13 Cheerful Country Kitchen Tile Ideas
The kitchen is the heart of every country home. Somewhere to cook, eat, relax and socialise, characterful country kitchens are often a mixture of fixed and freestanding furniture and original and modern features.
Whether you have a large country house and are looking for tile inspiration or want to add a country feel to a smaller kitchen, get ready to be inspired by our beautiful traditional and more modern country kitchen tile ideas.
Image credit: @home.at.the.vicarage
Recommended Tile: Mink Tumbled
What is a country kitchen?
Country kitchens are welcoming, stylish and timeless. Traditional country kitchens will most likely include a range of features like flagstone or old wooden floors and exposed brickwork and beams which can be combined with traditional or more modern tiles. Because they’re often large and combine different styles of furniture and a range of materials, country kitchens can be one of the easiest to style.
Country style is relaxed and informal and, depending on whether you’re refurbishing an existing kitchen, or putting in a brand-new one, you can add a more modern spin to it without losing any of the charm.
What tiles should I use to get the country kitchen look?
Traditional country kitchens will often have wooden or stone floors. If you want to keep the original flooring, the great news is that you can match these materials with all other types of tiles.
If you’re fitting a new kitchen, you can opt for natural stone or stone-effect porcelain tiles, practical wood-effect porcelain tiles, terracotta tiles and porcelain tiles. Country kitchens can pull off pretty much any tile design so if you’re a fan of patterned tiles, bold colours or sleeker designs, you can easily integrate these into your kitchen.
Country kitchen tile ideas
If you’re looking to replace the tiles in your country kitchen, or add a traditional, homely look to a more modern home, keep reading to discover 13 different ways to tile your dream kitchen:
Large-format stone tiles
Large-format tiles are a fantastic choice for kitchens of all sizes. Large tiles mean fewer grout lines, resulting in a clean, sleek look which will make any room feel more spacious.
The colour of the tiles that you choose is up to you. If you want to keep the room feeling light and bright, lighter-coloured tiles are a good option. Natural stone like limestone is a stylish and timeless choice for a kitchen floor.
Image credit: @oakhomeinteriors
Recommended Tile: Casablanca
Wood effect floor tiles
Old country kitchens often have traditional wooden flooring. Although real wood is beautiful, it’s not the most practical option in a kitchen where it’s going to come into contact with water, spills and muddy shoes or paws.
If you love the look of wood, consider wood-effect porcelain tiles. They’re realistically textured and available in a range of shades to suit all interiors.
Image credit: @thelistedcoachhouse
Recommended Tile: Timeless Nut
Rustic stone floor tiles
Natural stone flooring is pretty much synonymous with country-style interiors. One of the oldest flooring materials, stone was used by the ancient Egyptians to clad the floors of the pyramids, the fact it is still there today goes to show how incredibly hardwearing stone is.
Stone tiles can be rough in texture or polished. Flagstone-style stone tiles are a wonderful way to bring character and texture into a kitchen. They’re exceptionally hardwearing and, with an occasional seal, are easy to care for.
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Recommended Tile: Travertine Classic Opus Mix
Traditional porcelain tiles
There is much to be said for the humble porcelain floor tile. Inexpensive, easy to maintain and super-practical, porcelain tiles are tougher than stone and they’re a great option in heavy foot traffic areas like kitchens.
Slate floor tiles
Slate is exceptionally hardwearing and one of the most popular options when it comes to stone flooring. Available in a range of shades from the darkest grey to multicoloured tones, the natural variations in slate ensure a striking-looking floor. Choose tiles with a rugged edge for a more traditional look.
Image credit: @homebytheloch
Recommended Tile: Graphite Black Natural Slate
Terracotta tiles
A classic flooring option, terracotta is tough and attractive. When you think of terracotta tiles you probably imagine the traditional red squares which are ideal for adding warmth and character to a kitchen. Try something a little different and opt for stylish hexagonal floor tiles, they’ll add plenty of personality and style to your country kitchen.
Image credit: @indoorpeople
Recommended Tile: Handmade Terracotta
Black and white floor tiles
If you’d like to add a statement floor to your kitchen, black and white chequerboard tiles won’t disappoint. This classic design, beloved by the Egyptians, Romans and Victorians won’t be going out of style any time soon. It’s one of the most iconic tile designs, and you can play around with tile size, layout and even the material of the tiles. Marble or stone tiles will add a luxurious look, or stick with trusty porcelain.
Image credit: @stylebeatblog
Recommended Tile: St Andrews
Herringbone wall and floor tiles
The distinctive herringbone pattern was first seen on wooden floors in the 16th Century. An exceptionally popular design, the herringbone tile layout works well with any sized rectangular tiles and it’ll look equally good in a traditional or more modern setting.
Add a feature herringbone tiled splashback, tile the alcove behind an Aga and introduce the classic pattern with wood-look porcelain floor tiles.
Although the herringbone tile pattern is steeped in tradition, you can add a more modern twist by experimenting with the tile layout, for example, creating a vertical, rather than horizontal herringbone pattern.
Image credit: @cottagerenovationcwmrhys
Recommended Tile: Wildwood
Patterned tiles
One of the main advantages of styling a country kitchen is that almost anything goes. Country kitchens usually include an eclectic mix of furniture, textures and objects and you can use this to your advantage when selecting tiles.
Introduce character with lively patterned tiles in a range of colours and designs. You can tile an entire area with patterned tiles, use them as a border, pick out feature areas, or dot patterned tiles amongst plain ones for a quirky look.
Image credit: @simoneoaks
Recommended Tile: Grace Blue
Metro tiles
One of the most popular tiles, classic metro tiles are a perfect choice if you’re struggling to decide on wall tiles for your country kitchen.
This traditional tile is super versatile, there’s a huge range of colours and textures, you can choose real stone or porcelain, and you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to tile layouts.
If this still sounds like too much choice, you can always stick to classic white gloss tiles with white grout for a chic, classic look that won’t date.
Image credit: @lilys_little_country_home
Recommended Tile: Dorset Bevelled Blanco
Coloured wall tiles
Choosing vividly coloured wall tiles is one of the best ways to liven up a traditional country kitchen.
If your wall cabinets are a neutral shade like cream, grey or white, you’ll be able to choose any coloured tiles to go with them. If you’ve got cabinets in bolder shades like blue or green, you’ll still have a huge choice of colours, you can even pick different shades of the same colour as the kitchen below demonstrates perfectly.
Image credit: @mintlighting_design
Recommended Tile: Emilia
Understated wall tiles
Country kitchens are busy places, activity-wise and visually. Think shelves packed with carefully curated crockery, comfortable antique furniture, characterful features and plenty of colour and texture. Although you can continue the busy theme with tiles, sometimes it’s good to keep it simple with classic square, white tiles.
Plain ceramic tiles are one of the cheapest options, handy if you’re on a budget. Inexpensive tiles can look just as good as their pricier counterparts and if the tiles are light in colour, they’ll provide a subtle backdrop and a welcome contrast to the rest of the kitchen.
Image credit: @australiancountrymag
Patchwork tiles
If you love colour, you can easily introduce it into your country kitchen with carefully chosen tiles. Add splashes of bright colour, keep it subtler with neutral shades or add pops of colour amongst plainer tiles.
Image credit: @lifeatolddenehouse
Country kitchen tile tips
- Country kitchens are one of the easiest to choose tiles for. You can go for traditional stone tiles and wood-effect porcelain tiles, keep it slick with bright metro or square tiles, add even more character with patterned or patchwork-coloured tiles or do something completely different with a statement chequerboard floor.
- Consider the materials that you already have in your kitchen when choosing your tiles; stone, exposed brick and wood will go with everything.
- If you’re unsure what tiles to choose, grab some samples and see how they will look in situ.
Atlas Ceramics has an extensive range of natural stone tiles, stone and wood-effect tiles porcelain tiles and traditional and more modern tiles for your country kitchen. Browse our collection yourself or call one of our experts for advice.