Kitchen tile ideas with white cabinets – 14 creative tiling solutions
The most popular kitchen colour, white is versatile, elegant and most importantly, timeless. It can be so tricky to choose a colour for your kitchen cupboards and with the cost of installing a new kitchen averaging £6,000, it’s a decision that you won’t want to rush.
White is ever popular because of its neutrality. Every kitchen cupboard style, from high gloss to traditional shaker will be available to purchase in white and it will suit every home from penthouse apartments to cosy cottages.
When it comes to choosing tiles to complement your white kitchen, anything goes! Although it may not make your tile shopping any easier, it does mean that you can’t make any costly colour-clash mistakes.
What colour tiles go with white cupboards?
Choosing tiles for the kitchen can be even trickier than choosing the cupboards as there is such a huge range to choose from. Installing white cupboards in your kitchen creates a perfect blank canvas so the good news is that any colour and style of tile will look good.
If you prefer a neutral palette, consider tiles in white, black, grey, beige and even soft pink. You can add warmth to a cool white kitchen by installing warm wood floor tiles or using natural stone. If you want to stick to an all-white theme, you can add depth with textured white tiles.
Alternatively, inject some colour into a white kitchen and have fun with tiles in multi-shades, whether they’re rainbow-coloured or different shades of one feature colour.
Also, think about the finish of the kitchen cupboards, high-gloss white cabinets
will contrast well with the matt textures of tumbled marble or splitface tiles. Conversely, you can pair matt cupboards with glossy metro tiles for a sleek look.
Kitchen wall tile ideas with white cabinets
We’ve selected some of the most inspirational kitchen tile ideas to help you add personality and warmth to an all-white kitchen. Whether you want to make a statement with show-stopping coloured tiles or keep it simple and sophisticated with a paler colour scheme, we’ve got you covered:
Keep it sleek with white tiles
There’s no denying that all-white kitchens are beautiful. Add interest with contemporary mosaic tiles for a look that’s clean, fresh and inviting.
Add a touch of luxury with marble
If you want to get the luxe look in your kitchen, opting for marble or marble-effect tiles is a great way to do this. Choose sleek polished marble or opt for more rustic tumbled marble which has an attractive pitted texture.
Recommended Tile: Elgin Matt
Create interest with hexagonal tiles
Geometric tiles are a clever choice if you want to liven up a white kitchen. Guaranteed to add interest, you can choose from a range of colours and sizes or combine colours for an attractive and characterful patchwork effect.
Recreate this look: Ava Gris
Add colour with mid-blue tiles
White and blue is always a winning colour combination. Choose pared-down grey-blue tiles for a calming feel, or add drama with deep blue tiles. You can also effectively combine several shades of blue for a look that’s a bit different.
Recommended Tile: Dorset Bevelled Silver
Create contrast with deep green tiles
Using tiles in a deep shade of any colour is one of the most striking ways to enhance a white kitchen. Bottle green tiles are especially chic and will create a glorious contrast against stark white cabinets. Metro tiles are a good choice, they’re cost-effective and can be laid in a range of attractive designs.
Recreate this look: Rio Verde
Add character with Moroccan-style tiles
Add a Mediterranean feel to a white kitchen with characterful Moroccan-style tiles. Fitting lively patterned tiles is an effective way to break up a white kitchen and create interest. If you love patterned tiles but are worried that they might date, opting for a classic Moroccan-style design is a good move.
Keep it neutral with calming grey tiles
White and grey is a chic colour combination and one that’s unlikely to ever go out of style. Gloss tiles reflect light and will make a space seem brighter, they’re also really easy to keep clean, a quick wipe-over with a soapy cloth is all it takes.
Recreate this look: Rio Gris
Tile a kitchen island
If you love the sleekness of an all-white kitchen but want to add a fun element, try tiling a kitchen island. It’s a clever way to bring a hint of colour into a room. Lily pad tiles are a striking choice or you could opt for brightly coloured metro tiles, celestial stars or patterned tiles.
Recreate this look: Ava Azul Décor
Make a statement with metallic tiles
For a look that’s deliciously different, pick dramatic metallics for your kitchen walls. Fused with real metals, metallic glass tiles are available in a range of sizes and colours, allowing you to create some truly special effects.
Pep it up with blue fan tiles
We love the contrast between plain white kitchen cabinets and intricate mosaic fan tiles. Deep blue and white is a striking colour combination which will always look good. You can also opt for iridescent mosaic tiles to add a splash of ever-changing colour to your kitchen.
Recreate this look: Mermaid Turchese
Kitchen floor tile ideas with white cabinets
Once you’ve chosen your wall tiles, it’s time to think about the kitchen floor. You can create wildly different looks depending on the tiles you choose.
Fit rustic terracotta floor tiles
Terracotta tiles are often shunned in favour of modern porcelain or stone tiles, but these humble tiles deserve a mention as they can completely transform a room. Durable, beautiful and with a range of natural colour variations, these tiles are a wonderful way to add a natural, rustic style to your home.
Inject colour with patterned floor tiles
If you’ve opted for plain wall tiles, consider using patterned tiles on the floor. Working well in any sized room, patterned tiles will instantly liven up a neutral space and create an inviting look.
Recommended Range: Damask Range
Warm it up with wood-effect floor tiles
There are few materials which will enhance your home environment better than wood. Although you can fit real wood flooring in a kitchen, wood-effect porcelain tiles are more durable and they won’t split, discolour or warp if they get wet.
Adding a wood-effect floor is one of the best ways to bring welcome warmth and texture to a white kitchen.
Recommended Range: Naturae
Add interest with bold black and white floor tiles
Black and white is the most iconic colour combination and it works beautifully well on floors. Bold black and white floor tiles will sit happily alongside neutral wall cabinets, adding a refreshing splash of character
Top tips for tiling a kitchen with white cabinets
1. Whilst literally anything goes with white kitchen cabinets, it’s worth considering different tile sheens and textures. Gloss cabinets and matt tiles or matt cabinets with gloss tiles work exceptionally well.
2. Don’t be afraid to try different tile finishes; metallic and brightly coloured glass tiles will look incredible against a blank white canvas.
3. Lastly, don’t forget to order your tile samples! Although all colours will go with white, it’s well worth seeing how the tiles will look in situ.
You might also like to check out our kitchen tile ideas with blue and grey cabinets for more inspiration.
Atlas Ceramics has a vast range of wall and floor tiles to help you achieve a similar look in your kitchen or utility area. Browse our selection yourself or call one of our experts for advice.