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Top 10 Tile Trends To Watch For Pools & Outdoor Living in 2026

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Every year, the pool and outdoor living industry looks to Coverings for one reason—insight into the latest tile trends.

It’s not just another expo. Coverings is where the tile, stone, and surface materials shaping the next wave of design are introduced, refined, and, in many cases, redefined. For pool builders, designers, and outdoor living professionals, it offers a preview of what clients will be asking for next—often before they even know it themselves.

Because while tile has always played a role in pools, its importance has expanded dramatically in recent years. It’s no longer limited to waterlines or spas. Today, tile defines entire outdoor environments—from decking and vertical surfaces to outdoor kitchens, fire features, and full architectural cladding.

That’s why walking the show floor matters.

It’s where you start to see how materials are evolving—not just in color or pattern, but in texture, performance, and application. It’s also where trends begin to connect across industries, influencing everything from interior design to hospitality and, increasingly, high-end backyard spaces.

At Coverings 2026, one thing became immediately clear—tile is no longer just a surface material. It’s evolving into a design driver.

Alena Capra speaking at Coverings in Las Vegas

Alena Capra, industry ambassador and interior designer, framed it best during her presentation: today’s tile is about engaging the senses, expanding design possibilities, and pushing far beyond traditional applications.

For the pool and outdoor living industry, that shift couldn’t come at a better time.

As backyards continue to evolve into fully realized environments—blending wellness, entertainment, and architecture—tile is playing a larger role in defining how those spaces look, feel, and perform.

Here’s how the ten defining tile trends from Coverings 2026 are translating directly into pools, spas, and outdoor living design.

Articulated Accents: Depth, Detail, and Dimension

Articulated Accents: Depth, Detail, and Dimension

Articulated Accents are all about texture and realism. Today’s tile is being produced with contouring, carving, and surface detailing that creates a lifelike, almost sculptural effect.

Capra described this as tile that engages the senses, with grooves, ridges, and layered detailing that go far beyond a flat surface.

In pool design, this trend is showing up in feature walls, raised bond beams, and spillways where texture interacts with both light and water. The result is a surface that changes throughout the day—casting shadows, catching highlights, and adding movement without relying solely on water features.

Brutalish Sanctuary: Raw, Minimal, and Grounded

Brutalish Sanctuary: Raw, Minimal, and Grounded

The move toward raw material expression continues with Brutalish Sanctuary—a trend centered around stripped-back finishes and natural materiality.

Concrete looks, terrazzo surfaces, and matte finishes dominate here. Instead of polished or high-gloss aesthetics, the focus is on softer, warmer neutrals and surfaces that feel authentic and understated.

For outdoor spaces, this translates into cleaner architectural lines and a more grounded design language. Large-format porcelain pavers, matte coping, and subtle tonal variation create environments that feel calm, cohesive, and connected to their surroundings.

Gilded Age: Metallics with Purpose

Gilded Age: Metallics with Purpose

Metallic finishes—particularly gold—continue to evolve rather than fade away.

What’s different in 2026 is how they’re being used. Instead of dominating a space, metallics are integrated as accents—whether through glazing techniques, subtle veining, or dimensional finishes that respond to light.

In outdoor living environments, this shows up in waterline accents, decorative spillways, and feature walls that pair with warm-toned fixtures and lighting. When used with restraint, it introduces contrast and sophistication without overwhelming the design.

Haptic Experience: Tile You Want to Touch

Haptic Experience: Tile You Want to Touch

One of the most compelling trends is the rise of haptic design—tile that invites physical interaction.

Advances in glazing and digital production are allowing manufacturers to create surfaces with depth, relief, and texture that are meant to be experienced, not just viewed.

In pools and spas, this opens up new possibilities. Textured spa interiors, sculpted waterline tile, and tactile surfaces in outdoor showers or transition areas all contribute to a more immersive environment.

Lighting plays a key role here as well, enhancing texture and creating dynamic visual effects across the surface.

Jade Terrain: Green as a Foundation Color

Jade Terrain: Green as a Foundation Color

Green is no longer an accent—it’s becoming a foundation.

The Jade Terrain trend highlights a wide spectrum of greens, from soft sage to deep emerald, inspired by natural stone and biophilic design principles.

Capra emphasized that green’s staying power comes from its connection to nature and wellness-driven design.

In pool environments, this is translating into deeper, more natural water tones, spa finishes that mimic mineral springs, and designs that blend seamlessly into landscaping. It’s less about contrast and more about integration with the environment.

Micro-Illusions: Small Format, Big Impact

Micro-Illusions: Small Format, Big Impact

While large-format tile continues to dominate, smaller formats are making a strong return through the Micro-Illusions trend.

This isn’t about going backward—it’s about elevating smaller tile with high levels of detail, texture, and dimensionality. Many of these tiles feature raised patterns and subtle sheen that create visual depth.

For pool builders, this means new opportunities to mix formats—combining large slabs with detailed mosaics or accent tiles to create layered, high-impact designs.

Organic Minimalism: Soft, Calm, and Intentional

Organic Minimalism: Soft, Calm, and Intentional

Organic Minimalism builds on the broader shift toward wellness-focused design.

This trend is defined by soft tones, subtle textures, and a quiet, restrained palette—ivories, creams, and warm neutrals that create a calming backdrop.

In outdoor living, this translates into spaces that feel serene and cohesive. Tile becomes less about making a statement and more about supporting the overall environment.

When paired with bolder elements, it creates balance. On its own, it delivers a clean, modern aesthetic that feels timeless.

Surface Technologies: Innovation Meets Function

Surface Technologies: Innovation Meets Function

Technology is playing a bigger role in tile than ever before.

From advanced printing techniques that replicate backlit stone to integrated systems like induction cooking beneath porcelain surfaces, Surface Technologies are expanding what tile can do.

Capra also pointed to innovations like light-integrated tile and enhanced slip-resistant surfaces, both of which have direct applications in outdoor environments.

For pool professionals, this trend is especially relevant. Safety, durability, and visual impact are no longer trade-offs—they’re being engineered into the material itself.

Tailored Craft: Inspired by Fashion and Fabric

Tailored Craft: Inspired by Fashion and Fabric

Tile is borrowing from fashion in a big way.

The Tailored Craft trend introduces textures and patterns inspired by textiles, leather, and fine craftsmanship—down to details that resemble stitching or woven materials.

What makes this particularly compelling for outdoor use is that tile can replicate these looks while maintaining durability and water resistance.

It opens the door for more personalized, curated designs where clients can achieve a custom feel without sacrificing performance.

Tile as Art: Bold, Graphic, and Expressive

Tile as Art: Bold, Graphic, and Expressive

The final trend is perhaps the most visually striking—Tile as Art.

Large-format panels and advanced printing are allowing tile to function as design statements and artistic focal points.

Unlike traditional mosaic artwork, today’s tile art is highly detailed, dimensional, and scalable. It can be used in spaces where other materials wouldn’t hold up—like outdoor exterior feature walls.

For pool design, this creates an opportunity to introduce bold visual elements in a way that’s both durable and functional.

The Big Picture for Pool & Outdoor Living

The Big Picture for Pool & Outdoor Living

Across all ten trends, a clear direction is emerging.

Tile is becoming more tactile, more expressive, and more integrated into the overall design of a space. It’s no longer confined to functional applications—it’s shaping entire environments.

At the same time, the balance between natural inspiration and advanced technology is becoming more refined. Materials are softer, warmer, and more organic in appearance, while delivering higher levels of performance than ever before.

For pool builders and outdoor living designers, that combination creates a significant opportunity.

Because the expectations have changed.

Clients aren’t just asking for a pool anymore. They’re asking for a space that feels intentional, immersive, and designed around how they live.

And in 2026, tile isn’t just part of that conversation—it’s leading it.

Credit: Images Courtesy of WhyTile.com

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Joe Trusty

Editor in Chief of Pool Magazine - Joe Trusty is also CEO of PoolMarketing.com, the leading digital agency for the pool industry. An internet entrepreneur, software developer, author, and marketing professional with a long history in the pool industry. Joe oversees the writing and creative staff at Pool Magazine.

To contact Joe Trusty email [email protected] or call (916) 467-9118 during normal business hours. For submissions, please send your message to [email protected]

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Landmark Aquatic Brings Poolside Adventures Attractions Nationwide

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Landmark Aquatic and Poolside Adventures partnership featuring AquaZip’N pool attractions

Poolside Adventures and Landmark Aquatic have joined forces to bring big-impact attractions with a small footprint to aquatic facilities across the country. The partnership pairs Poolside Adventures’ AquaClimb®, AquaZip’N® and AquaNinja® FLX attractions with Landmark’s expansive nationwide reach and proven expertise in aquatic facility design, construction, renovation, and maintenance.

Poolside Adventures attractions add excitement to aquatic facilities without a major renovation because they anchor directly to an existing pool deck with no water hookups, special tools or added concrete and reinforcement. In fact, the modular AquaClimb® walls can start with one section and grow with budgets. The AquaZip’N® is rapidly becoming a new, safer alternative to diving boards as it only requires four feet of water depth, can be installed in just a few hours, and has a throughput of six riders a minute.

“Some municipalities can’t afford a new water park or perhaps cannot renovate their pool this year,” said Cherie Moy, VP of Marketing and Strategic Partnerships for Poolside Adventures. “Our products are an easy answer: a big impact with a small footprint, adding an ‘active attraction’ that makes the pool more exciting.”

“Landmark has a large footprint across the country, and we’re especially excited about their reach into HOA communities, a growing market where our partnership has already led to multiple installations,” said Moy. “Together, we will help clients find the right fit for their space, their budget and to add action and adventure to their pool experience.”

Matt Cappello, Vice President of Design at Landmark Aquatic agrees saying, “We’re excited to collaborate with Poolside Adventures to promote the versatility, ease of installation and entertainment value their products will bring to more pools across the country.”

About Landmark
Since 1967, Landmark Aquatic has helped communities and organizations bring complex aquatic facilities to life and keep them performing. Today, we are the nation’s largest integrated commercial aquatics platform, providing design, construction, renovation, restoration, and maintenance services nationwide. Our construction-led expertise and long-term service capabilities give customers one trusted partner across every stage of a facility’s lifecycle. For the life of your pool. Learn more at www.landmarkaquatic.com.

About Poolside Adventures
For more than 20 years, Poolside Adventures’ flagship AquaClimb® has led the market for poolside climbing walls. Its full line, including the AquaClimb® Luxe, AquaZip’N® and AquaNinja® FLX, delivers challenging, safe fun for swimmers of all ages. For more about Poolside Adventures visit www.aquaclimb.com
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Shasta Pools Hires 30-Year Builder to Head Residential Construction

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Shasta Pools 60th anniversary logo over a custom swimming pool

Vic Harshman brings extensive pool building experience to key leadership role

  • Decades of proven pool construction experience across Nevada, Arizona and Texas
  • Previously served as Shasta Pools’ exclusive excavation contractor
  • Predecessor handpicked Harshman to grow position under new leadership team

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona (October 5, 2026) – Shasta Pools, Phoenix Metro’s most recognized pool builder, named Vic Harshman as Head of Residential Construction. Harshman joins the new leadership team with more than three decades of hands-on industry experience and a long-standing relationship with the company to one of its most critical leadership roles.

Harshman has held senior construction leadership positions in Arizona and Texas, and worked closely with Shasta Pools, developing firsthand knowledge about the company’s standards, culture and customers. The appointment reflects the momentum Shasta Pools has built since its August 6 acquisition by Dansons Capital Group, Accrual Equity Partners, and Hydro Construction, and positions the full-service 60-year old pool company for continued growth.

Leadership Perspective
“Vic brings exactly the kind of no-nonsense, customer-first leadership our residential construction division needs,” said Jeff Thiessen, President, Dansons Capital Group. “His philosophy is deeply aligned with ours. Keeping customers’ needs as the foremost priority at every stage of the build process is at the center of everything we do, and Vic lives that every day.”

Harshman’s career in pool construction began at age 19, when he purchased a backhoe and launched a business digging plumbing trenches and footings. When the housing market declined in the late 1980s, he relocated to Las Vegas and began excavating swimming pools, a move that led to the creation of Harshman Excavating.

Harshman built and operated excavation businesses in Nevada, Arizona and Texas, primarily serving the pool industry, and served for a period as Shasta’s exclusive excavation contractor.

In 2012, Harshman joined A&A Manufacturing, serving pool builders across an eight-state region and growing annual sales by 10x. In 2020, he joined Keith Zars Pools in Texas as Director of Construction, where he brought together decades of ownership, leadership and industry knowledge.

A Return Rooted in Relationships
“I have always believed that strong relationships, hard work, accountability and taking care of people are the foundation of a successful business,” said Vic Harshman, Head of Residential Construction, Shasta Pools. “Shasta has been a meaningful part of my career for many years. I am genuinely excited to come back and help lead this team into a very exciting future.”

Harshman steps into the role with the full support of Dan Thiessen, Chairman of the new ownership team, and John Mortensen, the outgoing head of residential construction. Mortensen recommended Harshman for the position and will now serve as the company’s lead trainer. That transition reflects Shasta Pools’ commitment to investing in its people and preserving institutional knowledge as the organization continues to grow.

ABOUT SHASTA POOLS:
Shasta Pools is Arizona’s trusted name in custom pool building, proudly serving the Valley since 1966. For 60 years, Shasta has transformed backyards into beautiful, functional spaces where families relax, entertain and enjoy life. The company specializes in new pool construction, remodeling, pool service and landscape design with plans for expansion into the home services market to provide customers with complete home care solutions. Learn more at ShastaPools.com.

ABOUT DANSONS CAPITAL GROUP:
Dansons Capital Group, headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, is a family-owned and family-managed investment firm built on shared values, integrity and long-term vision. The firm was established by the founders of Dansons, Inc., the company that launched and sold Pit Boss Grills. The company takes a hands-on approach, actively seeking opportunities across global markets and multiple asset classes. Its growing portfolio includes strategic real estate development holdings across multiple countries, oil drilling technologies, and limited partnership investments. Guided by a deep commitment to quality and the communities they serve, the Thiessen family leads with gratefulness for the blessings God has given them and in turn supports those less fortunate. Dansons Capital Group continues to identify and cultivate opportunities that reflect their family’s values and generational vision.

ABOUT ACCRUAL EQUITY PARTNERS:
Accrual Equity Partners (AEP) is a founder-led, privately funded private equity group built on the belief that every person, every percentage, and every product matters. This commitment, known as the “Power of One,” drives AEP’s mission to empower businesses and secure legacies across fragmented, service-based industries. AEP partners with founder-led and family-owned businesses to overcome barriers and unlock their full potential through strategic investment, operational performance enhancement, and advisory services. For more information, visit AccrualEquityPartners.com.

ABOUT HYDRO CONSTRUCTION:
Hydro Construction, LLC (HydroCon) was founded in 1986 to serve Arizona’s commercial pool construction and renovation market. Under the leadership of Curt Lonsdale, the company’s commercial pool construction division now manages some of the largest and most complex projects in the country.

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NTCA Welcomes Jennifer Ibe and Rachel Smith to the Team

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Jennifer Ibe and Rachel Smith join the NTCA team

Flowood, MS, October 1 – The National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) is pleased to announce the addition of Jennifer Ibe as Membership and Sponsorship Sales Manager and Rachel Smith as Membership Marketing Manager. The two new positions strengthen NTCA’s focus on membership growth, retention, engagement, and delivering greater value to members.

“Growing and strengthening our membership is a key priority for the NTCA, and Jennifer and Rachel bring the experience and expertise to help us do that,” said Jeremy Sax, Deputy Director of NTCA. “Their complementary skills will allow us to take a more strategic approach to both membership development and the overall member experience.”

Jennifer Ibe, Membership and Sponsorship Sales Manager

Ibe brings more than 10 years of experience in association events, sales, sponsorships, relationship management, and strategic growth. Most recently, she served as Director of Sponsorship and Sales for the Global Workspace Association, where she led major conferences, sponsorship development, budgets, and initiatives that increased attendance by 33% and profitability by 30%.

At the NTCA, Ibe will lead membership recruitment, retention, re-engagement, and relationship development while supporting sponsorship and partner revenue opportunities. She will also represent the NTCA at major industry events and help strengthen relationships with members and prospective members.

Ibe holds a B.A. in Communications from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Rachel Smith, Membership Marketing Manager

Smith brings extensive association experience in membership, communications, digital engagement, and member programming. Most recently, she served as Digital Communications Manager for the Association of Electric Companies of Texas. Previously, as Director of Membership for the Texas Economic Development Council, she managed more than 1,000 members and developed programs to increase member engagement and networking. She also served as Membership Coordinator for the Texas Association of Community Health Centers, where she managed more than 5,000 members and led new-member onboarding and retention initiatives.

At NTCA, Smith will focus on member onboarding, retention campaigns, communications, digital engagement, webinars, events, and community development. She will also support membership analytics and digital initiatives aimed at strengthening the member experience.

Smith holds a B.A. in Communications with a minor in Social Justice from West Virginia Wesleyan College.

“Jennifer’s focus on relationship-building and membership development, combined with Rachel’s experience in member communications and engagement, gives us a strong team focused on every stage of the member journey,” Sax added. “We’re excited about what this means for our members and for the future growth of NTCA.”

About NTCA
Established in 1947, the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) is a nonprofit trade association dedicated to the professional installation of ceramic tile and natural stone. It is widely recognized as the largest and most respected tile contractors’ association in the world. For those seeking to improve their tile business, NTCA provides unparalleled educational experiences, supportive peer interaction, unique cost-savings programs, and a commitment to help develop the skills needed to improve your work, recruit, train, and manage your employees, and ultimately, make your business more profitable. Find out more at www.tile-assn.com.

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