How to paint kitchen tiles and give them a fresh look: 7 ideas

Tired of your kitchen tiles? Do the backsplash tiles no longer shine as they used to? Paint them. You can give your kitchen a radical change, without any construction work, economically, and in very little time. Painting kitchen tiles is always a great option.

If you would rather change the tiles than paint them, take a look at the kitchen tile trends.

Kitchen tile paint can be applied to both walls and floors. It also works for painting bathroom tiles. It stands out for its easy cleaning and low maintenance, as well as its excellent durability and waterproof properties. And you can apply it yourself, without professional help: here is tile paint without primer. Plus, there is a wide range of colours to choose from, so that when painting kitchen tiles you can pick the one that best suits your decorative needs.

Still wondering if painting your kitchen tiles is the best option for renovating your space? Don’t miss this article. We’ve got seven ideas to clear all your doubts.

7 kitchens with painted tiles: get inspired here!

Open-plan kitchen with white painted tiles and modern furniture in grey tones.
Tin of Smartcover Tiles, Smartcret's tile paint without primer.

Smartcover Tiles · tile paint

Applied directly over the tiles, no primer needed. Eleven colours, satin finish and water resistant.

$95 (shown in your currency at checkout) · free shipping

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1- ’80s decor? Painting kitchen tiles is the solution

Narrow kitchens with heavily patterned tiles aren’t the best for creating a sense of spaciousness and light. If this is your problem, there’s an easy fix.

Choose the colour that suits your style best and paint all the tiles in your kitchen. You’ll achieve a completely renewed look, giving the space much more light and a sense of openness.

2- Painting kitchen tiles in multiple colours: a winning combination!

Don’t hesitate to combine colours when painting your kitchen tiles. Adding vibrant colours to your kitchen is a fantastic way to create a fun and highly personalised atmosphere.

Pick the tones you love, check how they work together and look for balance. When you’re done, you’ll have the kitchen you were looking for, created with nothing more than kitchen tile paint.

If you want to make the colour combination stand out even more, pay special attention to the lighting. It helps highlight any combination.

Additionally, if you have a skirting section in the lower part, you can play with the colour and contrast the rest in a different tone. This effect is enhanced even more if you have a decorative border, which you can either leave in a contrasting colour or blend in. The choice is yours, because the possibilities for painting kitchen tiles are endless.

3- Refresh your backsplash with kitchen tile paint

The backsplash is one of the most noticeable parts of the kitchen and where changes are most evident, especially if you’re just looking to update a small section with kitchen tile paint.

We provide the ideas; you decide according to your style. Opt for light colours to make the area feel more spacious, or use the same colour to paint your kitchen tiles as your countertop. You’ll bring uniformity and a sense of space with no visual barriers.

Detail of a kitchen countertop with a wall of white painted tiles and a smooth, even finish.

4- Hand-paint kitchen tiles: unleash your creativity

If you want a completely custom tile design tailored 100% to your taste, you can do it yourself. The possibilities are endless when painting your kitchen tiles by hand: geometric patterns, hydraulic-style floor imitations, designs to frame the edges of the room, floral compositions, and so much more.

But if you feel you lack the practice and would rather not paint a freehand design on your kitchen tiles, you can create and use a stencil to achieve the look you want while minimising the risk of mistakes.

Your kitchen will truly be one-of-a-kind when you hand-paint the kitchen tiles.

VIEW THE PAINT · $95

5- Paint kitchen tiles for a rustic look

Sometimes, rustic and traditional-style kitchens can feel difficult to update because they may seem cluttered or dark.

Leverage the natural materials already in place, like exposed beams or wooden cabinets, to contrast with the freshly renewed tiles when painting your kitchen tiles. This will give your kitchen a more cohesive and polished appearance for very little money.

6- Create a boho style kitchen with kitchen tile paint

If you’re into textured finishes and "imperfections", you can apply kitchen tile paint with free-form shapes, varying stroke intensities, and different shades within the same colour family.

You’ll enhance the vintage or boho-chic style economically with kitchen tile paint. If you also add decorative touches like plants or a set of vintage-style pots on display, the whole look gains coherence.

Boho-style kitchen with beige painted tiles and light wood furniture.

7- Paint your kitchen tiles to create an accent wall

If your kitchen feels a little dull, you can renew it by painting the kitchen tiles on a specific wall. This is how you get what is known as an accent wall, a technique used to create a visual impact based on the result you’re looking for.

Whether you want to add depth, connect or divide areas, frame spaces, or bring warmth to the room, ideally the wall you choose to highlight with kitchen tile paint should be a spot that catches the eye as soon as you enter the room.

However, whenever you can, avoid choosing walls with doors or windows, as these tend to detract from the block of colour you’re trying to create.

How to paint kitchen tiles: an easy and quick guide

Already picked the colour and tiles you want to paint? Now all you need is the right paint and to know how to apply it.

In just a few simple steps, you can totally transform the look of your kitchen, yourself, with no building work or complications. In this easy, quick guide we show you how to paint kitchen tiles with Smartcover Tiles.

  1. Clean and degrease the surface where you’ll apply the kitchen tile paint. Use degreasing products so that the grease or oil that builds up on tiles is not a problem. Our Smart Cleaner is designed for this.
  2. Tiles already clean? We recommend applying masking tape to define the area you’ll paint and avoid unwanted smudges. If you need to cover any grout lines, you can use our Smart Jointer grout filler.
  3. It’s time to paint the kitchen tiles with your chosen Smartcover Tiles colour. Stir well and apply two coats, leaving 8 hours between them. If your tiles are dark and you've chosen a light colour, and the contrast is still visible, apply a third coat.
  4. 24 hours later, your new kitchen tiles will be ready. That said, we recommend waiting 7 days before using them to allow the paint to reach its maximum durability.

Painting kitchen tiles: before and after that will leave you speechless

These are some of the real-life renovations you can achieve with our Smartcover Tiles kitchen tile paint.

See how just a colour change and a couple of coats can turn an old kitchen into a modern, bright space. And with no building work, no mess, and way faster than you’d think.

Get inspired by these before and afters to transform your kitchen.

Small kitchen before renovation, with original unpainted tiles and white cabinets.

Small kitchen after renovation, with beige painted tiles that add greater brightness.

Kitchen with light-coloured tiles before being painted, featuring white cabinets and a wooden countertop.

Kitchen after painting the tiles green, with white cabinets and a wooden countertop.

Smartcover Tiles: the ultimate tile paint for your kitchen

If you've already picked your favourite ideas and are ready to bring them to life, we recommend our Smartcover Tiles kitchen tile paint. In less than a day, your walls will have changed their look. And if you are still comparing options, our tile paint guide has the full comparison.

Advantages of painting kitchen tiles with Smartcover Tiles

  • Smartcover Tiles is quick and easy to apply. It comes ready to use and needs no primer.
  • Don’t worry about wear over time after painting your kitchen tiles. They’ll stay as good as new with regular household cleaners.
  • Water won’t be an issue. Smartcover Tiles is resistant to running water, a must for rooms like the kitchen.
  • The tiles withstand daily use thanks to the abrasion and scratch resistance of our kitchen tile paint.
  • You have 11 colours to choose from.
  • It's not just for tiles. You can apply Smartcover Tiles without primer on bicottura or monocottura ceramics, porcelain stoneware, mosaic tiles, and wooden panels.

CHOOSE YOUR COLOUR

Tips for painting kitchen tiles

You’re just about ready to take the big step. Before you do, take note of these extra tips to make sure painting your kitchen tiles goes well.

If the tiles are badly damaged or you want to get rid of the grout lines, the alternative is to cover them with the microcement kit for kitchen; in cover tiles without building work you have paint and microcement side by side to compare.

Modern kitchen with black painted tiles that contrast with white cabinets and a wooden countertop.

1. Follow the steps:

It might sound obvious, but it’s not. The process is simple, yes, but if you skip a step just to save a few minutes the result won’t be as good as you expected.

2. Choose the right tools:

A short-nap roller is your best friend for getting a smooth, even finish without streaks. And don’t forget the paint tray: it helps you load just the right amount of paint, avoiding drips and waste.

3. Invest in quality paint:

Tools matter, but paint is decisive. Use a specific tile paint that can handle moisture, scrubbing, and cleaning. There’s no point in all that effort if it peels off two weeks later.

4. Take care of it after painting

Once painted, wait at least 7 days before doing a deep clean so the paint has time to fully cure. After that, clean the tiles with gentle products, no abrasive sponges, so the finish lasts longer.

With Smartcover Tiles, painting your kitchen tiles is easy.

You don’t need to be a handyman, spend a fortune, or get into long renovations. Just the desire to give your kitchen a change without leaving home.

If you want to renovate your kitchen, now is the time to start.

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