Room Design
Kitchen Design
Kitchen Backsplash
By
Kristin Hohenadel
Kristin Hohenadel
Kristin Hohenadel has written on design for publications including the New York Times, Interior Design, Slate, Fast Company, and the international editions of Elle Decor.
Learn more about The Spruce'sEditorial Process
Updated on 02/28/24
A kitchen backsplash is a design opportunity to use color and pattern, experiment with materials, and add a dose of personality to the house's most frequently used gathering space.
It's also a small canvas that doesn't cost much to renovate if you change your mind and want to try something new—much less of a commitment than choosing a kitchen tile floor.
Whether you are looking for a custom-designed tile pattern, a striking slab of stone, a jolt of color, a metallic finish; or a classic finishing touch like subway tile, a kitchen backsplash can be more than just a practical piece of armor against unwanted splashes and splatters.
Think of it like a statement necklace or a pocket square—that finishing touch that brings the whole ensemble together.
Take a look at these inspiring kitchen backsplash ideas to spark creativity and turn your kitchen into a conversation piece.
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Opt for Silver Subway Tiles
If you'd rather not have a backsplash that blends into the rest of your kitchen, consider a section of silver subway tiles. They shimmer and catch the light, particularly in a cooking space with darker cabinetry and fixtures. It's the perfect happy medium if you're after something reflective that's not as bold as a mirrored backsplash.
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Try an Opalescent Finish
The gleaming opalescent tile backsplash of this all-white kitchen from Tara Mangini and Percy Bright, the design duo at Jersey Ice Cream Co., adds dimension to the neutral color scheme and is the perfect backdrop for a show-stopping gourmet oven. Bronze, stainless, and copper metal tones mix effortlessly to give the kitchen a timeless appeal.
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Add Modern Graphics
This feel-good pink and green kitchen from Dabito at Old Brand New features a soft geometric black-and-white patterned tile backsplash that creates structure between the vivid color blocking and helps keep the design feeling airy and modern.
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Pick a Timeless Pattern
A blue-and-white patterned backsplash adds a decorative note to an otherwise streamlined white kitchen from Erin Williamson Design. It's just the right dose of color and pattern to wake up the all-white cabinetry and walls and will never go out of style.
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Use Sheet Metal
In this rustic chic kitchen from Jersey Ice Cream Co., a distressed dark wood wall iscontrasted with a roughly hammered sheet of warm bright copper to create contrast and a focal point above the stovetop. It's a great lesson in how to use bold, noble materials in small thoughtful doses for maximum effect.
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Add Some Bling
Ontario-based Michelle Berwick Design used a play of patterned cement tiles on the kitchen island and backsplash of this playful, feminine, midcentury modern-inspired remodel. Look closely and you can see that in addition to incorporating warm metallic touches throughout, the tile is set with gold-colored grout for an extra dose of backsplash bling.
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Make It Custom
Erin Williamson Design used Fireclay brick tile with inset wood to create this distinctive custom backsplash that echoes the house's roof line, a 1950s A-frame cabin.
"A minimal cooktop keeps the focus on the backsplash," Williamson says, adding that she chose copper plumbing fixtures to complement the wood tones.
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Count on Marble
If you love the idea of splashing out on a beautiful stone or marble backsplash but don't want to blow your budget, focus your efforts on the wall behind the stove where most splashes and splatters will occur.
The soft blue-gray paint in this kitchen from Jersey Ice Cream Co. creates a soothing backdrop that allows the backsplash to shine, creating an elegant, timeless focal point in the kitchen.
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Stay Neutral
Emily Henderson Design alum Velinda Hellen used eco-friendly handmade Mini Star and Cross tiles in two complementary neutral shades from Fireclay Tile to create a focal point in this kitchen design.
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Go Coastal
A rich blue tile backsplash from countertop to ceiling behind the stovetop in this casual beach house from Tyler Karu Design + Interiors adds contrast to the rich wood wall paneling throughout. It's a simple, modern approach to coastal design that would work even if you don't live by the ocean.
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Layer Shades of Green
In this timeless English country kitchen designed by deVOL Kitchens, shades of green on the walls, kitchen cabinets, and glossy backsplash tiles create an earthy, calming atmosphere set off with terracotta pots, rich wood, and brass accents.
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Add Texture
A white backsplash doesn't have to be utilitarian or boring. In this kitchen design from Laura Brophy Interiors, gleaming white Moroccan Zellige clay tiles add texture and contrast with the warm woods on the floor, island, cabinetry, and chairs of this inviting kitchen flooded with natural light.
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Add Subtle Pattern
The backsplash of this clean, contemporary kitchen design from Michelle Berwick Design has a geometric pattern that looks almost invisible thanks to its shimmery all-white tile and invisible matching white grout. It's a subtle take on using a pattern that is modern and unfussy.
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Try Peel and Stick
Elsie Larson from A Beautiful Mess makes a case for a removable peel-and-stick vinyl backsplash with this budget-friendly kitchen makeover that looks fresh and is easy to install.
It shows that you don't have to spend a lot to transform a run-of-the-mill kitchen into something more personal and special, while demonstrating the power and appeal of using pink in the kitchen.
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Reach For the Ceiling
Erin Williamson Design took the geometric black-and-white tile all the way up to the ceiling of this A-frame Texas lake house to create a combination backsplash and accent wall. Black appliances and countertops tie the neutral scheme together.
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Make It Moody
Whittney Parkinson Design used a dramatic black backsplash in this European-inspired kitchen that creates a seamless transition with the countertops and adds high contrast against the creamy white walls and taupe cabinetry.
The mix of soft neutrals and matte black surfaces give the open-plan kitchen and dining room a relaxing, grounded, timeless feel.
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Count on Penny Tile
Charlie Coull Design used a penny tile backsplash in this kitchen that looks like a plain white wall from a distance but reveals subtle texture and a play of light from closer up. The simple, timeless tile choice works as well in a vintage kitchen as it does here with modern white quartz countertops and light wood cabinetry.
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Pair Marble with Dark Walls
In this Swedish kitchen designed by deVOL Kitchens, dark matte green walls and medium-toned wood creates a serene and somber atmosphere that's given some relief with a beige-toned marble slab backsplash.
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Play with Geometry
Geometric patterns can add a graphic element to any room. Britt Design Studio chose a soft geometric tile backsplash of elongated hexagons laid in a vertical pattern with dark grout in this otherwise neutral kitchen.
The tile is carried along the entire wall above the oven and stovetop, lending a subtle sense of rhythm and dynamism that pulls the space together while preserving the room's airy feel.
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Use Beige Grout
When choosing a white or otherwise neutral backsplash, small details matter. In this German schoolhouse kitchen designed by deVOL Kitchens, the simple white tile backsplash is tiled with thick lines of beige grout that soften it and give it a lived-in and elegantly rustic feel that works particularly well in older homes or country-style interiors.
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Use a Vertical Stack
This downtown Portland, ME home from Tyler Karu Design + Interiors, Kevin Browne Architecture, and Benjamin and Company features a deep blue-green vertical stacked backsplash in an off-kilter layout that creates drama and adds personality to a new build.
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Stagger the Squares
Interior designer Jojo Barr at House Nine chose simple square white tiles with black grout laid in a staggered pattern to add a modern touch to this traditional family kitchen.
The tile looks more like wallpaper than a functional backsplash, and it helps create the balance of old and new elements that make the kitchen design work, with its modern refrigerator, vintage-style oven, artwork, taxidermy, and antiques.
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Use Shaker-Style Paneling
For this blue kitchen at the Lokal Hotel, interior designers Tara Mangini and Percy Bright of the Jersey Ice Cream Co. decided to extend the blue Shaker-style wood paneling of the kitchen cabinetry partially up the wall behind the appliances to create an integrated backsplash that works seamlessly with the woodwork in the kitchen.
This is one way to go if you want to create a harmonious look that turns the backsplash into part of the room's architecture. Use satin paint so it's easy to wipe clean.
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Mix Cool and Warm Tones
This glamorous beach house kitchen from award-winning Australian firm Decus Interiors features a long mirrored backsplash that reflects natural light and highlights the use of wood, stone, and metallics in the open-plan space.
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Embrace Greige
Chelius House of Design chose a large format subway tile backsplash in a shiny greige-colored finish for this open-plan kitchen that has an earthy quality that works well with the room's beige and gray palette and complements wood, leather, and woven accents.
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Gloss It Up
Erin Williamson Design chose glossy black subway tile for the backsplash of this Texas lakehouse kitchen. The high gloss finish bounces light around, while black appliances and countertops, stainless steel plumbing fixtures, and light gray paint creates a sober neutral feel.
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Cut to Fit
In this Victorian English kitchen designed by deVOL Kitchens, the green tile is cut in different sizes that range from squares at the top to smaller rectangular shapes at the bottom.
This variation adds a homemade quality and a subtle variation in pattern to the simple, timeless shades of green tile, which works like a charm against the warm pink walls.
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Preserve History
In this historic home renovation in Bath, Maine, Tyler Karu Design + Interiors took the classic black-and-white backsplash up to the ceiling and covered every wall of the kitchen for a dramatic effect.
The tile pattern alludes to an earlier era while looking fresh and updated, respecting the historic character of the home while making it comfortable for contemporary living.
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Frame It Out
Interior designer Nancy Charbonneau of Charbonneau Interiors and Bill Hughes updated a dark 1980's home, installing a light and bright subway tile backsplash. A framed herringbone-patterned tile inset above the stove creates subtle variation and a backsplash within a backsplash effect.
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Paint the Tile
One of the eternal truths of home renovation is that any change big or small can have a domino effect that leads to unexpected consequences. Laura Gummerman from A Beautiful Mess upgraded her kitchen cabinetry, only to find that the new bright white cabinets made her brown tile backsplash look extra tired.
She wasn't ready to replace the backsplash tile but needed to do something. So, she painted the existing backsplash in a vivid turquoise hue, an easy and money-saving DIY intervention that anyone could do.
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Use Dramatic Stone
The stormy gray-and-white backsplash in this beach house kitchen renovation from bloggers and house flippers Hannah and Ty of Hannah Tyler Designs creates a dramatic focal point in an otherwise neutral-toned open space that is warmed up with touches of wood.
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Add Shiplap
Mandi Johnson from A Beautiful Mess covered up a roughly textured kitchen wall with an inexpensive DIY shiplap backsplash that gave the kitchen a fresh, homey feel and was ultimately less of a project than sanding down and refinishing the walls.
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Choose a Dynamic Pattern
JLA Designs used a dynamic cool-toned tile pattern for this Bethesda, Maryland kitchen remodel to create interest and movement. The rounded shapes contrast with the straight lines of the kitchen and rectangular tile elsewhere in the room.
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Stay Square
Home renovation bloggers and house flippers Hannah and Ty of Hannah Tyler Designs chose a simple, sober square tile in shades of grayish off-white for this kitchen renovation, a cost-effective alternative to the ubiquity of the rectangular subway tile backsplash.
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Add Luxe Touches
JLA Designs used a timeless marble backsplash that adds subtle pattern while blending in with the light cabinetry in this airy minimalist luxe Manhattan kitchen remodel. The cool stone is warmed up with brass hardware, metallic touches on the pendant lighting, and matte wide plank oak flooring.
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Add a Stack of Gold Bars
JLA Designs used a dramatic metallic backsplash above the bar area of this Manhattan apartment open-plan kitchen remodel that looks like rows of stacked gold bars and adds an unapologetic dose of bling.
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Use Simple Hexagons
To balance the colorful wallpaper, wall paint, and accessories in this eclectic Costa Mesa, CA. kitchen renovation, K Shan Design installed a clean, modern white hexagonal tile with dark grout.
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Embrace the Gray
If your kitchen is blessed with a pantry or bar, using varying but complementary backsplashes can highlight individual zones while working together to create an overall design aesthetic. Here, Kate Marker Interiorsused a gray subway tile in a herringbone pattern above a pantry sink to distinguish it from the backsplash in the main kitchen.
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Add a Bronze Mirror Finish
Leclair Decor chose a bronze mirror tile backsplash laid in a vertical pattern to add a metallic contrast in this dark-toned kitchen remodel. The warm bronze catches light throughout the day and evening, creating an ever-changing and dynamic atmosphere.
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Use Oversized Subway Tile
Stacked rather than staggered oversized white subway tiles with dark grout give this kitchen a clean and contemporary feel. Warm wood and golden-toned metal finishes add warmth. The dark grout looks modern but it also is easier to clean than conventional white.
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Choose a Classic
Michelle Berwick Design chose dark grout for this penny tile backsplash that echoes the black cabinetry and complements the kitchen's bold palette of white, black, and bright gold.
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Whitewash the Brick
A whitewashed full wall brick backsplash in this kitchen from Whittney Parkinson Design makes the room warm and inviting, and complements the custom Shaker-style cabinetry, stone countertops, and wood finishes on the island and flooring.
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Add Open Shelving
In this basem*nt kitchen renovation, Michelle Berwick Design installed a long stone slab backsplash along the span of the wall that incorporates a chunky open shelf in the same material. The shelf area adds dimension to the linear design, and creates a display area for a dynamic display of plants, art, and accessories.
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Change Directions
In this streamlined coastal kitchen, Tyler Karu Design + Interiors created a simple but studied play of off-white tones and materials. The tile backsplash laid horizontally above the stove has a subtle embossed pattern, while the rest of the wall above the countertops is covered in vertical shiplap that extends to the ceiling and covers the oven hood.
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Keep It Quiet
For this minimalist Japandi-inspired renovation from Cathie Hong Interiors, a backsplash of skinny pale gray rectangular stacked tiles creates a whisper of texture and serves as a quiet but well-considered backdrop to the room's sweet mint green cabinets and cool-toned silver appliances.
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Add a Stripe of Navy Blue
For this Eichler house renovation, Cathie Hong Interiors chose a matte navy blue stacked tile backsplash from Heath Ceramics that adds depth and contrast in the all-white kitchen.
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Score Some Vintage Tiles
My 100 Year Old Home tiled this Texas kitchen backsplash with vintage tin ceiling tiles that match the rustic shabby chic farmhouse aesthetic of the home.
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Skip the Grout Lines
If you prefer a solid backdrop without tile or grout lines, but don't want to splash out for stone, opt for a monochromatic color block backsplash in concrete or another matte finish, like this earthy neutral-toned backsplash in a Pacific Palisades, CA. home from Jenn Pablo Studio.
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Create an Abstraction
The stone backsplash in this English cottage-inspired kitchen from Whittney Parkinson Design looks like a piece of abstract art or a photograph of bare branches. Its graphic black veining adds interest and a touch of drama to the room, with its natural palette of soft taupes, grays, browns, and weathered wood tones.
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Make It Timeless
Blogger Ursula Carmona of Homemade by Carmona renovated the eat-in kitchen in her contemporary cottage-style guesthouse with a timeless marble subway tile backsplash that blends in with the rest of the room and complements its soft neutral tones of gray, beige, and white.
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Blacken the Pantry
The glossy black square tile backsplash in this kitchen pantry from Mindy Gayer Design Co. sets itself apart from the matte all-white main kitchen backsplash. Visible from the main kitchen and dining area, the dark tile of the pantry creates contrast and a sense of depth to the smaller space.
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Keep It Light
Desiree Burns Interiors chose white penny tile for the backsplash of this glamorous bachelorette apartment. The timeless tiles add subtle texture and blend seamlessly with marble countertops, white cabinetry, and a Smeg refrigerator. Pops of gold metallic bring the bling, and natural materials like wood and rattan warm it up.
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Stay Clean as a Bone
Cathie Hong Interiors chose crowd-pleasing matte white subway tile for this clean and contemporary family kitchen. Laid out in a herringbone pattern, it helps to break up the linear lines of the two- tone cabinetry, countertops, and floating shelves.
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Frame It Out
In this spacious kitchen designed by deVOL Kitchens, the stovetop is located on the kitchen island, while the sink is built into a side wall, its stone backsplash inset and framed out like a piece of art.
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Add a Window
In this spacious kitchen by Kate Marker Interiors, a large picture window acts as a backsplash above the professional-grade oven and stovetop, flooding the modern farmhouse-style space with light.
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Inject Some Bright Color
Interior designer Ghislaine Viñas gave an all-white kitchen a shot in the arm with a bright orange subway tile backsplash. The limited footprint of the backsplash tile means that it can be swapped out in years to come without renovating the whole kitchen.
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See Your Reflection
Interior designer Maite Granda used a plain mirrored backsplash to complement glossy white cabinetry and black and silver toned fixtures in this high-end Florida kitchen.
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Try Some Terrazzo
In this kitchen from Lisa Gilmore Design, a terrazzo tile backsplash introduces subtle bits of color and personality to the wall hung with all-white cabinetry.
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Let the Sunshine In
This kitchen from Pluck features wall-to-wall stacked vertical backsplash tiles in a sunny shade of yellow that anchors the space and holds its own alongside matte forest green cabinetry and shelving, white and coral walls, and a graphic white-and-black island countertop.
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Make It Monochromatic
This Scandinavian kitchen from Fantastic Frank has a soothing contemporary feel with its integrated backsplash drenched in a cool shade of blue that matches the flat-front cabinetry to create a seamless look.
FAQ
What is the most popular backsplash for a kitchen?
Subway tiles and solid slabs of stone tend to be the most popular kitchen backsplashes. That being said, there are a variety of other options that are also beloved by homeowners, such as penny, square, and herringbone tiles. Peel-and-stick backsplashes are gaining popularity, too.
Should your backsplash be lighter or darker than your countertops?
Backsplashes can be lighter or darker than your countertops. While many kitchens feature backsplashes that are lighter, there is no set rule. For a bold impact or stylistic drama, a backsplash that's darker than your countertops can be a great choice.
Should you install backsplash before or after countertops?
It is better to install a backsplash after countertops. For installation purposes, it's easier to have countertops placed first and less tricky logistically, as these are usually larger and a bigger feature in a kitchen. In terms of design, your choice of countertop material and color often influences or informs that of your backsplash, giving even more of a reason to bring in countertops first.