Rustic Kitchen Tile Ideas – 9 ways to nail the natural look in the heart of your home
When you think of rustic style, wooden furniture, exposed brickwork and plenty of natural stone probably spring to mind.
Rustic style is casual and relaxed and effortlessly blends natural materials, rich textures and earthy colours to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The complete opposite of formal design, rustic interiors are full of character, charm and straightforward style.
Keep reading to find out how to incorporate this ageless design trend into your home and discover the best tiles to help you get the look.
What is rustic style?
Embracing everything that is natural, aged and organic, rustic style is full of personality. Combining many different styles including farmhouse and vintage, the rustic look is calming and traditional. The beauty of adopting a rustic style in your home is that it’s easy to get the laid-back look and it can be a great budget-friendly option too.
Whether you have an old home that’s full of exposed brickwork and beams or a more modern abode that you’d like to add character to, there are a few elements to keep in mind when planning a rustic-style makeover:
- Natural, organic materials are a key part of the rustic look. Make the most of exposed brick, wood and natural stone where you can.
- When choosing tiles, you can opt for natural stone or terracotta or go for ultra-realistic stone or wood-effect porcelain. Glossy ceramic wall tiles are also a good option.
- Neutral, earthy colours like brown, black, beige, green and grey are all part of the rustic palette and will help you to achieve the desired look.
- Don’t be afraid to experiment, the best thing about laid-back styling is that there are few rules. You can also mix and match rustic and contemporary styles to great effect.
Rustic kitchen tile ideas
If you’re keen to get a welcoming, traditional look in the heart of your home, take inspiration from these beautifully tiled rustic kitchens:
Wood effect floor tiles
Wood is a key feature in rustic interiors so you’ll want to include it in your kitchen, whether it’s through chunky, wooden furniture or warm, wooden floors.
If you don’t already have a natural wooden floor in your kitchen, you can achieve the look with porcelain wood-effect tiles. These tiles include a range of different textures so once laid, they’ll be hard to differentiate from real wood. You also won’t need to worry about damage from inevitable kitchen spills, leaks and scrapes.
Natural stone floor tiles
Few flooring materials are as beautiful or timeless as natural stone. Whether you prefer a pale shade of limestone or dark, dramatic slate, stone floors will add a rustic, traditional feel to a room no matter what age of the property.
Natural stone flooring does require some maintenance so if you prefer an easier option, consider stone-effect porcelain floor tiles. Available in a range of sizes, stone-effect tiles are often realistically textured and once fitted, are almost impossible to tell apart from the real deal.
Patterned wall tiles
Add vintage style to a rustic kitchen with patterned wall tiles. Stick to neutral colours and avoid brights for the best effect.
Patterned wall tiles will add interest and depth to a room and are an effective way to highlight feature areas.
Terracotta tiles
One of the oldest flooring materials, terracotta tiles have been used for thousands of years. Natural terracotta tiles are made from iron-rich clay which gives them their characteristic, reddish-brown colour.
Durable and attractive, you’ll often find terracotta tiles in traditional Meditteranean homes. Perfect for adding a rustic touch to your kitchen, this naturally sustainable material is one of the most eco-friendly flooring options for your home.
White metro wall tiles
Always worthy of a mention, these incredibly versatile tiles can be found gracing the walls of rustic, modern, industrial and minimalist kitchens.
Simple and understated, white metro tiles will sit happily alongside wooden worktops and vintage pieces. For a more rustic look, choose black, grey or even terracotta-coloured grout.
Checkerboard wall tiles
Opting for a rustic style doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with colour and pattern. We love this stylish and quirky checkerboard tile splashback. Using earthy ochre and white colours, it ties in perfectly with the kitchen’s natural rustic colour palette.
Concrete and slate
Combine different textures with a rustic concrete floor and slate-covered walls. Getting the rustic look just right involves using a range of materials and, as long as you stick to the neutral colour palette, you can combine as many as you like.
Slate floor tiles
Porcelain slate effect tiles are one of the most practical options for a kitchen floor. They are super-tough, often slip-resistant and of course, perfect for achieving the organic rustic look.
Offset dark slate floor tiles with warm wooden cabinets and glossy splashback tiles for a warm and cosy feel.
Click here to discover more inspiring kitchen floor tile ideas.
Moroccan-style wall tiles
Add vintage style to a rustic kitchen with distressed-effect patterned wall tiles. Vintage tiles are the perfect partner for wood, stone and metal and will work brilliantly in a rustic kitchen.
Muted colours are a must when it comes to creating a rustic-looking kitchen, stick to natural shades of green, terracotta, brown, white, black and cream.
Rustic-style kitchen tile tips
- Creating a rustic style is all about using natural, organic materials. Opt for wood, stone and terracotta or choose porcelain-effect tiles (which look just as good as the real thing!)
- Rustic tiles can be colourful! Stick to the colours you’d find in nature; green, ochre, red, brown, cream, beige and white.
- Part of the appeal of rustic style is its ruggedness. Choosing different-shaped floor tiles can help you to achieve a more traditional finish.
- You can use tiles to achieve a rustic look, or use them to complement existing rustic features, for example, glossy wall tiles will look striking against wooden worktops.
From natural stone to porcelain wood, concrete and stone-effect tiles, Atlas Ceramics stocks a comprehensive range of tiles to help you achieve a rustic look in your kitchen. Browse our selection yourself or call one of our experts for advice.