One trend that’s coming back in a big way is black tile in your kitchen. Black kitchen tile may sound basic or boring, but that’s just not the case! With different finishes, materials and shapes, black tiles are as unique as the kitchens in which they appear.
This isn’t the black tile of the 80s. Today, black tile in kitchens can be sleek and modern or warm and rustic. No matter how you prefer it, incorporating black tile into your kitchen will make your home look effortlessly elegant and totally chic. Becoming familiar with the various styles can help you decide what black kitchen tile is for you.
Let’s dive into the options and styles to inspire you to use black tile in your kitchen!
Materials, Finishes, and Shapes
Depending on your home and your taste, you may prefer super-shiny or moody matte finishes. Certain materials look better with certain finishes. For example: matte looks best with a texture, glossy looks best when paired with a smooth surface.
When to Use Glossy Tile in Your Kitchen
If you don’t have a lot of natural light in your kitchen, you certainly don’t want to use dark colors that will absorb the light and make it even darker. Hearing that, you may assume you are forever relegated to using light finishes in your kitchen so it can remain somewhat bright. Not true!
One way to use black tile in a darker kitchen is by using a tile with a glossy finish. The reflective surface will bounce any light that comes its way and brighten the space, even though it’s black. The tile itself could be ceramic with a shiny glaze, or glass mosaic tile. Glossy tile looks great paired with warm metal fixtures, including brass or, my favorite, gold hardware!
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When to Use Matte Tile in Your Kitchen
Matte black kitchen tiles make a quieter statement than glossy ones, but the message is still a strong one! One big benefit of matte tile is that it can easily hide dirt, especially when paired with grout that doesn’t provide a stark contrast (ie: not bright white). A matte black kitchen tile can make a room feel more minimalist or more rustic depending on the setting.
If you don’t want to go all the way to the mattest type of tile, I’d recommend using black marble tile in your kitchen. It will add some visual texture and warmth without taking away the moody feel that matte adds to a space. While marble tiles are typically polished, they aren’t as glossy as glazed ceramic or glass.
Slate is another material that’s often used when you’re looking for darker or black tiles. Slate can be stain-resistant, which is obviously an excellent choice for a kitchen. Slate is also a good choice for a kitchen because it’s fire-resistant! Slate tiles are typically used on floors and will have a more rustic feel than other materials mentioned above.
Black Tile Shapes
In addition to considering the finish of your tile, you also need to think about its shape. Of course, there are square and rectangle (subway) black kitchen tiles, but that’s only the beginning! Black tiles come in hexagonal or circle (penny) shapes. You can also give your room a modern Moroccan feel with black arabesque tiles. This decorative tile is a great way to highlight a specific area in your kitchen (like a niche).
You may also enjoy: The Ultimate Guide to Decorating Wall Niches
Where to Put Black Tile in Your Kitchen
Different tiles and finishes will look good in different areas. Now that you know all about the different finishes and some black tile shapes, it’s time to learn how to use them.
Backsplashes
Of course when you think about tile in a kitchen, the first place your mind probably travels is to a backsplash. Just because it’s the most common place for tile in a kitchen doesn’t mean you have to use it in a common way! Mix up your backsplash with black kitchen tiles.
A herringbone pattern is one way to create a modern look on your kitchen backsplash. Make the pattern pop by using light colored grout. Bright white can make the style look dated, so stick with a light gray-greige. This grout choice goes for any pattern you choose, not just herringbone, by the way.
A visually interesting way to use black tile in your kitchen is to use highly glossy, reflective subway tiles and place them in a vertical stack pattern. Typically, this classically-shaped tile is placed horizontally offset. Undoubtedly, you’ve seen pictures of this on Pinterest in various kitchens and baths.
Mix it up by placing the tiles vertically instead of horizontally. There are so many pattern options and ways to vary the feel of the room based on the pattern you choose: vertical brickwork, vertical stack, or vertical offset. Either way, vertically-placed tiles have the same elongating effect on a room as stripes and move your eye around your kitchen in a new way.
Countertops with Black Tile
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention one of my favorite ways to use black tile: terrazzo! And it’s great in a kitchen because it’s man-made and therefore easy to clean and maintain. Terrazzo comes in all shapes and colors, so you can create a countertop with a monochromatic look using terrazzo or add some color into your black tile countertop with bright chips placed in the terrazzo tile. Either way, you’ll get a look that’s unique to your and your kitchen!
You may also enjoy: Why We Are Obsessed with Terrazzo Tile Right Now (And You Should Be Too!)
Black-Tiled Walls
Black tile doesn’t have to stop at the end of the backsplash! One kitchen concept I’m seeing is a full wall of tile from the countertops up. It looks amazing behind open floating shelves (if you’re able to neatly store everyday essentials that way!).
If you choose to have a fully-tiled wall in your kitchen like this, choose a more understated tile that will create a beautiful backdrop for the shelve. The key is not overpower or compete with the minimalist look, rather play harmoniously together.
That’s the great thing about black kitchen tile: it can steal the show or be a supporting player depending on how you use it!
You may also enjoy: Open Shelving Solutions
Another dramatic way to use black tiles on the wall is to have the opposite wall full of white cabinets. A black and white kitchen makes a bold statement on its own, and there’s nothing bolder than one black wall and one white wall. If you’re concerned about the contrast being too stark for your space, balance the rest of the room by including black and white elements as well as wood tones to ground the space with an organic element.
Black Tile on Your Kitchen Floors
A kitchen floor is a natural place to add tile – why not make it a chic, black tile! As I mentioned above, a matte black tile with a muted grout color will easily hide dirt. So handy in a popular room like a kitchen!
On the floor, you can really play with the scale of your tile depending on the style of your kitchen. Black decorative tiles like arabesque shapes are also good for floors and can help set the tone for the room.
For something more modern, place large, polished black slate tiles in an atypical pattern, like diamond, chevron, or herringbone. Or choose matte slate in a square shape and set it in a
rhombus pattern. For a more traditional or classic feel, choose smaller black tiles in a glossy finish.
You may also enjoy: Inspiration! Black Kitchens
Whether you’re going for rustic and using textured slate and wood or trying out a modern look with glossy subway tile, or even mixing it together for a grandmillennial look, you cannot go wrong with black tile in your kitchen. You’ll create an effortless look that’s chic and always in style!
The post The Ultimate Guide to Using Black Tile in Your Kitchen appeared first on Hadley Court - Interior Design Blog.