How to Work Patterned Tiles Into Your Kitchen
If you love ornate decorative tiles but aren’t sure how to use them in your kitchen, read on for inspiration
While classic subway tiles are a popular choice in the kitchen for good reason, it is beautifully intricate patterned tiles that always seem to garner more attention. There are so many gorgeous designs to choose from for both walls and floors, whether you want to bring in a hint of the outdoors with a botanical design, evoke the exotic vibe of a Moroccan riad or transport yourself to a vintage Parisian patisserie. If you’ve been tempted by intricate patterns but need some ideas on the best way to utilise them, these super-stylish kitchens will give you food for thought.
2. Pick patchwork
These stunning patchwork floor tiles are a feast for the eye, and can work wonderfully in a minimalist, clean-lined kitchen. Opt for sleek, white, handleless joinery with slab fronts, as too much detailing could easily tip this design into OTT territory. A little restraint elsewhere to counterbalance the busy pattern has ensured the perfect balance.
These stunning patchwork floor tiles are a feast for the eye, and can work wonderfully in a minimalist, clean-lined kitchen. Opt for sleek, white, handleless joinery with slab fronts, as too much detailing could easily tip this design into OTT territory. A little restraint elsewhere to counterbalance the busy pattern has ensured the perfect balance.
3. Mix tiles and wood
If your kitchen is open plan, you might be wary of using patterned tiles right the way through into dining and living areas. A great alternative is to use both tiles and wood flooring, which not only gives more options for your choice of furnishings, but also demarcates the space into zones for cooking and eating.
If your kitchen is open plan, you might be wary of using patterned tiles right the way through into dining and living areas. A great alternative is to use both tiles and wood flooring, which not only gives more options for your choice of furnishings, but also demarcates the space into zones for cooking and eating.
4. Bring a retro scheme alive
Without the earthy browns, greens and oranges of these gorgeous geometric Glitz wall tiles by Dominic Crinson, this dark brown kitchen could’ve fallen flat. When using such a bold design, it’s important to keep things simple elsewhere, so light oak herringbone flooring and unobtrusive white wall units were a wise choice.
Without the earthy browns, greens and oranges of these gorgeous geometric Glitz wall tiles by Dominic Crinson, this dark brown kitchen could’ve fallen flat. When using such a bold design, it’s important to keep things simple elsewhere, so light oak herringbone flooring and unobtrusive white wall units were a wise choice.
5. Think inside the box
A wonderful way to bring open box shelving to life is to tile the back section. As well as being quirky, it gives a much more durable finish than wallpaper to achieve a similar effect, and if you’ve fallen in love with an expensive design, it’s easer on the pocket to tile a small area rather than an entire wall or splashback.
Alternatively, if you have an inglenook (the space either side of a fireplace) with a range cooker, tiling the small area behind will allow you to indulge in those to-die-for, top-of-the-range tiles without having to take out a second mortgage.
A wonderful way to bring open box shelving to life is to tile the back section. As well as being quirky, it gives a much more durable finish than wallpaper to achieve a similar effect, and if you’ve fallen in love with an expensive design, it’s easer on the pocket to tile a small area rather than an entire wall or splashback.
Alternatively, if you have an inglenook (the space either side of a fireplace) with a range cooker, tiling the small area behind will allow you to indulge in those to-die-for, top-of-the-range tiles without having to take out a second mortgage.
6. Add interest to a tiny space
If your kitchen is only big enough for an L-shaped run of units, what you’re often left with is a boring expanse of plain wall. In this small urban kitchen, adding shelves would impinge on the space too much, so filling the entire wall from floor to ceiling with green and brown patterned tiles counterbalances the contemporary two-tone units perfectly.
If your kitchen is only big enough for an L-shaped run of units, what you’re often left with is a boring expanse of plain wall. In this small urban kitchen, adding shelves would impinge on the space too much, so filling the entire wall from floor to ceiling with green and brown patterned tiles counterbalances the contemporary two-tone units perfectly.
7. Let the tiles dictate the scheme
Starting from scratch? If so, pick one item that you absolutely love, such as a patterned tile, and place it right in the centre of your moodboard. You’ll find the rest of the scheme will fall into place easily. Here accent colours of red and yellow have been picked out from the multi-coloured patchwork tiles to bring this industrial-style kitchen to life.
Starting from scratch? If so, pick one item that you absolutely love, such as a patterned tile, and place it right in the centre of your moodboard. You’ll find the rest of the scheme will fall into place easily. Here accent colours of red and yellow have been picked out from the multi-coloured patchwork tiles to bring this industrial-style kitchen to life.
8. Frame a recess
Patterned tiles are a wonderful way to make a recessed shelving area like this really stand out. Paint the recess in pure white or pick out a single block colour from one of the tiles, to make a stand-out display of your most prized kitchen accessories.
See more reasons to carve out a recess
Patterned tiles are a wonderful way to make a recessed shelving area like this really stand out. Paint the recess in pure white or pick out a single block colour from one of the tiles, to make a stand-out display of your most prized kitchen accessories.
See more reasons to carve out a recess
9. Be brave
Ever had a nightmare where you’re trapped inside a kaleidoscope? For some, this fully tiled kitchen with mirrored ceiling may be a step too far, but the homeowner’s bold and busy choice of patterned geometric tiles really works, and has transformed a standard galley kitchen into something unique.
TELL US
What do you think of patterned tiles? Share your thoughts and pictures in the Comments below.
12 Ways to Wow With Patterned Tiles
10 Patterns to Paint on Your Floor
Contemporary Kitchen Tile Options To Consider
Ever had a nightmare where you’re trapped inside a kaleidoscope? For some, this fully tiled kitchen with mirrored ceiling may be a step too far, but the homeowner’s bold and busy choice of patterned geometric tiles really works, and has transformed a standard galley kitchen into something unique.
TELL US
What do you think of patterned tiles? Share your thoughts and pictures in the Comments below.
12 Ways to Wow With Patterned Tiles
10 Patterns to Paint on Your Floor
Contemporary Kitchen Tile Options To Consider
If you’re a fan of French vintage style, anchor your kitchen scheme by picking floor tiles with a bleached out, distressed feel in faded blue and white. Team with rustic units, wood benchtops and a battered old dresser for a relaxed, laid-back space.
How to create a French provincial kitchen