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Updated : May 23, 2025
Published : May 19, 2025
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Revamping and redesigning your kitchen decor is an exciting project and the choice of kitchen wall tile is a very important decision along that journey. Your choice of tile can have a really big effect on the look and feel of your kitchen and with plenty of choices available, it can feel a tad daunting to ensure you pick the right one.

From country cottage inspired subway tiles to contemporary arrow, vertical and modular designs that bring a modern day touch to your kitchen decor, there’s plenty to choose from. There’s also the tile material to make a decision on too, as you don’t want to choose a tile that’s not quite suitable for the hustle and bustle of the kitchen.

We’re here to help you on your quest to find the perfect wall tile for your kitchen, so put the kettle on, make a brew and settle in.

What Tile Materials Are Best For Kitchens?

Before you even start looking at all the beautiful tile shapes and styles that are out there (tempting I know), you need to know which tile materials are most suitable for kitchens in the first place. The last thing you want to do is fall in love with a tile style that's not going to stand the test of time.

The two most suitable tile material choices when it comes to kitchen wall tiles is without a doubt ceramic and porcelain. Ceramic tiles are affordable, available in a wide range of colours, styles and patterns and are resistant to heat and moisture, making them perfect for kitchen environments.

They’re also very easy to clean and keep them looking as good as new, often only needing warm water and soap or a mild cleaning detergent. Most ceramic tiles also feature a ‘glazed’ protective top layer, which makes them very waterproof too, further making them an ideal choice.

As for porcelain kitchen tiles, they share many benefits with their ceramic counterparts, with many styles, shapes and colours available, allowing you to truly make your own stamp on your kitchen space. But porcelain tiles have the added benefit of being non-pourous, which means they’re even more resistant to water absorption. Which of course, makes them a great option for kitchens and ensures they’re really easy to clean too.

Natural stone tiles and glass tiles are also potential options for your kitchen, however in both cases they are generally a more expensive option. Natural stone also requires more maintenance to keep it looking great and will need sealing to prevent stains and any potential water damage.

What Kitchen Tile Styles Are Available?

There’s so much choice available when it comes to kitchen tile styles and shapes, so much so, that we can’t really cover everything. But we’ve put together some information on popular tile styles and shapes so you can get inspired.

Subway Tiles

One of the most popular tile choices when it comes to kitchens, the subway tile style (otherwise known as metro tiles) were, as the name suggests, originally inspired by the tiles used in the very first subway station in New York in 1904. This style was soon replicated across to the Metro in Paris and to our very own London underground.

Due to their clean, ‘sanitised’ look (something the Victorians certainly appreciated), before long, the style was being used everywhere hygiene was of concern from bathrooms to kitchens and it’s still a very popular choice today.

Their timeless appeal and simple design nature ensures they complement so many different decor styles and colours and when coupled with a darker grout colour, they really pop! Traditionally laid in a 50% offset pattern allowing the middle of the tile to align with the edges of the tiles above and below it, they look fantastic across the home, not just in the kitchen.

Herringbone Tiles

The herringbone style is a timeless and classic option that looks fantastic in any kitchen environment. The pattern is essentially created by laying thin rectangular tiles at a unique angle next to one another. Any rectangular tiles can be used to create a herringbone style as long as the width of the tile is half or less of the length of the tile. Otherwise the effect doesn’t look quite right.

Whilst the process of laying the tiles in this pattern is a little more time consuming, the final result is certainly worth it for the ‘wow’ effect it provides. The pattern also provides the illusion of more space in your room, which is often a big plus! Herringbone tiles can be effectively used on your kitchen splashback and elsewhere around the room, including on your kitchen floor too.

Vertical Tiles

Similar to the herringbone style, essentially any rectangular shaped tile can be placed vertically to create a vertical tile pattern. Placing tiles in this way not only looks visually interesting, but it also has the added benefit of making your space seem taller than it is. So it’s a perfect pattern style for kitchens with lower ceilings if you want to create the effect that the room is higher than it really is.

This pattern has also been used to provide modern twists on traditional styles and tile layouts, particularly the laying of subway tiles. By laying subway tiles vertically instead of horizontally, but keeping the ‘50% offset’ pattern, you take advantage of an interesting contemporary twist on a tile pattern that’s over a century old.

Mosaic Tiles

Laying your tiles in a mosaic style can bring a real artistic elegance to your kitchen space and often results in a very unique kitchen decor. Mosaic tile styles are essentially patterns made up of lots of small tiles that all combine to create a larger pattern.

There’s a wide variety of tile shapes that can be used in mosaic patterns and they can either be laid across large wall areas or as often is the case, to complement and provide an accent to other tile types on the wall. Squares, hexagons, diamonds and circles are all commonly utilised shapes in mosaic tile patterns and each one provides a different look and feel to your kitchen space.

Arrow Or Picket Tiles

Arrow or picket tiles are named as such due to their resemblance to an arrow head at each end of the tile and the quaint picket fences you’d often find in beautiful gardens. This contemporary tile style evokes a classic yet modern feel and provides a different look for homeowners who are looking to put a twist on things.

Picket and arrow tiles immediately draw your eye’s attention and with a wide variety of colours available from timeless white to bold and beautiful blue, you’re sure to find a shade to complement your kitchen cupboards and floor tiles. They also provide a completely different effect depending on if you stagger or stack the pattern too, with staggering providing a more classical look and feel and stacking bringing a real contemporary finish to things. You can also play around with colour by alternating different shades or entirely different colours from tile to tile.

Hexagon Tiles

Whilst small hexagon tiles can be fantastically used in mosaic tile patterns, the larger hexagon tiles available on the market offer a unique ‘honeycomb’ style that is playful and modern. As one of the strongest trends of the last few years when it comes to tiles, the interesting shape is eye-catching in itself, but when you combine different colours or use different coloured grouts, hexagon tiles really stand out from the crowd.

There are various sizes available and the larger you go, the more seamless and contemporary your tiles will look, as a smoother appearance with less grout lines is the more modern way to go. Hexagon tiles look fantastic on your kitchen floor too, giving them a geometric touch.

Moroccan Tiles

Timeless, exotic, colourful and intricate in their design, moroccan tiles are a unique choice that brings vibrant colours and patterns to your kitchen space. Often utilised on hallway floors, these tiles also look beautiful in kitchens and bathrooms, with their unique patterns providing a classic, high end feel. Not only that, but they’re durable, water resistant and easy to clean, making them a suitable choice around the home.

Chevron Tiles

Many people think that chevron tiles are the same as herringbone tiles, but there’s a slight variation that makes all the difference. In herringbone tile patterns, the ends of the tiles are cut straight, which results in a ‘broken’ zigzag effect. However, when it comes to chevron tiles, the ends of the tiles are cut at an angle, which provides a continuous zigzag effect.

Chevron tiles certainly bring a more contemporary look and feel to your space than the more traditional herringbone style and the style of the tile design brings a more pronounced visual flow with their sharp edges.

A Kitchen Tile To Match Your Style

As you can see, there’s plenty of tile styles to choose from with various shapes, patterns and sizes to choose from, each of which provide a unique look and feel to your kitchen space. When choosing the right tile for you, it’s important to consider the rest of your kitchen decor such as the cupboard styles, the colour of your electronics such as your microwave and kettle and of course the finish on any furniture such as tables and chairs too. With all that taken into account you’re sure to pick a tile style that complements your kitchen decor and provides you with a look and feel that just feels right!