The backsplash is an opportunity to add a bold pop of color or a sophisticated pattern. A continuous tile backsplash creates a sleek, sophisticated look that a simple or dramatic countertop can complement.
For a more organic, modern presence, choose handmade or handmade-look tiles. These will have natural variations in texture, color, and thickness.
Slab Backsplash
Backsplashes that extend past the counter to create a solid slab backsplash are a beautiful and modern way to incorporate a custom look into your kitchen. Though this style typically carries a premium price tag, it offers a sophisticated aesthetic that will likely last years.
Slab backsplashes can be made of various materials, including natural stone, glass, and metal. One of the best benefits of this unique option is that it eliminates grout lines and seams, resulting in a cleaner and refined visual appeal.
The dimensionality and depth of a solid slab backsplash create a striking contrast against flat countertops and cabinetry. The combination of a dark backsplash and light countertops is an especially attractive kitchen trend, highlighting the countertop material’s depth while concealing cooking splatters.
Geometric shapes and patterns are a popular kitchen backsplash trend, particularly herringbones. Hexagons are another backsplash shape that never goes out of fashion, and angled tiles add more interest to the overall design of a kitchen.
Natural Stone
Backsplashes are an excellent opportunity to showcase your design style. Whether you’re interested in stylish geometric or floral patterns that are making a comeback, classics like subway tile, or the elegance of natural stone, there is sure to be a backsplash that fits your aesthetic.
Limestone kitchen backsplash tile adds organic texture to a kitchen and adds warmth and character. This limestone backsplash works well with the white kitchen cabinets and wood-paneled island to create a rustic yet elevated kitchen style.
Another option for a natural-looking backsplash is pebble tile, which has a similar look to stacked limestone but offers the added benefit of being much easier to clean. Pebble tile backsplashes can be arranged in a more rough, stacked pattern to fit farmhouses and other rustic design styles or laid flat for a sleeker look. Using different colors of pebbles can help you achieve the desired style. Stones such as marble, slate, and travertine are popular backsplash choices. These natural materials can be expensive, but they bring a luxurious look to your kitchen that impresses guests and families alike.
Picket Tile
Backsplash tiles with a picket-fence aesthetic help to create a classic design that helps to complement various decor styles. Whether your home’s style leans more towards modern, contemporary, mid-century modern, coastal, or traditional, this design element adds timeless elegance to your kitchen.
The backsplash tile color can also help influence the kitchen’s overall feel. Lighter backsplash colors help to enlarge a kitchen’s space, while darker hues can make a room feel cozier.
Use a dark tile to frame an oven or range hood for a striking statement that will catch the eye. For a more neutral backsplash, repeat tones of the cabinetry, wood floors, or granite countertops throughout the space to balance a dark color scheme.
If you prefer a herringbone backsplash but want a unique look, try alternating matte and glossy tiles to create an interesting texture. The herringbone pattern can also work well for a backsplash that isn’t as wide as the entire countertop or range area.
Arabesque Tile
The arabesque backsplash tile trend is sweeping the kitchen design market and brings Moroccan flair to your space. The pattern is curvy and sharp, breaking away from standard subway tiles for a unique look.
Geometric styles are classic for backsplashes, but be bold and try something unexpected. Navy blue sun shapes stand out in this sleek kitchen, and the rounded ends of the arabesque tile add a feminine touch to a masculine-inspired style.
The contrasting grout color helps this backsplash to pop, and the simple white hexagons can be easily replaced with glass or porcelain options for a subtler look. Dark green is another red-hot color that can create a sleek, minimalist backsplash. Use it to highlight a stylish vent hood or to tie the room together with an accent wall that runs floor to ceiling. The arabesque pattern carries a lot of visual movement, so it is best to keep the rest of your backsplash simple or use a different grout color to create a definition.
Colorful Backsplashes
In the grand scheme of kitchen design, choosing a backsplash may not be your biggest decision, but it certainly won’t be the least important. Adds a visual element that can subtly tie the room together or make a bold statement.
A beadboard backsplash keeps this kitchen feeling relaxed and country chic while blending in with the wood counters and open shelving. The backsplash’s neutral coloring matches the wood cabinets and cafe curtains for a seamless aesthetic.
Tiles from recycled glass and salvaged metal can offer a modern and unique take on the classic subway tile. This trend, which combines sustainability and creativity, has been around for a while but is gaining popularity among homeowners.
Another option is to go with a colorful. This is a great way to incorporate the latest trends without doing a full remodel. A back-painted glass backsplash in a carrot orange hue fits this contemporary kitchen beautifully and can be easily replaced. You can also opt for a hand-painted or handmade tile to add character and an artisanal feel to the space.