24 Beautiful Kitchen Floor Tile Ideas, From Whimsical Patterns to Bold Colors

These layouts, colors, and shapes give your hardest working space a welcome upgrade.

Tile floors remain a popular and practical choice for kitchens, as the durable, waterproof surfaces stand up to everything from spilled tomato sauce to muddy pet paws. But practical doesn't have to mean dull: Tiles in interesting shapes, bright colorways, and unique layouts can elevate the look of your kitchen—and your entire home. Use the designer-approved kitchen floor tile ideas on this list to inspire your next renovation.

Related: 15 Kitchen Remodel Ideas for a More Beautiful, Functional Space

Mimic the Look of Hardwood

Natural hardwood gives your kitchen unparalleled warmth, but it requires careful maintenance. Porcelain "wood" tiles won't scratch or ding with dropped dishes, will resist the most stubborn stains, and fit a variety of budgets.

In this kitchen, Alexis Elley, founder and designer at Textures Interior Design, added a strip of porcelain in between wood-inspired floor tiles for a welcome contrast. "I was able to incorporate the porcelain from countertops and walls in the flooring, which created a border and helped define the space,” she says.

Create Contrast

In this pattern-heavy kitchen, black-and-white floor tiles are set on the diagonal, which allows them to complement—not compete with—the neat vertical and horizontal layout of the backsplash tile.

Incorporate Color

A classic square pattern gets a colorful makeover with blue-and-brown tiles that pull out the undertones in this kitchen's plum-colored cabinets and coordinate with the floral tile backsplash.

Choose a Herringbone Layout

While simple rectangular tiles let the kitchen's other design elements stand out, the herringbone layout (in which the short end of a tile is placed against the long side of its adjacent tile) offers dynamic visual interest and texture.

Add a Pattern

Navy cabinets, white counters, and subtle wood tones create the ultimate backdrop for whimsical patterned tiles—like the unique starry ones used in this kitchen.

Try Natural Terra Cotta

Terra cotta tile brings texture and color to your space while also providing a durable surface for life's messy accidents. “This tile came in several shapes, but we selected a simple one to modernize the large room while still giving it some interest,” says Bianca Ecklund, designer and creative director at Bianca Ecklund Design. “Another driving force that contributed to this tile selection was the desire to have the floors travel from the kitchen into the outdoor space through large pocket doors.”

Start Small

If you're not ready for bold floor tiles throughout your entire kitchen, start small by choosing creative flooring for your pantry. This offers a low-commitment way to branch out from solid-color squares and rectangles. “Oftentimes I find clients are reluctant to change the flooring in the kitchen to a bold tile, but clients always seem to be open to the idea of a change of flooring in the pantry,” says Laura Chappetto, principal designer with Element Design Network.

Incorporate Shades of Gray

The streamlined pattern on these oversized tiles—geometric thin white lines on a rich gray background—adds an organic element to the minimalist design of this white, black, and gray kitchen.

Use Natural Stone

In this kitchen, wood cabinets, white countertops, and a patterned backsplash were all chosen to show off the homeowners' chic appliances in their coffee bar. A natural stone floor tied the varied colors and materials together.

Use Rounded Shapes

Rounded shapes or geometric-inspired patterns draw attention to the floor and create dimension in small or large spaces, says Kelly Simcox, head of global design at Flor. “Consider bringing organic shapes into the kitchen, promoting design ideas like whimsy, comfort, and natural elements."

Nature-Inspired Colors

Designers can also promote a sense of calm and relaxation in the kitchen using nature-inspired elements, says Simcox. “Kitchen areas can often be spaces of stress due to constant cooking and cleaning,” she says. “By adding soft textures and nature-influenced color schemes like moss greens and warm yellows, designers can create serene kitchen spaces for all occupants.”

Consider the Scale of the Tile Pattern

The patterned tile in this all-white kitchen gives it a modern Parisian feel. The designer carefully considered the scale and color of the pattern to make the tiles work in this space: In a small kitchen, a too-large pattern won't be recognizable, but a tiny one will look chaotic.

Use Colorful Terrazzo

A colorful terrazzo tile, in which chips of marble, granite, glass, or other materials are set into each square, anchors this vibrant indoor and outdoor eating area. While variations of terrazzo have been going in and out of popularity for centuries, it's so classic that it will always look good, whether it's trending or not. Here, modern furniture, blue cabinetry, and natural pendant shades connect the streamlined kitchen with its adjoining patio.

Try Hexagon-Shaped Terra Cotta Tiles

In this gray-and-white kitchen, hexagon-shaped terra cotta tiles add organic warmth to the cool hues used for the counters, cabinets, and walls, while the shape complements the rounded lamps, chairs, and faucet.

Choose Cross-and-Star

In this galley kitchen, a backsplash made from vertically installed glossy rectangles calls for a contrasting floor tile layout: A cross-and-star pattern in a monochrome color palette.

Create a Moody Feel With Black Tiles

An all-black floor that matches the lower cabinets in this kitchen provides visual continuity—and a rich contrast to the light walls and upper cabinets. Light grout brings definition to the hexagon shape.

Transitional Design

Instead of ending this multicolored hexagon tile layout at the edge of the kitchen wall, the designer extended it into the adjoining room. This allows for easy cleanup under the dining area—and makes the cozy kitchen feel larger and more connected to the rest of the home.

Go Geometric

Criss-crossing lines of navy triangles and white squares create a lively pattern in this blue-and-white kitchen. White tiles cover the walls from counter to ceiling, extending the shapes upward to make the space feel airy and light.

Mix Wood and Ivory Marble

Medium-sized squares in a diagonal layout are inspired by traditional kitchen tiling techniques, but alternating ivory marble with natural wood makes this farmhouse-inspired kitchen feel elegant and sophisticated.

Create a Clean Look

A classic rectangle-shaped tile feels crisp and modern in double-sized dimensions. The longer, wider area of each tile minimizes grout lines, keeping the overall look of this black-and-white kitchen chic and streamlined.

Mix It Up

A traditional color scheme creates an abstract aesthetic in this kitchen, where white tiles with a black quarter-circle design are arranged in different ways—circles, half-circles, leaf shapes, spirals—to create an eye-catching floor.

Inset a Rug-Inspired Pattern

While some homeowners like a kitchen rug for the added comfort and personality it brings to the room, others aren't willing to deal with the required cleaning. An inset tile pattern provides the same look (without the constant stain treatments).

Create an Outline

In this farmhouse kitchen, each classic square stone tile is outlined with picket tiles that provide a subtle upgrade to the time-honored design.

Choose a Blue-and-White Pattern

Tiles in shades of blue and white add personality to the floor, dining area, and refrigerator wall in this aqua-and-sapphire kitchen.

Read the original article on Martha Stewart.