White Kitchen Tile Ideas – 16 ways to freshen up your kitchen with timeless white tiles
Light and bright, white is one of the most popular colours for interiors, particularly kitchens and bathrooms. Like black, white is achromatic, so it has no hue. White is the best colour to choose if you want to brighten an area of your home as it reflects light the most effectively. If you’ve set your heart on white kitchen tiles, you will be amazed at the sheer amount of choice there is. From matte to gloss, brilliant white to off-white shades and textured to smooth, we’ve chosen some incredible white kitchen tiles to help you choose the right style for the busiest room in your home.
Image credit: @toulminkb
Recommended Tile – Kesha Bianco
Are matte or glossy kitchen tiles better?
Because there is such an enormous choice when it comes to white tiles, choosing the tile finish you prefer will help to narrow things down a little.
White tiles will bounce light around your room like no other colour can, but choosing a glossier finish can help a tiny space to feel even bigger.
Glossy tiles will show water droplets and marks more easily than matte tiles, and if you’re choosing floor tiles, remember that a matte surface will be less slippery and more practical if you have children and pets. It’s also much easier to keep furniture in place with a matte floor finish. On the plus side, glossy tiles are super easy to clean, a quick wipe with a soapy cloth is enough to keep them looking like new.
Are white tiles hard to keep clean?
Lighter colours are always less forgiving in terms of spills and marks but it’s nothing that a frequent wipe-over can’t fix. Light-coloured tiles will need to be cleaned more frequently than darker colours, especially glossy ones, but it’s a small price to pay for the elegance that crisp white tiles bring to a room.
Wonderful white kitchen tile ideas
There are more white tiles to choose from than any other colour, and although this won’t help you make a decision, you can be sure that you will find a tile to suit your home and your budget. Simple white tiles are among the cheapest tiles you can buy and with a good layout, skilled fitting and the right grout colour can look just as incredible as more expensive options.
Whether you’re searching for tiles for a small, traditional kitchen or a contemporary, open-plan space, our guide to the hottest tile trends will help you to choose the perfect white kitchen tiles.
Elegant white metro tiles
White tiles don’t have to be pure white, these striking off-white tiles make a beautiful addition to this kitchen. They’ve been stacked vertically which looks chic and can make the space seem taller, a good trick if you have a smaller kitchen. Choosing a darker grout provides contrast between the tiles.
Image credit: @no5bristol
Recommended Tile – Rio Blanco
White herringbone tiles
One of the most elegant ways to lay tiles, the herringbone bond is also one of the most popular. Although the herringbone tile lay may seem to be a modern trend, it’s been in use since Roman times. It’s a great pattern to lay in a small space because it can help to create the illusion of space. This is why it’s such a popular pattern for flooring.
Image credit: @themonochromehouse
Recommended Tile – Rio Blanco
White fan-shaped tiles
If you’ve set your heart on white tiles but want something different to square or rectangular tiles, fan or fish scale tiles are a great option. Inspired by the ocean, these scallop tiles can be laid with the pointy end up or down for a completely different look.
Pure white tiles with white grout are about as clean and crisp as you can get but you can drastically change the look of the tiles and create more contrast with a darker grout.
Image credit: @hertford_house_up_the_hill_x
Recommended Tile – Mermaid Rice
Contemporary hexagon tiles
Also known as honeycomb tiles these popular, geometric tiles are sure to make an impact wherever you use them. They work especially well when used as a splashback and are a great way to add a modern touch to your home.
You can buy larger hexagons or mini-mosaic hexagon tiles and, if all white is a little too much, you can easily dot some splashes of colour into your design.
Image credit: @norburyinthewood
Recommended Tile – Ava Blanco
Textured white tiles
If you love the all-white look but are keen to do something a bit different with it, try adding some texture to your kitchen walls with relief tiles. Cover a whole splashback, add a few random tiles or place them in a row. However you do it, they’ll add an understated elegance and depth to your kitchen area.
Image credit: @originalstyleuk
Classic bevelled edge metro tiles
Always in style, glossy, bevelled-edge metro tiles are a design classic. More traditional than the flat metro tiles, they’re an instant way to add a touch of luxury to your kitchen.
Add white grout for a more subtle, classic look or create contrast with a bold dark grey or black grout.
Image credit: @scotbuildshamptonshome
Mini mosaic tiles
Add interest to a neutral-coloured kitchen with a mosaic tiled wall. You can create texture with natural materials like marble and stone, or add glamour and glitz with glass and metallics. Natural materials will contain more variation than porcelain or glass tiles which can be a welcome addition to a pristine white kitchen.
Image credit: @realtor_dagma
Simple white square tiles
Keep it simple with square kitchen tiles. You can opt for a mixture of off-white shades for a warmer look, or choose crisp brilliant white. You can also choose plain or textured tiles for a completely different look. Whatever style of square tile you choose, it’ll look fabulous.
Image credit: @ablanca_brookwater
Shaped mosaic tiles
Tiles are always a practical choice in a kitchen and one of their many advantages is the vast amount of shapes and sizes to choose from. White tiles are anything but boring and you can make a serious style statement with geometric mosaic tiles.
Experiment with different layouts to create a look that’s a little bit different.
Image credit: @originalstyleuk
Characterful penny tiles
Sticking with the small tile trend are these fun and tactile penny tiles. Available in round or hexagonal shapes, they’re a great way to add character to your kitchen. These tiles may look modern but have been around since the 1900s.
Have fun with different grout colours, penny tiles are often seen with white or black grout but grey and terracotta work brilliantly too.
Image credit: @elissakoe
Recreate this look: Waxmans Shapes Round
Modern matchstick tiles
One of the newest tile trends, matchstick or KitKat tiles are a twist on the more classic mosaic tile designs. These tiles are perfect for adding character to smaller spaces. The tiles come on a sheet so aren’t as fiddly to fit as they might look!
Image credit: @grillodesigns
Magnificent marble tiles
Always an elegant option, marble has a timeless quality and it’s guaranteed to add a luxurious feel to any room. Natural marble is extremely durable but because it’s porous and will stain easily, needs to be sealed, especially in a kitchen.
You might prefer to go for marble-effect porcelain which has all the looks and very little maintenance.
Image credit: @paperwhiteinteriors
Recommended Tile: Elgin Matt
White tiles with black grout
We’ve mentioned how changing the colour of the grout can take your white tiles from subtle to spectacular. The flat, white metro tiles below have been grouted with black which makes them stand out and gives them a more industrial look in this modern kitchen.
Image credit: @myhomeinneutral
Recreate this look: Dorset Smooth Blanco
White tiles with blue grout
For a completely different look, try coloured grout with your white tiles. Tile grout is available in a range of colours, you can even mix powdered grout to get the exact shade you need (I’ve done exactly this to match pink terrazzo tiles and it worked a treat).
Match your kitchen units or pick a favourite colour, it’s a great way to uplift your tiles and add personality to your home.
Image credit: @nicholasworley_
White floor tiles
As inevitable as dropping a bottle of tomato sauce or glass of wine on the kitchen floor is, a white kitchen floor isn’t as impractical as it might sound.
Fitting white or light-coloured kitchen floor tiles is one of the most effective ways to brighten your room. Opt for stone-effect porcelain tiles for a more classic look or choose high-gloss tiles for a modern space. Using a darker grout is a good idea on a floor but if you prefer a more seamless look, it’s advisable to apply a grout sealant to keep the floor looking as good as new.
Image credit: @athomeinthecotswolds
Recommended Tile: Gala Blanco 600mm x 600mm
Glossy floor tiles
High-gloss floor tiles are super chic and surprisingly low maintenance. They are a great choice for smaller kitchens and utility areas because the shiny surface reflects light, helping the room to appear larger than it really is.
Image credit: @therealrossbrothers
Top tips for tiling a kitchen with white tiles
- If you have a white kitchen floor, it’s worth investing in some grout sealant to keep your floor looking pristine for longer. It’s also a good idea to seal the grout around small mosaic wall tiles like penny tiles too.
- Don’t underestimate the difference that grout colours can make to white tiles. There is no greater contrast than black and white so before you go for it, make sure it’s the right look for you.
- There are many different shades of white tiles so be sure to grab some samples before you place your order.
- You can introduce colour to an all-white kitchen with contrasting cupboard handles, brassware and different coloured grout.
- Marble-effect white floor tiles can be more practical than plain white tiles which are pretty unforgiving in terms of any dirt.
- If you’re worried plain white tiles will look a little clinical, choose textured, mosaic or shimmering glass tiles to add depth.
Atlas Ceramics has a vast range of white wall 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.