Small Kitchen Tile Ideas – 12 completely different ways to tile a compact kitchen
If you’re thinking of tiling a tiny kitchen, you might be wondering what kind of tiles will work best in a small space.
The great news is that almost all tile shapes, designs and colours can be used in a smallarea. Less space to play with means you can pick more expensive tiles and you can get away with bolder colours and patterns than you might be able to in a large area.
What size floor tiles are best for a small kitchen?
When it comes to selecting floor tiles for a small kitchen, you’re spoilt for choice. Large format floor tiles are a good option if you like a clean, uncluttered look. Fewer grout lines help to create a seamless finish and light-coloured floors will help to bounce light around, making the space appear bigger than it is.
Although smaller tiles won’t help to make a room seem bigger, they’re a good choice for a small floor area. Don’t feel that you have to stick to square or rectangular tiles either, hexagons, herringbone bond subway tiles and mosaics can all make a small kitchen stand out.
What about small kitchen wall tiles?
Like floor tiles, lighter, plain coloured wall tiles will help to make the room look bigger. You can opt for brick or herringbone bond white subway tiles, or choose larger, pale-coloured tiles for a clean look.
If you want to make a statement with bold tiles, a small kitchen is the place to do so. Whether you prefer bright colours, intricate patterns, or both, bijou kitchens are great fun to decorate.
How to choose kitchen tiles
Before you choose your tiles, it’s well worth doing your research. Have a look online and save images of kitchen tiles and colour schemes that appeal to you. When you’ve narrowed your selection down, order a few samples so that you can see what the tiles will look like in situ.
Visiting a tile showroom is a wise move. Not only will you be able to see what the tiles look like over a larger area (and this can be wildly different from a sample), you can ask any questions that you might have and bring samples home.
Small kitchen tile ideas
Just because your kitchen is small, doesn’t mean it can’t pack a heavyweight style punch. We’ve put together a range of inspiring small kitchen tile ideas to get you started. From traditional to modern and luxe to quirky, there’s a tile design for every small space.
Choose patterned floor tiles
Bold, beautiful, patterned floor tiles are guaranteed to make an impact and they’re a great choice for livening up a small kitchen. Keep kitchen units and wall tiles neutral if you opt for a patterned style. This style of floor tile will look equally at home in a traditional or contemporary kitchen and is a relatively inexpensive way to give your kitchen a style overhaul.
Pick brightly coloured wall tiles
This gorgeous, modern kitchen combines an on-trend black and white theme with standout aqua wall tiles. It’s such a crisp, clean-looking space and we love the pops of orange from the well-chosen accessories.
Keep it traditional with stone floor tiles
Stone tiles are always a good idea. Completely timeless, stylish and suited to old and new properties alike, it’s a great investment for a small kitchen. Continue the tiling throughout the house to help the rooms flow together and increase the feeling of space. Natural stone tiles require more maintenance than stone-effect porcelain tiles (which are almost impossible to distinguish from the real thing) so it’s worth looking at a few different tile materials before making a final decision.
Recommended tile: DD Ivory
Increase the feeling of space with checkerboard tiles
One of the first floor patterns ever created, and dating as far back as the ancient Egyptians, checkerboard tiles are one of the most stylish flooring options (and my all-time favourite design!)
Experiment with layout, diagonally laid checkerboard tiles will make the space appear wider and offer a more classic look whereas the classic checkerboard layout is more reminiscent of 50s-style diners. Although we usually associate checkerboard floors with black and white tiles, you can give it a contemporary twist by using blue, red, brown or pastel shades instead of black.
Opt for traditional style wall and floor tiles
The design of this attractive kitchen is kept simple with white wall tiles, white units and a chic black and white floor. Although it’s a small room, keeping it mostly white makes it look incredibly spacious.
Have fun with coloured floor tiles
If you’d like to bring colour into your small kitchen, The floor is a good place to start. Less obvious than a coloured splashback, you can also use coloured tiles to create different zones.
Keep wall tiles plain white or neutral or pick a colour from the floor tiles for a perfect match.
Recommended Tile: Damask Decor 8
Use different tiles to define an open plan kitchen area
Homes are increasingly incorporating open plan kitchens into their designs and many home extensions involve creating an open plan kitchen area. Although the kitchen technically resides in a large area, the kitchen area itself may still be small. Using patterned or contrasting floor tiles in a kitchen area is a great way to define where the kitchen starts and the living area ends.
Tile a glass mosaic splashback
Mosaic tiles look incredible in a small space, especially when they’re multicoloured. It’s a look that could be deemed a bit much in a large kitchen but when used over small areas, mosaic tiles are perfect for creating a stylish focal point. For added interest, pick iridescent mosaic tiles or tiles with a metallic element in the mix.
Go large with glossy floor tiles
Make a small space feel bigger with polished, large format tiles. Light-coloured tiles will reflect light and a glossy surface will also help to bounce it back. It’s a smart choice for small kitchens and it looks incredible too. Go for marble effect or plain white for maximum effect.
Recommended Tile: Elgin Gloss White Marble Porcelain Tile
Add style with a wood effect floor and large wall tiles
Wooden kitchen floors are everywhere and it’s easy to see why. They’re timeless, go with every conceivable kitchen unit colour and design and they create a much warmer look than pale tiles or stone.
Laying floor tiles in a herringbone pattern helps a room to appear bigger and is a clever choice for small spaces, especially galley kitchens.
Wood-effect tiles are a super-practical choice for kitchen floors and much lower maintenance. You can combine them with any type of wall tile, but we love these large wall tiles that match the worktop for a coherent, uncluttered look.
Recommended Tile: Wildwood
Try large format floor and small wall tiles
For a different, but equally stylish look, combine large format floor tiles with small wall tiles. Whilst it’s true that light colours make a space appear larger, dark tiles can look spectacular in a small kitchen, particularly when used over the whole wall. The open wall shelving instead of wall units is an inspired choice in this kitchen and makes the feature tiles stand out even more.
Recommended Floor Tile: Elements Titanium
Recommended Wall Tile: Brick Jade
Create a feature floor with penny tiles
There are many advantages of having a small kitchen and laying a mosaic floor is one of them. Not something that most of us would be willing to try in a large space, mosaics can make a huge statement in a small area.
Along with the coloured units, these black and white penny tiles are the standout feature of this kitchen. If you’re installing a feature floor (or wall) keep the other tiles plain so that they don’t detract from it.
What small kitchens lack in space, they can more than make up for in style. Whether you opt for large, patterned, mosaic or wood-effect tiles (or a clever combination), all can help you to create a polished, practical kitchen area.
Any questions?
Atlas Ceramics has a huge range of wall and floor tiles to help you achieve a similar look in your small kitchen. Browse our selection yourself or call one of our experts for advice.