Kitchen Backsplash Ideas to Match Your Style

I love the creativity of selecting the backsplashes for our projects. There are endless ways to combine tiles, grout, and installation patterns for a completely custom look at every price point. Subway tile in an offset (or “brick”) pattern will never be out of style, but let’s look at some of the most current ways to adorn your kitchen walls. 

We’re doing a lot of jobs where we’re running the same quartz or natural stone we’re using for the counters up the walls. This type of backsplash not only looks great but makes clean-up easy and avoids dreaded grout lines. This look makes any kitchen more contemporary but can still work well with traditional style cabinets. It looks particularly beautiful surrounding a vent hood. This type of backsplash can be a lot more expensive than a tile backsplash depending on the grade of counter material selected.  

Stacked four or five inch square Zellige (or Zellige-like) tiles are having a design moment. These are handmade tiles (or tiles that have a handmade or imperfect look to them), with variation in color and texture between the individual tiles. The irregularity gives these tiles a lot of personality. You can find this same look rectangular tiles and other shapes as well. For the Zellige-look, I recommend choosing a grout close in color to the tile. 

Another current look is with skinny rectangular tiles stacked in straight lines horizontally or vertically. Two-inch by six-inch tiles are the perfect size for this type of installation, but longer tiles can work as well. Keeping them on the narrower side, and not chunky, is the key to this look. This more contemporary vibe can work with a wide range of kitchen styles. Grout can be similar or in contrast with the tile – contrasting grout will emphasize the lines between the tiles.

Textured or dimensional tile can be an amazing choice for more contemporary kitchens. Some textured tile can be more challenging to install, especially if it’s on the thicker side, so make sure to review with your installer before purchasing. Working around outlets can be harder with this type of tile, so we like to move (or minimize) switches and outlets off the backsplash to let the full effect of the tile shine. 

Using patterned tile is another way to set your space apart. Whether the pattern is a mix of different tiles combined to make a design, a mesh-back mosaic, or a multi-colored tile, it’s worth borrowing or buying a few samples to make sure the pattern's scale works with your space. Will you see enough of the pattern? Will it look busy?

Here are a couple of design tips to keep in mind as you’re making plans:

1. Look at your switches and outlets (not just the decorative plates around them). Let’s say they are ivory and you’re getting a white tile. Will you want to change the outlets themselves (not just the plates) to white? You will need to bring in a licensed electrician to update the outlets. If your home is older, you can also expect that codes may have changed, and you may need to make some additional electrical upgrades for safety reasons. 
2. If you don’t have under-cabinet lighting or what you have isn’t operational, you’ll want the electrician to add unobtrusive LED-tape lighting under your cabinets to show off your new backsplash! 
3. Think about where the tiling will end. Usually, the tile installation lines up with outside edge of the wall cabinet above, and not the edge of the counter. If you have light switches or outlets in this area, you’ll get the best tiling result by moving them completely within or outside the tiling. 

At Kitchen Tune-Up we want to help you make the most of your home. We would love the opportunity to see your kitchen, show you door and hardware samples, and create a plan to update and upgrade your space to meet your needs. Contact us today for a free design appointment and estimate.