When it comes to restyling your kitchen, it’s important to consider design and decor that strikes the balance between form and function. From kitchen wall tile sets to brand-new tiled kitchen floor designs, there are so many choices that it can be a little overwhelming to know where to start.
But whether you’ve been dreaming of your perfect kitchen tile design for months or are still at the very start of your tile-buying journey, you can make the decision process easier by considering a few key areas before committing to your aesthetic of choice.
And to help you get started in this area, we’ve pulled together our top ideas and inspiration around kitchen tile design ideas to give you the foundation you need to get started with your kitchen renovation.
From the different materials to the colourways, finishes, and formats on offer in our tile range, our insightful guide to kitchen tiling will help you nail this important room’s design aesthetic in no time.
What are the benefits of kitchen tiling
While there are a huge variety of different wall and floor coverings for your kitchen out there, when it comes to longevity, maintenance, and breadth of design options, kitchen tiling simply can’t be beaten.
Tiles give your kitchen an unrivalled sense of quality, sophistication, and effortless appeal that most kitchen decor alternatives simply cannot deliver in quite the same way.
Charterhouse Grigio 90x60 Antique Limestone-effect Porcelain
Kitchen tile design – picking your material
Like other core rooms in your home, kitchens tend to be subject to a lot of footfall on a daily basis, particularly if they’ve also got bathrooms or utility rooms coming off them or lead directly out to the garden.
The reality is that kitchen floors frequently find themselves in contact with heavy boots, muddy paws, dirty trainers, and pram wheels, which makes picking the right kitchen tile design material a must to ensure they last for years to come:
Natural stone kitchen tile design
Hugely hardwearing, brilliantly beautiful, and unlikely to diminish with age by showing signs of fatigue, natural stone tiles are an excellent option for kitchens that need to endure high volumes of foot traffic for years on end.
Available in a range of materials, subtle shades, and finishes, from limestone tiles to marble sets, natural stone is a classic option for kitchen floors that, with correct care and maintenance, will truly stand the test of time.
Gironde Flax Tumbled & Brushed Sandstone
Porcelain kitchen tile design
Another classic tile choice for a wide range of surface applications, porcelain tiles are in their element within a kitchen. Brilliant at coping with water exposure, spills, and foot traffic, porcelain tiles are a highly durable, low-maintenance surface solution that are particularly well-suited for use on both walls and floors.
Better yet, porcelain tiles can be manufactured to replicate various natural materials, including wood and stone, so if you’re after a specific aesthetic without any of its associated downsides, then porcelain tiles are the perfect material for you.
Horsham Oak Wood-effect Porcelain
Ceramic kitchen tile design
Like porcelain, ceramic tiles come in lots of different colours, finishes, patterns, and designs, enabling you to really get creative with decorative design, and they tend to be relatively low maintenance because of their high-glaze finish, meaning you shouldn’t need specialist cleaning products to keep them in tip-top condition.
However, ceramic tiles have a less dense composition than porcelain tiles and don’t undergo such an intensive firing process, meaning they tend to be smaller format and not as hard-wearing, making them unsuitable for floors. Yet what they lack in strength they make up for in affordability, being particularly cost-effective for larger kitchens. Ceramic tiles are also lightweight, making them ideal for kitchen wall tiles and easy installation.
Axis Chalk Gloss Ceramic Tiles
Choosing the perfect kitchen tile design
Now that we’ve discussed some of the practicalities to help with the initial decision-making process for your tile kitchen design ideas, let’s look at some of the gorgeous aesthetics you can create, as well as a few tricks of the trade to bear in mind with these styles:
1. Keeping things neutral
When it comes to elegant simplicity, there’s no finer way to let your cabinetry, worktops, and accessories do the talking than by keeping your kitchen tile design dialled down with gentle neutral tones.
A close match between your wall decor and floor tiles is the ultimate tactic for incorporating seamless continuity throughout the room. Alternatively, a slight tonal difference between the two will add a little more detail and interest without causing distraction.
Dorset Bianco Antique Limestone-effect Porcelain
2. Pick bold and bright tones
At the opposite end of the scale to neutral naturals are bolder and brighter kitchen tile designs, which set a different tone altogether. From fun and frivolous pinks to yell-out-loud yellows, by picking a standout colour for your kitchen tile design, you’re sure to inject plenty of playful character and personality into your scheme.
However, with that being said, take your time choosing accompanying decor when selecting bolder tile colours in your kitchen; otherwise, you may run the risk of clashing colours that feel jarring and unsettled.
Sevilla Vintage Patterned Porcelain Tiles
3. Making the most of metros
Classic yet contemporary, metro tiles bring the best of both worlds to your kitchen tile design in one easy decision. After all, one of the main reasons metro tiles are so popular for kitchens is they work fantastically well in any sized or shaped space, as well as the sheer range of shades and finishes available.
Metros tend to work best when left to define a zone, liven up a recess, or make your mark on a splashback, bringing depth and excitement to even the dullest of corners with minimal effort.
4. Pick your patterns
Whether through distinctive and visual texture or a print design that draws you in, patterned tiles are an undeniably eye-catching choice for kitchens and can set the stage for the feel of the room.
From nostalgic vintage tile designs reminiscent of the mid-20th-century aesthetic to the rustic charm of old farmhouse designs, patterned kitchen tiles have the power to evoke an array of moods in your kitchen setting.
Left: Porto Vintage Blue Patterned Tiles, Right: Celestial Sage Patterned Tiles
5. Lean into nature
Feel like taking your patterned kitchen tile design ideas to the max? Give your kitchen a touch of the tropical with distinctive dark green and blue tile sets, complemented by natural materials or porcelain-effect variants.
Vibrant and verdant, tiles like these will transport you to foreign climates in an instant, providing an exotic and striking focal point. Better yet, all types of hardware work excellently against this luscious and attention-grabbing backdrop, although we think black and gold make a particularly strong style statement.
6. Deliver a dramatic flare
Feeling daring and want to create a bit of a scene? If your kitchen is blessed with enough natural light to turn to the dark side, without compromising its sense of spaciousness, we recommend embracing it to full effect.
Definitely not one for the cautious, dark colour or black kitchen tile designs can be utterly mesmerising, casting a spell unlike anything else, all while ramping the cosy factor up without making the room feel cramped.
Bring your kitchen tile design to life
When it comes to kitchen tile design ideas, the available options can seem never-ending and a little daunting. But hopefully, this blog post has helped you channel your inner interior designer and moved you one step closer to making your vision a reality.
Of course, if you’re ready to get started designing your new kitchen today, you can start browsing the Stone Superstore range to see what we have on offer. We even offer free tile samples, meaning you can see what your new tiles will look like in your home before committing to your purchase.
And remember, you’ll find plenty more inspiration in our expert blog, which is packed with practical and useful advice on everything from tile-buying guides to designing the perfect kitchen splashback.
