Choosing Kitchen Tiles
Kitchen tiles for a backsplash – choosing the right colour can be an absolute nightmare, do you play it safe or be daring?
You’ve decided on the type of kitchen units you want to have plus the co-ordinated worktop, be it granite, corian, quartz, solid wood or laminate and now it’s time to choose your choice of top kitchen wall tiles. What on earth should you pick?
Colour shading for wall tiles
The choice of colour for kitchen tiles will tend to fall into either one of two categories – neutrals or whites.
Neutral shading will introduce creams, browns, beiges, terracotta, pale greens, salmon pinks and similar shades of tiles. These kitchen tile colours are perfectly suited to wood kitchens such as ash, beech, maple, walnut and oak. A popular choice is the Mediterraneo range of kitchen tiles which although ceramic have a travertine effect, with each tile different in design to create the perfect natural stone look. You can either stick to one design which will highlight the light and dark shades within that one colourway or mix the various colours together.
Mediterraneo Range of Kitchen Tiles
For white shading, this starts with the monochrome palette but it can be supplemented by bright colours, ie. white, grey and black plus blues, greens and reds. These colours work well with white kitchens in either a matt or gloss finish. So if you are looking to be daring and make a statement in your new kitchen, check out the Mexicana range of kitchen tiles which are available in a rich blue, red, pearlised white, mid grey, dark grey and black variety.
Mexicana Range of Kitchen Tiles
Kitchen tiles are available in a variety of different formats. What do you need to consider?
Square or rectangular kitchen tiles?
Lately, kitchen tiles have moved away from traditional 6″ square ones (15cm x 15cm) to smaller 4″ tiles (10cm x 10cm), although a few designs are still available in 6″ such as Breda Blanco or the Cuarzo range. There has also been a recent trend towards towards rectangular tiles for a kitchen, either matt or gloss and with either a flat or bevelled finish. Will you be fitting square or rectangular floor tiles – should they be the same shape? Choosing a brick shape tile tends to be a personal choice – you either love them or hate them.
Shiny gloss or matt kitchen tiles?
There is no difference in the ease of cleaning a shiny or matt tile, they will both clean the same, so don’t let this be your deciding factor. A shiny gloss kitchen tile will reflect the light which might be a consideration in a galley style kitchen or one with little natural light. Are all the other surfaces in your kitchen gloss, ie. the worktop, units and floor tiles – don’t forget to consider this.
Hopefully this has given you a few kitchen tile ideas and things to consider when deciding on your choice of wall tiles, you can also check out the full range of kitchen tiles at Creative Tiles and Laminates.
hi,
just fitted a new kitchen which has white gloss units with black granite effect matt laminate worktops ,black extractor hood .I have red accessories kettle mugs toaster , thinking of putting red splash back and blinds .there is 4m square of floor so its a smallish kitchen. Completely confused for the floor. i am putting click vinyl tiles, and and was going to put starstone black to match worktop, but now unsure if it will make room look smaller and dark. Or should i put white arctic maple(bit grey tone ) wood effect tiles, or a light grey oak effect, grey silver stone (shiny effect) ,or a white /light grey natural stone effect (black flecks in it ) travertine effect vinyl tile .Also painting the walls so which colour , white or light grey ? Help needed ,its a nightmare decision . thanks
Hi Anita
You can’t go wrong with matching the floor to the worktop and this usually works very well. But yes, it does depend on how much light there is in the room and choosing a black floor will darken the overall effect – can the room take it? If not, then it’s probably best to stick to a light grey flooring and then you can choose between a wood effect, tile effect, matt or glossy finish – they will all work fine.
As for the walls, I would keep it neutral by painting the walls white which will set off a red splashback, blinds and accessories perfectly.
It will look stunning once it is all finished.
All the best
Susan
Hi, having a nightmare, we have a white high gloss kitchen with oak work tops, and sage green walls- we have just done an off white /cream tile splash back it’s not grouted yet, but I’m not sure weather this goes… Should I have gone white?
Hi Claire
I think that if you went with white tiles you might find it a bit stark/clinical with no break between the white kitchen cupboards and white wall tiles. The off white/ivory tiled splashback sounds like it would bring together your chosen colour scheme of white units, sage walls and warming oak worktops. Use a white grout to frame the tiles and link with the unit colour.
Regards
Susan
Hi
My kitchen is cream shaker style with oak work surfaces and floor, and slate top island. My accessories are red, and cream smeg. What combination of grey/black/cream/red tiles do you recommend and what formation? It’s just for behind the range cooker
Thanks
Hi Jo
I would suggest either using a random layout of the colours mentioned or going bold with just one colour.
I’ve added a couple of images as suggestions:
Regards
Susan
hi im looking for some advice on what tiles to get for my new kitchen.
i have black sparkly laminate worktops, light oak cupboards an d absoloute black granite floor.
i was looking at cream bevel metro tiles but have no idea if this would go or not?
Hi Vanessa, apologies for the delay in responding, your message inadvertently went into the spam box.
Regarding your kitchen wall tiles, if you have both a dark worktop and floor tiles, then it is probably best to keep them a neutral/pale colour. You do not want to make the room too dark even though you have chosen a light oak kitchen.
Generally, most people will only tile between the worktop and wall units. This then leaves the remaining wall area to be painted with either a complementary or contrasting shade. It is here that you can add a splash of colour if so desired.
I think cream rectangular tiles will suit the kitchen you have chosen and you can also contemplate those with a bevelled edge or without. The Liso range of kitchen tiles is available in both matt and gloss versions in the larger 10x30cm size or smaller 7.5 x 15cm size.
The only two things left to consider, is whether you have the wall tiles fitted brick-bond or in a grid fashion, plus the choice of grout colour. Picking a cream grout will blend in with the tiles, whereas a white grout will frame the tiles and add definition. Whichever your choice, I’m sure that you won’t be disappointed with the finished product.
Best wishes, Sue
Just finalising my new kitchen and v similar to above.
White gloss units. Black Matt tops (skate coloured floor and white walls)
And I’ve gone for a red hob splashback as you suggest!
But should the wall tiles above work surface be gloss (I’m thinking of small mosaic effect greys/white/black) or 4×4 larger tiles on the same colours … But Matt?
I have just put in a new kitchen.
I have a black range cooker with a black hood.
The units are cream.
The floor black slate laminate and the worktops black.
Lots of LED lighting about.
What colour/type of tiles would recommend and what colour for the walls.
I want a sleek modern contemporary look.
Hello John,
All of your colours are already modern and contemporary so you won’t need much to finish off.
For the walls I would recommend a white or pale cream to keep them neutral and accentuate the modern colours of the kitchen.
For the tiles you could also go black although this may be a little dark given the colour of your floor. If you do go black a white grout is the finish to make them really stand out, see :
http://www.fitcreative.co.uk/product/4020/ktazuner/kitchen-wall-tiles/black-white-grey/azulejo-nero-brillo-kitchen-wall-tile
My personal favourite (and the most daring )is RED for behind the cooker with a diamond white for the other areas, see :
http://www.fitcreative.co.uk/product/4050/ktmexroj/kitchen-wall-tiles/colours/mexicana-rojo-kitchen-wall-tile
After that a cream or white will do the job but go for that WOW with a bold colour behind the cooker.
Good luck with your project.