Metro tiles in the kitchen: real or fake?
Metro tiles are inseparable from the Parisian metro of the 1900s. Part retro, part urban, it has many qualities that make it an excellent choice in the kitchen. Easy to install, easy to maintain, it offers excellent resistance to heat, stains and cleaning products, which makes it the perfect ally for the splashback.
The classic white metro tile remains a safe bet, because it goes with any decor. It is therefore the ideal choice if you like to give your kitchen a regular makeover: from white and wood kitchens to duck blue kitchens, it will adapt to all your desires.
If you are a tenant or if you do not want to start laying tiles, you can opt for adhesive tiles. Although it has a shorter lifespan, it is affordable, easy and quick to install, and strong enough to last a few years.
Advances in technology have made it possible to find non-woven wallpaper offering very convincing imitations of different materials – notably metro tiles – and capable of withstanding the extreme conditions of the kitchen.
What color of metro tiles in the kitchen?
In the kitchen, black and white subway tiles are options… but not the only ones!
To give a little pep’s to the kitchen, we dare the colored subway tiles. For a very contemporary effect, go for a vibrant color and a matte finish. This choice works especially in the case of a small open kitchen, as it creates an accent wall that gives it depth.
Depending on the brightness and the style of the kitchen, the total colorful look is delicate. You can then embark on a wall covering in white metro tiles, enhanced with colored tiles. The red and white duo is reminiscent of the “diner”, an iconic American restaurant from the 1950s.
For a very 1950 softer aesthetic, go for a pastel blue or pink metro tile. Brighter, pastel colors allow a tighter installation, alternating a white tile and a pastel tile.
Metro tiles are now available in colors with a metal finish. This type of color is ideal for bringing a touch of originality to the decor of the kitchen. Metal tiling is ideal if you want to benefit from the charm and practicality of metro tiling without falling into a retro-inspired decoration.
Manufacturers keep revisiting metro tiles. In addition to a huge palette of colors, you can find models with a graphic textured finish. Top, for contemporary cuisine!
For a kitchen with a strong character, bet on metro tiles imitating mineral materials such as sandstone. This finish, combined with the specific beveled shape of metro tiles, catches the light well, thus offering a rendering that can turn out to be spectacular.
Metro tiles in the kitchen: what type of installation to choose?
The metro tiling is traditionally placed on the backsplash of the kitchen. But its format – or its variants – allows for some fantasy!
At the crossroads of trends, you can adopt the Zellige spirit metro tiles. In addition to the reinterpretations in terms of aesthetics, you will find atypical formats, like its half-squares, which nicely break the very wise traditional alignment.
To add a twist to the metro tiles in the kitchen, opt for colored joints: a simple and effective trick to add a very contemporary graphic touch to the decor.
The frieze is a simple and effective classic to revive a kitchen backsplash with metro tiling.
Want a more sophisticated rendering? Bet on contrast by adopting a mosaic-style frieze.
Metro tiles are ideal for a chevron installation. In the kitchen, this has the advantage of bringing a little dynamism to the decor. In addition, depending on the type of metro tiling you choose, you can get a very contemporary rendering, which contrasts with the retro spirit with which it is traditionally associated.
If the metro tiling is as practical as it is aesthetic on the splashback, it can also completely cover the kitchen wall. Choose an atypical reinterpretation of metro tiles – here, a white imitation wood version – and a creative installation, and voila!
Metro tiles are often associated with cement tiles, to create a vintage decor full of charm. However, it is far from being your only option! You can adopt a slightly offbeat pattern, like this oriental-inspired frieze. Unexpectedly, this mixture of genres nevertheless works wonderfully.
Metro tiles are ideal for structuring space. It is therefore readily used to delimit the space, especially in the case of an open kitchen. You can, however, be creative. Here, the metro tiling frames the worktop, creating a very interesting optical effect.