Pros Reveal Their Favorite Kitchen Backsplash Styles
Get inspiration for your next kitchen project with these backsplash ideas recommended by professionals on Houzz
A backsplash is an opportunity to inject style into a kitchen, whether you opt for bold tiles or a sleek slab. But aesthetics are only part of the equation — durability, upkeep and your client’s budget are key considerations too. We asked kitchen design experts to reveal the backsplash materials and combinations that check every box for them.
Marble mosaic tiles inlaid with brass. Paige Stark, lead designer at Muse Residential in Concord, North Carolina, says this intricate backsplash made from marble mosaic tiles with a brass inlay is one of her favorite looks. “These [mosaics] are available in countless colors and patterns to suit almost any style, but the mix of natural material with the brass always elevates the look.
“I love how bold and stylish this backsplash is. This kitchen is Art Deco with contemporary touches, creating a space that can evolve with changing trends. Integrating the elegant Art Deco backsplash with the moody dove and charcoal cabinetry gives a classic yet contemporary look,” Stark says.
“Marble mosaic with a brass inlay does require some maintenance. With marble being a naturally porous material, it needs to be sealed. Tile installers will usually do this during install, but the homeowner will need to reseal it every three to five years. This can be a turn-off for some clients, but it’s actually very easy. They just needs to buy a bottle of sealant from a hardware store and rub it on well with a microfiber cloth,” she says.
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“I love how bold and stylish this backsplash is. This kitchen is Art Deco with contemporary touches, creating a space that can evolve with changing trends. Integrating the elegant Art Deco backsplash with the moody dove and charcoal cabinetry gives a classic yet contemporary look,” Stark says.
“Marble mosaic with a brass inlay does require some maintenance. With marble being a naturally porous material, it needs to be sealed. Tile installers will usually do this during install, but the homeowner will need to reseal it every three to five years. This can be a turn-off for some clients, but it’s actually very easy. They just needs to buy a bottle of sealant from a hardware store and rub it on well with a microfiber cloth,” she says.
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Glass mosaic tiles. A backsplash crafted from glass mosaic tiles in a look-at-me pattern like this one also scores top marks for Stark. “Glass can be more forgiving than marble or natural stone in terms of cleaning, but offers just as much variety in style and color. There are infinite patterns to choose from on the market and the reflection you get from the face of the glass can add interest and brighten the space.
“I love how this glass mosaic is a slightly larger format, creating a fun chevron pattern that incorporates several different colors. Depending on how the light hits and what time of day it is, this backsplash sometimes looks warm gray, blue or even shades of purple — which we’ve picked up with the purple undertones in the woodgrain,” she says.
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“I love how this glass mosaic is a slightly larger format, creating a fun chevron pattern that incorporates several different colors. Depending on how the light hits and what time of day it is, this backsplash sometimes looks warm gray, blue or even shades of purple — which we’ve picked up with the purple undertones in the woodgrain,” she says.
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Quartz slab with glass mosaic tiles. Mixing a slab backsplash accent with vertical stacked tiles, as seen in this kitchen, is another look Stark loves. “Having a quartz slab like this behind the range is a great way to avoid grout lines where most of the messy action happens. The midnight-blue glass mosaics either side of it add a crisp, modern edge and allow the slab to be the focal point of the kitchen, while cleverly breaking up the swathes of white in the kitchen,” she says.
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As for design longevity, “glass mosaics can be tricky,” Stark says. “I feel like they got a bad rap in the early 2000s and typically we are taking them out of people’s homes. But some of the most beautiful tiles are glass mosaic — you just have to find the right one. For a glass mosaic not to date a kitchen, I think the key is finding one with a unique color and pattern, and to stay away from small, repetitive and linear glass mosaics.”
Another plus with glass mosaics is their easy maintenance. “They are nonporous, so they are resistant to mold and mildew, making them easy to clean and care for,” she says.
Another plus with glass mosaics is their easy maintenance. “They are nonporous, so they are resistant to mold and mildew, making them easy to clean and care for,” she says.
Slab or statement tiles. “I love either a full-height slab of quartz, porcelain, marble or quartzite or a unique colored and patterned tile. We have even mixed full slabs behind the cooking surface with unique, textured tiles on the adjacent walls” in projects,” says Chad Kahle, president of Kitchen Vision of the Carolinas in Denver and Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
“A full slab [of natural stone like marble or quartzite] can be very dramatic — nature’s art on the wall. Every slab is unique. Solid slabs are also great for clean-up as they don’t have any grout lines. A unique pattern or bold color can add excitement and fun to a space,” he says.
Backsplash Styles and Patterns
Matching backsplash and counters. “For a clean, timeless look in a modern kitchen, I love using the countertop material as a backsplash,” says Viktoriya Velma, founder and principal designer at Allure Interiors in Toronto. “I also love to play with the patterns and textures of porcelain and ceramic tiles, which can add texture and interest to a kitchen.”
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Matching backsplash and counters. “For a clean, timeless look in a modern kitchen, I love using the countertop material as a backsplash,” says Viktoriya Velma, founder and principal designer at Allure Interiors in Toronto. “I also love to play with the patterns and textures of porcelain and ceramic tiles, which can add texture and interest to a kitchen.”
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“A pattern like herringbone on a backsplash adds a classic touch to a space. I sometimes mix kitkat tiles with a larger tile to create a pattern, but use similar tones to create a timeless look. I also love the look of square or rectangular artisan tiles, and how the light catches the texture and adds sparkle to a space,” she says.
High drama. Julie Cavanaugh, founder and principal designer at Design Matters — which operates across five studio showrooms in Northern California; Jackson, Wyoming; and Park City, Utah — will often use a statement backsplash to dial up the drama. “The owner of this smaller ranch-style house in San Jose loves high style and lots of glam. For this backsplash, we combined glass tile in multiple sizes and elaborate natural stone. We did a riff on the idea of ‘soldier’ tile, which is a single row of vertical tile at the countertop and a second tile or material above it.
“As this project required us to amp up the glam, we turned the soldier tile horizontally to allow for a few more inches of the beautiful plume-styled stonework to take center stage. Introducing a little bit of glass tile at the countertop line also helps with spills and cleanup, as they are not directly on the marble,” she says.
“As this project required us to amp up the glam, we turned the soldier tile horizontally to allow for a few more inches of the beautiful plume-styled stonework to take center stage. Introducing a little bit of glass tile at the countertop line also helps with spills and cleanup, as they are not directly on the marble,” she says.
Pattern punch. Cavanaugh created a show-stopping backsplash in this Moraga kitchen. “We designed the backsplash with glass tiles in an exaggerated pattern filled with incredible color. The result is an incredible midcentury vibe with ultra-Deco styling,” she says.
Bold and beautiful. “This elegant transitional kitchen in Los Altos [with its] custom white-painted cabinetry and metal panel-enhanced hood needed a backsplash that drew shape, color and interest,” Cavanaugh says. “Designing a custom geometric stone backsplash in a moderately larger size pattern brought the drama details the kitchen called for. The stone colors in the backsplash were chosen to blend seamlessly with the colors of the quartzite countertops, bringing them into the vertical frame of vision.”
How High Should a Backsplash Go?
Right to the ceiling. “In most cases, the backsplash should go to the ceiling,” Stark says. “This creates a seamless look and gives a kitchen more impact. An exception would be if the wall cabinets do not reach the ceiling. In that case, a shorter backsplash would probably be more appropriate.”
“I like to install the backsplash up to the ceiling so no drywall is visible,” Velma says. “This eliminates an additional material and keeps the walls of the kitchen consistent,”
Right to the ceiling. “In most cases, the backsplash should go to the ceiling,” Stark says. “This creates a seamless look and gives a kitchen more impact. An exception would be if the wall cabinets do not reach the ceiling. In that case, a shorter backsplash would probably be more appropriate.”
“I like to install the backsplash up to the ceiling so no drywall is visible,” Velma says. “This eliminates an additional material and keeps the walls of the kitchen consistent,”
No hard and fast rule. “It depends on the kitchen, but usually I use a combination of both” heights — to the ceiling and partway, Cavanaugh says.
Meanwhile, Kahle takes his cues for the backsplash height from the surrounding fixtures. “Is there a good stopping point or do we have to create one? Typically the backsplash will stop at the bottom of the cabinetry or hood. But if there is a decorative hood and windows on the wall, most of the time we take the backsplash full height to the ceiling. It makes for more drama and adds a cohesive look without any awkward stopping points,” he says.
Meanwhile, Kahle takes his cues for the backsplash height from the surrounding fixtures. “Is there a good stopping point or do we have to create one? Typically the backsplash will stop at the bottom of the cabinetry or hood. But if there is a decorative hood and windows on the wall, most of the time we take the backsplash full height to the ceiling. It makes for more drama and adds a cohesive look without any awkward stopping points,” he says.
Tile or Slab?
Slab. “If budget is not an issue, I love a slab backsplash. My favorite slabs are Cosentino-Dekton and Cambria because they have so many unique options,” Stark says. “If your client is on a budget but wants that seamless slab look, try large-format 24-by-48-inch porcelain tiles, which give the illusion of a slab splash for less. There will be a few seams, but if you choose tiles with rectified edges, the grout lines will be so tight they are hard to spot.”
Slab. “If budget is not an issue, I love a slab backsplash. My favorite slabs are Cosentino-Dekton and Cambria because they have so many unique options,” Stark says. “If your client is on a budget but wants that seamless slab look, try large-format 24-by-48-inch porcelain tiles, which give the illusion of a slab splash for less. There will be a few seams, but if you choose tiles with rectified edges, the grout lines will be so tight they are hard to spot.”
Client-dependent. Kahle doesn’t have a preferred backsplash finish. “It all depends on the client and the project. If you are a fun, bubbly person, your kitchen will most likely reflect that. If you prefer to be a little more calm and relaxed, then earthy flow and patterns are the way to go. If precision is top of the list, then clean, straight lines are for you,” he says.
Single Material or Mix or Match?
One cohesive backsplash. “I prefer one cohesive backsplash, unless you have an area where you can create a breakpoint that you want to be unique, such as a coffee or beverage bar area,” Kahle says.
One cohesive backsplash. “I prefer one cohesive backsplash, unless you have an area where you can create a breakpoint that you want to be unique, such as a coffee or beverage bar area,” Kahle says.
Mix and match. “It really depends on the space and the material,” Velma says. “In a large kitchen, I like to combine [different] materials. In a smaller space, less is more, so I tend to use one material.”
Holzman says, “Many large kitchens have multiple backsplash areas to designate [different] area functions.”
Holzman says, “Many large kitchens have multiple backsplash areas to designate [different] area functions.”
Tailor the look to the project. “Both approaches can really bring a kitchen together, so it really depends on the client’s aesthetic,” Stark says.
“Mixing two different backsplash materials or colors provides visual interest, often creating a focal point in the kitchen, usually highlighting the range and sometimes a bar area too. This option also gives more design flexibility, allowing you to bring a new texture, pattern or color into the space. In saying that, you’ll want to ensure the kitchen still looks cohesive and not cluttered or disjointed,” she says.
“Mixing two different backsplash materials or colors provides visual interest, often creating a focal point in the kitchen, usually highlighting the range and sometimes a bar area too. This option also gives more design flexibility, allowing you to bring a new texture, pattern or color into the space. In saying that, you’ll want to ensure the kitchen still looks cohesive and not cluttered or disjointed,” she says.
“On the flip side, sometimes less is more and running a single material throughout a kitchen creates a more sleek and uniform appearance,” Stark says. “Using one material throughout the backsplash can also make a small space feel larger and more balanced. This option allows for more design flexibility with other materials in a kitchen, like cabinetry and flooring.
“I have noticed that clients who enjoy changing up their decorations every season like a more neutral, quiet backsplash so their rotating decor doesn’t clash,” she says.
“I have noticed that clients who enjoy changing up their decorations every season like a more neutral, quiet backsplash so their rotating decor doesn’t clash,” she says.
Tell us: What’s your go-to backsplash style? Let us know in the Comments.
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Solid surface. For Julie Holzman, principal interior designer at Holzman Interiors in Stamford, Connecticut, nothing beats a solid surface backsplash. “It’s easy to clean, has very little grout and doesn’t break up the look of a pot filler,” she says.