Kitchen and Bathroom Tiles: Subway, White, Elongated and Artisanal

Quick answer: for kitchens and bathrooms, wall tile comes down to three decisions. Format: subway 10x20, elongated 8x31.5, small 13x13 or 20x20, or large format 32x99 with fewer joints. Finish: gloss gives more light and cleans very easily; matte is more contemporary and doesn't reflect. Style: timeless white, color, or artisanal pattern. All our wall tiles clean easily and are suitable for wet areas.

White Tiles

Tile Format Finish Ideal for
Ostuni 10x20 subway Gloss The timeless classic on a modest budget
Alberobello 10x20 subway Matte Nordic, minimalist style, doesn't show fingerprints
Locorotondo 23x33.5 Satin Fast, budget-friendly renovations: fewer pieces per m²
Cisternino 32x99 rectified Gloss, matte or wavy relief Clean walls with barely any joints

Colored Subway Tile

  • Genova: 10x20 flat with an intense gloss, or the beveled Sestri style, the classic Paris subway tile. White, vanilla, navy, cherry and black.
  • Urbino: 10x20 Mediterranean gloss in seven colors, with matte whites, patterns and relief.
  • Cagliari: 10x20 high-gloss in ten colors, from pure white to marsala and black.

Elongated and Small Formats

  • Camogli (gloss) and Rapallo (matte): 8x31.5 cm with tonal variation, in colors from white to emerald. They look spectacular laid vertically or in herringbone.
  • Ancona: 13x13 matte in seven colors, from white to indigo.
  • Pescara: matte black and white in 10x20 and 20x20, for checkerboards and Parisian-style bathrooms.

Artisanal and Patterned Tiles (20x20)

  • Perugia: soft matte with six solids and eleven printed designs.
  • Gaeta: the glossy version, with six colors and seven designs.
  • Trapani: four families of hand-drawn patterns, also available in a mixed box of 25 designs.
  • Volterra: deep colors (navy, jade, burgundy) with the Peccioli pattern and Pomarance relief.
  • Frascati: 23x33.5 and a 7.5x33.5 slat in soft tones, with the Nemi floral pattern.
  • Lecce: 13x13 hand-glazed terracotta effect.

Gloss or Matte, White-Body or Red-Body

  • Gloss: reflects light and makes small spaces feel bigger; very easy to clean on kitchen backsplashes.
  • Matte: warmer and more contemporary, doesn't glare, and hides water spots better.
  • White-body: a more stable base, ideal for light colors and large formats.
  • Red-body: the traditional base for subway tile, sturdy and affordable. Both work equally well on walls.

Layout Ideas

  • Offset subway pattern: the classic look, shifting half a tile on each row.
  • Vertical stack: more modern, and makes the ceiling feel taller.
  • Herringbone: with elongated formats, for a decorative kitchen backsplash.
  • Contrasting grout: grey or black grout on white tile to highlight the pattern.

Frequently Asked Questions

Gloss or matte for the kitchen?

On a kitchen backsplash, gloss cleans more easily and gives more light. Matte is more contemporary and doesn't reflect. Both hold up well against grease and steam.

Can I use wall tile on the floor?

No. White-body or red-body wall tiles aren't designed to withstand foot traffic. For flooring, choose stoneware or porcelain, such as hydraulic-effect porcelain.

Which tile makes a small bathroom feel bigger?

Light colors in gloss or large format (32x99) with thin, matching grout lines. Laying an elongated tile vertically also adds visual height.

See also: marble effect, stone effect, and how to choose tile.

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