April 27, 2026 Olga Chizil

Zellige tiles kitchen

What is the history of Zellige tiles?

Zellige Morocco Baby Blue Wall Tiles 10×10cm

Zellige tiles originate from Morocco, with a history dating back to around the 10th century. Traditionally crafted in cities such as Fez and Marrakech, these tiles are made from natural clay, hand-shaped, glazed, and kiln-fired.

Each tile is individually cut and finished by skilled artisans, resulting in subtle variations in colour, shape, and surface. These imperfections are not flaws—they are the defining feature of Zellige tiles, giving them a soft, reflective quality that changes beautifully with light.

Historically used in palaces, riads, and religious buildings, Zellige tiles have remained a symbol of craftsmanship and authenticity for centuries.

Zellige have earned a special places in the contemporary design. These are introducing dimension and personality for spaces with an organic manner.

Being quite popular for domestic and commercial places, Zellige works well for traditional and modern interiors. After bathrooms and shower spaces zellige fill up kitchens and feature walls.

In this article will have a look over the most popular ideas with zellige tiles in the kitchen.

Why you should consider zellige tiles for your kitchen?

Zellige tiles will bring a cosy and organic feel. At the moment when interior design is shifting towards natural materials and sustainability, zellige with a handcrafted look and a polished finish create a fresh and inviting kitchen space.

Zellige Morocco Dust Grey Wall Tiles 10×10cm

In comparison with flat, uniform tiles, Zellige offers a more rustic and authentic look that works well in both modern and traditional environments. In the kitchen these increase the light supply due to their reflective surface.

Zellige are most frequently used for:

Kitchen splashbacks
Feature walls
Behind open shelving and cooker
Full wall coverage as centrepiece of the room.

What are the most popular Zellige colours for the kitchen?
The colour choice is very important when it comes to suitable proportions for a kitchen. Zellige can be bold and dramatic but also calm and elegant. The most popular colours with the Uk homeowners are:

Vintage whites and creams- for simplicity and balance.

Zellige Morocco Beige Wall Tiles 10×10cm

Greens - from country sage to emerald and forest green - for an organic and rich background.

Bottle Green Zellige style tiles Wall Tiles 32x62.5cm

Blues- from sky serene inspired or a costal weathered look.

Storm Blue Zellige style tiles Wall Tiles 32x62.5cm

Shiny burgundy- for a strong earthy tone with a touch of drama.

Burgundy Red Zellige style tiles Wall Tiles 32x62.5cm

In the kitchen space, zellige works as a transition from rigid and straight dimensions to mild and detailed appearance, where the technical space gets a unique character.

Final Thoughts

Zellige tiles have become a design concept- where timeless material and rich cultural background create vivid spaces. Starting with Moroccan properties and their translations into nowadays functional spaces, zellige is a perfect option for a kitchen splash back with unique texture, colour variation and style for years to come. If you are looking for more ideas on how to transform your kitchen space, please have a look over our collections today!

Explore our ➡ Zellige Morocco collection, featuring authentic handcrafted style tiles with rich colours and timeless character, perfect for kitchens, bathrooms, and feature walls.