Thank you. I’m worried about picking a color and/or pattern since the kitchen, dining and living room are all one space. I am leaning gray so as not to compete with everything else in the room but to break up some of the white in the kitchen. I’m not in a place where I want to re-do the entire living space of my house to go with a new backsplash. I’m going to sit on these for a few days and see if anything sticks

​​​I would consider doing a couple of things before you change it:

Update the lighting to something more modern and bright.

Take one of your door handles off the bottom and see how it looks on an upper cabinet, you don't have to have knobs on uppers, the lines of the handle will compliment the lines of the tile

Add a rug of similar color in front of the sink and maybe stove. 

I think with your ceilings being low, your light floors (unless you are planning on redoing them), your cabinets running from end to end and the white cabinets against the white ceiling, you will probably run into the same situation with any color you choose because there's no where to add more color, if that makes sense.

If you decide to replace it, I agree with another poster that going with a white patterned tile would look great and give it some interest but address the issues stated above.

Good luck!

Having made a mistake on first tile choice I understand completely why would want to go with a simple tile, color, and pattern. It will stand the test of time and accept accessory color changes very well over the years. I am not a gray fan but think eld616 above shows a very pretty light gray/sliver with a bit of life in it that would look very nice in your kitchen. I would not pick a particular tile from a picture nor especially from a monitor. Use your tile samples, get more if still not sure, in your kitchen under all kinds of light conditions. Wait a week as you plan to do and then proceed and don’t look back. Post final picture please.

I'm late to the game and you may have already changed your backsplash but YES - far too busy and outdated.

Have you considered just going with a 4” border of your same counter material? It seems everyone wants to do full tile all the time. The problem is that tile CAN BE very trendy and the “in” tile of 5 years ago can be a dated eyesore now. Also there have been 100 tile suggestions made in this thread. Style, colour, layout etc and many I have really disliked (I’m really sick of the mosaic pencil tile & mosaic tile in general tbh) and if you polled everyone on this thread what they like and what they hate you’d get probably 20 vehemently different likes & hates. Even their comments here bear that out. Someone posts something and someone else says they don’t like it and vice versa. A simple 4-5” back border of your countertop would be simple, clean and would last style wise as long as your counter style will (which I love btw). Pretty much nothing in a kitchen can tell someone what year it was done, more than tile. Might was well get a plaque with the reno date stamped on it and stick it on the wall. People think a painted wall (which you’d have instead of tile) is hard to maintain. I have that and my wall looks as good now as it did 7 years ago. Clean up splashes in a timely manner and no problem. Grout on the other hand can be a real eyesore in places (near the sink & stove) after a few years. Just my 2 cents.

Too too busy….and it is competing with the counters. A solid, full (to-cabinets) backsplash in one of the colors in the counter will be much easier on the senses.

Glad it is not too expensive to redo the backsplash and get what you love. If she is attempting a rustic look with gray porcelain tile, what do you Pros think of a matte finish tile in a weathered cedar gray color with her floor and counter?

Elizabeth M.-- I would definitely choose a light gray with a gray grout to match the vein in your countertop. I really like the herringbone that Beth H. sent. It's NOT subway style, stylish and timeless. I would use as narrow of a grout gap as possible (1/8"). Warning: if you get the tile too dark of a gray, you will hate it. You can't believe how much a backsplash is noticed until there is a lot of it. Suggestion: hot glue a 24'' section of the tile pattern and color you like on a sheet of cardboard, with grout. You will know right away if you like it or not. And you can still use the tile.

Yes, I have taken all the dark gray back. Definitely want something more subtle. I went back and found a really lovely very, very pale true gray that I love and looks great in our lighting. Just enough color to break up the white but still neutral. I can bring some color in other places :) Thanks for all your help!

Please check too if the gray will work with your nice warm brown floor

Glad you found something you love!

Elizabeth M - What are your counters? can you post the name? They’re beautiful and really stand out!t

There are TV mysteries not as good as this.

Glad you found a soft, light gray that may work. Please take the advice of Steve and buy a few samples, glue to a board and put it vertically on the countertop.

@avribabi counters are Calacatta Alaska update: I still have no clue what I’m going to do. Ordered even more samples because I want to see everything before I choose. Choosing a backsplash is the WORST

No need to rush. You will know when see it.

Be careful not to overwhelm yourself with choices that you get analysis paralysis. If you have a sample of the counter and cabs, the designer at the tile store should be able to help you narrow down the field.

Trying to choose a counter and backsplash combination myself right now. Absolute torture!

Had same issue when doing mine - i just used the same quartz worktop against the wall too(no upstand required), added to cost but saved headache and looks great.

Can you remove the existing backsplash first? Maybe, it will be easier for you to pick if the busy backsplash is not there anymore. At the very least, when leaning sample tiles on the counter against the wall, maybe first cover the existing backsplash with white paper so you are not looking at sample tiles against the existing backsplash.

I agree with the others, if you have movement on the countertops, best to go with a simple and classic backsplash.

Funny that I should run into this thread because my mistake was the 3rd “gray” tile from the left in your first tile picture.

The color looked very different installed than sitting on my counter and began looking super lavender instead of gray in a white, creamy kitchen.

I was disappointed because I knew I should stick with white (for my kitchen) and incorporate colors with hardware and lighting. But I went against my better judgement and tried a gray.

Having just installed new Clarino Viatera Quartz countertops (with copper veins), I was petrified of damaging them plus I didnt want to cough up the cost for rip out, materials and install for a large kitchen again. So I researched painting my backsplash and did it. $250 and 3 days later, and I couldn’t be happier (just needs the new caulk around the edges).

I totally understand wanting to change the tile though, and you should be happy with your kitchen! Just wanted to stress that if you’re unhappy now, you will still be months from now, so

trust your gut and make the change with whatever works for you! Good luck! :)

Pictures of after

A case of bright white subway DalTile Restore from HD cost $15. It covers 12.5 feet. Tape those tiles to your backsplash with 3M shipping/packing tape. Then you can see if bright white coordinates or at least you have a clean-slate white background to compare other tiles.

Great idea, @theresa21.

Not sure what you decided on, but I agree with BethH--tile bar makes it so easy to order samples and they have some great choices, while still being simple and classic. I also think the tiles she posted look like great choices beyond gray. Also I like Theresa21's idea. Good luck! You have a lovely kitchen and maybe when you do the tile, you might want to change out the bright overhead light. I had to do the same in my kitchen and it made the space so much better. Can't wait to see what you went with.

(BTW, HU622--I am so glad painting the tiles helped in your case. It looks really good!).

Yes, those tiles are far too busy. I’d keep the tile a simple white with soft pattern add more lighting to your kitchen and change the flooring to something more modern, cool/gray color. Oak flooring with a white kitchen is not a great look.

Top photo middle seems to harmonize with the veins in the countertop. That is my choice.

I agree, the backsplash is too busy and makes the kitchen look rather cold. To warm up the room, I would suggest a rather discrete white backsplash, which will bring out more your nice wooden floor and the matching wooden accessories you already have (you could get some more and maybe even add a pot of fresh herbs or other greens).

Great choice!

I love your choice! Your kitchen looks beautfiul! I love the new blacksplash you chose. Please post updated pictures when the rug is there and fixtures.

wow what a difference! It looks like a whole new space. Great choice

Looks good. Nice job!

That looks really nice! Good choice! Love your kitchen so much now.

So much better! Side note: your floors remind me of mine

Perfect choice, “you knew it when you saw it.” Many years of pleasure ahead in your new kitchen.

Really good choice! I admire your courage in following your gut!
Tiny unsolicited critique: I think the small gray rug that “matches” should be replaced with a discreet pop of color that can be followed through with a bowl of lemons, limes, or apples (whichever color suits your fancy). Or you may not fancy this idea at all, which is totally fine 😉

Lovin’ the various shades of gray and the tile size! Gray and white are neutral colors, giving you many colors to choose from to get your pop of seasonal color in accessories.

I would swap out the blue and white bowls with something that has a warm medium brown that picks up the the tones in the flooring. Tight weaved baskets would look good.

That tile is stunning!

Fabulous choice!! Congrats to you for listening to your gut!

Why don't you keep some of it. Like this:

The new backsplash is gorgeous! Bravo for having the courage to know the first one was not right and you needed to start over. This tile goes much better with all the other elements.

The new backsplash is lovely Elizabeth! You have a beautiful kitchen.

Beautiful, much better choice and timeless. If I might suggest, maybe new hardware like nickel, would very nice. Bigger area rug, oriental with deep rich color. Great job!

We’ll done. Now just enjoy it!

I meant to say we’ll done….don’t see a way to edit.

Auto correct at it’s worst…..you know what I mean.

Elizabeth, love your new tile, and imagining the smile on your face (vs sense of dread) every time you enter your kitchen. In other words, the cost and effort of correcting this mistake was well- worth the “priceless” outcome 😀

Looks great! Congrats!

What a difference. It looks great and you seem very happy now to walk into your kitchen. Yay.