This 500-Year-Old Tile Trend Is Back — It Looks Exactly the Same
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Many design trends evolve over time. Each time they come back, there’s something a bit different to the latest iteration — something modern, something fresh. But this year’s biggest designer-backed trend — one that Apartment Therapy predicted in its State of Home Design Report for 2026 (and is depicted here above in a gorgeous maximalist room by designer Julia Chasman)— is nearly identical to its original iterations from over five centuries ago.
What is this historically approved trend? Delft tile, the iconic blue and white tile, with roots that go back to the 16th century in the Netherlands. Delft has been used in its classic shape and style since the very beginning. Why mess with perfection, right?
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To get an understanding of how this tile came about and why it still feels relevant today, especially as it makes (yet another) comeback in 2026, I took a deeper look at the history, style, and modern-day interpretation of Delft tile.
What is Delft Tile?
A form of Delftware, which also includes plates, vases, figurines, and other decor people continue to collect today for its beauty, Delft tiles are the charming blue and white tiles that you’ll often see on kitchen backsplashes or fireplace surrounds. They have an illustrative quality, depicting moments that evoke a simpler time. Whether it’s a windmill, a ship, or a simple countryside motif, these tiles have a peaceful, pastoral lilt. Typically, the scenes reflect everyday life in the town of Delft in the Netherlands.
“The subject matter is often a little boy, a flower, a duck, et cetera,” says Logan Taylor, antiques dealer and interior designer at Logan Taylor Antiques. “People are drawn to them because it’s a way to add a whimsical little touch to a space without it feeling a playroom.”
You’ll see them most often in kitchens, where they’re often used sparingly due to their cost compared to other square tiles. They might be used only above the range or interspersed with similarly styled ivory tiles in a full backsplash. Delft tiles are also used as fireplace surrounds in cottage-inspired or English country-style homes. Occasionally, you might see them used as a backsplash behind a powder room sink or as accent tiles in a shower surround.
Credit: Boxco Studio
A Short History of Delft Tile
While they originated in Delft over five centuries ago, these tiles may have been inspired by Chinese imported porcelain, particularly when it comes to the blue and white color palette. The everyday scenes often reflected the lifestyle of either the artist creating the tiles or the customer who would display them in their home. Agrarian scenes, military references, and other everyday illustrations told the story of the people they were designed for.
The hand-crafted artistry of the Delft tiles, which were often stenciled with a signature tin glaze rather than individually painted, made their way across the Atlantic by the 17th century. At the same time, these tiles were also making their way to the United Kingdom, where they quickly became a staple in a British country aesthetic.
While they were the style du jour in the 17th century, Delft tiles began to fall out of favor in the late 18th century when the efficiency of blue and white transferware surpassed the handmade allure of blue and white Delft tiles.
Delft tiles then waited another 200 years or so before making the move from niche historic design element to comeback trend.
Credit: Photo: Veronica Olson; Design: Kate McElhiney Studio
The Delft Tile Comeback
Part of the beauty of Delft tiles is that, while most of them have a look that is a literal reproduction of their earlier counterparts, there’s always room to find something unique. There could be a quirky scene or an interesting shade of blue — or even another color in more modern iterations — used on the tile. And this style of tile really works with the English, cottagecore, and whimsical interior trends that have dominated home design lately, as evidenced by the pretty dining room here by designer Kate McElhiney.
Taylor is always on the lookout for more unusual tiles she hasn’t come across before. “For me personally, it’s the combination of simplicity and whimsy,” says Taylor. “They never have too many colors going on, usually just one color on a white base, but the designs are so playful and feel they are out of a children’s book.”
And if you think this trend is only for homeowners who can install tiles in a home, think again. Renters can get in on the action, too, as you can sometimes find these tiles piecemeal at the flea market or salvage shopping — and use them as little accessories for a pop of pattern and color. “I actually bought two last month that I felt drawn to,” says Taylor. “I love putting them on tables as coasters or candle plates.”
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