30 Inspiring Kitchen Tile Ideas for 2026

A new twist on subway, this tile is on-point! With a mix of straight and diagonal lines, and the orderliness of a well-kept fence, picket tile's contemporary silhouette will instantly modernize your space. In this chic kitchen, the Picket Florencia Super Bianco tile serves as a distinct yet unintrusive backdrop to the Vintage Nero tile “picture frame.” Shop our full assortment of picket tile for more charming new looks. 

MORE TO EXPLORE | Tile for Every Style: Japandi 

Celebrity designer Nikki Chu's eclectic taste and fashion-forward aesthetic are on full display in her Tile Shop-exclusive collection. The Nikki Chu Tangier Graphite tile, shown here, features a globally inspired hand-drawn design. This graphic, yet neutral, pattern creates the appearance of wallpaper on this kitchen backsplash while still providing the easy-to-clean protection of porcelain. Explore our newly expanded Nikki Chu designer collection for more of her signature designs. 

Whimsical patterns, like the Laura Ashley Wexbord Midnight tile shown here, are a hallmark of this charming pastoral design style. The dainty floral print is based on the iconic British brand's textiles, lending an air of quaint authenticity. Shop our exclusive Laura Ashley collection for more English cottage styles. 

MORE TO EXPLORE | Tile for Every Style: English Country Cottage 

Naturally reflective, glass tile helps brighten any space, which is especially helpful in darker kitchen areas like the space between the counter and cabinets. Here, the Santos Beach tile features serene swirls of beige, blue and brown, adding a cool coastal touch to this contemporary kitchen. Shop glass tile for more dazzling designs.

MORE TO EXPLORE | Stunning Glass Tile Ideas for Kitchen Backsplashes 

The intricate botanical pattern of the Morris & Co. St. James Wandle River tile beautifully complements the stately white cabinetry in this modern kitchen. Inspired by wallpaper originally created for the Palace of St. James, this design brings Old World elegance into modern spaces. Explore our exclusive Morris & Co. collection for more historic-inspired styles. 

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Durable, waterproof and resistant to scratches and stains, luxury vinyl flooring is an ideal choice for your kitchen—especially if you’re looking for an affordable, DIY-friendly solution that can extend to other areas of your home. Available in a variety of realistic wood and stone looks, like the Marmoreal Calacatta flooring shown in this contemporary kitchen, luxury vinyl delivers both style and value. 

MORE TO EXPLORE | Stone-Look Luxury Vinyl Tile

Brilliant, bright hues can enliven a space and elevate your mood—especially when they evoke the colors of nature, like green or blue. Here, the Zellige Shamrock Gloss tile creates a rich, vibrant sink backsplash. Featuring natural variations in tone and surface texture, this gorgeous tile adds visual interest. Find enviously stunning emerald, forest or mint shades in our extensive selection of green tile.

Cool and calming, coastal chic style can transform any house into a beach house. Epitomizing his signature relaxed West Coast aesthetic, our exclusive collection from celebrated designer Jeffrey Alan Marks features patterns, colors and textures that evoke seaside serenity. The Jeffrey Alan Marks Zen Birchwood Sea Blue tile adds a soothing raised woodgrain texture and soft hues, creating a bright and inviting space perfect for any home—West Coast, East Coast or no-coast. Shop our exclusive Jeffrey Alan Marks tile collection for more chic and unique designs. 

MORE TO EXPLORE | Tile for Any Style: Coastal Chic  

Make cooking, prepping and chores more enjoyable with a tiled picture frame. This stylish design feature is created by “framing” a patterned or mosaic tile with layers of trim. In this elegant transitional sink backsplash, the Morris & Co. Pure Net Cloud Grey tile is framed by Firenze Carrara Somerset and DURAL Plus Gold trim. The decorative tile provides a pleasing focal point while you do the dishes, and unlike an actual picture, any spills or splashes easily wipe away. Explore our wide selection of patterned and mosaic tile to find a design that brings cheer to your kitchen chores.

MORE TO EXPLORE | Tile for Every Style: Transitional Design 

The hexagon is a classic shape that remains popular year after year. Small hexagon tiles, like this 2" x 2" Royal White tile, add playful shapes and movement to your walls. Available in a variety of materials—from marble to ceramic—you can even mix two or more colors to create a custom design. Explore our wide selection of hexagon tile to find the perfect size for your space. 

This trend creates the ultimate kitchen glow-up, adding a sense of height while protecting your walls from countertop to ceiling. Here, Zellige Black Gloss tile forms a stately, moody tableau, but virtually any tile—from mosaic to large format—can achieve this expansive effect.

Sleek and timeless, white subway tile remains a classic choice for kitchen backsplashes. Available in a range of finishes, styles and sizes, it complements a variety of design aesthetics, making updates simple. The Retro Lino handmade-look tile shown here features subtle variations in color and surface texture, giving it a perfectly imperfect appeal. 

If you love the time-honored look of subway tile but want more visual interest, consider mixing styles in a single color and size. Here, Signature Matte Gris is used in bevel, frame and traditional subway formats. The raised details of the bevel and frame tiles add both tactile and visual texture to this sophisticated backsplash, creating a dynamic look with shadows that shift as the light moves through the room. Explore our exclusive Signature collection for subway and trim styles in seven on-trend colorways.

Sleek silhouettes, rich earth tones and elevated simplicity—these hallmarks of 1900s midcentury modern design have kept it popular well into the 21st century. You don’t need an A-frame house or an Eames chair to bring the best of the Mad Men aesthetic into your space. Our exclusive Stoneware collection from Fired Earth features midcentury-chic subway tiles in five retro-inspired colorways: Rainwashed (shown), Blue Mist, Indigo Spruce, Linen Brick and Powder White. 

MORE TO EXPLORE | Tile for Every Style: Midcentury Modern Design 

Perfectly imperfect, handmade-look tile mimics the variation in surface texture, tone and edge found in authentic Zellige tile—but with a bit more predictability and a slightly lower price point. This elegant stove backsplash, designed by Timber Trails, features the Riad White tile; its undulating surface and creamy white tones create a gentle sense of movement across the space, enhanced by the off-set layout. Explore the wide range of colors, textures and shapes available in our extensive selection of handmade-look tile.

If you’re concerned about bacteria getting trapped in a wooden kitchen floor, wood-look flooring options—like the Baltimore Beige wood-look porcelain tile shown here—offer an naturalistic appearance with superior protection. Waterproof, durable, and easy to clean, wood-look porcelain or ceramic tile is perfect for kitchen floors, as are easy-to-install, low-maintenance wood-look luxury vinyl and laminate options. 

The zigzag pattern of chevron tile creates a subtle sense of movement, making your space feel more expansive as it draws the eye across walls or floors. This stylish kitchen, designed by Nikki Chu, features Meram Blanc Carrara chevron tile. The opulent, grey-veined white marble adds natural detail that enhances the captivating flow. Explore chevron tile—or, for a similar effect, herringbone tile—for more dynamic designs.

Don't forget about the grout when planning your kitchen. You can make a bold statement by pairing a dark-colored tile with white grout or vice-versa. We love how Timber Trails created a highly stylized mood in this kitchen by using the Noir honed limestone amalfi tile with white grout. The contrast adds visual texture and helps integrate the white cabinets and trim with the tile.

MORE TO EXPLORE | Tips to Nail Your Grout Color and Design  

You don’t need an expensive renovation to refresh your kitchen. If you want an easy update that won’t break the bank, we offer expertly curated tiles that are both on trend and budget friendly. This lovely kitchen features the Maeva Petal Deco tile; its wallpaper-like floral pattern provides durable beauty while protecting against kitchen messes. Explore our extensive collection of tiles under $7 for more stylish patterns, sleek subway options, and naturalistic stone and wood looks.  

*Price is based on a 20-sq.ft. backsplash. 

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Far from basic, lush, serene beige is a beautiful neutral that complements a wide range of styles and trends. Pair it with white or wood cabinets—or both, as in this contemporary kitchen featuring Tribeca Oatmeal tile—for a look that stands out while harmonizing with the natural color scheme. Shop our full selection of beige tile to find the perfect match for your style.

Classy and classic, checkerboard patterns are making a resurgence in interior design. While traditional black-and-white floors remain a staple, putting a creative twist on this enduring design will make your space a win. This fashionable kitchen features an unexpected checkerboard backsplash using Laura Park Bespoke Aegean Blue and White square tiles arranged in a playful diamond pattern. You can recreate this look with virtually any two same size small square tiles, or explore our carefully curated checkerboard pairings for more unique design ideas.

MORE TO EXPLORE | Unique and Unexpected Checkerboard Tile Ideas

Inspired by historic tin tiles popular in the early 1900s, the Victoria Blanc tile (also available in Gris Fonce) features decorative embossed patterns characteristic of the era. Its worn, painted look adds visual texture to this exquisite, tactile backsplash. For a fresh, creative twist on this historic design, pair the two colorways to create a checkerboard effect.

The weathered finish of the Kelli Fontana Patina Gilded Mirror tile creates a charming, antique feel that adds glamour to your space. Its reflective surface enhances depth, flooding the room with natural light. We love how this design uses the tile behind the open shelving to highlight the dinnerware. If this classic, bold, and whimsical style reflects your aesthetic, explore our exclusive Kelli Fontana designer collection.

The Dot Chumbo ceramic tile—also available in Perola (white)—offers sleek, industrial design with a distinctive blend of tactile and visual texture. Created through a three-fire technique that builds the tile’s body, base charcoal color and textured dots, it results in a shimmering surface with a raised dot pattern that adds depth and movement.

A contemporary color palette that works with a wide range of on-trend styles, combining warm beige or brown with cool grey creates a serene, balanced space. Here, Manaos White porcelain tile blends cool and warm tones through natural stone-look veining, creating a sophisticated, dynamic backsplash. Available in a variety of realistic and unique designs, our marble-look porcelain and ceramic tiles perfectly balance style and durability.