Posted in Minoli
16th January 2026
In our series examining the headline design trends in porcelain tiles for 2026, this article explores the increasing popularity of creating enhanced areas for outdoor living, with exterior-use porcelain paving providing the perfect hard-standing surfaces.
In response to the ever-increasing demand from housebuilders, property developers, garden designers, professional landscapers and residential homeowners, the leading producers of Italian porcelain have focused investment into the design and delivery of technically advanced, outdoor porcelain paving.
These ranges feature the latest in tile manufacturing methodologies. Advancements in production allow for more expansive sizes, 20 mm thickness, increased load bearing and frost resistance, anti-slip qualities and higher-definition surface designs, resulting in an unprecedented diversity of textures and finishes.
In concrete and wood effects through to those that emulate natural stone and now marble, many in the extensive Outdoor by Minoli collection have coordinating interior tiles to match, so very consistent indoor to outside transitions can be achieved. A 9 mm thickness indoor tile, which may be matt or gloss and easy to clean, is coordinated with a grippy, 20 mm external counterpart with a higher slip resistance rating, such as those ranging R11 and above.
New designs, colours and finishes have also seen porcelain paving considered for and used in a much wider range of exterior surface settings including patios, terraces, driveways and paths but also balconies, stairways, swimming pool surrounds and linings, and outdoor kitchens, for instance.
Our increasing eagerness to cook and eat outside has fuelled impressive advancements in the design of outdoor kitchens. From what was once typified by basic barbeques being wheeled out when the weather permitted, homeowners and hospitality venues are now installing state-of-the-art cooking stations and enhanced garden entertainment spaces, with porcelain pavers providing the ideal hardstanding platform.
The inherent qualities of outdoor porcelain tiles make them a flexible alternative to so many commonly used materials including garden paving, wooden or composite decking, concrete, cement and resin slabs, natural stoneware, hardstanding driveways and blockwork, traditional quarry tiles and terrazzo, amongst others. What’s more, as the thinner 9 mm indoor porcelain tiles are also frost and heat proof, they too can be installed outside as coordinating cladding on walls, counters and other exterior surfaces.
On trend and in demand by home buyers, many of our housebuilder and developer clients are now specifying, or offering as an additional option, patios and outdoor entertainment spaces paved in external-use porcelain, often chosen to coordinate with the surfaces selected in adjacent indoor kitchens and living areas.
This is in part made possible by the introduction of alternative fixing solutions. Alongside using traditional adhesive and grout, given the weight and strength of 20 mm porcelain, these pavers can also be laid to grass, gravel or earth, fixed using traditional adhesive, or installed onto new pedestal systems which offer improved drainage and easier access to pipework, channels, culverts or cabling.
Progressive manufacturing and transportation techniques have enabled more innovative architectural applications. Cutting-edge ranges are now available in larger calibrated formats of up to 120/120 and with clean-cut rectified edges, which allows for very precise and near-seamless installation.
Beyond residential applications, this has made outdoor porcelain pavers particularly attractive for use in commercial and hospitality venues as well, where more expansive areas need to be finished with a highly durable, safe and low maintenance product.
From an environmental perspective, they are also easy to clean and maintain, without the need for toxic chemicals, so minimising the introduction of harmful pollutants into the local ecosystem. When used outside, to help deliver more sustainable landscapes, porcelain paving can be installed in a way that promotes efficient water runoff and drainage, helping to prevent erosion, while conserving water resources.
If you’d like to talk to our team about opportunities to enhance outdoor living areas, 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