Whether you’re designing a new kitchen or remodeling an old one, picking the best kitchen tiles is essential. They are sturdy, simple to clean, and aesthetically pleasing as kitchen flooring.
They will protect working spaces on walls, particularly those behind the stove and the splash back. To help you know what makes a good kitchen tile we’ll go through all of your options below.
Which materials to choose for kitchen tiles
There is a sizable variety of tiles suitable for kitchen flooring and walls. The choice with the lowest cost and most straightforward maintenance is manufactured tiles.
You can create a scheme that you like by combining various patterns, colors, and finishes. These elements can be basic or patterned.
Although natural stone is more expensive, it is also more attractive and distinctive. The care requirements for stone tiles are more strict than those for artificial tiles, but you can maintain the beauty of stone if you follow the rules (see our guide to choosing stone flooring).
Wooden stone tiles for the kitchen
Think about using marble, limestone, travertine, or slate for your kitchen’s walls and floors. Remember that natural stone needs to be sealed to protect it and cleaned with materials made specifically for stone; regular shop cleaners are too abrasive.
Finishes for natural stone tiles include polished sheen, modern honed smoothness, and aged-looking tumbledness.
Although there are striking dark and colored tints, marble is frequently found in grey and white tones. Additionally, veining might be subtle or striking. Polished marble shouldn’t be used as a floor in a kitchen since it poses a slip risk.
Limestone is widely used. It may be used to produce a variety of appearances because to its beige, grey, cream, and dark tones. The toughness of limestone varies, so if you plan to use it as flooring, make sure that it can withstand heavy foot traffic.
Warmer shades are also available for travertine, which is normally available in beige and grey tones. It has naturally occurring surface gaps that are filled in with most finishes or during tile grouting
Slate, when installed on a wall, produces a rough surface that may enhance foothold or add interest to a kitchen. Slate is a distinctive stone due to its deep, rich tones.
Handmade tiles for the kitchen
For the kitchen, there is a wide variety of ceramic and porcelain tiles, and you can be quite specific about producing the finish you want through color, pattern, the appearance of stone or wood, and other finishes. The options are considerably more broadened by glass tiles.
For the kitchen, ceramic tiles are a very affordable solution. Some of them won’t work on the floor, but they work excellent for walls.
When choosing tiles, keep in mind that they won’t hold up to the traffic and use of a busy space like the kitchen. Ceramic tiles are easy to clean and don’t need to be sealed.
Porcelain tiles are very durable because they burn at a higher temperature than ceramic tiles and have a higher density. For this reason, they are usually used on floors, although they can also be applied to walls.
Glass tiles can be found in a variety of wall tile designs in addition to being regularly utilized in mosaics. They’ll add a pop of color to any kitchen, and with the choice of multicolored glass mosaics, they can make an eye-catching centerpiece.
Choose a gloss finish for your wall tiles to brighten up your kitchen. They can help a small kitchen feel bigger if that’s what you have in mind. Furthermore, they are easy to clean.
Surface-wise, matte tiles are smooth. They won’t be as noticeable as a glossy version that catches the light, but they can be a great way to give a subtle contrast with other kitchen surfaces in, say, an all-white arrangement. They might require some additional cleaning.
How to choose kitchen floor and wall tiles
The potential impact of a kitchen backsplash as a vertical element in a design can be easily realized thanks to tiles.
Use color, reflectivity, patterned tiles or tiles laid in a pattern like herringbone, odd shapes like hexagons or fish-scale tiles, natural stone or a manufactured replica to draw attention to a tiled backsplash. Learn how to tile a splash back if you want to do it yourself.
Make the floor tiles in the kitchen the most decorative part of the design; patterning the floor is a popular trend and is typically combined with plain wall tiles, however repeating the pattern on the walls is possible.
Consider if you want the sleek, contemporary effect that porcelain or ceramic may create, or the classic look of actual stone if your floor tiles are the more reserved half of your wall and floor duo.
Do not forget that a wood-look tile can add the necessary natural warmth to a cold kitchen.
Wall tiles in the kitchen can be used to generate decor
A tiled splashback’s appearance can be significantly enhanced by making small adjustments. Think about the following ideas:
Contrast the grout color with the tile color to change the appearance. Light tiles with dark grout will make the tiled area stand out. Our section has further grouting guidance.
Choose between beveled edge and flat subway (also known as metro) tiles. The latter can quietly enliven a plain kitchen layout by casting shadows and producing interesting reflections.
using a tile with a distinctive shape, like a hexagon? Let the tile shape form the top of the splash back rather than cutting the tiles to make a straight border.
Think about a tile pattern in the metro style. The conventional arrangement is a half tile offset, although they can also be used in chevron, basket weave, or herringbone patterns, or piled in a grid.
Make sure to get the proper tile size for your project, regardless of the style you decide on and especially if you have a small kitchen.
