June 24, 2025
Home Design Harmony: Should Kitchen and Bathroom Tiles Match?
Ever stood in the tile aisle wondering if your kitchen and bathroom should match? You're not alone. The age-old design debate continues to divide homeowners and professionals alike, with strong opinions on both sides of the argument. We dive deep into this question, sharing real stories of homeowners who went the matchy-matchy route only to find their spaces feeling flat and repetitive. Instead of perfect coordination, we explore how your home can be in conversation with itself – creating co...
Ever stood in the tile aisle wondering if your kitchen and bathroom should match? You're not alone. The age-old design debate continues to divide homeowners and professionals alike, with strong opinions on both sides of the argument.
We dive deep into this question, sharing real stories of homeowners who went the matchy-matchy route only to find their spaces feeling flat and repetitive. Instead of perfect coordination, we explore how your home can be in conversation with itself – creating connections between spaces without turning them into carbon copies. Think of your tile choices as family members who share resemblances without being identical twins.
The conversation extends beyond mere aesthetics into the psychology of color and space. Fascinating research from Zillow reveals how specific colors like olive green in kitchens and navy blue in bedrooms can actually add thousands to your home's value. We unpack why these earth tones and mineral-inspired hues create environments that feel both on-trend and timeless, working seamlessly across design styles from modern to coastal to traditional.
For those struggling with bathroom organization, we share practical decluttering strategies that transform even small spaces. The "one-minute tidy" method and smart storage solutions can make your morning routine smoother while showcasing your beautiful tile choices. Whether you're renovating for yourself or preparing to sell, these insights help create spaces that feel intentional, cohesive, and full of personality.
Ready to make more confident design decisions for your home? Listen now, and don't forget to share your own tile dilemmas with us on social media.
Chapters
00:00 - Tile Questions and Introduction
00:43 - Should Kitchen and Bathroom Tiles Match?
03:12 - Color Psychology and Home Value
04:47 - Bathroom Organization and Decluttering Tips
06:43 - Closing and Contact Information
Transcript
WEBVTT
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What kind of tile can you put on the wall or shower?
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Do you have to seal tile?
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How much extra tile should I buy for my project?
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What thinset is the best for my tile application?
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How hard is it to maintain natural stone?
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You have questions.
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We have answers.
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Welcome to the Belt Tile Podcast.
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How to style the bathroom, the backyard, the kitchen, how to improve your home style with tiles to make your home absolutely beautiful?
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Welcome to the Belk Tile Podcast.
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Here's your host, Mike Belk.
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Hey everyone, Welcome back to the Belk Tile Podcast.
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I'm Mike Belk and, as always, I'm here with Abby.
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Today we're diving into a question that honestly comes up all the time Should your kitchen and bathroom tiles match, or is it better to mix things up?
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Hey Mike.
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Yeah, this is one of those debates that just never seems to go away.
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I was scrolling through Reddit the other night dangerous I know and there was this huge thread with people arguing both sides.
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Some folks swear by matching everything for that seamless look, but others think it's well kind of boring wanted their kitchen, backsplash and bathroom floor to be identical.
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At first it sounded like a good way to tie the spaces together, but once it was all done, the house just felt I don't know a little flat, like you walked from one room to the next and it was almost like deja vu no real sense of transition or personality.
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Exactly, and that's what a lot of designers are saying now.
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There's no hard rule that says you have to match and, honestly, most pros recommend you don't.
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I love the idea of a home being in conversation with itself.
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Like you, want some cohesion, but not a copy-paste situation.
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Each room should have its own vibe, right.
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Yeah, and there are just so many beautiful tile options out there, why limit yourself?
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I mean, you can totally keep things cohesive by sticking to a similar color palette or using related textures, like, maybe you do, a matte subway tile in the kitchen and a textured porcelain in the bath, both in soft gray.
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They feel related but not identical.
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Totally.
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I always tell clients think of your tiles like family members.
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They don't have to be twins, but they should at least look like they belong at the same dinner table.
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You can play with different patterns or even just shift the shade a little, and if you're worried about things getting too busy, you can always ground the space with white paint or simple accessories.
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But don't be afraid to let your tile choices show some personality.
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Yeah, and honestly, sometimes too much cohesion just turns into monotony.
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You want a little surprise as you move through the house, like let the kitchen be bold and the bathroom be a little more serene, or vice versa.
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It's all about balance.
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And if you're not sure where to start, just pick a palette you love and pull different textures or finishes from it.
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That way everything feels connected but you still get that visual interest.
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It's like what we talked about in our episode on black tile trends Mixing up finishes and patterns can totally change the mood of a space.
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Exactly, and if you're ever in doubt, just remember there's no tile police.
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Do what feels right for your home and your style.
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All right.
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So speaking of color and personality, let's talk paint.
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I saw this Zillow study the other day, apparently painting your kitchen olive green or your bedroom navy blue can actually boost your home's value.
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Like we're talking thousands of dollars more on the sale price.
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Isn't that wild?
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Yeah, I saw that too Olive green kitchens and navy blue bedrooms.
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I got to admit I wouldn't have guessed olive green for a kitchen, but it makes sense.
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It's got that grounded nature inspired vibe and navy in the bedroom just feels classic and calming.
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I actually just finished a project where we did a navy blue accent wall in the primary bedroom.
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The whole space felt instantly more sophisticated and the client said it made the room feel like a retreat.
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When they listed the house, that bedroom was the first thing buyers commented on.
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It's amazing how much impact a single color can have.
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Yeah, and it's not just about resale either.
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Color psychology is real.
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Earth tones like celadon sand, those sun-washed clays, can make a space feel relaxed and welcoming.
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I mean, we've seen this trend in tile too.
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Right, those soft muted palettes are everywhere right now.
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Absolutely.
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I love using those mineral tones chalky, celadon, sandstone, pale ecru.
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They're subtle but they totally change the mood of a room and they work with so many styles, from modern to coastal to traditional.
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Plus, they're not so bold that you'll get tired of them in a year.
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And if you're not ready to commit to a full wall, you can always start small Throw pillows, a rug, even a vase in one of those colors.
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It's like dipping your toe in before you dive all the way in.
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Exactly.
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And if you're thinking about selling, those little touches can make your home feel more current and inviting.
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But even if you're staying put, it's about creating a space that feels good to you.
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That it's about creating a space that feels good to you.
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That's what matters most, all right, so let's shift gears a bit, because no matter how beautiful your tile or paint is, if your bathroom's a mess, it's not gonna feel like a sanctuary.
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Abby, you're the queen of bathroom organization.
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What's your go-to advice for folks who want to declutter?
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Oh man, I could talk about this all day.
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First rule only keep what you actually use.
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Seriously, go through your drawers and toss anything expired or that you haven't touched in six months.
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That old mascara, it's gotta go.
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And if you've got three half-used bottles of the same lotion, finish one before you open the next.
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It's amazing how much space you free up just by getting rid of duplicates and stuff you don't love.
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Yeah, and I think people forget about the little things like cords from hair tools or random stuff that just ends up in the bathroom for no reason.
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I mean, I've seen everything from coffee mugs to kids toys in there.
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If it doesn't belong, move it out.
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Totally, and don't underestimate the power of a deep clean.
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Once you've decluttered, wipe down the counters, clean the mirrors, scrub the sink.
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Even a tiny bathroom feels bigger and brighter when it's clean.
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And if you've got glass cabinets, be strategic about what you display.
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Less is more, trust me.
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I love that.
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And for storage you don't have to get fancy.
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Even just a couple of baskets or drawer organizers can make a huge difference.
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I remember you showed me that trick with the little tray for daily essentials Keeps the countertop from turning into a disaster zone.
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Yeah, I call it my one-minute tidy.
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Just corral your most used items in a tray or basket and at the end of the day, put everything back.
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It's simple but it works and, honestly, when your bathroom's organized, it changes the whole feel of your home.
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It's like if you can keep that space calm, the rest of the house just feels more put together.
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Couldn't agree more.
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And hey, if you're thinking about selling, buyers definitely notice a tidy bathroom, but even if you're not, it just makes your mornings a little less stressful, and who doesn't want that?
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Exactly.
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All right, I think that's a good place to wrap up for today.
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Thanks for hanging out with us everyone.
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We'll be back soon with more tile talk and design tips.
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Yeah, thanks for listening, abby, always a pleasure.
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See you next time.
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See you, mike.
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Bye everyone.
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You've been listening to the Belt Tile Podcast.
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When it comes to creating a beautiful home using tile, this is the podcast for products, design ideas and tips.
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We hope you got some useful, practical information from this show and we'll be back soon, but in the meantime, reach out.
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The website is wwwbelktilecom.
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Our store phone number is 614-543-8334.
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Find us on Facebook and Twitter at Belk Tile, and on Instagram at Belk Tiles.
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Make sure to leave a rating and review and if you have questions or comments, reach out and we'll talk about it on the next show.
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Till next time.
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