11 Elegant Marble Kitchen Tile Ideas

Marble has long been considered one of the finest materials for buildings and sculptures. It’s tough, impermeable and beautiful, making it one of the most sought-after stones for kitchen and bathroom surfaces.

Viewed as valuable as gold by ancient Egyptians and used to decorate the homes of the ancient Greeks and Romans, marble has been in style ever since. With continually improving quarrying and polishing methods, a stone that was once reserved for the wealthy is now an affordable option for most homeowners.

Marble tiles aren’t just beautiful, they’re durable, eco-friendly, heat-resistant and incredibly easy to clean, making them a perfect choice for the kitchen environment.

Marble is often associated with luxurious spaces, but part of its beauty lies in its unrivalled versatility. You can use marble in all kitchen styles including old and new, shaker, farmhouse, industrial style and even minimalist kitchens.

Keep reading to learn more about the different types of marble tile and how they can be used to enhance your home.

Durable, heat-resistant and extremely easy to maintain and clean, marble is perfect for the kitchen environment and the choices are endless.

Image credit: @birgitotteinterior

Recommended Tile: Cosmic Aqua 

What are the different types of marble tiles?

If you’re considering choosing marble tiles for your kitchen, you’ll be surprised by the choices available. From natural marble mosaics to large format slabs and ultra-realistic marble-effect porcelain tiles, there’s a marble tile for every taste and every budget.

A metamorphic rock, marble can be characterised by its visible veins, created by crystallised mineral deposits. As the minerals in marble vary, so does the colour of the veins and there are thousands of natural colour variations.

Polished marble

Highly polished natural marble is the epitome of luxury. Often seen in kitchens and bathrooms, this stone is easy to clean and perfect for both small and large spaces.

Honed Marble

Honed marble has a smooth, matte surface finish. It’s essentially marble that’s skipped the final polishing process and it’s perfect for modern, traditional and minimal spaces.

Tumbled Marble

Tumbled marble has an uneven, weathered texture which is created by tumbling the tiles with stones, sand and water. The finished product is smooth with chips and subtle imperfections, it’s perfect for creating a more rustic look.

Marble-effect porcelain

Marble is tough, but porcelain is tougher and its virtually maintenance-free upkeep makes it a popular alternative to real stone. Advanced printing techniques mean that marble-effect porcelain tiles are virtually indistinguishable from the real thing.

Marble kitchen tile ideas

If you’ve set your heart on magnificent marble tiles, we’re here to bring you all the inspiration you need to create a striking kitchen that will look good for decades to come.

Polished Marble floor tiles

Luxurious and practical, polished marble tiles are perfect for creating a spacious-looking and elegant kitchen. Well suited for modern and traditional spaces, polished marble floors are easy to clean and super practical for busy households. The polished surface will reflect light, helping make your kitchen feel bright and airy.

Nothing says luxury like polished marble, bring an elegant finish to your kitchen with magnificent porcelain effect marble.

Image credit: @our.robinson.home

Recommended Tile: Elgin Gloss White Marble  

Marble chequerboard floor tiles

A design classic, chequerboard floors will never go out of style.  Black and white tiled floors are often associated with grand or traditional homes but they look equally striking in smaller, modern kitchens. If you lay the tiles diagonally, they’ll help to make the room appear wider, a clever trick for smaller spaces.

Chequerboard is always timeless and combined with porcelain effect marble tiles you’re sure to impress.

Image credit: @katierogue

Recommended Tile: Nebula Semi Polished Grey and White 

Marble tile splashback

Marble tiles are often used for countertops and splashbacks. Marble is tough and easy to clean and goes with all colours and styles of kitchen cabinets, making it an excellent option if you’re struggling to choose tiles.

You can opt for smaller marble tiles or create a streamlined, sweeping effect with very large format slabs.

Marble is dynamic and highly effective in creating a stunning finish in your kitchen. Highly patterned marbles can be effectively used for splashbacks or feature areas to dramatic effect.

Image credit: blankslatestudio

Recommended Tile: Raggio Verde

Marble arch

Choosing marble tiles for your kitchen is one of the most effective ways to make a statement. Marble isn’t just for the floors and splashbacks, you can use it to highlight interesting architecture in your space too. This beautiful arched alcove has been lined with marble and finished with a marble shelf to create the ultimate focal point in this kitchen.

Create a brilliant focal point in your kitchen with magnificent marble.

Image credit: @designer_stone_panels

Recommended Tile: Riflesso Bianco

Marble and wood

A combination that works well in all styles of home, wood and marble is a winning team. Take an eco-friendly approach when designing your kitchen and make the most of natural, sustainable materials.

You can blend all types of wood with all types of marble. Look for contrasting textures and colours for the ultimate combination.

Wood are marble are a winning combination, use texture and colour for the perfect contrast.

Image credit: @vickienyman

Recommended Tile: San Babila 

Dramatic black marble

Kitchen marble is often white or ivory with grey or black veins, but there’s a vast choice of coloured marbles if you want a look that’s a little different.

If you love the elegance and drama of dark colours, consider fitting black marble for a sophisticated twist on the usual kitchen marble. It’s gorgeously glamorous and very easy to care for.

Black marble is stunning and captivating, the contrast of white is so eye catching and creates dramatic effect wherever it is used.

Image credit: @avaloninteriorshome

Recommended Tile: Cosmic Black 

Herringbone wall tiles

Marble tiles are incredibly popular which means there’s a wide choice of tile sizes, formats and finishes to choose from.

If you love marble but want a subtler look than the deeply veined tiles offer, mosaic tiles are an excellent choice. You’ll still have the unique beauty and natural variations of marble and you can use rectangular tiles to create many different patterns.

Marble mosaics offer a more subtle yet interesting finish and are ideally suited for feature walls and splashbacks.

Image credit: @homepoppylane

Honed marble tile floor

Honed marble tiles have a smooth texture with a matte surface. They’re a perfect option for minimalist and rustic-style kitchens and they’re more forgiving than highly polished surfaces – making them a clever solution if you have young children and pets (or both!).

Matt finish marble is rustic and homely on your kitchen floor, it also has the added benefit of covering a multitude of sins!

Image credit: @burkhartinteriors

Recommended Tile: Artemis Anthracite 600 x 1200mm

Tumbled marble wall tiles

Tumbled marble tiles have a beautifully weathered surface with irregular edges. Smooth in texture, tumbled stone tiles can be used on kitchen walls and floors. If tumbled floor tiles contain larger holes and chips, they can be filled with grout.

Tumbled tiles are a popular option for splashbacks and they can be effectively combined with polished or honed marble countertops and floors.

Tumbled marble is so versatile, it can be used for walls, floors, feature walls or splashbacks and adds a touch of class to your kitchen.

Image credit: @archedmanor

Marble subway tiles

We couldn’t possibly write an article about marble tiles without mentioning the marble subway. Combine one of the world’s most attractive building materials with the most versatile tile type and the result is the perfect kitchen tile.

The subway tile’s rectangular shape makes them suitable for laying in myriad ways. Metro tiles suit all styles of kitchens and have the rare ability to look classic or ultra-modern.

Subway or metro tiles are a very popular choice, add some pizazz by using marble metros and bring a gleam to your kitchen walls.

Image credit: @oliverinteriors

Recommended Tile: Florence Gloss

Fish scale marble splashback

Mosaic tiles are a great option for kitchen splashbacks and fish scale or scallop-shaped tiles will add a practical and playful look to your kitchen walls.

You can fit fish scale tiles with the pointy end up or down, or experiment with other layouts to create a unique-looking statement wall.

Scallop or mermaid tiles are unique and mesmerizing, available in a beautiful array of colours and effects, you’re sure to find your perfect match.

Image credit: @h_and_g_designs

Recommended Tile: Portobello Dove Scallop

How to care for marble tiles

Although marble is tough and impermeable, it’s not completely resistant to scratches and stains. Here’s what we recommend to keep your marble tiles in tip-top condition:

• All marble tiles, whether polished, honed or tumbled will need to be sealed from time to time.
• In general, the more polished the tile, the less porous and more resistant to staining it will be. You’ll need to seal honed and tumbled surfaces more frequently than polished surfaces.
• Take care to mop up spills immediately to help avoid staining. You can remove stains from marble using a mixture of baking soda and water. It’s important not to use acidic products on marble.
• Take care of your marble floors by regularly sweeping or hoovering them and don’t drag heavy furniture over the tiles.
• Marble can be cleaned with soft cloths or mops – take care to use suitable stone cleaning products and gentle detergents.

Atlas Ceramics has a wide range of marble wall and floor tiles to help you get the look in your kitchen. Browse our selection yourself or call one of our experts for advice.