Posted in Minoli
20th January 2025
The third in our series of articles outlining the emerging design trends for 2025, today we look at the use of high-shine finishes to illuminate interiors.
The resurgent popularity of smaller sized, gloss, glazed porcelain and ceramic tiles is spurring demand for more colours, shapes and surface reliefs. The trend for incorporating retro style materials, with an authentic, hand-made appearance, is not however confined to those seeking a solely classic design direction. Combined with more modern, large format concrete, stone or marble-effect tiles and slabs, creative and contemporary décor schemes can also be achieved.
Brighter tints and tones are being used on walls and floors, to create feature areas and contrasting colour-blocks within the most expressive and experimental interiors. We’re also seeing different surface finishes applied to create intriguing textural variances and help define different zones across larger environments.

Used within architecture and interior design, visual elements, such as light, reflection, colour and finish are arguably as important as the strength, composition and positioning of more structural components. The clever use of surfaces with a high-gloss glaze can seemingly amplify light and enhance the sense of space.
Unlike polished ‘Lappato’ surface treatments, glazed products have an intrinsic antique appeal, but with today’s advanced manufacturing techniques, a hand-made look doesn’t have to mean a high cost. Years of research and development have resulted in machine-produced collections that purposefully include the inherent irregularities synonymous with the work of human craftspeople. Undulating surfaces, tumbled edges, oxidised shading and varied tonal layers can all be achieved at scale, whilst still maintaining an extremely genuine appearance.
Modern manufacturing techniques have also hugely improved the solidity and resilience of glazed product lines. Whilst traditionally formed of ceramic, the latest porcelain derivatives deliver stronger surfaces and, having been vitrified at very high temperatures and under extreme pressure, they are exceptionally dense, frost proof and impervious to water.
So durable are these latest ranges that we have even seen them laid on floors in automotive showrooms and as lining material for swimming pools. Also, in hospitality environments they have been used to clad bar areas or create feature walls around pizza ovens and food service counters.
In more compact formats we find colourful collections such as Luminous Lume. With a subway brick, 6/24 letterbox format and glazed-gloss finish that can be used horizontally, vertically or laid in a herringbone pattern, this range emulates the individuality of genuine majolica tiles.

The retro, metro style of Luminous Lume is characterised by exquisite shade variation, enhanced by the effect of oxidised edges and a hand-crafted appearance. The spectrum of colours that provide such variety include Greens, Blues, Greige, Black, Beige, two shades of White, a peachy pink and Musk, which is a mix of khaki and creamy coffee.
In addition, for 2025, the three new colourways that take the total to fifteen include: Caramel – with deep toffee tones, Ocean – a darker shade of turquoise, and Emerald – with a beautiful bluey-green hue.
Despite some of the deep colourways, the reflective qualities of the high-shine finish illuminate a space, creating instantly inviting interiors, with surfaces that have an almost liquid lustre. Luminous Lume has been used to create some stunning installations in residential settings, from bathrooms and ensuites, to shower enclosures and cloakrooms, in contemporary kitchens, and even on walls in outside settings, their versatility of application is remarkable.
As well as letterbox format glazed ranges, such as Luminous, Adana, and Metro, within Minoli’s extensive collections other glossy ranges include Branco with a square 20/20 format, Timeless Moon in a hexagonal design, and Miller Sook featuring a multi-tonal herringbone pattern.
If you’d like to talk to our team about these on trend collections, please do get in touch. We’d gladly discuss your needs on the phone, arrange a time for a design consultation at one of our showrooms or, for our corporate clients, arrange a meeting with your account manager.
Minoli Oxford – 01865 778225 /showroom@minoli.co.uk
Minoli London – 020 7474 2934 / thesurfacewithin@minoli.co.uk
Existing Corporate Clients – Please contact your account manager / developers@minoli.co.uk