Photography: Marnie Hawson / Styling: Belle Hemming
Subway tiles had their moment, but kit kat tiles—also known as finger tiles or finger mosaics—are huge design flex for kitchens, laundries, and bathrooms. What these slender tiles lack in size, they make up for in major visual impact. Whether you run them vertically to draw the eye up or lay them horizontally to widen a tight nook, their clean lines and rich texture bring instant modern character to any space. Here are some stunning real-life homes that prove this trend is officially here to stay.
Are kit kat tiles hard to keep clean?
Kit kat tiles are not hard to keep clean. Like all tiles, they’re easy to clean by giving them a regular wipe down with a wet sponge and your preferred bathroom cleaning mix. The only thing to consider with kit kat tiles is there tends to be more grout lines than other types of tiling installations, usually meaning a little more time spent cleaning them. If your bathroom is prone to a lot of dust, mould or mildew them they might not be the best option.
Are kit kat tiles on trend?
Yes, kit kat tiles are a timeless tiling design choice and are unlikely to go out of style any time soon.
Moody blue kit kat tiles in a curved shower
In this Parisian-inspired Melbourne apartment, deep blue kit kat tiles turn a compact shower into a striking design feature. Interior designer Anouska Milstein of Studio A.mi cleverly embraced an existing brick pillar by creating curved shower walls, clad in vertically laid Signorino finger tiles. The rich, moody colour contrasts beautifully with the apartment’s softer neutral palette, while the slim tiles follow the curves to create a seamless, cocoon-like effect. A masterclass in turning an awkward architectural feature into a design statement.
Horizontal kit kat tiles in a Japandi style bathroom
Taking inspiration from the simplicity of Japandi style interiors, this bathroom is imbued with an organic warmth thanks to the clean lines and natural materials. Kit kat tiles are installed horizontally on the splashback, cleverly adding a greater sense of width and texture to the calming space.
Photography: Marnie Hawson / Styling: Belle Hemming
A Mediterranean inspired laundry with travertine kit kat tiles
In this Mediterranean inspired laundry, verticle travertine kit kat tiles create a statement splashback while beautifully blending in with the oak cabinetry. “The laundry design was intentionally kept simple and elegant to create a clean and aesthetically pleasing environment,” explains homeowner, Ashley.
Photography: Louise Roche
An ensuite bathroom with a wall of kit kat tiles
Soft greys enve`lope this bathroom, where verticle kit kat tiles extend across two walls and the splashback. “Repetition establishes a subtle sense of flow, for example, such as marble lookalike, light timbers, vertical rectangular tiles that slightly vary in colour,” explains homeowner, Kate.
Statement green kit kat tiles
Sea green kit kat tiles installed on the lower part of the wall behind the bath create an unexpected splashback effect in this family bathroom.
1920s bungalow bathroom wall kit kat tiles
When the owners of this 1920s bungalow on the Northern Beaches decided to renovate, it was a matter of blending old and new with a revamp incorporating its Art Deco features with modern functionality for the young family. Particularly in the bathroom, a swathe of emerald kit kat tiles makes for a handsome feature wall paired with chrome hardware, keeping a sense of 1920s elegance.
“I wanted Hollywood and specified these taps in chrome,” says the interior designer, Alanna. “I love old-style tapware in modern finishes.”
Photography: Jacqui Turk / Styling: Alana Smit
Art Deco kitchen island bench with kit kat tiles
Texture was crucial to the renovation of this Art Deco home in Melbourne. Before, the kitchen had an awkward layout with a bulky island hindering access that transformed into a U-shaped design with a curved navy island topped with smooth quartz. While the island adds a bold pop of colour referencing its Art Deco past, white kit kat tiles wrap around the support column for a subtle but dramatic finish.
“I loved the idea of creating an interesting space using multiple textures, such as stone, timber and tiles, as well as smooth finishes,” says the owner, Christine.
Kit kat tiles are the perfect accent for small spaces and are available in sheets that can be trimmed down with a tile cutter so you can use them almost anywhere.
Minimalist bathroom feature wall kit kat tiles
For this post-war Brisbane home, a complete rebuild was in order to create a low-maintenance contemporary style that fit the family of four.
“We designed the home so it had a relaxing modern vibe, centred around lifestyle – so weekends are spent enjoying it rather than maintaining it,” says owner Christal.
This included influences from Scandi minimalism and modern Mediterranean styles that prioritise light and functionality. In the main family bathroom, an all-white colour scheme with thin fluted tiles ensures the bath and vanity are the hero features without overwhelming the space. At the same time, a skylight overhead drenches the bathroom in light in this modern minimalist scheme.
Modernised family ensuite
For this Federation era bungalow on Sydney’s North Shore, a renovation included an ensuite for the children with white kit kat tiles a cohesive but contrasted choice.
“Flat finger white gloss tiles frame the vanity and break up the larger format marble-look Mamo Grigio patterned tiles used below and across the floor,” says owner Erica.
Tropical Hamptons ensuite with horizontal kit kat tiles
For this coastal Hamptons home in Perth, evoking a laid-back “island feel” was key to the bright colour scape that extends throughout the house and into the ensuite where white kit kat mosaic tiles are flipped horizontally to create the illusion of space. While vertical tiles create the illusion of height, small spaces can benefit from the width and depth of horizontal tile placement, especially in white colour schemes, for an uninterrupted view of the space.
As the backdrop to the ensuite mirror, the tiles have a visual but tactile presence that ties into the ‘Fusion Blue India’ floor tiles from Myaree Ceramics.
“This tile is my favourite tile ever and also features on the edge of the pool,” says owner Kristie. “All the surfaces are tactile, so it’s earthy and not clinical.”
Classic coastal kitchen with a kit kat tile island
hile kit kat tiles lend themselves to wet areas due to their water resistance, more and more the tiles are featuring in unlikely places, such as the kitchen cabinets in this classic coastal abode. A crisp white palette from floor to ceiling brightens the space, with white kit kat tiles on the overhead kitchen cabinetry, adding texture and depth to avoid the area feeling flat. For cohesion, the same tiles adorn the kitchen island with a timber bench top for a natural contrast.
Credit: Photographer: Brigid Arnott
All-white powder room
Decorating a powder room is always tricky, given the lack of square footage. Still, this contemporary duplex in Sydney used its small footprint to its advantage, using even smaller kit kat tiles to add height to the all-white powder room. The white matte ceramic tiles from Thynk Group are laid in a vertical pattern and match the rest of the home’s modern minimalist aesthetic, letting the natural landscape take front and centre.
“Being in such a beautiful part of Sydney and having a wonderful ocean outlook, we wanted to create a minimalist home that didn’t take away from the landscape,” says owner, Gamze. “Internally, our duplex feels so spacious and, with clever design and a heap of storage, we have created a great space for the kids.”
