Jan. 6, 2026

Warm Neutrals, Smart Finishes, And Statement Tiles That Last

Warm Neutrals, Smart Finishes, And Statement Tiles That Last

Your kitchen doesn’t look like a photo shoot—and that’s the point. We unpack how light, cabinets, counters, and grout quietly rewrite tile color, and why testing samples at home beats any inspiration board. From warm neutrals that feel soft and forgiving to muted earth tones that add depth without noise, we map a path to color choices you’ll love long after the trend cycle turns.

We get practical about maintenance and mood, comparing cool gray, bright white, and near-black surfaces with an honest look at what shows smudges, what hides mess, and where drama belongs. Finish becomes a power tool: matte brings calm and hides drips on floors and shower walls, while gloss energizes backsplashes and small baths by bouncing light. The sweet spot is mixing—matte fields with glossy niches, subtle borders that frame a space, and textures that create depth without cranking up saturation.

If you’re craving character, we explore statement patterns making a comeback—plaid and checkerboard—showing how to use them with restraint so the room stays timeless. Think gingham-inspired floors in softened tones, plaid mosaics as a shower jewel box, and classic borders that nod to tradition while feeling fresh. The throughline is simple: build a calm base, layer personal touches where your eye lands, and choose what supports how you live every day.

Ready to make confident tile decisions? Hit play, then subscribe, share with a friend who’s stuck on backsplash colors, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. Got a question we should tackle next? Drop us a note and we’ll bring it to the mic.

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Chapters

00:00 - Cold Open And Setup

00:20 - Welcome To Belk Tile

00:43 - Why Tile Color Feels So Hard

01:16 - Lighting And Context Change Color

02:13 - What’s Working Now: Warm Neutrals

03:18 - Earth Tones As Smart Accents

04:22 - Rethinking Cool Gray And Bright White

05:21 - Dark Tile: Drama With Limits

06:02 - Finish Matters: Matte Versus Gloss

07:03 - Mixing Finishes For Depth

07:24 - Statement Patterns: Plaid And Checkerboard

08:53 - Balance Personality With Practicality

09:20 - Takeaways And How To Reach Us

Transcript
WEBVTT

00:00:02.959 --> 00:00:04.639
Can you put on a wall for style?

00:00:04.639 --> 00:00:06.080
Do you have to steal style?

00:00:06.080 --> 00:00:08.720
How much extra style for the 5 promotes file?

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What answer is the best from a style application?

00:00:11.439 --> 00:00:13.919
How hard is it to maintain the File?

00:00:13.919 --> 00:00:18.719
Do you have questions?

00:00:18.719 --> 00:00:20.160
We have answers.

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Welcome to the Belt Tile Podcast.

00:00:22.800 --> 00:00:29.679
The kitchen how to improve your home style with tiles.

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To make your home absolutely beautiful.

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Welcome to the Belk Tile Podcast.

00:00:35.439 --> 00:00:38.320
Here's your host, Mike Belk.

00:00:43.520 --> 00:00:46.560
All right, welcome back everyone to the Belk Tile Podcast.

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I'm Mike Belk, and I'm hanging out here today with Abby.

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As always, Abby, how's it going?

00:00:51.600 --> 00:00:53.039
Hey Mike, doing great.

00:00:53.039 --> 00:00:54.719
Excited for this episode.

00:00:54.719 --> 00:00:56.240
I love chatting about color.

00:00:56.240 --> 00:00:59.359
And honestly, this is the number one thing clients ask me about.

00:00:59.359 --> 00:01:02.320
How the heck do you pick a tile color and not lose your mind?

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Yeah, it really is one of the toughest choices.

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I always tell people it's not just a paint chip you can slap on the wall and redo next weekend.

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Tile is, you know, a bit more permanent, and a lot of homeowners are basically drowning in inspiration photos on Pinterest, Instagram.

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But the thing is, most of those images, not your lighting, not your space, the tile that looks all warm and mellow online can turn icy or, I don't know, just weird under your kitchen's fluorescent lights.

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Exactly.

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Colors never happening in isolation.

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I've lost count of the clients who bring me a photo and say, I want this look.

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But when we start matching samples in their home, half the time the color just doesn't land the same way.

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Because let's be real, you've got to consider all the other players.

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Cabinets, countertops, wall color, the whole deal.

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Not to mention how clean a space feels like white tile can look super crisp online, but in real life you see every little smudge.

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And honestly, I had this client last year.

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She picked out this tile from a website photo, thought it was the absolute dream.

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We ordered it, did the install, and as soon as the grout dried, it was wait, why does this look olive green instead of the beige I loved?

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It wasn't just the lighting, it was her dark cabinets and the north facing windows throwing off the whole vibe.

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So yeah, it's not just about what looks good in a sample photo.

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You gotta plan for your space.

00:02:18.719 --> 00:02:21.520
That's such a classic scenario, and you touched on this, Mike.

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People are worried about if something's gonna feel dated in five years or if their house won't sell because of a bold color.

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It's a lot to juggle.

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But I do think there are some patterns now, more so than even a few years ago, in what's really working for people.

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Let's talk about what's hot lately.

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I mean colors people are actually living with and loving, not just what's trendy for a second.

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So warm neutrals.

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I feel like this is the shift lately.

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Creams, soft beigas, those sort of sand tones that work with, well, almost anything.

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They just make a room feel safe, inviting instead of sterile.

00:02:59.680 --> 00:03:00.080
Absolutely.

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Warm neutrals have really stepped in where the bright whites and cool grays used to rule the roost, right?

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And it's not boring.

00:03:05.919 --> 00:03:09.520
Those colors just kind of let the other pieces in your house do their thing.

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Plus they're forgiving.

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Like if you tracked in a little mud, you're not stressed about every speck showing up.

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My wife's favorite is that mellow cream with a hint of gray to it, almost a stone feel.

00:03:20.639 --> 00:03:21.439
Yeah, same.

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In a recent kitchen, I did this soft beige subway tile with warm wood shelves.

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It's just timeless, never feels trendy or like it's going to expire in a year.

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And you get this beautiful light bounce without it feeling cold at all.

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And we're seeing earth-inspired tones making a comeback too.

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Clay, taupe, muted greens, terracotta, that whole palette.

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People use them as accents mostly, which I think is super smart, like in a backsplash or a shower niche.

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Gives you that grounded natural look without overwhelming a space.

00:03:51.439 --> 00:03:51.919
Exactly.

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Like a little olive green in a bathroom niche just warms things up, and you don't get sick of it the way you might with a big wall of bright blue or purple or whatever, you know?

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Muted is the secret, and it feels expensive in a good way.

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Nobody regrets soft, livable color later.

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I think that's part of why these colors are so big right now.

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They last.

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We actually touched on this in our first episode about brown tiles, but choosing shades you can build a whole design around is kind of the magic trick.

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So let's get a little controversial.

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What's getting called into question these days?

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First up, cool grays.

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They're not gone, but if you go all in, unless you've got tons of warm wood and sunlight, it can get chilly fast.

00:04:31.279 --> 00:04:35.040
I've seen some really flat rooms, no offense to gray lovers out there.

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I'm with you.

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I remember when it felt like every new kitchen had a gray backsplash, then a gray island, then gray tile floors.

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And it looked great in magazines, but in real life, especially without natural light, it's how do I put this, like walking into a weather report.

00:04:48.720 --> 00:04:50.079
Cloudy, you know?

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When you mix it with wood, it can still work, especially those warmer grays.

00:04:53.759 --> 00:04:57.120
But otherwise folks start to regret it after the novelty wears off.

00:04:57.439 --> 00:04:58.879
Now what about white tile?

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I get this.

00:04:59.519 --> 00:05:01.199
Isn't white always safe?

00:05:01.199 --> 00:05:07.839
And my answer is sorta, but people are dialing back from that super bright white, especially for large surfaces.

00:05:07.839 --> 00:05:10.000
Cleaners and shadows are your enemy.

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Every wall imperfection, every speck of grout, it all pops.

00:05:13.680 --> 00:05:25.439
So folks are picking soft off-whites, creamy colors, so you keep a clean look, but it's just less harsh, more forgiving, especially if you've got kids running around, or you know, if you don't want to scrub every day.

00:05:26.480 --> 00:05:26.959
Completely.

00:05:26.959 --> 00:05:29.839
And then there's those deep dark tiles, used, right?

00:05:29.839 --> 00:05:32.079
Amazing, used all over a huge floor.

00:05:32.079 --> 00:05:35.439
Hey, suddenly you see every water spot, dust, paw print.

00:05:35.439 --> 00:05:38.800
Tried that myself once to be honest, never again for a big area.

00:05:38.800 --> 00:05:45.680
But in a powder room, or as a feature wall, that's where charcoal or deep slate delivers major drama without swallowing up the room.

00:05:46.480 --> 00:05:46.959
Totally.

00:05:46.959 --> 00:05:54.560
I just finished a powder bath where we went nearly black on the floor, just a small room, and it became this moody little hideout, honestly.

00:05:54.560 --> 00:05:55.519
Guests love it.

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But I'd never do it in a wide open kitchen.

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It's all about balancing the wow factor with practicality in my book.

00:06:02.240 --> 00:06:06.560
Let's shift gears and talk about finishes, matte versus glossy and all that good stuff.

00:06:06.560 --> 00:06:10.079
Finish can be as big a decision as color, if not more so.

00:06:10.079 --> 00:06:14.720
Personally, I'm a huge supporter of matte these days, especially for floors and shower walls.

00:06:14.720 --> 00:06:19.120
You don't see every fingerprint or drip, less maintenance, more peace of mind.

00:06:19.360 --> 00:06:21.360
Yeah, matte is everywhere right now.

00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:26.240
People like how soft it looks, and clients tell me it doesn't glare at you under bright lights.

00:06:26.240 --> 00:06:28.720
Just an easy finish for big busy areas.

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The only trap is going too cheap, then it can look chalky, not good.

00:06:32.800 --> 00:06:35.680
But a nice quality mat feels luxe.

00:06:36.399 --> 00:06:36.879
Exactly.

00:06:36.879 --> 00:06:43.199
Now glossy tiles, they've still got their spot, especially in kitchens, backsplashes, sometimes as a shower accent.

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Nothing bounces light around a small space quite like gloss.

00:06:46.720 --> 00:06:52.800
Downside, you'll notice that tomato sauce splatter, but hey, it's a backsplash, it's meant to take some abuse.

00:06:52.800 --> 00:06:56.560
People are willing to put in the extra cleaning if it brings that pizzazz.

00:06:57.439 --> 00:06:57.839
Right.

00:06:57.839 --> 00:07:00.720
But honestly, my favorite trend is mixing the two.

00:07:00.720 --> 00:07:06.319
Do a matte wall and a glossy niche, or pair a gloss border with a more toned-down field tile.

00:07:06.319 --> 00:07:09.279
You get great depth without going wild on color.

00:07:09.279 --> 00:07:14.399
We talked about mixing textures back in our shower floor episode, and it works here too.

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Subtle, but it pops just enough.

00:07:17.360 --> 00:07:18.480
You're reading my mind.

00:07:18.480 --> 00:07:22.160
People love a little visual variety, it keeps things interesting without feeling busy.

00:07:22.160 --> 00:07:28.000
Plus, it's a clever way to highlight the fun spots like a shower niche or an accent wall without overwhelming the room.

00:07:28.319 --> 00:07:32.800
Since we're talking about features and making things pop, can we talk about statement tile?

00:07:32.800 --> 00:07:34.160
There's so much going on right now.

00:07:34.160 --> 00:07:40.240
We're finally seeing folks break out of the basic subway, and the pattern that's you're gonna hear about a lot is plaid.

00:07:40.240 --> 00:07:46.959
Apparently, plaid tile is going to be everywhere by 2026, and I gotta say it's bold but still kind of classic too.

00:07:47.360 --> 00:07:47.920
Yeah, right.

00:07:47.920 --> 00:07:49.920
I was reading about that on apartment therapy.

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Designers are super excited for plaid because it has roots in tradition, but looks totally fresh when you do it with, say, some marble microsaics or even in subtle tones.

00:07:58.879 --> 00:08:06.560
Elay Meklovitz from Tile Bar was saying how checkerboards and plaid invite so much creativity, just endless mix and match options.

00:08:06.560 --> 00:08:12.319
And Jamie Chappell's point about people being tired of resale-focused all-white looks, spot on.

00:08:12.319 --> 00:08:16.480
Everyone wants something personal now, a space that feels like their own.

00:08:17.439 --> 00:08:22.560
Exactly, and you don't even have to go over the top like a plaid pattern can be cozy or dramatic.

00:08:22.560 --> 00:08:28.879
I think about Anatolia's Soho Mosaics, or those gingham-inspired floors in a kitchen.

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Even a little pattern in a shower niche brings some joy.

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It's a callback to traditional design.

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Reimagined for right now.

00:08:37.120 --> 00:08:43.919
I know, Mike, you always mention being careful not to go overboard, but a feature wall or a border can be just enough.

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I still remember in my parents' entryway, checkerboard marble, classic as can be, and now we're seeing that border detail come back just evolved.

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I guess some things really are timeless, huh?

00:08:55.200 --> 00:09:03.600
Anyway, the big thing is you can take inspiration from these statement patterns, but keep your main choices calm and flexible, like we always say.

00:09:03.600 --> 00:09:06.320
Layer in those fun details where they count.

00:09:07.440 --> 00:09:08.320
Couldn't agree more.

00:09:08.320 --> 00:09:14.960
So whether you're going for cozy plaid or just want to mix some glossy with your mat, trends change, but personality endures.

00:09:14.960 --> 00:09:19.759
As long as you choose what supports how you want to live, you really can't go wrong.

00:09:20.320 --> 00:09:22.159
Alright, that's gonna do it for this episode.

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Thanks for hanging out with us.

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Hope you're feeling a little more confident about picking tile colors and finishes now.

00:09:27.360 --> 00:09:30.159
Seriously, don't stress so much about what's in online.

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Focus on living with your choices day in, day out.

00:09:34.240 --> 00:09:40.320
Yeah, and if you liked this, follow the podcast, share it with a friend who's maybe overthinking that backsplash.

00:09:40.320 --> 00:09:43.440
We'll dig into more trends and real-world advice in the next one.

00:09:43.440 --> 00:09:44.080
Thanks, Mike.

00:09:44.080 --> 00:09:44.960
This was fun.

00:09:45.279 --> 00:09:46.480
Always a pleasure, Abby.

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Have a good one, folks.

00:09:47.440 --> 00:09:49.440
Catch you on the next episode.

00:09:50.559 --> 00:09:53.519
You've been listening to the Belt Tile Podcast.

00:09:53.519 --> 00:10:01.519
When it comes to creating a beautiful home using tile, this is the podcast for product, design ideas, and tips.

00:10:01.519 --> 00:10:07.120
We hope you've got some useful practical information from this go and move it back to them.

00:10:07.120 --> 00:10:14.720
But in the meantime, reach out to the phone number.

00:10:14.720 --> 00:10:18.799
It's 614-543-8334.

00:10:18.799 --> 00:10:21.759
Find us on Facebook and Twitter at Belt Tile.

00:10:21.759 --> 00:10:24.240
Find on Instagram at BeltTile.

00:10:24.240 --> 00:10:26.720
Make sure to leave a rating and review.

00:10:26.720 --> 00:10:29.679
And if you have questions or comments, reach out.

00:10:29.679 --> 00:10:32.240
And we'll talk about it on the next show.

00:10:32.240 --> 00:10:33.759
Till next time.