If you are considering tiles for the kitchen floor as one of the possible covering options and have already managed to look at a lot of photos of current collections, it’s time to break away from the catalogs and return to reality - and take a look at how such material looks in a real interior. Moreover, they, as a rule, do not reveal the nuances of selecting and labeling ceramic products, and also do not provide advice on their optimal installation.
And we reveal and advise: perceive the material as a small but very comprehensive guide that answers all (or almost all) questions on the topic and offers the most interesting design options for kitchen floor tiles using real photos, and not mock-ups that are far from reality.
Blue kitchens: features of color perception
Only the lazy do not talk about the coldness of blue. However, perceiving it purely through the prism of the temperature effect is a very naive simplification. In fact, it has many options - and each of them is perceived differently by a person.
Thus, the darkest tones - ultramarine, indigo, sapphire, Prussian blue - due to their ostentatious self-sufficiency and thoughtfulness, will definitely go down well with those people whose temperament is dominated by phlegmatic traits. They are absolutely not loud and perfectly convey peace in all their implementations.
But only if they are carefully dosed and diluted with other, more mood-friendly shades: if you overdo it, you risk letting darkness into the room and completely killing even the most brutal appetite.
Cobalt, denim or royal blue are a more delicate and less “gloomy” group. These are universal shades that do not irritate the eyes and at the same time have a positive effect on a person’s emotional background.
Heavenly, sea wave, pale cornflower blue and gray are not as intense options as above. The motifs of sea freshness are easily read here. They charge the space with vital energy and air, so in kitchens with their predominance it is always pleasant to breathe, and a cup of coffee, drunk in the morning, invigorates the whole day.
Of course, these are not all possible shades of color. Listing to the last is a thankless task. You just need to adopt 3 simple rules with which you can successfully fit even the most capricious of them into any interior:
- Deep blue is best revealed in rooms on the south side, where the sun's rays smooth out the overall coldness of the color presentation;
- if there is not enough usable area, use light blue versions as a background (walls, ceiling, apron);
- Since this color visually makes the furniture heavier, be careful with its quantity.
Types of tiles for finishing the kitchen space
- Depending on the type of material, kitchen floor tiles can be made of ceramics (tiles), porcelain stoneware or quartz-vinyl. A review of the advantages and disadvantages of each option below will help answer the question of which is better.
This may be interesting: Which kitchen to choose: review of materials.
- According to the production method, pressed and extruded are distinguished. The second has a more porous structure and is suitable for finishing outdoor spaces. Pressed tiles have established themselves as durable, moisture-resistant and practical tiles for finishing residential premises, including kitchens.
- Based on the type of surface, glazed and unglazed are distinguished. The first option has a smooth surface with a special coating that allows you to achieve maximum strength and moisture resistance, but at the same time great slipperiness. But glazed for the kitchen will still be better, and the disadvantage can be minimized by choosing a rough surface.
Selecting a headset
It is the set that expresses the functionality of the kitchen, so its choice must be taken extremely seriously. Especially if you want to make it the loudest blue accent in your room.
What materials to choose for blue facades
It’s good if you can afford natural wood and comply with all environmental rules. But even if this is not the case, it’s okay: there are other materials that will do an excellent job of transmitting blue in space:
- MDF;
- chipboard;
- plastic.
If it is possible to use glass or metal, then use it: they enliven the space, interact well with lighting and make the interior more lively and cheerful.
When is gloss better?
In cases where the design turns out to be too boring and monochrome, it makes sense to use glossy facades to enliven the interior design.
Designer tips
Irina Polyakova
Founder of an interior studio, architect and interior designer. The main area of work is kitchen design
Glossy facades perfectly reflect light - both daylight and artificial, due to which the room begins to shimmer with fresh shades and visually becomes larger. This is probably the simplest option for optical expansion of space, which is worth taking note of for all those who have a shortage of usable space.
Also gloss:
- brightens and fills with air all rooms located on the north side;
- is friendly with all modern styles;
- makes the design bright, effective, complete.
Layout
The choice of layout depends entirely on the number of square meters you have. As well as room configurations. Perhaps the most common option is in the form of the letter G. In the context of a blue kitchen, it has an additional advantage: you can organically add any contrasting shade to another wall.
Find more interesting corner kitchen design options here
Or arrange the color division according to the “top-bottom” scheme. More often there is a variant with a concentration of blue just in the lower part.
Linear layout is no less popular. It can often be seen in Khrushchev-era buildings, where 5-6 square meters of usable area is the maximum you can count on. In such cases, you should abandon the overly gloomy options for blue kitchens - it is better to take a heavenly or pale cornflower blue shade and gloss on the surface to enliven the interior.
For large areas it is recommended to use the following 2 types of layouts:
- U-shaped - grouping near three walls according to the principle of a working triangle;
- parallel - if the room is long and walkable.
Finally, let's not forget about the island type. An option with moving the work area or dining complex to the center, which seems to be confidently registered in private houses and studio apartments, decorated as a loft or high-tech. Extremely convenient, stylish and impressive, but again, it requires space. At the same time, the tabletop is rarely decorated in blue - much more often the facades are painted in it.
A color scheme
To create a stylish and expensive-looking interior for a blue kitchen, it is important to choose the right satellite colors and derive the golden formula for their distribution in space.
With white
A strict, almost sterile combination that exudes order, cleanliness and inner harmony. Since both colors belong to the cold group, the introduction of a third, warm shade should be considered mandatory. You can “hang” a decorative part on it: curtains, textiles, etc.
Whether a white high-tech kitchen can be cozy, you will find out in our article - go
With gray
Elegance squared. This pairing gives birth to extremely discreet and quiet interiors, in which it is simply pleasant to sit with a cup of coffee and freshly brewed tea. In order for the warmth in such a kitchen to come not only from a mug with your favorite drink, you need to carefully introduce pearl and silver elements. They will fit organically into the space and enliven the overall design.
What style is most organic for a gray kitchen and why they are in trend, read here
With a tree
The natural wood texture perfectly accompanies the sea freshness of the color and its many shades. If you have a private home, then here is an excellent layout for decorating a blue-wooden kitchen: a set completely decorated in wood (solid wood/MDF) - an apron in a sea wave pattern - an azure or cobalt tabletop.
The “friendship” of wood with blue can be expressed in another way: through individual elements with a pronounced wood texture. For example, an apron with a tabletop made in the same style.
Even in the smallest doses, the “injection” of wood greatly refreshes a blue kitchen, making it organic and cozy.
With black
A very delicate couple that requires equally delicate treatment. The best option is to sell black through household appliances and additional elements.
A great idea that gives a stylish and effective result without any hint of darkness and melancholy - chrome-plated black parts based on an azure base.
If there is room to turn around and compensatory warm shades have been successfully introduced into the interior, you can decorate the entire set in black, and it will be diluted by a blue apron and a stylish ivory tabletop.
With yellow
Deafeningly loud yellow seems to embody the joy of life in all its manifestations. Against this background, classic blue looks solid and neutral, creating a harmonious symbiosis for modern interiors.
Even a relatively small amount of yellow in a space is enough to normalize the color balance and create a harmonious environment that is friendly to your appetite.
With green
A calm combination typical for classic or even Provence/country interiors. Neutral enough not to irritate - and at the same time interesting and elegant.
However, even in high-tech and modern, such a combination can be used: especially if the green is as close as possible to light green, and the blue appears almost in an azure version.
With beige
Beige refers to pronounced warm shades. Therefore, it perfectly accompanies blue, diluting its noble restraint and coldness with warm homely touches.
You will find more information about styles and color combinations in our article: 143 fashionable beige kitchen interiors
Layout options
- The layout can be done in different ways. The simplest is “seam to seam”, the tiles are laid parallel to the wall, maintaining a horizontal line, in even rows.
Even rows, parallel to the wall
- The checkerboard layout of a tiled floor is used when the design uses two or more contrasting colors that alternate, as in the photo.
Chess
- The diagonal layout makes the kitchen dynamic, an excellent idea for small spaces in older houses.
Diagonally
- The staggered layout is used more often for rectangular tiles. Each row is shifted by ⅓ or half of the element relative to the previous one. It turns out to be an analogue of brickwork.
Taking a running start
- The herringbone resembles parquet and looks very beautiful. Suitable for small tiles with wood or stone patterns.
Herringbone
- A herringbone with an attachment is a combination of square or rectangular elements with bright inclusions of small-sized tiled pieces. It can be problematic to do it yourself if you have no experience in installation.
Christmas tree with attachment
- Modular layout is the most technically complex option. Tiles of different sizes are combined into a single composition. The overall look is unusual, but it is better to entrust the work to specialists.
Modular
Different layout options
Blue accents in the interior
Blue is a rather specific color, so it must be introduced with extreme caution. Let's consider how best to use it in the interior to create a warm and appetizing atmosphere.
Walls and floor
Use blue wallpaper or water-based paint to create a dense, even background on the walls. You can compensate for the depth and relative darkness of such a base with contrasting shades of white or beige. Remember that vinyl wallpapers are best: they are easy to clean and practical to use.
Designer tips
Irina Polyakova
Founder of an interior studio, architect and interior designer. The main area of work is kitchen design
A deep blue floor will be the main accent in any room, no matter what style it is decorated in. To enhance harmony, you can arrange a “roll call” with color by choosing, for example, a lamp with a lampshade of a similar shade.
The blue facades are harmoniously complemented by the wooden floor texture. Instead of natural material, you can use laminate or porcelain tiles.
Expert opinion
Dmitriy
Sales consultant in a ceramic tile store
Laying floor tiles in a checkerboard pattern is an excellent option if you need to dilute the overall color scheme of the room. Especially in the case of a blue tone, which tends to “eat up” the space around itself. Also a winning and expensive solution for any kitchen decorated according to classic designs is a marble floor. Its role can be played by ceramic granite with characteristic random patterns. Add blue furniture around - such as a sofa or chairs - and get a wonderful organic interior.
Tabletop
A blue countertop calls for warmth and brightness on the walls. Therefore, when decorating, you can often see expressive orange walls juxtaposed with muted and, at first glance, unfriendly shades.
The azure gray tone has low intensity and a very cool temperature. In such cases, the room is “insulated” with wood. You can do it the other way around: a blue set with a wooden tabletop. The final balance will still be ensured.
Apron
For a blue kitchen, an apron designed in the form of a panel with illustrations on a marine theme is suitable.
The panel is effectively illuminated with LED strip. There are ceramic tile products on sale that fit comfortably under the distance between the cabinets and the countertop. But you can also use glass elements.
Don’t forget also about the “hog” tiles: 10x30 or 10x20 cm. In blue instead of an apron, it looks unusually fresh and cozy, especially in contrast with snow-white furniture.
Curtains and textiles
If the room is spacious enough, then for a blue kitchen you can use curtains of a complex cut to match the color of the set. Or someone close to him.
In rooms designed for a modern style, use roller blinds instead of curtains. Again, these can easily be used to add blue accents to a room.
And one more option for those who are looking for an alternative to the usual curtains - Roman blinds. There are an endless number of options on sale, so choosing the right shade will not be difficult. They are perfectly complemented by matching textiles placed in the right places.
Kitchen set and appliances
If you have entrusted the role of blue in the kitchen space to the set, then you have a whole range of possibilities for creating the right accents. For example, you can make the top and bottom monotonous, and decorate the tabletop white using the contrast method.
The combination “blue bottom - white top” is no less common.
You can do without upper cabinets altogether - you will get more air in the room.
Option for a sky-colored headset with black appliances. This is the case when black, acting as a neighbor, enlivens the atmosphere and makes the interior much more balanced and interesting.
Grouting joints
The main functions of such compositions are: increasing the attractiveness of the tile covering, sealing the finish. To make the grout highlight the tiles, materials of light contrasting colors are used. You can get the appearance of a monolithic floor by using a mixture of the same tone as the finishing material. A rubber spatula is used for this work. It is flexible, so it better fills the pores and smallest leaks with the grout mixture. As a result, the coating becomes more attractive. It is better to clean the tile surface from grout immediately after applying it.
Sealing
Instructions for performing the work:
- take a portion of the mixture and apply it to the seam area;
- the solution must be distributed evenly using a rubber spatula, while pressing on the tool;
- when the gap between the two tiles is filled, a cable of a sufficiently large cross-section is placed on top, which will make it possible to make a recess.
You can start grouting the next day after finishing installation of the finishing material. If you start work earlier, the coating may become deformed, and its service life will be significantly reduced. Proper grouting ensures the tightness of the floor surface.
Small kitchen
It was already mentioned above: the blue color persistently requires space. That's why using it to decorate a small kitchen is a rather bold and ambitious idea. However, you can perceive it differently: as a challenge and test of your design abilities. Real masterpieces are often born in a game on the brink of a foul!
Introduce color with neat accents: the set can be decorated in contrasting colors, where blue will be diluted by classic white. Don't forget about the lighting: it must be perfect for your idea to come to fruition.
Or you can leave the set alone and decorate the apron with a blue one. Don’t chase monotony and actively use decorative elements: it’s more fun and interesting. Choose curtains to match the shade that is less in the interior.
In small rooms, a glossy surface will look more organic. It always reflects light well, so with skillfully adjusted lighting, you can place accents in the kitchen in such a way that its modest size will be the last thing on your mind.
A good tip for introducing blue into the interior of a very small kitchen is to choose light shades. The lack of usable space will not be felt at all.
Avoid combining with other cold shades: you risk getting a completely uncomfortable space. If, nevertheless, such a pair is the core of your idea, go for a trick and add warm companion colors. For example, wooden textures in tones from light brown to beige.
Kitchen-living room in blue tones
The trend for combining rooms continues to gain momentum. It is especially difficult to abandon this idea if you have not an apartment, but a house: here you can give free rein to your interior imagination. Or, on the contrary, a modest Khrushchev building, which you logically want to make optically larger by eliminating partitions between zones.
The island layout fits perfectly into the kitchen-living room format. A great combination that always works: a set with blue facades, and a light marble countertop on the island.
If you are not satisfied with blue only in the format of accent spots, then simply paint the walls with it, and then successively add other shades. It is better if one of them is white: it gives an effective contrast and lightens the atmosphere.
An example of combining a kitchen with a living room, where the set has an attractive shade of blue steel. This is an incredible level of organics for stylish modern interiors.
Designer tips
Irina Polyakova
Founder of an interior studio, architect and interior designer. The main area of work is kitchen design
If you like rough textures and industrial motifs in general, then you can design a loft. Of course, no one forces you to lay heavy bricks on the walls in even and not very rows - for this there are special decorative tiles based on gypsum or concrete. The facades on the set can be artificially aged with a special coating to get closer to the canons of the style.
And here is a nice option for arranging a kitchen-living room, where blue appears in several of its temperature “guises” at once: heavenly, sapphire, pale cornflower blue. Of course, accents are harmoniously distributed throughout the space to completely eliminate any intrusiveness.
Required tools and materials
For installation you will need:
- Two-meter level or rule for checking plane;
- Bubble level 40-50 cm;
- Tape measure, pencil, painting cord;
- Brush or roller for applying primer;
- Spatula: regular and comb with 12 mm teeth;
- Rubber hammer;
- Grinder with diamond blade;
- Deep penetration primer;
- Tile adhesive;
- Plastic wedges and crosses for 3 mm seams;
- Grout and rubber spatula.
