40 beautiful kitchen wall tile trends to transform your home

Finish your kitchen with fabulous tiles

Looking for kitchen wall tiles to work with your new kitchen? You've chosen the cabinets, worktops and flooring but there's one more vital element that can make or break your dream kitchen scheme. Available in a kaleidoscope of colourways and different designs, kitchen wall tiles both protect and personalise the hardest-working room in your home.

From sophisticated hexagon patterned splashbacks to modern Mediterranean-inspired patchwork, these stylish ceramics are sure to inspire.

Read on for inspiration...

Painterly style

These painterly coloured glass tiles by Original Style offer a calming feel akin to swirling clouds on a clear blue sky. Their translucent beauty and silver metallic base evoke an almost ethereal feel and are sure to be a soothing sight when you're making your morning coffee.

Candy floss

It's no secret that pink is still the 'in' colour but it doesn't have to mean floor-to-ceiling saccharin sweetness. These flat Covent Garden metro tiles from Walls and Floors have been laid in a unique pattern and teamed with a monochrome paint splodge wallpaper and black worktops to give the scheme a contemporary edge that doesn't scream 'Barbie lives here'.

Slatted wood

Natural materials continue to have their moment but we all know wood and moisture can be a problematic combination. Enter these Timber Wood Slat oak effect tiles from Walls and Floors!

Made from durable ceramics, you can achieve a realistic wood panelling look on your kitchen walls with none of the hassle of cleaning and maintaining real timber.

Geometric head turners

Geometric kitchen tile designs in sunny colours add a wow factor and will keep you staring at them for much longer than it takes for the kettle to boil.

Starburst motifs counteract the formality of square formats in an almost hypnotic pattern, as seen in this Tropez design at Porcelain Superstore. Accessorise with warm accent shades against a backdrop of soft neutrals for a warming feel all year round.

Pared-back palm prints

Thanks to our continuous love of the jungle trend, palm prints continue to sway happily on wallpaper. So, it's no surprise the leafy look is growing in kitchens and bathrooms, too. This pretty Jungle Grove kitchen wall tile by Original Style offers an abundance of painterly tropical foliage in muted tones. Use liberally to create a large-scale mural on one wall or pare it back with a panel behind a cooktop.

Vertical stripes

Stripes are never really out of fashion. Why? Because they are classic, smart and create the illusion of space. These perfectly tailored blue and white pinstripes by Ca' Pietra add a shot of visual fun to a smart navy kitchen. The vertical design draws the eye upwards.

Stack ‘em up

Kitchen walls without upper cabinetry will benefit from 'tile stacking'. Generally speaking, the method of the term is to break up a large expanse of space using tiles of different patterns, colours or textures.

We love this combination of thin split-face effect tiles and smooth large format slab tiles above in complementary pebbly tones, both available at Walls and Floors.

Defined grout

Contrasting grout remains an easy and effective way to add personality to classic tiles, like these ones by Walls and Floors. This pretty coral-toned grout frames glossy cream tiles and ticks many current trend boxes. It's uplifting, earthy and a great way to add interest to a simple, low-cost splashback.

Botancial murals

Plants and greenery are still very much at the centre of our decorating schemes. Splashbacks in large kitchens can make an ideal canvas for a mural-style makeover. Set between classic chevron metro tiles, this trail of fresh flora and foliage from The Baked Tile Co. is a mesmerising focal point in a forest-green kitchen.

Pastel shades

Thinking of going for a pastel-toned kitchen? Why not cook up a striking scene that's a little different from the norm, like this pretty, Miami-inspired setting from Original Style?

The pastel tones and curved tiles look sugary sweet teamed with retro metallic-trimmed bar stools and smooth, rosy cabinets.

Spaced-out circles

Brighten up a small kitchen with a circle pattern splashback. These encaustic-style porcelain tiles from Walls and Floors draw their inspiration from southern Spain and the scaled-up motif leaves plenty of blank space so they don't feel too busy. The pattern creates a striking visual effect that will zone the kitchen in an open-plan space.

Faux bricks

Give your kitchen an industrial makeover with exposed brickwork tiles. Not all of us are lucky enough to own original brick walls, but the look is easy to achieve with reclaimed brick slip tiles from The Brick Tile Company. Supplied in a mix of colours and shapes, you'll be able to achieve a timeless look in any space.

Daring diamonds

Make your kitchen walls shimmer with glittering diamonds that catch the eye. Available from Porcelain Superstore, the cutting-edge rhombus shape and glossy pink tones offer a jewel-like appearance. For an ultra-glam finish, pair with a pale Carrara marble worktop and brass fittings.

Glowing copper

Give your kitchen walls a metallic sheen with copper-effect wall tiles. We love the opulent texture created by these copper leaf glass tiles from Hyperion Tiles. Also available in gold and silver, they contain thin sheets of real metals offering a rustic, aged effect.

Vintage stars

What's not to love about these decorative Scintilla tiles in inky sky blue from Walls and Floors? Not only are they the ideal counterpoint to a white kitchen, but their star motif offers a beautiful vintage style. The design is based on a traditional Spanish motif and makes a bold feature with coordinating floor tiles.

Lily pad looks

The Ca' Pietra hexagon lily pad style tile is still a huge kitchen trend and we can see why. The angular shape can be arranged in so many ways to create striking patterns. The gorgeous pastel shades are the perfect complement to contemporary kitchen shades like this eucalyptus and pale grey pairing.

Hip hexagons

Hexagon tiles can be something of a shortcut to an effortlessly stylish kitchen. The white veining around the edge of these Bardiglio grey marble tiles from Walls and Floors frames the design and highlights the honeycomb pattern. Meanwhile, the satin finish keeps the look smart and modern. With a bold design like this, it's ok to break the rules and cut the bottom tiles, to keep the top hexagon edge intact.

Trend-setting terrazzo

Execute a colourful kitchen scheme by pairing bold cabinetry with terrazzo-inspired tiles. With a minimal grout line, the on-trend pattern will look seamless installed around your worktops and cabinets as well as the floor. Just ensure you purchase a hard-wearing design, suitable for floors too. You can't go wrong with this authentic multi-coloured design from Tile Mountain.

Handcrafted squares

Bring the dated square kitchen tile back into fashion with a colour and finish upgrade. This Vernice Moss splashback by Walls and Floors features a faux crackle glaze effect in an earthy green shade, offering rustic charm when paired with an exposed brick wall, black worktops and charcoal-painted cabinets.

Classic chevron

Add pretty colour and interesting shape to your kitchen walls with elongated pink metro tiles laid in a herringbone pattern. This layout uses up fewer tiles than a layered brickwork sequence and is, therefore, a cost-effective way to create a stand-out design feature.

These Chatham Rose brick tiles from Walls and Floors offer a tonal gradient finish for a contemporary look when paired with contrasting dark cabinets.

Seamless marble

Polished marble is a high-end material that exudes luxury so used in abundance on kitchen walls and floors means no expense has been spared.

Of course, we don't all have a bottomless budget so marble-effect tiles like these from the Invisible range at Tile Mountain can create just as much drama for a lot less. Continue the bold look with statement lighting and cocktail lounge bar stools.

Black gloss

Black gloss tiles offer a sleek, minimal look that works with both traditional and contemporary schemes. These Linear tiles by Tile Mountain feature a flat, glossy surface as opposed to a bevelled edge and can be laid in a multitude of different patterns from classic brick to stacked or chevron making them ultra versatile.

Half-wall cladding

Break up an on-trend dark blue kitchen with gleaming white gloss tiles laid in a herringbone pattern. Use dark grouting to emphasise the design and anchor the scheme by matching the same colours on cabinets and walls.

Inspired by the 1920s Parisian metro system, these bastille tiles from Walls and Floors feature an antique crackle glaze finish.

Blend in the breakfast bar

Kitchen wall tiles make an effective addition to the undersides of breakfast bars and kitchen islands too. As well as creating a protective barrier against spills, they can impart an extra decorative dimension and a sense of cohesion across your scheme.

These Ca' Pietra Neapolitan hexagon tiles create a statement on both the splashback and the island when laid in a striped chevron pattern.

Kaleidoscopic colour

Triangle-print metro tiles in colourful hues, like this Harlequin design from Porcelain Superstore, create a lively feature wall in this modern kitchen. Soft pastel shades warm up the white scheme, while the unusual tessellated design adds a creative twist to standard geometric tile patterns.

Dark and dramatic

Dare to play at the darker end of the colour palette with dark greys and earthy forest greens, offset against copper fixtures and bold coral pink paintwork. These elegant Raku-fired rectangular wall tiles from Walls and Floors feature six shades of black in one tile to add extra depth to your culinary space.

Muted Mediterranean

Hand-painted Ana ceramic tiles in a timeless floral pattern evoke a subtle Mediterranean feel in this powder blue kitchen. Crafted at Marlborough Tiles, their delicate detailing and crackle glaze are just enough to enhance an understated farmhouse-style scheme without losing that crisp, clean finish.

Modern patchwork

If you think tiling needs to be formulaic and follow a strict laying pattern, think again! Let loose with the Walls and Floors' Vogue Pick 'n' Mix tiles featuring both solid colour and simple geometric designs. They can be arranged in any pattern and direction for an informal patchwork look – perfect for the beginner tiler.

Mini mosaics

Mini mosaic tiles look intricate and ornate, plus they're incredibly simple to apply. Walls and Floors' collage of Pixel small circular tiles comes pre-backed on a mesh, so you can mount and grout them quickly and easily. Neutral shades are warm yet elegant and allow the subtle texture to shine through.

Elegant edging

For a professional finish, add a trim to half-tiled walls to lend a polish to bare tile edges. Alternatively, use narrow tile mouldings as borders to frame a pretty embossed design, as seen here using Original Style's Winchester Artisan range. Here, shapes and textures create subtle interest as an alternative to patterns in this soft white scheme.

Boutique brick

For those with a sweet tooth, this candy-striped splashback lends a playful look to a modern kitchen. Original Style's narrow Sherbert brick tiles in pink and white have been imaginatively alternated to create a unique basketweave appearance. Team with dusky pink floor cabinets, brass fixings and open shelving for a contemporary look sure to set Instagram alight.

Grey grouting

Keeping it simple can sometimes be the best choice when it comes to designing a kitchen that won't date. Classic white tiles are usually budget-friendly and look good with almost any style of kitchen, but lay them with dark grouting to keep the look current. Porcelain Superstore's Marais range features a lovely rippled glaze effect for added character.

Country-style border

Nothing says country like an Aga stove and bright and beautiful tiling. Take the scheme a step further with a two-tone design in uplifting whites and blues, as seen here in this scheme by Original Style.

Placing the deeper colour at the bottom of the room opens the space up and out, so it's a great way to make a small kitchen feel bigger.

Patchwork patterns

Patchwork pattern tiles that fit together like a jigsaw are guaranteed to look breathtaking whatever the combination. This rustic feature wall is made up of coordinating designs from Porcelain Superstore's Saigon range in warm, rustic tones. Pair with Italian marble-look worktops and terracotta hues to add to the Mediterranean character.

Mother-of-pearl tiles

Bridging an empty stretch of wall between the kitchen counter and a narrow dado rail cup shelf, these mother-of-pearl tiles from Original Style make a pretty and practical splashback  the perfect fit for a neutral country kitchen.

Scalloped tiles

Tiles don't have to be hard and angular in shape. These Atlantis scalloped tiles from Hyperion Tiles come in a variety of iridescent coastal colours to create a wonderful fish-scale effect on this kitchen wall. Installation will be fiddlier than with standard-shaped tiles but are completely worth the extra effort.

3D cube tiles

In the riads of Morocco, this type of tile can be seen adorning the floors of shady courtyards and now, thanks to some eagle-eyed trendsetters, the same designs are found in designer kitchens and bathrooms all over the world.

Available from Hyperion Tiles in a riot of shades, they combine graphic shapes with an easy colour scheme trio that works with both modern and traditional cabinetry.

Zesty segments

Navy kitchens are having a moment and as orange is on the opposite side of the colour wheel to blue, the bold hue adds a welcome and contrasting burst of colour. Wide, white grout lines, created by using wide spacers, look funky and fresh in the scheme too. We love these Marmalade Pick 'n' Mix gloss tiles from Walls and Floors for a burst of sunny nostalgia.

Soft sage

To invite the outdoors in, green will continue to be our go-to tone for decorating in every room. Sage is a subtle version of the hue that works with almost every other colour. These glossy Zellige tiles from Tile Mountain make the perfect addition to matching cabinets and cool quartz worktops. There are 18 face variations for a natural look.

Fluted finishes

Fluted surfaces are having a moment. These reeded 3D Kit Kat tiles from Tile Mountain offer a glossy finish that reflects the light. What's more, the warm grey colourway creates a soothing stone-like vibe when teamed with natural wood-toned kitchen worktops and open shelving.