Checkerboard tiles to dominate 2026's trendiest kitchens, overthrowing the classic monochromatic style
In the world of kitchen design, 2025 is all about embracing earthy tones and revitalizing the classic chequerboard pattern. This year, warm, natural colours like terracotta, clay, and muted greens are taking centre stage, replacing the traditional monochrome black-and-white look.
The San Polo and Santa Croce tiles from Ca' Pietra's Rialto Terrazzo collection are a prime example of this trend. These tiles are used in chequerboard flooring, offering a subtle yet striking look that adds depth and tactility. Similarly, Claybrook offers beige, pink, and mauve chequerboard tiles for kitchen splashbacks, providing a contemporary touch to traditional kitchen ideas.
Chequerboard kitchen splashbacks are a popular trend this year, and these earthy tones are a great way to contrast neutral cabinets and add a handcrafted touch to the space. A slightly pink-toned chequerboard tile can add a contemporary touch to the traditional kitchen, while tonal pink and red colour pairings are rising in popularity for chequerboard kitchen splashbacks.
The preference for matte and textured finishes over glossy tiles is another key feature of these trends. Mixed matte and gloss combinations, especially with artisan or handmade tile types like Moroccan Zellige, create visual interest and depth. This combination of chequerboard formats with materials like terrazzo or Zellige tiles offers a tactile, artisanal look that modernizes this classic pattern while keeping an earthy, handcrafted feel.
According to Grazzie Wilson, head of creative at Ca' Pietra, there is a growing appetite for colour combinations beyond traditional black and white in chequerboard flooring. Holly Cockburn, a Content Editor at our platform, shares this enthusiasm, particularly for Shaker-style kitchens. Holly previously worked at Future as a Features Editor on Top Ten Reviews, focusing on TikTok viral cleaning hacks and investment purchases.
Chequerboard floors never go out of style, as confirmed by Grazzie Wilson. Terracotta tiles are a chic and practical solution for warming up a kitchen scheme. Whether you're designing a country-style kitchen, a modern farmhouse, an urban chic space, or simply updating your current kitchen, these earthy chequerboard trends are a perfect choice for a timeless yet contemporary look.
- In the realm of interior-design, particularly kitchen ideas, the embracement of earthy tones and revitalizing the classic chequerboard pattern is evident in 2025, with warm, natural colours like terracotta and clay taking center stage.
- Contemporary touch to traditional kitchen ideas can be achieved through the use of chequerboard tiles in earthy tones, such as those offered by Claybrook, which provide beige, pink, and mauve options for kitchen splashbacks.
- Embracing minimalism in home-and-garden lifestyle, matte and textured finishes, like the Moroccan Zellige tiles, are preferred over glossy ones to create visual interest and a tactile, artisanal look in chequerboard patterns, blending seamlessly with the earthy, handcrafted feel of the space.
