65 Kitchen Tile Backsplash Ideas for the Ultimate Culinary Glow-Up
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Ready for a seasonal kitchen refresh? You don’t have to put a sledgehammer through the wall to give your space a new look. Sometimes, it’s simply a matter of adding tiles and a fresh coat of paint, et voilà! And when it comes to home improvements, nothing makes a kitchen stand out quite like a backsplash. Whether it’s a cheeky patterned inlay, an unexpected metallic backdrop, antique ceramic gems, or classic white subway tiles, the perfect kitchen backsplash can be the final touch that brings your design scheme together for the cooking space of your dreams.
“Tile is design eye candy,” says Anna Lood with Clay Imports. “It is such an effective way to bring texture, movement, and life into a space.” When selecting the right tile for your kitchen, Lood recommends thinking outside the box while staying true to the space. “Why not take it all the way up to the ceiling or create an unexpected statement wall? One-of-a-kind patterns, clever layouts, or playful shapes are easy ways to create an intriguing ‘stop and stare’ moment.”
Wherever you fall on the chef spectrum (no judgment, HelloFreshers!), here are 65 inspiring ideas from designer spaces to ensure your kitchen will, indeed, stop all your houseguests in their tracks and make them gawk.
Small and Sweet Blacksplash
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.
Chevron Backsplash
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!
Color-Block Backsplash
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!
Dark and Dreamy Backsplash
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.
Hexagon Backsplash
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.
Bespoke Backsplash
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!
Quartzite Backsplash
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.
Brutalist Backsplash
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?
Chipped Charm
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.”
Streamlined Style
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.”
Checkered Backsplash
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.”
Aged Finishes
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.
Penny for Your Wall
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.
Textured Touch
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.”
Bespoke Backsplash
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.”
Gainful Grout
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.
Balance in All Things
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.
Multidimensional Mystique
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.”
Moody Moment
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.
Colorful Tile
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!
Contrasted Cookery
This two-tone kitchen is proof that high contrast creates both balance and depth. In this 1890s Southampton, New York, home, the black subway tiles give the space an elevated edge. The contrasting white hood and open shelving make it stand out even more.
Diagonal Design
This charming 1920s farmhouse in Los Alamos, California, features a backsplash moment that is the star of the show. Don't believe us? Rent it yourself on Airbnb and form your own opinion. "I’m obsessed with the imperfect, raw look of this tile by Clé Tile," says Alana Stipech. "Not having grout lines between each piece makes the backdrop look like a piece of art." We love how every single tile is unique in texture and color. How perfectly imperfect.
Mirrored Mosaic
In the kitchen of this fearlessly eclectic Los Angeles home, the original square tiles, seen in a 1960s iteration of the same space, served as inspiration for the new mirrored version. Interior designer John McClain paired the tiles with dark cabinetry and cool gray floors. “The tile alone makes the space feel larger,” McClain adds. “Plus, you can check your hair while you’re cooking up dinner.”
Tiles on Capri
Some backsplashes speak to a time and place in a big way. Case in point: these wavelike majolica tiles, which invoke the island surroundings of this midcentury villa on Capri. These tiles, custom-made by Galleria Elena, were reproduced in the likeness of some found at Capri’s Villa Torricella, the stately former home of the American expats Kate and Saidee Wolcott-Perry in the early 1900s. Talk about a backstory!
Classically Inclined
There’s nothing more classic than white glazed subway tile, an elegant solution for nearly any interior style—and the kitchen of this idyllic retreat on a remote Scottish island is proof that this simple design passes the test of time. With a custom hood and a peacock blue–painted vintage table (not to mention the pop of red flooring), this color palette brings in all the romance of its illustrious history—with a dash of pizzazz.
Art Deco Deluxe
For those going all out on glam style, there’s just one oft-repeated word of caution: Too much can sometimes be, well, too much. But designer Bradley Stephens—who incorporated his first muse, Art Deco banks, into this Manhattan apartment—knows when to rein it in. So of course this subtle backsplash offers a stabilizing neutral blue-toned background to the dramatic patterned flooring and vintage brass pendants. A weightless backdrop to the main act, we give a (metaphorical) round of applause to the true star of the space.
Black Backsplash
We love how this bold kitchen turns informality on its head, merging postmodern-inspired lighting with charcoal-colored tiles that create a cozy Pacific Northwest feel... West Vancouver-style! The backsplash brings the dark hues throughout the room together, linking the black back-of-the-island block to the delicate pendant lines.
Harlem History
Did you hear? Pots and pans are the new wall art. The owners of this 18-room townhouse added modern appliances but kept the patina of the room’s existing subway tile. With chairs made from recycled Coca-Cola bottles by Emeco, this room is anything but dated—albeit, not without a nod to its treasured Harlem history, backsplash tile considered.
Green and Copper Hamptons Home
This dreamy summer home is brimming with East Hampton energy, complete with a vintage tole chandelier and Palecek kitchen chairs. The copper hood and pots almost glow against the horizontally stacked bright white tile. The high-contrast scheme plays well with the seafoam-green cabinetry—a refreshing deviation from the ubiquitous Hamptons scheme of blue, white, and gray.
Bold and Bright
Officine Gullo’s design of this farmstead-turned-luxury hospitality space, Tenuta Carleone in Radda, Italy, is honing all the vibes of its bucolic setting. Patterned tiles create a stunning mosaic that is bordered by warm sunshine-yellow cabinetry with stainless steel appliances and polished chrome hardware. With an abundance of natural light shining through the arched windows, the kitchen is a sun-splashed utopia.
Rustic Luxury
This 300-year-old historic home, property of Restaurateur Rose Bonura, is a study of contrasts: past and present, black and white, rustic and modern. Which is why these Shaker-style paneled cabinet doors really sing, accented by the large white tile backsplash that is satisfyingly proportioned for the expansive room.
Color-Splashed
Though designer J. Randall Powers’s clients favored white cabinets in the kitchen of their Houston home, he gave them only half their wish, painting the lower cabinets and an island in a bright green strié. The tile, however, honored their wishes, adding humility to the room and a touch of gloss that stands out against the kitchen’s matte finishes.
Dome Home
Talk about an unconventional build. This 1970s geodesic dome home required a custom build of everything, including this Heath tile backsplash, a refreshing square motif that creates variety in this dome world of triangles, octagons, and pentagons. This is giving us serious Harry Gesner nostalgia.
Playful Glamour
The kitchen is generally considered the neutral zone—anything but in this classic Park Avenue apartment. These large white backsplash tiles mirror the floor stripe width. All set against an invigorating palette of baby blue and pastel yellow that pops against the bright white. It’s as welcoming as it is soigné.
Half Hex Stack Tiles
We can hardly fathom a former rendition of this kitchen that doesn’t involve a colorful backsplash. But believe it or not, the rich green Heath ceramic Half Hex Stack tiles in this Brooklyn townhouse kitchen were once humdrum developer-installed white subway tile. Thank the design gods for Danielle Fennoy of Brooklyn-based Revamp Interior Design, who had the vision to gussy this room up with an audacious backsplash that honors the homeowner’s design mantra, “whimsical but not insane.” Challenge accepted.
Seafoam and Squares
It’s the black-bordered tile that really gives this Austin ranch house the charming Texas kick we know and love. Referencing both southern and central Texas roots as well as the easy-living houses of Southern California, this calming, light-filled home balances earthy textures with bursts of color and pattern.
Blue and White Spanish Tiles
A step into this kitchen is as much an adventure as the seaside vistas just beyond its walls. A melting pot of periods and places—with varying colors, layering, mixed patterns, and natural elements—this villa is a fitting salute to the rich history of the Spanish island of Menorca. In this space, that blue-and-white Spanish tile, carried across the cabinets themselves, is artwork in its own right. ¡Increíble!
Bold and Bright
Designer Ellie Cullman (with Cullman & Kravis) was not afraid to take some chances here, with this stunning hexagon backsplash by Studium, which provides a satisfying distinction from the pops of yellow throughout this New Jersey family kitchen. The hood range ties the color scheme together in a resulting fanfare of color and contrast.
Tiled Backsplash, Counters, and Shelves
Don’t just stop at your backsplash when applying tiles. Continue it onto your countertops and shelves, like in hotelier Carlos Couturier’s kitchen—clad in Portuguese tiles—in his home on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, designed by LeCoadic-Scotto.
Sicilian Majolica Tile
The antique Sicilian majolica tiles blend in perfectly with this kitchen—once a cave in Sicily that dates to circa 600 B.C.—belonging to Bill Brockschmidt of Brockschmidt & Coleman and his husband, Richard Dragisic.
Outdoor Kitchen Tiles
This Newport Beach, California, home has a covetable outdoor kitchen with a stylishly patterned black-and-white-tiled wall behind the grill. We feel the easy-breezy vibes from here!
A Darker Look
The dark backsplash in Walker Zanger tiles adds a welcome contrast to the white cabinetry in this eat-in kitchen in a Bel Air, California, estate designed by Lonni Paul.
A Glossy Mosaic
A mosaic backsplash with a vine motif from DiscoverTile shines in this New England home’s kitchen designed by LDa Architecture & Interiors. The intricacy of this design—and just how well it fits into the larger space—is truly awe-inspiring.
White With Hermès Orange
In a Hearst family estate in New York’s Hudson Valley, the kitchen’s white-tiled backsplash recedes against the Viking appliances in a vibrant custom Hermès orange. We love the layering.
Teal Tile
In a Brooklyn brownstone designed by architect Elizabeth Roberts, a custom teal-colored backsplash featuring tile from Alchemy Materials blends seamlessly with custom cabinetry that's complete with hardware by E.R. Butler & Co. The range is by Wolf.
Shades of Green
Designer Christine Markatos Lowe loves nothing more than a kitchen with a statement backsplash, like this design boasting a range of green hues. “A backsplash is the best place to add a pop of color into a kitchen design without having to do a full kitchen renovation,” she says.
Moroccan Tile
Martyn Lawrence Bullard’s West Hollywood home—a Moroccan-meets-midcentury oasis—showcases his passion for crafting global-inspired interiors. Green accents, including a backsplash with Moroccan from Zellij Gallery, complete the standout kitchen.
Mosaic Tile
A backsplash featuring mosaic tile from Ann Sacks steals the show in a Richard Mishaan-designed kitchen in a TriBeCa building. The space also includes a custom island, range, and hood by Herzog & de Meuron. The barstools are by Gabriel Scott and the cabinetry is custom.
Bold Blues
ELLE DECOR A-List designer Steven Gambrel is a master of blues, and this Chicago kitchen is proof. Gambrel opted to awash the space with Urban Archaeology handmade glass tiles in variations of blue spanning from aquamarine to jade. The polished nickel, hardwood, and glass cabinetry and island are custom, and the range and hood are by Officine Gullo. Hanging from the ceiling are eight circa-1930 C.F. Otto Müller ceiling lights and a pendant designed by Gambrel for the Urban Electric Co.
Neutral Pattern
In a Lake Tahoe retreat designed by Palmer Weiss, the neutral kitchen's backsplash tile by Exquisite Surfaces serves as a point of interest. The countertop is by Caesarstone, the ceiling beams are reclaimed barnwood, the flooring is stained white oak, and the artwork was painted by the owners’ young daughter.
Classic Marble Tile
A classic backsplash made of Carrara marble tiles by Walker Zanger adds balance to a powder blue kitchen in a Pacific Palisades, California, home belonging to designer Alison Palevsky and her husband, Alexander. The wooden bar stools are from Organic Modernism, the kitchen stove is by Viking, and the 1920s pendants are from Thanks for the Memories.
Walls Of Gray Tile
A warm gray palette is perfectly executed in this New York City kitchen clad in Calacatta gold marble and Walker Zanger tiles. The sink fittings are by Waterworks and the cabinetry is painted in Stonington Gray by Benjamin Moore.
Olive Green Tiled Kitchen
Holiday decor lends a cheerful ambience to this guest lodge kitchen in the Montana mountains. The olive green backsplash tiles are by Pewabic Pottery, the kitchen range and hood are by Thermador and the pendant lights are by Niche.
Classic Portuguese Tiles
This charming kitchen in St. Moritz, Switzerland, is filled with history: 18th-century Portuguese tiles cover the ceiling and walls; the 19th-century French table is surrounded by English chairs from the same era and a 19th-century French light fixture hangs above.
Simple White Tile
A small galley-style kitchen in Monaco, France, features square white tiles that play off of the other geometric elements in the room. The small table and chairs are by Jeanneret, the oven, cooktop and and hood are by Aster Cucine.
White, Off-White And Copper
The kitchen in this New York Hudson Valley home has a vent hood and wine refrigerator by GE Monogram, the mahogany dining chairs are from the 1940's and the copper cookware includes antique and vintage items.
Patterned Tiles
Beautifully patterned tiles by Neisha Crosland cover the walls in this London townhouse kitchen and allow the cabinetry, painted in Pure Grey 6 by Papers and Paints, to pop. The pendant lights are by Serge Mouille and the floor is made of three types of limestone.
Original Tiling
The homeowners kept the original tile backsplash and flooring in the kitchen of this Loire Valley home. English mahogany chairs and a stylish chandelier, which was found at a flea market, give the space a lived-in feel.
White On White
This bright and airy kitchen in a cottage in Connecticut keeps it classic with wall tiles from Waterworks, a stainless steel stove by Viking, stools by York Street Studio and 1920s English pendants by BK Antiques.
Crisp White
This glossy white kitchen in a Manhattan apartment is balanced by the cork flooring and 1940s French, red garden chairs. The range is by Viking and the dishwasher is by Asko.
Subway Tiles
The bright white walls in this open New Jersey kitchen are covered in subway tiles by American Olean. The vintage pendants were found at a Paris flea market. The bistro chairs are by Maison Gatti, the refrigerator is by Sub-Zero and the range is by Wolf.
Industrial-Style Tiles
A modish New York kitchen integrates custom-made cabinetry and vintage hardware alongside large white tiles. The 1950s scones are by Gunnar Asplund, and the light fixtures are from the 1970s. The sink fittings are by Dornbracht.
Penny Tiles
The custom redwood cabinetry in this Los Angeles kitchen complements the backsplash of penny tiles by Mission Tiles. The oven and dishwasher are by Miele and the sink fittings are by Vola.
Silver And White
Gray tiles blend in with the stainless steel appliances in this modern New York City kitchen decorated with touches of silver and white. The floors are lined with Corten steel tiles, the oven is by Wolf and the stools are from the 1940s.
Spanish Tiles
This open kitchen in Melbourne, Australia, features handmade Spanish tiles on its backsplash. The table is made of pepper granite, the pendant lights are by Produzione Privata, the stools are by Bassam Fellows and the oven is by Lacanche.
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