What a great way to start February! I attended the first trade show of the year this week: the Surface Design Show in Islington, London. I’ve been coming to this event for many years (you can read last year’s post here), and it never fails to impress and surprise. This year felt particularly busy and successful, with multiple talks taking place around the Business Design Centre, making the event feel bigger and more vibrant than ever.
One of the highlights was undoubtedly chatting with exhibitors, discovering new innovations, surface materials and technologies, and hearing directly from experts about the interior design trends that are currently shaping the industry.
Let’s dive in!
Aquabout Wet System By Wall&Deco
I never thought wallpaper can survive a shower. Turns out it can thanks to Aquabout’s patented waterproof wallcoverings. Their new waterproof wallcovering is designed for bathrooms, showers, kitchens, swimming pools, spas—basically any wet environment. The system uses water-based resins, keeping the environmental impact low, while making installation quick, clean, and surprisingly simple. Pretty clever, right?
I was also impressed by the acoustic wallpaper that Wall&Deco launched last year. Designed for walls and ceilings, it significantly reduces noise and helps control the acoustic environment while maintaining its striking decorative quality.
Revolutionary New Print Process by Tactile by p+d
It was a pleasure having a long chat with Liam, Sales Director at Print Displays. He introduced me to Tactile by P+D, an innovative printing technique that uses specialist inks and coatings to create raised surfaces with depth, texture, and virtually any custom pattern you can imagine. The colours were vibrant, and I loved how limitless your creative possibilities are. The textures were spot on, the resolution razor-sharp, and the results felt really luxurious. Honestly, it’s amazing how technology can make designs feel so real—and it’s faster and cheaper too. They can do art prints, graphics—basically anything!
Terrazzo Reinvented
Terrazzo has been making a steady comeback, though I’d argue it’s truly a timeless choice for interiors. Today’s terrazzo is a far cry from the 60s and 70s versions, both in design and performance.
Bealstone terrazzo-style flooring is a real step up—a modern take on traditional Granito or terrazzo-style concrete. It’s crack-free, thin-set, super easy to install, and made with 97% natural ingredients, so it’s environmentally friendly too. The mineral coating is totally customisable, which means you’ve got endless options for interiors and renovation projects. You can pretty much use it anywhere from walls to custom furniture pieces—and it comes in almost any colour you can imagine. Plus, it’s water-resistant and tougher than traditional terrazzo.
Paint Like Plaster
I’ve always loved decorative plaster and textured paints—which is why we have a few feature walls in our home. San Deco paints immediately stood out to me, not just for their soft and earthy colour palette, but for their incredible textures. From the high-gloss elegance of Decostucco to the rugged, natural feel of Travertino, these paints are far from ordinary. They add dimension and sophistication to any surface, looking both high-end and remarkably realistic.
I really feel the finishes strike a perfect balance between paint and plaster, allowing you to achieve the Venetian plaster effect without needing any specialist technique (or the crazy cost), making innovative textures far more accessible.
Re-purposing denim waste
Who knew denim waste could look this good? Denimolite turns scraps into seriously cool composite pieces—from cutlery to coffee tables. Not only are they made using bio-resin, but they’re also created in collaboration with fashion brands to rethink waste, transforming off-cuts that would otherwise go to landfill into high-quality, sustainable products.
What I find particularly inspiring is how these products make sustainability tangible. You’re not just reducing waste—you’re creating something that feels high-end, durable, and thoughtful. The textures, the way the denim fibres are visible in the finished pieces, even the colour variations, all give each item a unique character. I can totally imagine a coffee table or set of utensils from Denimolite in my own home!
Endless Colour Possibilities with Mundy Veneer
Veneers are looking better and more colourful than ever. Mundy Veneer specialises in sourcing and supplying some of the best veneers around for both commercial and residential interiors. It was the huge range of colours that first drew me to their stand, but it was seeing the textures up close that really made me stop and go, oh wow. The options are pretty much endless, with over 900 individual veneers across 160 species, including both natural and dyed finishes. They’re not only beautiful to look at but also highly practical for furniture, cabinetry, and panelling.
Sustainability is clearly a big focus too. Veneer uses far less wood than solid timber, making it a much more efficient choice. It’s a renewable material, and Mundy only uses timber that’s responsibly sourced from countries that take environmental protection seriously. Don’t you just love how sustainability has become such a core part of so many businesses these days?
Closing Thoughts
There were so many other wonderful innovations and brands at the event that will certainly shape how surface design evolves in the future. ‘Eco-friendly’ and ‘bespoke’ are clearly the buzzwords, and more than ever, companies are paying attention to what end users want—creating products that enhance daily life, save money, while making a positive impact on the planet.
Which of these innovations would you love to see in your next home project? Let me know in the comments!
