One of the most exciting aspects of The International Surface Event (TISE) is the rolling out of new collections and trends for the new year. Here are some of the trends for 2019 we saw emerging on the expo floor.

Carpet. Innovations in fiber are taking carpet to the next level of design and performance.

Phenix Flooring introduced a fashion-forward carpet collection, Modern Contours, that features 14 styles grouped into three designer-curated palettes. The collection curates styles and textures that found in luxury fabrics found in fashion, according to Jason Surratt, senior vice president of product and design, Phenix. Utilizing a variety of innovative technologies and processing techniques, the collection incorporates a unique tonal dye system that creates subtle ombre of color throughout the background of the fabric.

Mohawk's ColorMax in SmartStrand uses an innovative dyeing process to create blended colorations, intense color clarity, enhanced color saturation and performance. “This proprietary dyeing process creates intense color depth in every fiber,” said Jamie Welborn, vice president of residential carpet products.

The Anderson Tuftex team was excited to showcase the Unleashed collection featuring Stainmaster PetProtect fibers with built-in stain protection and pet hair resistance. The high-style carpets aim to raising the level of design for pet-friendly floors, and the team paired the collection with two new hardwood additions, Kensington and Buckingham.

Tile. Concrete looks continue to be popular and manufacturers are finding unique ways to reimagine the look. Crossville's new Reformation porcelain tile collection offers patterned planks that create depth and movement on the floor.

"We named it Reformation because we wanted people to change the paradigm and reform the way they think concrete is supposed to look," said Lindsey Waldrep, Crossville vice president of marketing.

Gray is still here, though with some movement toward grays with warmer undertones. However, according to Michelle Castagna of Muse Design Studio, with the increase of fracturing and personalization across all industries, color trends are becoming more varied among different demographics, including age group, location, culture, and industry. The key to color now is designing spaces around the purpose of a space, as defined by the customer.

Luxury Vinyl Tile. Putting a unique twist on wood looks is Mohawk's Pergo brand. The company rolled out 60 new introductions, including some inspired by Sugi Shou Ban, an ancient Japanese wood burning technique.

"Our designers burned pallet after pallet, found the best looks and designs, and then brought them to life in digital and LVT," said Mohawk's Jason Sims.