Irrespective of the city or the type of home you live in, your home is incomplete without a kitchen. Decades ago, kitchens were smaller and typically included separate areas for cooking and dining, designed to conceal the cooking space and odours. Today’s kitchens are larger and serve multiple purposes. Most homeowners have comfortable sitting areas along with storage cabinets and nook spaces for work units, making it an ideal area for family gatherings. With modern amenities, you can use your kitchen in various ways that work best for you.
Whether it’s your new home or you change the kitchen décor, you must choose the right kitchen tiles. In addition to enhancing your kitchen’s overall aesthetics, they play a crucial role in ensuring durability and functionality. Your kitchen tiles get exposed to moisture, heat, and constant use. Therefore, you must select the right kitchen tiles that will enhance the beauty and practicality of your kitchen.
Whether you are looking for sleek and minimalist designs or bold and vibrant patterns, a variety of tile options are available to meet your needs. This Brick & Bolt blog explores the various types of kitchen tiles suitable for modern kitchens, guiding you to make an informed decision that aligns with your design preferences and lifestyle requirements.
Popular Kitchen Tiles for Modern Homes
Marble Tiles
Marble is a metamorphic stone used since time immemorial for creating sculptures, buildings, and flooring. Manufacturers create marble tiles by cutting the stone into thin pieces and polishing them with diamond dust, giving them a shiny finish. Therefore, when light falls on these tiles, they reflect the light, giving it a shimmering effect. You can avail yourself of these tiles in various shades of pink, green, and blue, depending on your preferences and existing décor. If you want to create an elegant and classic kitchen look, marble tiles are the best choice.
Ceramic Tiles
Since homeowners can find ceramic tiles in various designs, colours, and sizes, they stand as one of the most common kitchen tiles. You can use them on your kitchen countertops, floors, walls, and anywhere that requires durability. Be sure to apply a sealant to the tiles before grouting, as this helps prevent porous materials from absorbing dirt and moisture. Although easy to clean, ceramic tiles chip and crack easily, which is why you must use them in low-traffic areas. If you are using ceramic as your kitchen wall tiles, ensure that they do not receive heat, thereby cracking the tiles.
Porcelain Tiles
Porcelain tiles are heavier than ceramic tiles. They come with a smooth, glazed surface that does not absorb any dirt or stain, making them easy to clean and maintain. Since manufacturers fire these tiles at incredibly high temperatures, they are extremely durable. However, these tiles can be slippery when wet, making them a less suitable option for kitchen floors without the addition of non-slip treatments.
Mosaic Tiles
Often referred to as decorative edging tiles or insert tiles, mosaic tiles are popular for their aesthetic appeal. Mosaic tiles are among the most budget-friendly of the interlocking flooring options available on the market. You can use these tiles on your kitchen floor to create visually appealing border designs surrounding larger patterns. You can choose between smooth and textured surfaces. These tiles are versatile options for any flooring project, with the ability to create a statement design that would transform a room or outdoor space into a visual masterpiece.
Travertine Tiles
Manufacturers make travertine tiles from dense stones that are difficult to cut, increasing the durability and longevity of the tiles. If you plan to install these tiles in your kitchen, remember that no two pieces will look exactly alike.
Granite Tiles
Today, many homes prefer using granite tiles because of their durability. Additionally, these tiles are easy to clean and install, providing an aesthetic and luxurious appearance in your kitchen. You can avail the tiles in various colours and patterns that will match all your decorating needs and design styles.
Glass Tiles
Glass tiles are another popular option for modern kitchens, as they typically do not require sealing. Instead, you need to glue them to existing floors. After installation, these tiles give a contemporary look similar to other tiles. Since glass is fragile, it is better to use it in areas where it receives less wear and tear. These come in varied colours and beautiful designs. You can also use the tiles to create unique patterns on floors and walls. Glass tiles emerged as a popular flooring type, especially when paired with marble tile accents.
Cement Tiles
Homeowners have been using cement tiles for a long time, and they have now become popular in modern home kitchens. Besides being versatile, these tiles can be used in several beautiful colours and patterns. If your cement tiles become damaged or discoloured, you can sand them down or reseal them. However, they are tough to lay and ideal for those areas with less traffic.
Tips for Choosing the Right Kitchen Tiles
Tiles and modern home kitchens are synonymous, as they are durable and water-resistant. They are easy to maintain and a hard material that would not absorb your kitchen odours and bacteria. Besides, they can put up with lots of wear and tear and maintain their shine after a good wipe. When choosing your modern kitchen tile design, consider the following factors:
Usage and Durability
Whether you live in a big family or have small children and pets who can enter the kitchen, your kitchen needs a tile that can bear extreme wear and tear. Ceramic and porcelain are good choices if you have a kitchen that experiences heavy cooking. Since these tiles are hard to crack, they can last for about two decades with quality installation. However, if you have a small family with grown-up children, you can opt for natural stone and marble tiles. These gorgeous tiles will offer a unique look to the kitchen.
Shape and Size of Your Kitchen
You will get kitchen tiles in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Do you have a small kitchen design? You can opt for large tiles in a neutral colour, as they create the illusion of a large kitchen. However, if you have a larger kitchen, opt for smaller, square tiles in a softer shade with rectangular edging. Opt for larger tiles for your kitchen floor and smaller ones for the walls in the same or complementary colours. Most homeowners use large tiles, as they require less grout, which helps create a continuous and sleek finish for their home interiors.
Style and Layout of Your Kitchen
Whether you are building your new dream home or replacing the tiles in your kitchen, ensure to consider the overall style and layout of your kitchen. If you want to create a contemporary or modern look, you can choose the perfect one from the various options available on the market. Ensure to analyse the size of your kitchen as well. Opt for kitchen floor and wall tiles in the same colour to create the illusion of a spacious kitchen.
Maintenance and Cleaning
Since tiles are easy to clean and maintain, they find the topmost place in modern kitchen design. Kitchen accidents like falling food, stains of food, and burning food are common. When something falls on your kitchen tiles, the stains, dirt, and liquids rest on top. Your tiles do not absorb the food and you can easily clean them with a mop, vacuum, or simply wipe off the stains.
Are you afraid to clean the tiles, as they might experience damage? Constant cleaning never damages your tile. Even if your tile witnesses minute damage, like chipping or experiencing a break, it is easy to replace. Besides, since the tiles do not absorb food particles, there is little chance of bacteria or germs, making your kitchen a hygienic place.
Budget and Cost
You can find kitchen tiles for walls and floors in varied designs, textures, and patterns. Although most tiles are expensive, some, like marble tiles might be out of your budget. Though expensive tiles last longer, you must check the kitchen tile’s price before purchasing.
When it comes to interior design, every room holds equal importance; however, your kitchen holds a special place. As the heart and soul of your entire space, you must concentrate on the beautiful visual appeal of its interiors. With the countless modern kitchen tile designs, choosing the best tile sometimes becomes daunting.
As a leading construction firm, Brick & Bolt strives to meet all your expectations about your dream home. The organisation works with partnered contractors, saving homeowners from the hassle of coordinating with multiple vendors. Their expert designers guide their clients through the expansive exploration of design concepts. From finding the right theme to finalising the right tiles for your kitchen floor and walls, Brick & Bolt designs a home that is unique to every family.