Retro kitchens tend to favour bold colour over restraint: mustard, avocado, and burnt orange splashbacks that bring real warmth and personality to the busiest wall in the house. Large format porcelain in calmer wood, stone, cement, or plain finishes makes a practical, easy to maintain kitchen floor that lets those bolder colours stand out.
Decorative tiles work brilliantly behind the hob or across a run of worktop, and in smaller kitchens, carrying a patterned or brightly coloured tile across the floor as well can add even more period character. The kitchen takes more spills and splashes than any other room, so a properly tiled surface remains the most practical way to protect it while still keeping that retro warmth on full display.