Kitchen tiles: performance and style with porcelain stoneware
The kitchen is one of the most used spaces in the home. It is a functional environment, exposed to moisture, stains, heat and daily wear, but at the same time it has become increasingly integrated with the living area and therefore plays a central role from an aesthetic point of view. For this reason, choosing kitchen tiles cannot be based on appearance alone: the material must offer performance, durability and easy maintenance, without sacrificing style.
Porcelain stoneware is today one of the most popular choices because it combines high technical performance with strong design versatility, making it suitable for modern, minimal, industrial or more classic kitchens.
Why porcelain stoneware is ideal for the kitchen
Porcelain stoneware was originally developed as a technical material and has evolved into one of the most reliable solutions for kitchen flooring and wall coverings.
From a performance perspective, it offers clear advantages:
- resistance to stains, acids and household cleaning products
- very low water absorption
- high resistance to impacts, scratches and thermal shock
- hygienic surface and easy cleaning
Compared to more delicate materials, porcelain stoneware maintains its performance even with intensive daily use, making it suitable for both kitchen floors and wall cladding.
Matt and natural finishes: functional and contemporary
In modern kitchens, matt and natural finishes are increasingly preferred, as they provide a better balance between aesthetics and performance than glossy surfaces.
These finishes:
- reduce the visibility of marks and smudges
- offer greater safety when used on floors
- create a more contemporary, material-driven look
- require less everyday maintenance
They are particularly appreciated in open-plan kitchens, where flooring must visually connect with the living area while remaining practical and durable.
Most popular tile effects for kitchens
One of the main strengths of porcelain stoneware is the wide variety of available effects, allowing different interior styles without the limitations of natural materials.
Concrete effect
Perfect for modern and industrial kitchens, concrete-effect tiles create clean and contemporary surfaces. They are widely used in open-plan layouts because they combine easily with light or dark furniture, enhance visual continuity with the living area and work especially well with medium and large formats.
Stone effect
Stone-effect porcelain tiles offer a natural and balanced appearance, ideal for kitchens that require both visual warmth and technical performance. They are appreciated for disguising small signs of everyday use, suiting modern as well as timeless interiors and performing well on both floors and walls.
Marble effect
Marble-effect porcelain tiles remain an elegant and timeless choice for kitchens. Porcelain stoneware allows the refined look of marble to be achieved with a surface that is far more practical than natural stone, suitable for floors and wall applications and easy to match with modern or classic kitchen furniture.
Wood effect
Wood-effect porcelain tiles are frequently used in kitchens, particularly in open-plan spaces, where visual continuity with the living area is desired while maintaining the durability and performance typical of porcelain stoneware.
Metal effect
Metal-effect tiles are mainly chosen for industrial or contemporary kitchen designs. They are often combined with concrete- or stone-effect surfaces to create bold, modern interiors with a strong visual identity.
Recommended tile formats for kitchen floors and walls
Tile format plays a key role in both the performance and overall appearance of a kitchen. The most commonly used formats in kitchens include:
- 30×60, widely used for wall tiles and backsplash areas
- 60×60, a versatile and balanced format suitable for many layouts
- 80×80, ideal for modern kitchens and larger spaces
- 90×90, a contemporary and less common format with a refined look
- 60×120, chosen to create visual continuity and more uniform surfaces
In large kitchens and open-plan layouts, 120×120 is also frequently used for a cleaner, more uniform and visually striking result.
Porcelain stoneware for kitchen wall cladding
In addition to flooring, porcelain stoneware is an excellent solution for kitchen wall coverings, including backsplash areas.
Compared to other materials, it:
- withstands heat and steam
- does not absorb grease or food stains
- cleans easily with neutral detergents
- maintains visual consistency with the floor
Using the same material for floors and walls helps create a coordinated and harmonious kitchen design, highly valued in contemporary interiors.
Performance and style in perfect balance
Choosing kitchen tiles means finding the right balance between performance and style. Porcelain stoneware allows the creation of surfaces that are visually appealing, durable and long-lasting, without compromise.
Thanks to the wide range of available effects, formats and finishes, kitchens can be designed to be both practical and visually distinctive, suitable for compact layouts as well as large open-plan spaces.