8 Key Trends at the Surface Design Show
Discover the themes that influenced manufacturers at the recent London event
This year’s Surface Design Show, held Feb. 4-6, 2025, in London, put a spotlight on the latest innovations in interior and exterior surface materials. Here are trends influencing surface brands at the show.
2. Barely There Patterns
Many of the minimal surfaces that were so popular over the past decade have been replaced by patterned surfaces at recent design events. And at this year’s Surface Design Show, many brands were embracing pattern in an almost ethereal way. Booths 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 display 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.
Get product discounts through the free Houzz Trade Program
Many of the minimal surfaces that were so popular over the past decade have been replaced by patterned surfaces at recent design events. And at this year’s Surface Design Show, many brands were embracing pattern in an almost ethereal way. Booths 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 display 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.
Get product discounts through the free Houzz Trade Program
3. Coarse Matte 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 matte texture with coarser grains than usual.
At the Surface Spotlight booth, Hybrid & Icon’s Raw Earth surfaces had a rough texture as a result of the raw earth, clay, stones and metals used during manufacturing.
Learn about Houzz Pro software
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 matte texture with coarser grains than usual.
At the Surface Spotlight booth, Hybrid & Icon’s Raw Earth surfaces had a rough texture as a result of the raw earth, clay, stones and metals used during manufacturing.
Learn about Houzz Pro software
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 booths. 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 says that the “color 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 at the Panespol booth, 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.
34 Home Design Trends That Will Define 2025
The popularity of pattern and texture came together in the form of 3D relief designs at many of the event’s booths. 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 says that the “color 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 at the Panespol booth, 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.
34 Home Design Trends That Will Define 2025
5. Sophisticated Terrazzo
While bright terrazzo has been popular here for a few years, 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 gray and sage.
Elsewhere, Foresso showcased its wood terrazzo (pictured). The surfaces are made of wood offcuts and come in natural shades, as well as soft green, gray and pale blue.
While bright terrazzo has been popular here for a few years, 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 gray and sage.
Elsewhere, Foresso showcased its wood terrazzo (pictured). The surfaces are made of wood offcuts and come in natural shades, as well as soft green, gray 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 fibers, feature an antique stone effect, giving them a traditional look, while Mega Glass showcased its antique glass range of mirrors in silver, bronze and gray.
There was more nostalgia at the Valpaint booth, 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 fibers, feature an antique stone effect, giving them a traditional look, while Mega Glass showcased its antique glass range of mirrors in silver, bronze and gray.
There was more nostalgia at the Valpaint booth, 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 those worries to rest by celebrating the intertwining of AI and craft.
At the Surface Spotlight booth, Francesca Müller displayed her Artisan Intelligence line 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.
Designers and Builders Share Their Goals for 2025
The rapid growth in technology can lead to anxiety that human production will be superseded, but designers at this year’s show put those worries to rest by celebrating the intertwining of AI and craft.
At the Surface Spotlight booth, Francesca Müller displayed her Artisan Intelligence line 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.
Designers and Builders Share Their Goals for 2025
8. Warm Natural Colors
We’ve seen nature-inspired autumnal color palettes at many of the design fairs recently and the Surface Design Show was no exception. Materials in soft greens, reds and ochers were abundant among the booths. At the Forescolor display, for instance, the brand’s MDF alternative surfaces were on display 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 toward richer, cozier interiors shades.
More for Pros on Houzz
Read more stories for pros
Learn about Houzz Pro software
Talk with your peers in pro-to-pro discussions
Join the Houzz Trade Program
We’ve seen nature-inspired autumnal color palettes at many of the design fairs recently and the Surface Design Show was no exception. Materials in soft greens, reds and ochers were abundant among the booths. At the Forescolor display, for instance, the brand’s MDF alternative surfaces were on display 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 toward richer, cozier interiors shades.
More for Pros on Houzz
Read more stories for pros
Learn about Houzz Pro software
Talk with your peers in pro-to-pro discussions
Join the Houzz Trade Program
The theme of this year’s show was Creative Conscience, with the organizers 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,” said the show’s director, Nickie West.
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 to avoid waste.
Transformad’s Tmatt super-matte 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 raise 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.