• SALE
    JULY 4TH SALE
  • 0
  • Sign In
  • Join as a Pro
History of Houzz
  • PHOTOS
    KITCHEN & DINING
    • Kitchen
    • Dining Room
    • Pantry
    • Great Room
    • Shop Kitchen & Dining
    • Kitchen & Dining Furniture
    • Bar Stools
    • Tile
    • Sinks & Faucets
    • Appliances
    • Tabletop
    • Cabinets & Storage
    • Knobs & Pulls
    • Chandeliers
    • Pendant Lights
    • Cookware & Bakeware
    • Tools & Gadgets
    BED & BATH
    • Bathroom
    • Powder Room
    • Bedroom
    • Baby & Kids
    • Shop Bed & Bath
    • Bathroom Vanities
    • Bathroom Lighting
    • Bathroom Sinks
    • Faucets
    • Tile
    • Showers
    • Bathtubs
    • Bath Accessories
    • Bedroom Decor
    • Beds & Headboards
    • Bedding
    • Lamps
    LIVING
    • Living Room
    • Family Room
    • Sunroom
    • Home Theater
    • Shop Living
    • Home Decor
    • Coffee & Accent Tables
    • Rugs
    • Sofas & Sectionals
    • Armchairs & Accent Chairs
    • Lamps
    • Artwork
    • Media Storage
    • Bookcases
    • Fireplaces & Accessories
    • Decorative Accents
    • Pillows & Throws
    OUTDOOR
    • Landscape
    • Patio
    • Deck
    • Pool
    • Shop Outdoor
    • Outdoor Furniture
    • Outdoor Decor
    • Outdoor Lighting
    • Outdoor Lounge Sets
    • Pool & Spa
    • Lawn & Garden
    • Pots & Planters
    • Fire Pits & Accessories
    • Outdoor Cooking
    • Outdoor Structures
    • Backyard Play
    • Holiday Decor
    MORE ROOMS
    • Exterior
    • Entry
    • Hall
    • Home Office
    • Staircase
    • Basement
    • Laundry
    • Garage
    • Shed
    • Gym
    • Home Bar
    • Storage & Closet
    • Kids' Room
    • Nursery
    • Playroom
    • Wine Cellar
    • Porch
    • Balcony
  • SHOP BY DEPARTMENT
    KITCHEN & DINING
    • Kitchen & Dining Furniture
    • Sinks & Faucets
    • Kitchen Appliances
    • Tabletop
    • Cabinets & Storage
    • Knobs & Pulls
    • Kitchen Lighting
    • Tile
    • Cookware & Bakeware
    • Tools & Gadgets
    • View All
    FURNITURE
    • Living Room
    • Kitchen & Dining
    • Home Office
    • Outdoor
    • Bedroom
    • Storage
    • Bathroom
    • View All
    BATH
    • Bathroom Vanities
    • Showers
    • Bathtubs
    • Bathroom Lighting
    • Faucets
    • Bathroom Sinks
    • Tile
    • Bath Accessories
    • Bath Linens
    • Medicine Cabinets
    • View All
    DECOR
    • Rugs
    • Mirrors
    • Wall Decor
    • Decorative Accents
    • Artwork
    • Pillows & Throws
    • Holiday Decor
    • View All
    BEDROOM
    • Beds & Headboards
    • Bedding
    • Dressers
    • Nightstands
    • Benches
    • Bedroom Decor
    • Lamps
    • Closet Storage
    • Futons
    • Chaises
    • View All
    HOME IMPROVEMENT
    • Hardware
    • Tile
    • Bathroom Fixtures
    • Kitchen Fixtures
    • Heating & Cooling
    • Building Materials
    • Tools & Equipment
    • View All
    LIVING
    • Coffee & Accent Tables
    • Rugs
    • Sofas & Sectionals
    • Armchairs & Accent Chairs
    • TV Stands
    • Home Decor
    • Lamps
    • Artwork
    • Bookcases
    • Fireplaces & Accessories
    • View All
    OUTDOOR
    • Patio Furniture
    • Outdoor Decor
    • Outdoor Lighting
    • Pool & Spa
    • Lawn & Garden
    • Outdoor Structures
    • Outdoor Cooking
    • View All
    LIGHTING
    • Chandeliers
    • Pendant Lights
    • Flush-Mounts
    • Bathroom & Vanity
    • Wall Sconces
    • Ceiling Fans
    • Table Lamps
    • Floor Lamps
    • Kitchen & Cabinet
    • Outdoor Lighting
    • View All
    MORE
    • Storage & Organization
    • Home Office
    • Baby & Kids
    • Home Bar
    • Cleaning & Laundry
    • Pet Supplies
    • Holiday Decor
    • View All
  • FIND PROFESSIONALS
    DESIGN & REMODELING
    • Architects & Building Designers
    • Design-Build Firms
    • General Contractors
    • Home Builders
    • Interior Designers
    • Kitchen & Bathroom Designers
    • Kitchen & Bathroom Remodelers
    OUTDOOR & GARDEN
    • Landscape Architects
    • Landscape Contractors
    • Swimming Pool Builders
    • Deck & Patio Builders
    • Stone, Pavers & Concrete
    • Fence Contractors
    • Driveway Installation
    • Hot Tub & Spa Dealers
    • Gardeners
    HOME IMPROVEMENT
    • Building Supplies
    • Cabinets & Cabinetry
    • Carpet Dealers
    • Door Dealers
    • Fireplaces
    • Garage Door Sales
    • Handyman
    • Hardwood Flooring Dealers
    • Paint & Wall Coverings
    • Siding & Exteriors
    • Tile, Stone & Countertops
    • Window Dealers
    HOME SERVICES
    • Air Conditioning & Heating
    • Electricians
    • Furniture Repair & Upholstery
    • Garage Door Repair
    • Home Stagers
    • Movers
    • Painters
    • Pest Control
    • Plumbers
    • Roofing & Gutters
    • Spa & Pool Maintenance
    • Tree Services
    View All Pros View All Services
  • STORIES & ADVICE
    STORIES FROM HOUZZ
    • For Pros
    • Most Popular
    • Houzz Tours
    • Kitchen Guides
    • Bathroom Guides
    • Decorating Guides
    • Cost Guides
    • More Rooms
    • Remodeling
    • Architecture
    • Landscape Design
    • Garden Guides
    • Your First House
    • Working With Pros
    • Fun Houzz
    • Life
    • Inside Houzz
    HOUZZ TV
    HOUZZ RESEARCH
    HOUZZ DISCUSSIONS
    • Design Dilemma
    • Before & After
    • Polls
    • Pro-to-Pro
    GARDENWEB DISCUSSIONS
  • SALE
      ON SALE - UP TO 75% OFF
    • Bathroom Vanities
    • Chandeliers
    • Bar Stools
    • Pendant Lights
    • Rugs
    • Living Room Chairs
    • Dining Room Furniture
    • Wall Lighting
    • Coffee Tables
    • Side & End Tables
    • Home Office Furniture
    • Sofas
    • Bedroom Furniture
    • Lamps
    • Mirrors
    JULY 4TH SALE
    Up to 80% Off
    July 4th Sale Bestsellers
    Up to 75% Off
    Ultimate Lighting Sale
    Up to 55% Off
    Kitchen Fixtures
    Up to 75% Off
    Living Room Furniture Sale
 Back to Becky Harris's Ideabooks

Choosing a Backsplash: It's Impossible!

Comment24
I do not understand how anyone is ever able to choose a backsplash. There is no way I could spin this book into a helpful "Ten Steps for Choosing a Backspalsh" kind of thing because I am paralyzed with indecision. There are too many beautiful choices!

Why do it in the first place? A backsplash protects bathroom walls from splashes and resulting stains and mold, while kitchen backsplashes also protect from greasy food splatters.

Where to begin? There are endless possibilities available today, but the most popular and practical material is tile. Tiles range in all colors, sizes, shapes and patterns. Some people do wild murals (a Tuscan landscape over the bar, vines and wine bottles, a cornacopia over the counter - not really my thing, but to each his own), some have a few patterned tiles within a larger white wall. Some are extend a few inches above the counter, while some go all the way to the ceiling.

There are so many beautiful opportunities that I didn't even make it past the first twenty pages of photos on Houzz after searching "backsplash" - before I knew it I had 24 favorites. Good job on tagging photos people! Here are just a few to get you inspired.
Photos & Products
Modern Kitchen by Schwartz and Architecture
Schwartz and Architecture
Save Photo
A stainless band is a great reflective and modern surface. I don't recommend this unless you a) really enjoy cleaning or b) have a 7-day-a-week housekeeper.
Contemporary Kitchen by Amoroso Design
Amoroso Design
Save Photo
I love the variation in color and texture in these tiles. My only quibble is those switchplate covers breaking it up, but that's one of my personal neurosis - every great wall for artwork in my house is broken up by a stupid switchplate, alarm box, or thermostat.
Traditional Kitchen by Amoroso Design
Amoroso Design
Save Photo
Here the color in the room comes only from the backsplash detail.
Contemporary Kitchen by Amoroso Design
Amoroso Design
Save Photo
Isn't this square detail wonderful? I love the way it breaks up the white wall.
Houzz Photo
Save Photo
Under-cabinet lighting is a great way to accentuate a beautiful backsplash.
Traditional Kitchen Traditional Kitchen
Save Photo
That color is so delicious I want to lick it. What a wonderful way to introduce a color to a kitchen.
Eclectic Kitchen Eclectic Kitchen
Save Photo
This entire wall of tile makes such a strong statement.
Eclectic  Cement Tiles
Save Photo
Some tile patterns almost resemble a wallpaper pattern from afar.
Traditional Kitchen by Norberry Tile
Norberry Tile
Save Photo
You can break up the pattern using the same color and shape in a new way.
Kitchen by Neat Chic
Neat Chic
Save Photo
Another nice way to accent with a band of different tiles. If you have a strict tile budget, splurge on a band of Ann Sacks tile and buy the white background for the rest of the wall at a big box home store.
Contemporary Kitchen by Rina Magen
Rina Magen
Save Photo
This iridescent tile goes perfectly with the modern vent and hood. The verticality draws the eye up.
Modern Kitchen by See Construction
See Construction
Save Photo
I am not sure what this is, but it looks like oversized tiles of stainless steel with a wood grain! Because the kitchen is so simple and the color palette is so limited, it totally gets away with this texture.
Traditional Kitchen by Filmore Clark
Filmore Clark
Save Photo
Here the tile resembles a framed drawing hanging on the wall.
Mediterranean Kitchen by Filmore Clark
Filmore Clark
Save Photo
Holy Hood! This is simply fabulous!
Contemporary Kitchen by Amoroso Design
Amoroso Design
Save Photo
They got the pattern here just right. As for the wine selection, I'm not so sure...
Contemporary Kitchen by ADARC Associates Limites
ADARC Associates Limites
Save Photo
I just love the graphic punch of black and white here.
Traditional  by Fiorella Design
Fiorella Design
Save Photo
Beautiful.
Traditional Kitchen by MN Builders
MN Builders
Save Photo
So lovely and calming - note how the horizontal pattern of the tile is echoed by the open shelving.
Traditional Kitchen by Norberry Tile
Norberry Tile
Save Photo
An autumnal mosaic backsplash.
Traditional Kitchen by Austin Patterson Disston Architects
Austin Patterson Disston Architects
Save Photo
Simple and Classic - I guess picking a backsplash doesn't HAVE to be rocket science.
Traditional Kitchen by Artisan Kitchens Inc.
Artisan Kitchens Inc.
Save Photo
This cook is not fooling around, and it looks like he/she doesn't want to risk staining any tile with food splatters.
Contemporary Kitchen by Joseph Stabilito
Joseph Stabilito
Save Photo
This type of pattern has so much movement - it keeps a space that could look very austere lively instead!
Comments (24)
See 21 more comments
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
cbrattin
Is there a reason you would want to draw the eye to the area between your ceiling and cabinet? I would rather draw attention to a lower space or something at eye level.
 Like     October 26, 2013 at 7:12PM
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
PRO
KB Express
Hi Becky. Great article. I'd like your opinion of our new splash product called Splash in a Flash. Would love to use quotes from your artcile with your permission. Kirk Heiner KB Express Splashinaflash.com
 Like     April 9, 2014 at 3:34AM
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
trisha1993

Yes, picking out a backsplash can be frustrating! We have been trying to pick one out for 6 months as well. We have cream cabinets, a medium gray floor, and gray and white marble like granite counters, any ideas of what would look good and compliment the whole kitchen.

 Like     June 28, 2016 at 5:17AM
Sign Up to Comment
Related Photo Topics
Kitchen Decorating IdeasEat-In Kitchen Decorating IdeasMinimalist Kitchen Decorating IdeasMinimalist Eat-In Kitchen IdeasL-Shaped Eat-In Kitchen Designs
  • Embed photo
  • Open Photo in New Window...
© 2022 Houzz Inc.

COMPANY

  • About Houzz
  • Houzz Credit Cards
  • Gift Cards
  • Careers
  • Privacy & Notice
  • Terms of Use
  • Mobile Apps
  • Copyright & Trademark

BUSINESS SERVICES

  • For Professionals
  • Management Software
  • For Brands
  • Trade Program
  • Buttons & Badges

GET HELP

  • Your Orders
  • Shipping & Delivery
  • Return Policy
  • Review Professionals
  • Suggested Professionals
  • Accessibility
  • Houzz Support

CONNECT WITH US

  • Houzz Blog
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • RSS