Wall Tiles and Kitchen Tiles in Dubai: Living Room Walls, Kitchen Walls and Kitchen Floors

Wall tiles: the types and what each does on a wall

A wall asks less of a tile than a floor. It does not carry weight or foot traffic, so the choice is about looks, cleaning and how heavy the tile is. These are the wall tiles you will see in Dubai.

Our porcelain vs ceramic guide explains the difference between the two main families, and our marble flooring guide covers natural stone care.

Ceramic wall tiles

Glazed ceramic is the traditional wall tile. It is light, easy to cut and available in a vast range. For a kitchen or bathroom wall, it is often all you need.

Porcelain on walls

Porcelain suits a wall that is large, wet or a feature. It is heavier, and large sizes need a flat wall and careful handling.

What a wall tile does that paint does not

A tiled wall wipes clean, resists splashes and marks, and lasts for many years. It gives texture, depth and pattern that paint cannot. It is also harder to change, so the choice should be one you can live with for a long time.

Wall tiles for living room feature walls

A feature wall in a living room is the wall you see when you walk in or sit down. Wall tiles for living room feature walls turn it into the focus of the room. Here are the looks that work, and what each asks of the wall and of you.

Stone-look and marble-effect

A large-format porcelain printed to look like marble, onyx or stone gives a rich, hotel-style wall without the weight and care of real stone. A matt or honed finish looks more natural and reflects less light than polished. Veined patterns look best when the tiles are laid in sequence, so the veins run across the wall as one picture. Ask for the tiles to be laid in the sequence of the boxes.

Concrete-look

A concrete-look porcelain in a soft grey is calm and works well behind a television or a sofa. It hides marks and pairs well with timber, metal and leather. In a small room with little light, it can feel cold, and warm lighting helps.

Fluted and ribbed panels

A ribbed or fluted tile has a relief that catches light and throws shadow. It gives a feature wall character in a single colour. The grooves collect dust, so they need an occasional wipe, and they are best on a wall away from cooking and splashes.

Wood-look planks

Long wood-look porcelain planks on a wall give the warmth of timber with the strength of porcelain. They suit the wall beside a sofa or a bed. They show their join lines, so a neat plan for the layout matters.

Large slabs

A large porcelain slab gives a wall with very few joints. It needs a perfectly flat wall, specialist handling and careful cutting for sockets and edges. If one slab cracks, replacing it is a bigger job than replacing a small tile.

Mosaic and pattern

A mosaic or patterned tile feature makes a smaller statement. It suits a niche, a band or a narrow wall, and it can tire the eye if it covers a large wall.

Colour and light

A feature wall changes with the light. A dark tile looks dramatic in the evening and heavy in a dim room. A light tile brightens a small room. View the sample on the wall itself, in daylight and under the evening lights, as we advise for paint on our interior painting page.

One feature, not three

Treat a feature wall as a single decision: one wall, one tile, one finish. A tile wall next to a patterned floor and a coloured sofa competes. Keep the other surfaces plain.

The TV wall

The wall behind the television is the most common tiled feature wall in Dubai homes. It has its own practical issues.

Weight and fixing the TV

A television is mounted on a bracket that fixes into the wall behind the tile. The bracket, the screws and the load must be planned before tiling, because drilling through a finished tile is risky and can crack it. The usual approach is to decide the TV position and the bracket type first, tile the wall, and then drill with the correct bit for the tile. For a heavy TV or a swivel bracket, the fixing points are planned to hit solid backing. Agree this with whoever mounts the TV before the tile goes up.

Cables and power

Power and signal cables need to reach the TV. Chase the wall and run the conduit before tiling, so that sockets and cable outlets are in the right place and the tile can be cut around them. Behind a wall-mounted TV, a recessed socket and a cable outlet keep the cables out of sight. The electrician does the wiring, and we tile around it. We mark the positions of sockets and outlets at the layout stage.

Glare

A polished or glossy tile behind a TV reflects light and the screen, which makes the picture harder to watch and the wall harder to read. A matt or honed tile is calmer. If you want a polished tile for its look, think about where the windows and lights are.

Sound

Hard surfaces reflect sound. A tiled wall behind a TV and a tiled floor in the same room can make a living room echo. A rug, curtains, a sofa and soft furnishings cut the echo. If sound matters to you, tell us, and we can talk about a smaller tiled area or a panel with a softer back.

Pattern and the picture

A strongly patterned wall behind a TV distracts from the screen. A calm, low-contrast tile suits it. Many people choose a large slab with subtle veining or a concrete-look.

Shelves, niches and lighting

A recessed shelf, a niche or LED strip lighting behind the TV changes how the wall looks in the evening. These are decided before tiling. A niche is cut and framed in the wall, then tiled inside.

Heat

A TV and a media unit give out some heat. Leave ventilation around the equipment, and do not seal it into a tiled recess without airflow. Follow the maker's instructions.

What your wall is made of, and why it decides the tile

Before choosing a tile, you need to know what is behind it. The wall decides how heavy a tile it can carry, how it is prepared and how it is fixed.

Flatness

Large tiles show every dip and bump in a wall. A wall that is not flat needs correcting with plaster or a levelling coat before a large tile goes up. This is why a large-format wall costs more than the tile alone suggests. Our tile fixing guide covers preparation.

Weight

A large porcelain tile is heavy, and the weight is carried by the adhesive and the wall. On a partition wall, the structure must be suited to the load. We check the wall at the inspection and tell you what it will take.

Moisture

A wall that is damp, or that has had water behind it, is not tiled until the cause is fixed. Tile does not stop moisture. Waterproofing is a separate trade; see our waterproofing work.

Painted walls

Tiling over paint depends on the paint and the wall. Loose or flaking paint is removed, and the surface is keyed or primed so the adhesive bonds. Tell us if the wall has recently been painted.

What we do at the inspection

We tap the wall, check for hollow sounds, measure flatness, look for cracks and damp, find out what the wall is made of, and agree what preparation is needed. It is the step that turns a design into a price.

Sizes, layouts and joints on walls

A wall tile's size and layout set the look as much as its colour.

Where the joints fall

Joints should line up with the edges of shelves, niches, sockets, windows and doors. A joint that cuts through the middle of a socket looks careless. We mark the layout on the wall before fixing, so the cuts fall where they look best.

Cuts at the ceiling and corners

A full tile at eye level with a cut at the ceiling looks better than the reverse. Corners can be finished with a trim, a mitred join or a rounded edge tile, which changes the look from modern to traditional. Decide before the order.

Grout

A matching grout makes the wall look continuous. A contrasting grout draws a grid. On a wall, a narrow joint in a matching colour suits a large tile. Epoxy grout resists staining where the wall is splashed.

Other walls: entrance, corridor, staircase, bedroom and outdoors

Entrance and corridor

An entrance wall is scuffed by bags, shoes and trolleys. A wipeable tile to a set height, such as the top of a console table, protects the wall and looks smart. Above it, paint is enough.

Staircase

A staircase wall can take a tile or a panel as a feature. The edges and the angle of the stair line need careful cutting. Plan the trim at the stair edge and keep the finish easy to wipe.

Bedroom headboard wall

A tiled wall behind a bed is a feature wall, and a hard one. It adds echo and is cool to the touch. Choose one tile with a calm pattern, and use soft furnishings to warm the room. Wood-look planks suit a bedroom.

Outdoor and balcony walls

Walls outside need exterior-rated tile and adhesive, a way for water to drain and a finish that tolerates sun. Outdoor tiling is covered in our tile fixing guide. Building rules may control the colours and finishes visible from outside, so check with your building or community first.

The drawbacks of wall tiles, and when paint is the better answer

Tile is not right for every wall. Here are the drawbacks.

When paint is the better choice

• You change the look of a room often.
• The wall is not flat and you do not want to correct it.
• The room is a rented one and the landlord prefers paint.
• The budget is tight, and paint gives a big change for little money.
• The wall is a partition that cannot carry a heavy tile.

Paint a wall in a wipeable finish, and tile only the zones that need it. Our interior painting guide covers finishes by room. A tiled feature wall with painted walls around it often gives the best result for the cost.

Tiles for kitchen: a design plan across walls, floor and worktop

A kitchen has more surfaces than any other room: floor, base cabinets, worktop, backsplash, wall cabinets, walls and often a ceiling. The surfaces are chosen together, or the kitchen looks like a collection of separate choices.

Choose in this order

1. Cabinets and worktop first. They are the biggest and the most expensive. Their colour and finish set the palette.
2. The floor tile second. It is the largest area of tile and the hardest to change.
3. The backsplash and wall tile third. They link the cabinets and the worktop.
4. Paint, lighting and fittings last.

A simple rule for colour

Keep two of the three big surfaces calm, and let one carry the interest. Plain cabinets and a plain floor, with a patterned backsplash, work. A bold floor with plain cabinets and a plain backsplash works. Three busy surfaces fight.

Light and dark

Light cabinets with a mid-tone floor feel open. Dark cabinets with a light floor feel balanced. Dark cabinets with a dark floor feel heavy unless the walls and worktop are light.

The kitchen as a tile plan

On a plan of the kitchen, mark each surface and the tile that goes on it. Mark the lines where floor tile meets cabinets, and where the backsplash ends. Show it to the installer at the inspection.

Kitchen wall tiles: height, where to stop, windows and trims

Kitchen wall tiles protect the wall and set the look. Deciding where they stop is one of the most important choices.

Heights

Where to stop

• Under wall cabinets: the tile ends at the cabinet underside, and the joint is sealed with a flexible sealant.
• Open shelves: decide whether the tile runs behind the shelves or stops below them. Running it behind gives a continuous look.
• At a window: end the tile at the window frame, the sill or the reveal, with a trim if needed.
• At a corner: wrap the tile round the corner, finish with a trim or end with a neat, sealed edge.
• Against painted wall: use a trim, a rounded edge tile or a sealed straight edge. A raw cut edge looks unfinished.

Windows and sills

A window above the sink makes a feature. Tile the reveal and the sill too, so the finish is complete, or use a stone or solid sill. Keep the joints aligned with the window.

Trims

An edge trim finishes the tile neatly. It comes in metal and plastic, in square, rounded and bullnose shapes. Choose the finish to match the taps and handles, or to disappear.

Layout

Start the layout so that a full tile sits at the eye line and the cuts fall at the bottom or top. Align the joints with the cabinet edges and the hob where possible. We mark the layout on the wall before fixing.

Under-cabinet lighting

Light along the underside of wall cabinets shows every ripple in the tile and every uneven joint. A flat wall and a precise layout matter more with lighting. A glossy tile throws the light back, and a matt tile softens it.

Kitchen tile styles

A kitchen tile has to be wiped clean, stand up to heat and splashes and look right for years.

Kitchen tile choices that last

A kitchen tile is a working surface. A glossy glazed tile wipes easily, but a matt tile hides marks. A pattern hides splashes better than a plain white. A white tile with white grout is crisp, and it shows grease. Epoxy grout holds up best behind the hob.

Our advice

Choose a plain, wipeable tile for the wall behind the hob and save the pattern for a smaller area, such as a band or an open wall. Replacing a kitchen tile later is harder than choosing carefully now.

Kitchen floor tiles: pairing with cabinets and worktops

Our bathroom and kitchen tiles guide covers what kitchen floor tiles must do: grip, hard wear, easy cleaning and flatness. This section is about the design side: how kitchen floor tiles pair with the rest of the kitchen.

Choosing tiles for kitchen floor areas: three approaches

Pairing with cabinets

Pale cabinets suit a mid-tone or a warm floor. Dark cabinets suit a lighter floor. Timber-look cabinets suit a stone-look or concrete-look floor. Gloss cabinets suit a matt floor so the two surfaces differ.

Pairing with the worktop

The worktop sits between the floor and the wall tile. A white or pale worktop works with almost any floor. A dark stone worktop asks for a lighter floor. A patterned worktop asks for a plain floor.

Colour and cleaning

A kitchen floor shows crumbs, grease, flour, water and footprints. A mid-tone with a little variation hides them better than a plain white or black. Grout in a mid-tone hides marks.

The sample routine for tiles for the kitchen floor

1. Collect kitchen floor tiles samples: two or three tiles, a grout sample, and a piece of the worktop and cabinet finish if you can.
2. Place them together on the kitchen floor, next to the cabinets, and look at them in daylight and with the lights on.
3. Walk on the sample with wet shoes to feel the grip.
4. Ask the shop for the data sheet and check the slip and wear ratings. Our floor tiles design guide explains them.
5. Look at the sample next to the backsplash tile you are considering.
6. Choose the grout colour with the tile.

If you take samples to the room and send us photos, we can advise before you order.

Open and small kitchens

Open kitchens

When the kitchen opens onto the living room, the tile has to work in both. A continuous floor looks calm. If the kitchen floor differs from the living floor, the change should fall at a line, such as the end of the island or a worktop edge, not at an arbitrary point. We plan the junction and any movement joint with you.

Small kitchens

Light tiles, few joints and a continuous backsplash make a small kitchen feel larger. A large tile on the floor and a plain backsplash keep it calm. A single pattern band adds interest without crowding.

Galley and island kitchens

A galley kitchen is long and narrow, and tile lines running along its length lengthen it further. An island needs the floor to run under it in the same tile, with cuts planned neatly at the edges.

Kitchens in rented homes

Neutral, durable tile suits a rented kitchen. Regrouting or replacing a few tiles is often better than a full retile.

Mistakes and trade-offs

Budget and how we quote it

Tile prices vary with the material, size and finish, and we do not publish them on this page. The cost of a wall comes from the tile, the preparation of the wall, the labour and the detail of the cuts.

What moves a wall quote

• The size and weight of the tile.
• The state of the wall, including flatness and any levelling.
• Layouts such as herringbone, which take longer and waste more.
• Cuts around sockets, niches, windows and shelves.
• Trims and edge finishes.
• Access, such as a high wall or a staircase.

How a wall tiling job runs

We employ our own installers and do not subcontract the tiling.

1. Send photos of the wall, the room and any tile you are considering on WhatsApp at +971 55 209 9785.
2. Site inspection, which costs AED 100. We check what the wall is made of, how flat it is, where the sockets are and what preparation is needed.
3. Written quote, listing the area, preparation, tile layout, trims and labour, with 5% VAT on its own line.
4. Layout marked out on the wall and agreed.
5. Fixing, grouting and cleaning, and a walk-through.

We coordinate the order of work with the electrician, the TV installer and the kitchen fitter, so that the wall is ready for the tile and the cabinets and fittings go in after it. Our one-year workmanship warranty covers the work we carry out. We work across Dubai and handle building permits and lift bookings as part of the booking. How we quote tile fixing is explained in the tile fixing guide.