Kitchen Tile Ideas with Black Cabinets – 16 Showstopping Tile Combinations
If you’re looking for a sophisticated design that will stand out from the rest, a jet-black kitchen is well worth considering.
Sleek, chic and stylish, dark kitchens are becoming increasingly popular. As well as looking luxurious, black kitchens are easy to personalise, making them a versatile choice for all sizes of kitchens.
Going over to the dark side is a bold choice and will take some careful planning. One of the best things about a black kitchen is that it’s easy to lift with light and neutral shades. Black kitchens can be complemented with a vast range of tiles including rustic natural stone and high-gloss porcelain, as well as glass, metallic and patterned designs.
If a black kitchen is on your to-do list, keep reading to discover our pick of the best black kitchen cabinet and tile combinations.
Image credit: @housinginfo
Recommended Tile: Woodlands Forest
What colour tiles go with a black kitchen?
Black kitchens will make a serious impact, whatever sized space you have. When choosing tiles for a black kitchen, you can soften the look by choosing neutral-coloured tiles, or you can inject even more drama with black, metallic or dark-coloured tiles.
For floor tiles, we recommend natural stone tiles like marble, slate and limestone, rustic terracotta and patterned tiles – black and white tiles work especially well. Wood effect and concrete style or grey floor tiles are also excellent options.
When it comes to choosing your wall tiles, anything goes! It all depends on the look you want to achieve. Cool neutrals, warmer tones and eye-popping brights will all sit well alongside black cabinets.
Kitchen tile ideas with black cabinets
From dramatic black-on-black and calming rustic stone to warm wood effect and gorgeous gold, we’ve curated some of the most effective black kitchen and tile combinations to inspire you:
Make it marble
If an opulent kitchen aesthetic is your goal, black cabinets and marble tiles are a powerful combination. Exuding luxury, marble tiles are as practical and durable as they are beautiful.
Glossy marble works especially well with blackboard-textured cabinets, creating a striking contrast that’s hard to beat.
Image credit: @cherieleeinteriors
Recommended Tile: Canaletto Gold
Create drama with black on black
There’s no doubt that black is the most dramatic shade for kitchen cabinets. If you’re not phased by darker shades, you can ramp up the ultra-chic look and choose matching black tiles for your kitchen.
Whilst a full black fit-out may not be the best option for tiny kitchens or those with no natural light, it can create a striking impact in a spacious or open-plan kitchen that’s bathed in sunlight.
Design tip: Contrasting glossy and matte textures can add texture to your space.
Image credit: @kimberleyharrisoninteriors
Recommended Tile: Welsh Slate Bangor Black
Add character with black and white floor tiles
Black kitchen cabinets provide a perfect blank canvas onto which you can add colour, texture and pattern.
Be inspired by Moroccan-style decor and introduce boldly patterned floor tiles to your kitchen floors. Patterns can work wonders by helping to break up areas of block colour, adding visual interest and personality to the space.
Image credit: @comparethetradie
Recommended Tile: Damask Series Decor 1
Keep it simple with black metro tiles
Metro tiles are one of the most popular choices for kitchen walls. They’re incredibly versatile and work well in all styles of kitchens, from farmhouse to minimalist.
Embrace the colour-drench trend by sticking to a monochrome palette. You can add interest by choosing attractive tile layouts; herringbone, basket-weave and vertical stacks are all stylish options.
Image credit: @backsplashideas
Recommended Tile: San Vincenzo
Break it up with black and white wall tiles
The beauty of choosing black kitchen cabinets is that every tile style will look good next to them. That said, there is something especially pleasing about patterned wall tiles. They provide a welcome contrast next to solid, dark colours and are a wonderful way to add character.
Black and white tiles work particularly well with a neutral colour scheme. You can create warmth with wooden worktops, shelving and accessories.
Image credit: @home_decorndesign
Recommended Tile: Damask Series Decor 3
Have fun with playful pink tiles
Bring a burst of colour to a black kitchen scheme with rose-pink wall tiles. The area you choose to cover can be as small or as large as you like. Pink tiles are sure to liven up a kitchen and provide a welcome colour boost.
Design tip: Use black grout with pink tiles for the best effect.
Image credit: @sophiehannahhome
Recommended Tile: Rio Rosa
Gild a splashback
If black cabinets weren’t quite chic enough, you can add an extra dimension with gold-infused, glass tiles. Metallic glass tiles create an incredible contrast alongside black cabinets and they’re a surprisingly tough and durable choice for a kitchen splashback.
Image credit: @1909kitchens
Recommended Tile: Dorest Smooth Honey
Brighten it up with white wall tiles
If you love the idea of black cabinets but are worried that they’ll make your kitchen area too dark, balance them with bright white kitchen tiles and white-washed walls. Choosing pale wood countertops and flooring will also help the kitchen to feel light and airy.
Image credit: @maxishomestory
Recommended Tile: Emilia Blanco
Add interest with mosaic tiles
Use delicate mosaic tiles to create an attractive focal point in your kitchen. All colours and styles of mosaic will go with black cabinets, but we love this classy grey-and-white combination.
Image credit: @revisioncharlotte
Recommended Tile: Kaleidoscope Carbon
Create a rustic feel with stone tiles
Black cabinets will emphasise whatever tiles are placed next to them, so choosing attractive tiles is a must. Stone tiles will bring an understated warmth and elegance to an all-black kitchen and help to create a welcoming, warm feel that’s suited to both rustic and contemporary kitchen styles.
Image credit: @novelinteriors
Recommended Tile: DD Ivory
Stick to cool neutrals
If you’re looking for a timeless floor tile to match a black kitchen, grey tiles are an excellent choice. Grey floor tiles will add a modern feel and blend well with all surrounding colour schemes.
Beautiful natural grey stones include limestone, slate and marble.
Recommended Tile: Freya Silver
Warm it up with wood-effect floor tiles
With its unbeatable looks and incredible versatility, wood is one of the most sought-after kitchen flooring options. Wood works especially well with black cupboards, adding welcome warmth and texture.
Wood-look porcelain tiles have come a long way in recent years and with state-of-the-art printing and top-quality textures, they are hard to tell apart from the real thing. Practical, durable and resistant to fading, you can select various styles from parquet and herringbone to traditional planks.
Image credit: @renov80shouse
Recommended Tile: Wildwood
Get the industrial look with concrete effect tiles
If you’re a lover of industrial-style kitchens, concrete-effect tiles are well worth considering. With the practicality of porcelain and the gritty look of worn concrete, they’re the perfect partner for sleek black cabinets.
Create a cohesive look by fitting grey tiles on the floors and walls of your kitchen area. Very large format tiles are the best choice if you want to create a seamless-looking space, working especially well in large, open-plan and loft-style kitchens.
Image credit: @stadtvilla_no15
Recommended Tile: EcoStone Grigio
Choose traditional terracotta floor tiles
One surefire way to add rustic charm to a black kitchen scheme is by adding natural terracotta tiles. Terracotta is ideal for giving your home a welcoming Mediterranean feel. It’s durable, attractive and, as one of the oldest ceramic tile types, a timeless choice.
Unless you buy glazed terracotta tiles, you will need to periodically seal the tiles as terracotta is porous and prone to trapping dirt.
Image credit: @homielovin
Recommended Tile: Handmade Terracotta
Fit classic stone floor tiles
Another timeless classic, stone floor tiles are well worth the investment and can even add value to your home. Versatile stone flooring goes with absolutely all colours of kitchen and a black background provides a strong contrast, highlighting the stone’s natural beauty to great effect.
Image credit: @theolovebranchkitchens
Recommended Tile: Magma Grey
Get the wow factor with a chequerboard floor
Found in ancient Egyptian temples and bronze-age pottery, the eye-catching chequerboard design has been a firm favourite through the ages.
This chequerboard pattern is typically associated with black and white floor tiles, often marble, but you can opt for porcelain or blend other types of stone tile. Laying the pattern diagonally is an excellent space enhancer.
Image credit: @curtnorthrup
Recommended Tile: Welsh Slate Black and White
Top tips for choosing tiles for black kitchens
When it comes to choosing tiles to match kitchen cabinets, black is one of the easiest colours to work with because all tile types will look good next to them.
Although this might not help you to narrow down your selection, whether you choose hot pink, shimmering gold, simple white or natural terracotta tiles, they will all look fantastic. Here are a few things to bear in mind when choosing your tiles:
- Tile size – If you’re choosing wall tiles, the size won’t matter too much but for floors, the bigger the tile, the larger the space will look.
- Tile finish – If your black kitchen cabinets are glossy, offset them with matte-textured tiles. Similarly, high-gloss tiles will look incredible next to flat, black cabinets.
- Plain or patterned? – Patterned tiles can add a welcome burst of character to an all-black kitchen and black and white tiles look especially effective. It’s best to stick to patterned wall tiles and plain floor tiles and vice versa. You can introduce texture with natural stone and wood effect tiles too.
Atlas Ceramics has a vast range of wall and floor tiles to match your black kitchen cabinets. Browse our selection or call one of our friendly experts for advice.