March 15, 2024

Outdoor Living Spaces Evolve 

Outdoor living spaces have evolved from mere additions to the focal point of many homes. Once just for swimming, pools have become versatile oases for relaxing, unwinding, and entertaining. Pool and patio design trends focus on creating luxurious, comfortable, technologically advanced outdoor living spaces. Here’s a look at what’s trending in patio and pool design.

Porcelain Patio Pavers 

Perhaps the most essential element in the outdoor design landscape, flooring is the foundation for patios and pool decks, setting the stage for all other design elements. Porcelain patio pavers offer a plethora of styles, from natural stone looks of many varieties such as limestone, travertine, and marble to concrete and wood looks to transform patios and pool decks into personalized works of art. These porcelain pavers are aesthetically versatile and engineered to withstand the elements. They are super tough, impermeable, and resistant to extreme conditions like high heat or freezing temperatures while offering enhanced traction in wet conditions. 

At the Cafe 2cm porcelain pavers recreate a minimal cement look, enhanced by an iridescent touch that can be seen when light reflects off the product.

Campground 2cm porcelain patio pavers offer a rich and modern wood look with light knots and a medium grain reflecting nature's essence.

Home Turf 2cm exterior pavers have a stone effect rich in meticulous fragments of various stones, sedimented and embedded in the porcelain. 

Flowing from Indoors to Outdoors

Installing porcelain patio pavers with matching interior tiles for smooth indoor-outdoor transitions is a growing trend that isn’t slowing down any time soon. Whether used to transition to an outdoor kitchen or pool deck, this look creates a modern, cohesive atmosphere that helps create the illusion of a larger space. 

Portugal exterior finish porcelain tiles are inspired by Portuguese Atlantic Dark limestone and feature a subtle, organic surface that delivers a sophisticated, tactile elegance.


Portico Dream 2cm porcelain patio pavers have the sought-after look of white marble and are ideal for creating sophisticated outdoor environments with a chic metropolitan mood.

Pint-Size Patios

Outdoor living is not always about luxury on a grand scale. Whether you have a sliver of a side yard or a compact urban lot, limited size does not have to mean missing out on cool aesthetics. Search data from Houzz in 2023 revealed homeowners with modestly sized outdoor areas are on the hunt for things like "small screened-in porch ideas," "small backyard patio," and "small front porch." (“9 Home Design Trends Emerging Now” Houzz) For homeowners with modest-sized yards, adding a petite patio or deck can turn an unused side yard or entry into an inviting outdoor living space.

Wood You Dare 2cm porcelain pavers have a rustic wood look with a medium grain, capturing the detailed surface of mountain trees.


Make the most of a small space with Traveler's Rest 2cm porcelain pavers. Inspired by travertine, the look of these patio pavers is refined, earthy, natural, and worn, giving the perfect touch to any outdoor space.


Mellow Out 2cm patio pavers have subtle grain variations and texture for a serene effect. These outdoor tiles are suitable for a variety of outdoor living spaces.

Artsy Pool Mosaics 

Colorful mosaics can add a personalized touch to pool surfaces, offering a simple yet impactful way to express individual style. The versatility of mosaics extends to various applications, turning pool bottoms and sides into stunning works of art.

Bring your pool bottom to life with a Mosaic Crustacean! These whimsical porcelain mosaics are available in many colors, including a red lobster and even a spiny lobster!

Create your own underwater world with a variety of colorful Reef Mosaics. Mix and match with other aquatic mosaics for a unique piece of art in your pool. Browse the porcelain mosaic collection here. 

All-Glass Tile Pools

All-glass tile pools take center stage for the ultimate in swimming pool luxury. Pools fully lined with glass tiles are undeniably beautiful, but there are also practical benefits, including durability and easy maintenance. The glass tile linings create a shimmering effect, enhancing the pool’s overall aesthetics for a captivating aquatic oasis, combining functionality with sophistication.


Avalon glass tile mosaics in Seafoam is just one of many glass tile collections Crossville Studios offers that are suitable for pool and fountain full linings. 

Watercolor glass tile full lining in Aqua.
 

Cozy Fire Pits

As outdoor entertainment spaces evolve, fire pits become essential for a cozy atmosphere. The allure of flickering flames and the soothing crackle of a fire pit enhance the overall outdoor experience and are an affordable opportunity to make an outdoor space valuable year-round. 

As part of the Zellige iconic Moorish trend, our Bejmat porcelain tile is considered an art in itself with significant influence on western decoration, and the selection beautifully merged ancient art with modern sensibilities. This stunning outdoor area is part of Fort Worth Magazine's massive Dream Street project. We were honored to be the tile supplier for this "Cape Dutch" home. Click here to read the full design story and see more gorgeous images.

A sunken firepit inside a pool fully lined with glass tile from American Glass Mosaics makes for a stunning and dramatic focal point. 


A feature wall, tile beam, and sunken fire pit all feature our Shades 2.0 porcelain tile collection in Midnight (Builder: Southernwind Pools Inc.; Designer: Clayton Wager, Momentous Designs, Photographer: Trace Ingram)

Eco-Friendly Materials

Sustainable pool design isn’t just a trend; it’s a commitment to the environment. By minimizing the carbon footprint, sustainable material choices make your pool a haven for homeowners and the planet.


All ceramic tile is inherently green; after all, it's composed of mostly water and clay, but our new Beljn porcelain tile is also carbon neutral. This beautiful porcelain tile with an exterior option features white veining, coal lines, and visible fossils like its inspiration, Belgian Limestone. Learn about the 350 million-year-old history of Belgian Limestone here. 


Icon terracotta tile is a simple, modular architectural piece, devoid of decoration, with a minimalist character — but the design possibilities are nearly endless. Icon is a tile you can feel really good about as it was a Metropolis Magazine Planet Postive award winner in the Architectural Systems and Facades Category.
 

Calming Water Features

The gentle flow of running water creates tranquil pool and spa environments, providing a calming ambiance and respite from our hectic lives. This trend highlights the therapeutic effects of water, transforming any pool into a haven of relaxation and promoting a sense of balance and well-being.


Inspired by terracotta, our Cotto Moderno porcelain tiles offer a bohemian style and visual texture to bring nature's energy to your design vision.

Porcelain panels by Laminam® clad three waterfall columns of varying heights in this Texas swimming pool and patio renovation. The porcelain panels from the I Naturali collection in the Statuario Venato color with a polished finish have a classic, timeless look that answers the aesthetic demands of the focal point. (Builder: Southernwind Pools Inc.; Designer: Clayton Waqger, Momentous Designs, Photographer: Trace Ingram)
 

When it comes to your pool and patio areas, our tile pros can guide you in selecting the outdoor tile best suited to your technical specification requirements and desired aesthetic. Specifying the right tile for your exterior application’s unique needs is essential — turn to the Crossville Studios tile experts at our 28 showroom locations to help you choose your outdoor tile confidently for long-term enjoyment. Connect with us today!

Visit the outdoor section of our website to see all Crossville Studios outdoor collections: pool tile, decking, coping, pavers, exterior cladding, and porcelain countertops.

 

Browse our 2024 Pool & Outdoor digital catalog here.