65 Kitchen Backsplash Ideas for All Aesthetics

Kitchen backsplashes do not have to turn into soaring statement walls to truly make a statement. This one, by Studio Muka, is perfectly contained and plays off the floor’s reclaimed terra-cotta, as well as the olive green walls that enclose it. The tiles have an almost mother-of-pearl sheen to them—both relaxing and refreshing to the eye.

No, chevron is not strictly a 2015 thing. This print stands the test of time and is used here by designer Anne-Marie Midy, in the form of talavera tiles—to add a bit of playfulness to the rust-orange walls and pine cabinets. Imagine this being the first thing you see when stepping out of the bedroom for your morning coffee. Instant invigoration!

In the kitchen of artist Julie Polidoro, the backsplash is kept to a subtle and unimposing strip of tiles rimmed with marble—sharply contrasting with the neon green walls. These are Sicilian tiles, to be exact: a great choice when it comes to infusing the space with some timeless geometric appeal. Sicily is calling—answer!

This ceramic backsplash by Portuguese artist Bela Silva, in an Eric Allart–designed apartment, would be a bit emo if it weren’t boosted by the painted pink walls above and pops of color in the form of the red kitchen chair, similarly red countertop, and that blue fish-vase hybrid (!). Look at how the tile material shines. Let it inspire your upcoming kitchen reno.

Though you can barely make them out, the galley kitchen here is treated to a backsplash of gemstone green hexagonal tiles. Gone are the days when the only pop of color in a kitchen had to be relegated to the rug. Thinking outside the box for backsplashes (in terms of tile shape and hue) has never felt better.

Did you expect to witness designs of chile peppers and harissa tubes on a tiled kitchen backsplash? Neither did we, but this apartment in France proves that good design doesn’t have to be so serious. The aforementioned harissa tubes actually bear the homeowners’ names in Arabic—showing that the possibilities for customization are endless!

You’re going to see a lot of subway tile backsplashes in this roundup, primarily because they bear a classic shape, are easy to install, and bestow an understated kind of sophistication upon any kitchen space. The cooking hub in this Pappas Miron–designed Greenwich Village apartment is made even more elevated through the addition of brown quartzite (versus the comparatively ubiquitous marble) countertops.

The cooking space of this lowkey Toronto home features a custom backsplash that nearly steals the show. The wall is ornamented in Brutalist-inspired tiles by local artist Catherine Carroll of Black Rock Tile Studio. A shelf, illuminated by vintage Charlotte Perriand sconces, showcases a bevy of vintage vessels. Who needs wall space for art?

Designer Jana Roach can’t stop gushing about her four-inch Riad Snow zellige tile backsplash—and we can’t blame her when it looks this good. “I adore zellige tile,” she tells ELLE DECOR. “It transcends trends and decor styles. It has the best texture, and the natural variation in color adds so much depth and character to my kitchen.” If you look closely, no tiles are exactly the same, with their individual pits, cracks, and chipped edges. For Roach, that adds to its charm. “It gives my space a one-of-a-kind, handmade feel that perfectly complements my preference for old furniture and natural materials.”

Interior designer Madison Lussier had her work cut out for her before she renovated the kitchen in this Santa Barbara, California, home. “Originally there was a very heavy-feeling hood with molding that had carved grapevines in it, and the cream crackle subway tile that’s in the rest of the kitchen was behind the range as well,” Lussier explains. She replaced the hood with a much simpler look that matched the cabinetry and framed it all out in a more rustic wood. “I really love the way it turned out,” she adds. “I think it complements and draws attention to the stunning LaCanche range so much more than the original design.”

In this large kitchen, design duo Jesse Carrier and Mara Miller kept the cabinet color neutral to soften the graphic, checkered zellige backsplash. “We selected this hand-glazed, terra-cotta backsplash because it added visual interest and charm,” says Miller. “It’s playful yet historically appropriate to this 1920s Tudor.”

When selecting the tile for her kitchen renovation project, Farmer’s Daughter Interiors’ Kelsey Grose says these aged gray porcelain tiles caught her eye. “I loved the variation in this particular tile and that it could handle being installed all the way to the ceiling without feeling too boring or too busy,” she explains. “A stacked layout brings a subtle midcentury feel to this farmhouse kitchen, and the rough-around-the-edges feel gave the room that extra bit of warmth I was looking for.” Paired with her own shop’s light fixture, this wall adds a modern, almost urban touch to a rustic farmhouse-style space.

Sometimes the best design ideas evolve from the smallest, most mundane items. In this Manhattan crash pad, designer Ariel Ashe and architect Reinaldo Leandro had the idea to create a counter-to-ceiling backsplash made entirely of round white pennies. “I was pretty nervous, because I really am not that into round things,” the client says, laughing. “But they were completely right.” The resulting look will make anyone second-guess the worth of a simple penny.

The subtle, organic texture of these rectangular tiles adds just the right touch to this Denver basement renovation. “I instantly fell in love with the natural undulation and imperfections in this tile that give it a handmade appearance,” designer Jenny Murphy says. She was aiming to give the basement bar a simple and contemporary look, while also adding an element that creates visual interest. “This tile was exactly what we were looking for,” she adds. “And it complements the soapstone countertops gracefully without detracting from them.”

This geometric backsplash moment is giving us all the reasons to depart from the standard lines of classic subway tiles. Designers Jess and Jonathan Taylor of Taylor + Taylor took the possibilities of custom tiles to a whole other level. “Working in Los Angeles, we often have to find ways to blend old and new,” Jonathan explains. “In this home we were looking for ways to play with pattern and variation in an old Hollywood home. This tile maker offered these custom tiles such that we could specify every detail of color and line, which offered us a path to this playful but sophisticated backsplash.”

The kitchen in this Hamptons home is a lesson in the power of contrasts, created by this ingenius hack: Use a contrasting tile grout to create a juxtaposition between the subway tiles and grout. Here, crisp white subway tiles are bordered by contrasting black grout that makes a statement in all the right ways.

If you have a flair for maximalism, you might have gone no holds barred on your flooring as did designer Pamela Shamshiri with patterned Granada tile in this Hollywood Hills home. Shamshiri cleverly balanced it all out with a crisp set of white subway tiles for the backsplash.

Take notes from HW Interiors’ implementation of these elemental Oval Chalk tiles, which jump out to you—literally. “The exquisite 3D design of these tiles adds a textured element that elevates the space,” says Anna Lood, head of sales and design at Clay Imports. “I especially love the complementary effect of the wood-accent open shelving, which imbues the kitchen with a cozy and inviting ambience.”

Who says tiles belong only on the wall? Chic, dark tiles punctuate the island of this D.C. kitchen with a contemporary appeal that balances the space’s cool navy hues. This scullery is a bold departure from the trending white kitchen look that has dominated the market, and we’re here for it.

Sure, white subway tiles seem to be the standard go-to, but this Maren Baker-designed space proves that a touch of color can create a fresh take on an old classic. Here, soft green tiles create a cozy backdrop to this light-and-bright kitchen. We’re green with envy!