A no-regrets guide to choosing a kitchen backsplash

Tackling a kitchen renovation is not for the faint of heart nor the weak of wallet. There are so many design ideas to consider and decisions to make, both harmless and high-stakes. Choosing a backsplash falls into the latter category because—unlike a kitchen paint color or kitchen lighting or cabinet hardware—it’s not something you can easily swap out should you change your mind. A backsplash can also set the tone for the entire kitchen, especially if you’re looking to tile an accent area, a whole wall, or even the entire room.

While white subway tile is a timeless option and a modern farmhouse favorite, a backsplash also affords the opportunity to add color, pattern, or patina. For example, if you’re looking to brighten up your kitchen, give vibrant encaustic tiles a gander. If you’re wanting to add age-old character, a backsplash of antique bricks or aged Delft tiles or even distressed antique mirror may be the way to go. In recent years, zellige tile—handcrafted clay tiles traditionally made in Morocco—have also entered the chat, and their subtle irregularities lend pretty texture to a kitchen.

You’ll also want to consider how much is just enough. While you can certainly just do the standard 3- to 6-inch tall backsplash above all your lower cabinets, there are so many ways to let your backsplash make more of a style statement. You can cover a whole room with your material of choice, but that can get expensive fast. For more of a focal point, consider just tackling the area behind the stove and/or sink. Or, for a happy medium, cover just a section of the wall, and use cabinetry or open shelving to create your stopping point.

Finally, there’s the practicality of it all, as the name “backsplash” implies. The surface should be able to stand up to the grease or water that splashes up against it. For example, should you opt for wallcovering, make sure it’s a material that’s easily wipeable, pair it with a lower backsplash of a more durable material, or even consider covering it with a sheet of plexiglass for peace of mind.

Below, you’ll find 40 beautiful kitchens to guide you in the right direction.

Find Even More Ideas for Renovating or Decorating Your Kitchen:

• Smart and Stylish Ideas for Kitchen Islands
• How to Find the Best Paint Color for Your Kitchen
• Why You Should Consider Wallpaper in the Kitchen

Dark Stone Backsplash

A horizontally wrapped vent hood and paneled knotty pine walls pair well with a dark stone backsplash and black stove in this rustic cabin kitchen designed by HGTV star Jenny Marrs. RELATED: An Everything Guide to Green Kitchen Cabinets

Patterned Zellige Tile Backsplash

After opening up the space’s footprint, designer Stephanie Perez lined her Hudson Valley, New York, kitchen with white Shaker-style cabinetry (Creamy by Sherwin-Williams) for a timeless farmhouse feel. A beaded inset gives them an elevated look, which Stephanie extended to the paneled dishwasher. Handcrafted zellige tiles in shades of white and gray complement the cabinets’ hue while also adding texture. The small-scale motif gives a nod to the larger-scale checks on the marble floors.

Warm Mexican Tile Backsplash

In this California kitchen by Reath Design, sunny Mexican tiles in a warm citrine shade are bold enough to balance the sapphire blue cabinetry (California Blue by Benjamin Moore). Warm wood countertops and barstools quietly complement the color.

Decorative Neutral Backsplash

In this family-friendly cabin, beadboard-fronted cabinets, soapstone countertops, and handmade terra-cotta tiles set on the diagonal add to the vintage cottage vibe. The lower cabinets are painted a breezy shade of blue (Philipsburg Blue by Benjamin Moore). RELATED: Wood Ceiling Ideas That Bring the Country Charm

Quilt Motif Tile Backsplash

Look no further than a classic antique yellowware bowl for proof that blue and yellow make for a timeless country combo, as seen here in Becca McDowell’s 98-square-foot galley kitchen featuring canary-yellow cabinets (Honey Bees by Sherwin-Williams) and quilt-like cement tiles (“Tangier Primero” by Villa Lagoon). The petite 20-inch electric range maximizes cabinet space.

Classic Subway Tile Backsplash

In the kitchen of this Pennsylvania home, neutrals-loving designer Leanne Ford opted for simple subway tile. To warm up the all-white surroundings, she brought in an antique bakery table that functions as the kitchen island and holds matching baskets on its lower shelf for produce, kitchen towels, and more.RELATED: 60+ Timeless Farmhouse Kitchen Ideas

Wallpaper Backsplash

Wallpaper in the kitchen? Yes, please! A gray-toned floral wallpaper adds a special touch to singer-songwriter Holly Williams’s Tennessee home. Dusty blue lower cabinets (Blue Daisy by Benjamin Moore) with pretty brass hardware ground the space.

Cheerful Multicolored Tile Backsplash

Encaustic tile creates a fun focal point in this kitchen, along with a cool blue island topped with easy-to-clean quartz countertops. Tractor-seat barstools and wood cabinets add warmth to the open layout.

Reclaimed Wood Backsplash

In Jennifer and Derrick Miller’s kitchen, reclaimed wood and a brass pendant (salvaged from a shipyard!) anchor the small space while adding a bit of sophisticated shimmer. A landscape oil painting above the sink offers a makeshift view.

Painted Terra Cotta Tile Backsplash

To breathe new life into her Virginia galley kitchen, Amy Whyte started with a stunning 27-drawer blue workbench that sets the tone for the rustic, pieced-together feel. Together with a handsome forest green range, copper vent hood, and statement-making tile backsplash (“Nostalgia” by Lauren Liess), this style is a departure from typical country farmhouse style, but a road we’re happy to take. The vintage runner pulls all the colors together beautifully.

Painted Stone Backsplash

In the kitchen of this North Carolina mountain cabin, reclaimed wood graces the floor, ceiling, and custom island, which is crafted from antique white oak. A backsplash of white-painted stone brings lightness to the space while maintaining its soul and texture.

Shapely Marble Backsplash

After making tweaks to the room’s footprint, Country Living Design Director Maribeth Jones maximized charm with vibrant Shaker-style cabinetry and 6-foot 8-inch wood paneling that’s all coated in a sunny shade (Sudbury Yellow by Farrow & Ball). For extra practicality, marble surfaces complement the sink and stove.

Small-Scale Subway Tile Backsplash

Mixing materials makes for a been-here-forever aesthetic. In this Wisconsin kitchen, an eye-catching stone range hood, soapstone countertops, smaller-scale white subway tile, handsome reclaimed beams, Douglas fir cabinets, and rush barstools live together in harmony.

Blue and Green Tile Backsplash

V-Groove Wood Plank Backsplash

Designer Heather Chadduck Hillegas gave her 100-year-old home’s kitchen a timeless upgrade that combines staples of the past with an air of modernity. A simple wood panel backsplash keeps the look airy, while varying shades of white, including a creamy trim (Shaded White by Farrow & Ball) give the room a layered feel.RELATED: Pretty Ideas for Painted Floors, From Stenciled to Checkered

Window-Height Quartz Backsplash and Ledge

Designer Trinity Holmes anchored this open kitchen with a trio of 12-pane windows that lets in tons of natural light. The custom window ledge, with its adjoining shapely Carrara quartz backsplash, makes a charming display spot for potted herbs and collected finds, while the gingham wallpaper reinforces the farmhouse feel.

Natural Stone Backsplash

Once a working dairy farm, this circa-1730s home in Long Valley, New Jersey, is beautifully appointed with original stone-and-plaster walls and wonderfully weathered wood floors. While nothing rivals 300-year-old stone, there are contemporary options to help you achieve a similar age-old look (“Rambla” Stone-Look Tile from Wayfair).

Brick Paver Backsplash

In her California cabin’s kitchen, Jenna Dierrman of Jenna Sue Design started with subway tile, a renovation go-to. “It’s affordable, and it works with any style of kitchen,” says the blogger, who used 12-inch sheets of 2-by-4-inch subway tile to make installation that much easier. To contrast the white tile, she cleverly turned landscaping bricks into a stylish (and fireproof) herringbone backsplash.“It was a last-minute decision, but now it’s my favorite detail in the kitchen,” says Jenna.

Square Zellige Tile Backsplash

With original beams putting the kitchen ceiling height at a mere six feet, homeowner Stephenie Watts was challenged to pack in maximal charm in a minimal space. To get there, she painted the existing cabinets, likely added in the 1940s, and lined the walls in a pretty, light-reflecting zellige tile. A pine farm table serves as the island and brings rustic texture, while unlacquered brass bistro-style shelving brings a little shine.

Black and White Hex Tile Backsplash

In this kitchen designed by Grace Mitchell, creatively arranged black-and-white hex tiles make a big impact. A popular choice for adding historic character, the classic hex tile pairs well with other antique finds, many of which Grace sources at Fort Worth’s Old Home Supply. “Repurposing vintage finds is a great—and green!—way to have something in your kitchen that no one else has,” says Grace.

Green-and-White Checkered Tile Backsplash

“This kitchen had an abundance of cabinetry—it was simply too much,” says designer Christina Salway. After removing the upper cabinets and painting the lower cabinets a greenish blue (Inchyra Blue by Farrow & Ball), she added a new tone-on-tone backsplash of earthy green tiles.

Whimsical Polka Dot Backsplash

Plywood is an unusual material for kitchen cabinets, but a lacquer finish gives them a great shine and makes them wipeable. Brass hardware, modern lighting, marble countertops, and a creative backsplash complete the unique design in this kitchen by designer Max Humphrey.

Cheerful Blue Tile Backsplash

When homeowner Layla George told designer Emily Fisher she wanted a crowd-pleasing kitchen, she meant it. With eight (yes, eight!) kids in her blended family, she needed smart storage and easy, help-yourself access. Her kitchen’s quilt-like encaustic tile backsplash creates a focal point. Made from cement, it also lends subtle texture and pairs well with the equally cheerful yellow island (Sweet Pear by Benjamin Moore).

Delft Tile Backsplash

In this historic home, designer Cameron Ruppert chose to embrace most of the existing materials. After debating a new tile backsplash, she and the homeowner reconsidered. “Nothing we could replace it with would have done justice to the space, and the 4- by 4-inch size feels appropriately old,” says Cameron. When paired with newly-painted cabinetry (Peale Green by Benjamin Moore), it takes on a fresh new life.RELATED: A Case for Green Kitchen Cabinets

Moroccan Motif Backsplash

Homeowner Courtney Robertson and designer Ashley Goforth artfully outfitted this Texas home's frequent gathering spot with materials that are pretty but not precious. For example, soft gray concrete countertops pair well with limed oak barstools upholstered in an indoor-outdoor fabric. Reclaimed beams and a ceramic tile backsplash add to the room’s sit-and-stay- awhile appeal.

Rustic Wood Backsplash

Amy Kleinwachter, owner of Old World Antieks, packed tons of character into her Texas kitchen using reclaimed wood, antique signage, and a large-scale decorative tile above the stove.

Penny Tile Backsplash

In designer Chenault James’ family vacation home in Harbour Springs, Michigan, diner-inspired barstools add retro charm to the light blue (Rhine River by Benjamin Moore) island topped with Vermont Danby honed marble countertops. A backsplash of small penny tiles adds texture while maintaining a breezy vacation-house spirit.

Raised Wood Backsplash

In Bambi Costanzo’s collected West Virginia cottage, she took apart an old dry sink to create a wood backsplash and coordinating lower cabinet. The repurposed piece provides a warm and welcoming focal point in the compact kitchen.

Square Blue Stone Backsplash

Belgium blue stone tiles make a statement under a rustic wooden beam in this Michigan lake house designed by Amy Meier. The kitchen cabinets are knotty white oak and pair well with the black-blue-green kitchen island (Salamander by Benjamin Moore).

Dramatic Black Soapstone Backsplash

In the Hudson Valley kitchen of Kurt and Lorenzo Rausch, Anthony D’Argenzio of Zio and Sons incorporated black-and-white mosaic tiles by Clé that pairs perfectly with a dramatic swath of soapstone complete with a corresponding ledge.

Blue Painted Tile Backsplash

The La Cornue range and diamond ticking-patterned backsplash tile bring this California kitchen of designer Alexis Garrett a timeless blue and white palette. Rich walnut butcher-block countertops add warmth amongst the crisp white English kitchen-inspired Shaker-style cabinetry.

Herringbone Tile Backsplash

Colored cabinetry often warrants a white backsplash, as is the case in this lively and layered kitchen by Grace Mitchell featuring small tiles configured in a timeless herringbone pattern.RELATED: Everything to Know About Herringbone

Marble Subway Tile Backsplash

In Lauren Crouch’s Georgia farmhouse, the family mostly utilized reclaimed materials to give the kitchen a lived-in feel. Take, for example, the spacious island supported by antique porch posts or the range hood crafted from salvaged pine. The backsplash, however, is new, and the gray marble coloring brings more interest and depth than plain white.

Marble Slab Backsplash

Renita Browning’s Texas home features industrial ceiling lights she salvaged from a local Mexican restaurant. Paired with a white painted chandelier, these unique pieces look right at home in the happy hodgepodge of old apothecary drawer fronts and original brick walls. “There’s a lot going on in here,” says Renita. That's precisely why she opted for a quieter marble backsplash and coordinating countertops.

Veined Marble Backsplash

In this Minnesota kitchen by architectural designer Jeff Murphy, a Calacatta Laza quartz backsplash above the range echoes the countertop of the generous 7-foot 2-inch by 5-foot 2-inch island. Reclaimed wood floors and the exposed timbered ceiling with a carved corbels make the room seem like a lodge, while the large woven pendant lights and backs of the counter stools bring more casual lake house texture.

Warm Walnut Backsplash

Designed by Cathy Chapman, a salvaged pine header crowns the range while walnut countertops carry up the wall as the backsplash for a cohesive look. Rather than flat drywall, Cathy prefers how white beadboard (on the ceiling) and shiplap (on the walls) offer ample farmhouse appeal.

Square White Tile Backsplash

Square tiles provide an alternative to standard rectangular subway tile. When staggered, the look evokes the feel of exterior shingles. Lighter grout, as used in this kitchen, also means the backsplash doesn’t compete with the bolder quilt motif floors.

Faux Bois Backsplash

Designed by Emily Henderson, this bungalow in Breezy Point, New York, features a unique backsplash composed of faux bois tiles, which pair well with the turquoise walls (Spring Mint by Benjamin Moore) and Ikea cabinetry.RELATED: 40 Easy, Breezy Beach House Decorating Ideas

Square Gridded Tile Backsplash

In Jeannette Fristoe’s Maryland home, a mix of white beadboard and white square tile arranged in a grid (as opposed to staggered) sets a subdued tone, allowing the large AGA cooker in British Racing Green to take center stage.

Warm Brick Backsplash

Brick walls provide a lot of texture and warmth in compact quarter, as is the case in this charm-packed cook space. A soft sage green pairs well with the brick's terra-cotta coloring, while brass detailing on the range and hood bring a bit of polish.