Kitchen Backsplash Ideas That Will Help You Find Your Style

Mosaic. Subway. Marble. Metallic. Stone. While the array of options are amazing, it can be overwhelming to choose the perfect kitchen backsplash tile.

To avoid the too-many-options paralysis, we recommend that you start by narrowing down the look you want to achieve. When you walk into your kitchen, do you want your eyes to be drawn to the backsplash, or would you prefer it fades into the background? Do you crave color, or do neutrals make you happy?

We also encourage you to take into consideration any existing plans for your kitchen, or any elements that won’t be changing. For example, you might want to focus on kitchen backsplash ideas for white cabinets or consider backsplash ideas for a small kitchen.

Browse our kitchen tile backsplash ideas, along with the kitchen backsplash gallery of images we’ve curated to showcase each idea, to determine what works best for you.

Pack a punch with statement tile

Your kitchen backsplash doesn’t have to fade into the background. Make it the focus of your kitchen with a bold tile.

Chose this if: You love a bold look and aren’t afraid to commit for the long term.

Our top tips for a statement-making backsplash:

• Keep the rest of your kitchen neutral and monochromatic or your tile might shift from ooooo-that’s-perfect to ohhh-that’s-too-much.

• Make sure you LOVE it. Sit with it. Buy a sample tile and leave it up in your kitchen for a month, three months, even a year! It should make you happy every day because it’s going to be more than a part of your kitchen: it’s going to be the star of the show.

• Consider how much square footage your backsplash will be occupying and the overall size of your space. The smaller the backsplash area and the bigger your kitchen, the less overwhelming a bold look will be.

Create subtle beauty with neutral backsplash tile

Neutral tile is the complete opposite of the statement tile examples above. This tile style is made to blend in instead of stand out; it is intentionally not the focal point, and allows other elements in your kitchen to shine.

Choose this if: A classic look is more your style, or if you want other elements to be the focal points of your kitchen.

Our top tips for a neutral backsplash:

• Just because you’re choosing neutral doesn’t mean you’re stuck with white subway tile. There are plenty of subtle colors and shapes that you can choose to make your backsplash unique while still maintaining the subtlety you love.

• Don’t forget about the grout. White, off white, grey and black all look completely different with different tile. Play with the combinations and see which one feels right.

• Consider the color of your cabinets and countertops. If you have white cabinets and white counters and choose a white backsplash, the finished look will be monochromatic. If you have dark cabinets, a white backsplash will provide contrast. In both cases, the overall look is still neutral, but the outcome is different.

Bring the outside in (literally!) with natural backsplash tiles

Mother Nature is the ultimate designer, and the beauty of natural stone slabs or tiles can be the perfect element to add to your kitchen redesign.

Traditional Gray and White Kitchen in Cheshire, CT

Choose this if: You love a natural look, you like a look that is unique without being wild, or you tend to opt for a design style that isn’t extensively coordinated.

Our top tips for a natural look:

• The organic patterns found in natural elements are one-of-a-kind, so no slab or tile will be exactly the same. Consider if this look matches what you want. If you love a design style where everything matches perfectly, this might not work for you.

• You have the option of one big beautiful slab, or tile cut from natural stone. They are both beautiful in their own respect and all have different price ranges. Take the time to browse your options and visit a location that allows you to select the exact piece or pieces that you will have in your kitchen.

Design inside the lines with geometric patterns

Geometric patterns can be daring or demure. The effect of the final look depends on the colors, size and shape of the tile, as well as the grout color.

Choose this if: You want to have fun playing with options or you love a clean line.

Our top tips:

• If you want a look that leans toward neutral, choosea tile that only incorporates two subtle colors, and select grout to match. This will provide contrast, but will not bring in so much color that it takes away from the rest of your kitchen.

• If you want to make a bit of a statement, select a tile with one bold color, preferably in an earth tone or a jewel tone. These shades bring toned-down colors that make a nice statement without being harsh on the eyes.

Bring everything together with color

These kitchen backsplash ideas cover the wall, but they’re certainly not wallflowers. Color and pattern combine to say “look at me!” in varying degrees of volume, and bring an extra splash of cheer to your kitchen.

Choose this if: You love color or want to bring together the colors you already have planned for your kitchen.

Our top tips:

• Look at the color of your cabinets, hardware, flooring, kitchen accessories, and pull all those colors together in your tile. This will make everything cohesive and give a reason for each color.

• If your kitchen is currently neutral and you’re not sure what colors to incorporate, browse Pinterest for color palettes and pin ones that you like the best. Review the colors you pinned to see what stood out to you most often. Then, look for tile selections that match that color family. It will help ensure that you actually like the color, and not just the pattern that the tile happens to come in.

These kitchen backsplash ideas provide you with a structure for how to determine the look you would most love to have in your kitchen, but the specific look you create will be uniquely yours-- just the way your home is meant to be.

If you’re craving even more visual inspiration, head on over to Pinterest and browse our boards.