French Style Kitchen Tile Ideas – 13 ways to get the chic look
The most visited country in the world, France is famous for its vineyards, art museums, incredible cuisine and impressive architecture, France also boasts some of the world’s most beautiful scenery. Whether you prefer the majestic mountains of the Alps, the glorious chateaux-studded Burgundy region or the glamorous beaches of the French Riviera, France has something for everyone.
France is also known for its iconic sense of style. From the Paris fashion houses to the world of interior design, French style continues to make waves around the globe. Associated with luxury, elegance and sophistication, French style also embraces a more rustic and bohemian look.
Keep reading to discover how to get the fabulous French style in your kitchen and how youcan use tiles to help you do so.
What is French style?
French interior style is a beautiful blend of old and new. Ornate, carved furniture, white or pale walls and plenty of vintage touches are key features of French interiors.
As well as being chic and glamorous, French style can also be more bohemian in style, think rustic pieces, traditional materials, flowing fabrics and carefully curated antique treasures. What kind of tiles should I choose for a French-style kitchen?
French style can be sleek and sophisticated, or a little more relaxed. When it comes to tiles, consider:
● Natural stone and rustic terracotta tiles
● Patterned tiles, especially Toile de Jouy-inspired prints
● Tiles in neutral colours
● Wood-effect tiles
● Textured zellige-style tiles
● Smooth porcelain tiles
French-style kitchen tile ideas
We’ve taken a tour de France to bring you some of the most inspirational kitchen tile ideas. From ultra-chic to more relaxed boho styles, discover how tiles can help you to create your dream kitchen. Amuse-toi!
Colourful wall tiles
French interiors often have white or neutral-coloured walls which provide the perfect backdrop for colourful tiles, vintage wall art and antique accessories.
Add pops of colour with Mediterranean-inspired, sky-blue tiles. You can create patterns and borders or introduce colour through vintage-style patterned tiles.
Delicately patterned tiles
Patterns play an important part in French interior design. From elaborately carved furniture to decorative rugs, fabrics and of course, beautifully detailed tiles, using patterns is one of the best ways to add interest and personality to a room. Tiles with a blue pattern areparticularly effective for channelling the French provincial style.
Feature floor tiles
Create a classic style statement with a chequerboard floor. Although this pattern is often seen in black and white, it’s no less effective in a softer colour palette.
Choose durable porcelain tiles or opt for different-coloured stone tiles for an equally beautiful look.
Terracotta floor tiles
Many Mediterranean homes feature characteristic terracotta tiled floors. Terracotta is extremely durable and excellent for keeping homes cool in summer and warm in winter. Using terracotta tiles is one of the easiest ways to add a rustic French look to your kitchen.
Recreate This Look: Antique Pammet Terracotta
Octagon and dot floor tiles
This vintage floor tile pattern is created with a combination of octagonal and square tiles. It’s an elegant design that will suit country and city kitchens alike. You can vary the look by opting for natural stone instead of black and white ceramic tiles, or you can add character by using different coloured ‘dot’ tiles.
Recreate This Look: Lincoln
White wall tiles
French colour palettes are often muted so opting for simple and chic white wall tiles in your kitchen is a great option. White tiles are amongst the most popular and there is a wide range of sizes and styles to choose from.
Try plain square tiles, classic subway tiles and textured zellige tiles for the best effect. Glossy tiles will provide an effective contrast next to matt wall cabinets and rustic accessories.
Recreate This Look: Rio Blanco
Marble tile splashback
Add instant glamour to a kitchen with a marble splashback. Marble is a timeless choice that will blend in with contemporary and more traditional kitchens.
Real marble is extremely durable but will need to be periodically sealed to prevent staining. You can also opt for realistic marble-effect porcelain which requires nothing more than a frequent wipe over in terms of maintenance.
(and if you’re wondering what that tap is doing on the wall behind the oven, in France, it’s a popular and clever way to fill your saucepans without carrying them from the sink to the oven. Bonne idée!)
Recreate This Look: Elgin Matt White Marble
Wood effect floor tiles
The parquet floor pattern originated in 16th-century France and it’s remained hugely popular ever since. It’s an elegant and timeless design that suits any style of home and it’s perfect for adding a certain je ne sais quoi to your kitchen.
Wood-effect porcelain tiles are more practical than real parquet flooring planks for a kitchen. They won’t warp or twist if they get wet and they’re extremely easy to care for. Wood-look tiles are printed with superb quality images and are often textured too, helping you to achieve an authentic-looking French-style kitchen floor.
Recreate This Look: Wildwood
Rustic floor tiles
French style effortlessly combines the old and the new. Offset elegant kitchen cabinets with a beautifully rustic-looking floor. Terracotta tiles are a perfect option, they’re characteristically Mediterranean and will add warmth and character to your kitchen.
As terracotta tiles are porous, they will need to be sealed from time to time to prevent staining and dirt build-up.
Recreate This Look: Terracotta Floor Tiles
Classic metro tiles
One of our favourite tile styles, the ubiquitous metro tiles look good with every style of kitchen and in any type of home. Whether you have a home in France or are giving a French-style makeover to your UK kitchen, metro tiles are a stylish and cost-effective option.
We love the combination of rustic beams, simple kitchen units, wooden countertops and shelving and sleek metro tiles in this ultra-stylish French kitchen.
Recreate This Look: Dorset Bevelled
Stone floor tiles
If you’re opting for a relaxed, rustic-style kitchen, stone flooring is worth considering. Although one of the most expensive options, stone tiles are durable, will stand the test of time and go with all kitchen cabinet colours.
You can choose from flagstone-style flooring with a rougher texture or smoother stone tiles for a more polished look.
Recreate This Look: DD Biscuit
Patchwork tiles
If you’re looking to add character to your kitchen, using the same-sized tiles in different shades and patterns is one of the best ways to do so. Blue wall tiles are especially popular in French kitchens and you can create a beautiful feature wall by choosing 3 or 4 shades of the same colour.
Recreate This Look: Natural Terracotta
Vintage vert tiles
If you love colour, why not inject a brilliant shade of jewel green into your kitchen? Brightly coloured wall tiles might seem like a bold choice, but if the rest of your kitchen is neutrally decorated, it won’t look overpowering. You can tile a small area like an oven splashback or pick a larger area for more impact.
Look for tiles with a vintage, distressed-style glaze for a more rustic touch or add tiles in solid rich colours for a more opulent look.
Recreate This Look: Emilia Avocado
Top tips for achieving the French feel with tiles
● French kitchens are often classy and elegant yet retain an understated feel, if you’re
looking to create a chic-looking kitchen, stick to tiles in natural materials like stone, or
go for stone or wood effect porcelain tiles.
● Terracotta tiles will give your tiles an instant Mediterranean feel and they’ll look
fantastic for many years to come, making them a great investment.
● White, cream, beige and earthy colours are good choices along with shades of blue
and delicately patterned tiles.
Atlas Ceramics has a wide range of natural stone, terracotta, porcelain and patterned tiles to
help you get the French look in your kitchen. Browse our selection yourself or call one of our
experts for advice.