Time to Ditch These Outdated Kitchen Tile Trends in 2025
Outdated Kitchen Tile Patterns to Bid Adieu: A Renovation Guide
Who says tiles can't be forward-thinking? Sure, some styles never seem to age, but others just won't quit, dragging down even the swankiest kitchen designs. Here's what top interior designers suggest leaving behind in your next kitchen renovation:
Bye-Bye White Subway Tile 👋
Remember the era of all-white kitchens? White subway tile was the star back then, but now it's become overused, drab, and a pain to maintain, according to Stephanie Mahaney, founder of Stephanie Rae Interiors. The grout is a nuisance to clean, and it doesn't take long for stains to show up - especially pasta sauce stains. Beyond practicality, it's lost its charm. "White subway tile has been overdone, and often without enough thought or intention," says interior designer Annie Downing. It's time to bid adieu to this spec-home look and embrace designs with character.
Herringbone Pattern Out? ❌
Originally designed to add movement and visual interest to a space, the once-trendy herringbone pattern is now seen as visually chaotic. According to interior designer Wendy Smit, "it intensifies when paired with white or faux marble tiles, creating an overly styled space" - not exactly our idea of modern minimalism. With an emphasis on organic and flowing designs, rigid geometric layouts are falling out of favor. So, it's time to trade in those tired herringbones for tiles that tell a richer story.
Glass Mosaic, Goodbye! 👋
If your idea of a perfect backsplash included glass and multi-material small mosaics, then we have some bad news. Designers like Monique O’Brien are over this trend. Glass tiles are hard to clean, can yellow or degrade with high heat exposure, and make cleaning a chore - especially after spills. Overall, they look messy and tend to add unnecessary visual clutter. As for mosaic strip tiles in garish color combinations, they're only adding to the clutter. Instead, opt for sleek, large-format tiles for a modern, aesthetically pleasing, and easy-to-maintain solution.
Framed Inlays, Sayonara! 👋
Remember those framed inlays above the cooktop? While they used to add interest to kitchen designs, they're now seen as outdated distractions. They draw the eyes to areas that are often grimy or poorly lit, interrupting the clean lines and thoughtful flow that modern kitchens strive for. Instead, go for full-height backsplashes that carry the same material throughout. Think of it as streamlining for the modern kitchen.
Au Revoir, Tuscan Style 👋
If your design aesthetic feels stuck in the 2000s, you might want to rethink those heavy, rustic, warm-toned, and rough-hewn tumbled stones. Interior designer Alice Moszczynski argues that these materials give off a "Fred Flintstone" vibe which clashes with cleaner lines and more contemporary furnishings. Go for more subtle and refined options like honed marble, limestone, or travertine in lighter tones. Embrace modern sleekness over dated clunkiness. 💥✨🔥
- Stephanie Mahaney, founder of Stephanie Rae Interiors, suggests replacing white subway tile in home design decor, as it has become overused, drab, and difficult to maintain, and has lost its charm.
- Martha Stewart might be interested in updating her home-and-garden lifestyle to ditch the visually chaotic herringbone pattern often paired with white or faux marble tiles, as it is falling out of favor with designers like Wendy Smit.
- Monique O’Brien believes that the days of glass mosaic backsplashes, which are hard to clean and tend to add unnecessary visual clutter, are numbered. Instead, she recommends sleek, large-format tiles for a modern, aesthetically pleasing, and easy-to-maintain solution.
- Alice Moszczynski, an interior designer, suggests eschewing the outdated and clunky Tuscan-style tumbled stones in favor of more subtle and refined options like honed marble, limestone, or travertine in lighter tones for a more contemporary kitchen design.
- For those who enjoy cooking and food-and-drink, it's worth considering a different style for the backsplash if they have garish color-combination mosaic strip tiles, as these can add to the clutter and visual noise in the kitchen.
