This whole concept has been turned on its head with interior design bringing fashion into the kitchen. There is now a whole business built up around the kitchen tiles trend. Different materials are used and experimented with and the colour spectrum is complete. There is now so much choice that you could spend days with just one kitchen tile supplier and still be unable to make a choice.

As far as materials are concerned, the options are vast. Natural stone that has been polished smooth can leave a surface that is both non-uniform in looks and also easy to keep clean. The non-polished version is more natural looking but at the same time more difficult to keep clean. These types of tiles can bring a look to the kitchen that means you don't have to worry about matching things up - the rougher the better.

Slate tiles are also quite popular but given their difficulty to keep clean and hygienic, they are used much more for decoration than practicality. Slate tiles often look effective when applied in narrow strips in a slightly haphazard method and give a very dramatic appearance. They can also be quite a dominant feature so it is best not to overdo the look with other dramatic effects.

Marble has long been a source used for kitchen tiles because of its hardwearing properties but the porosity can be a problem so protection and care are called for. This can be quite high maintenance so if you are serious about wanting marble in your kitchen, you must be prepared for the upkeep to ensure it stays in tip top condition.

Ceramic kitchen tiles have always been, and will continue to be, a popular choice because of their versatility. From plain to patterned, glossy to matt, covering every possible colour combination and every possible size from huge and square to oblong to mosaic. They are easy to look after, easy to apply and cover a multitude of sins if you don't have perfect walls to begin with.

Glass tiles have proved quite popular in interior design of late and this is because they bring an extra depth to the look. Glass tiles have colour to them but they also look as though you can see right through them and they really can be quite mesmerising. To mix various shades of the same colour glass tiles can have effects ranging from subtle and dramatic. They are an excellent choice for bringing colour and interest to an otherwise clinical looking room.

As an alternative to kitchen tiles, there are now panels of materials such as glass or stainless steel that can be used as wall covering, looking particularly good as cooker spashbacks and these can have a huge impact on the design of a kitchen, making bold statements of colour or material whilst still being practical and economical.

There is much more scope for individual flair when it comes to applying kitchen tiles these days. You can change the angle, make features with different colours, add borders or create entirely unique pictures with mosaics. There are even companies that will apply your personal photo choices to kitchen tiles to create that one off design and give you a kitchen to die for - unless, of course, you are looking to sell your house - then who would want someone else's personal photos on their wall?