walls, which could suffer from mould, it can also be beneficial for kitchens too. Director of Karonia Andrew Pickup says it is true of solid surfacing with its Mistral range: “The benefits of this Mistral solution over conventional tiling are that it’s quick and easy to install and requires little maintenance. As a completely non-porous material, Mistral is robust, hygienic and wipe clean. In terms of design, it offers a seamless continuation of the worksurface for a very neat and co-ordinated finish.”

However, it’s not simply walls which can benefit from panelling, Stephanie Harris of IDS points to the importance of using it for the kitchen ceiling too: “The largest market for PVC tends to be bathrooms; however we have seen a shift in sales towards kitchen retailers as consumers switch on to the benefits it can add in the kitchen area. Ceilings have a tendency to harbour the grease and dirt from cooking, making it hard to clean and often meaning painting over dirt and grime. Using a PVC product likes Proplas on the ceilings eliminates this, as it is easy to wipe down and clean the grease straight off.”

And with an ageing population, the ease of cleaning is only going to become more important for those who are infirm or for busy homes with time-pressured owners, or those with multiple generations. Jo Gilhooly adds: “If you also factor in that more and more people are planning their next bathroom to be future-proof with level access wetrooms for ease of use and maintenance as they are, then the argument for panelling as an alternative to tile is stronger than ever.”

Taking over tiles

So with design trends for larger format, a blurring of design trends through improved printing and textures and ease of keeping clean, does this signal the end of the traditional tile? Claire Lambert of Showerwall says not, and believes panelling is only going to grow in strength, as she concludes: “There will always be a market for tiles; it would be arrogant to say otherwise. However, I think tile companies are viewing the competition from wall panels far more seriously than they did five years’ ago and know that the genie is well out of the bottle now. It’s the ‘wonder product’ to watch.”