Kitchen Backsplash Ideas

Give your kitchen a focal point with a beautiful backsplash. Discover designs made from tile, beaded board, brick, glass, recycled materials, and more.

Warm Accents

This kitchen boasts an off-white quilted travertine backsplash that enhances the limestone countertops and warm white cabinetry. If you have your eye on a tile that's out of your budget, consider using it as an accent. Detail insets introduce a visual spark to a simple backsplash, without busting the bank. Here, a narrow mosaic border introduces a subtle flourish to the understated backsplash.

Rustic Appeal

Clad from counter to ceiling with durable chocolate-brown porcelain tiles, this backsplash harmonizes with the creamy-hue onyx and oak-veneer cabinetry in the kitchen. To impart the look of natural stone, the backsplash was edged with dark-gray grout.

Grand Illusion

The owners of this petite kitchen utilized the brick chimney jutting into the room by transforming it into a cooktop backsplash. High-gloss black paint updates the chimney bricks and gives a modern edge to the otherwise traditional space.

Shimmer and Shine

Coupled with stainless-steel appliances, the glass tile backsplash maintains a cool veneer in this traditional white kitchen. The reflective quality of the sage green tile helps blur the line between the modern appliances and traditional off-white cabinetry and espresso-color wood floors.

Texture and Shine

Buttercream-hue hand-glazed tiles lend warmth and country elegance to the backsplash in this French-style kitchen. Above the stove, a differing pattern adds texture and visual interest. To get a standout backsplash like this, choose tiles a few shades warmer than your cupboard paint.

Change Up

Install paneling horizontally behind vertical cupboards for an eye-catching effect. The soft color of this backsplash causes it to blend with the rest of the kitchen, but the horizontal grooves bring it to the forefront.

Home Sweet Home

Handmade, embossed tiles bring a hint of nature into this kitchen and complement the warm wood, wainscoting, and honed-granite countertops. To convey a sense of comfort in your kitchen, follow this space's example and blend warm tones, earthy colors, and unassuming materials and patterns.

Translucent Tile

Consisting of slender glass tile in creamy hues and stone tiles in coppery shades, the radiant translucence of this mosaic backsplash adds depth to the kitchen. A neutral color palette such as this one can warm up a sleek, contemporary space. The trendy narrow tiles maintain a modern vibe.

Classic Subway Tile

Classic good looks and a casual vibe are central to this kitchen. In a sea of carefree white, subway tiles with dark grout lines bear a subtle "look-at-me" texture. The dark grout lines also serve a practical purpose: Grout can often stain, but dark grout is more forgiving.

A Balanced Kitchen

A simple white paneled backsplash captures the spirit of a farmhouse-style kitchen. Here, the backsplash allows the distressed green cabinets and beautiful wood countertops to shine. Balance is essential when selecting colors and finishes. The heavily grained wood cabinets and dusty emerald green cabinets are the focal points, while the white finish on the backsplash acts as the balancing neutral, and the grooves in the paneling give the backsplash distinction.

Checkerboard Backsplash

If you're looking to make a big statement, opt for a striking checkered tile backsplash. In this kitchen, the black-and-metallic-white pattern is simple in design, but it packs a big punch when paired with merlot-color cabinets, black engineered-quartz countertops, and stainless-steel appliances.

Splashy Backsplash

Eye-catching stacked pebbles fit with the natural lakeside style of this kitchen and also protect the wall at the beverage center from errant splashes. The homeowners opted not to grout the stones so they would appear more natural.

Distinct Pattern

Patterned ceramic tile distinguishes the cooktop backsplash and mimics the look of old tin ceiling tiles in this traditional farmhouse kitchen. The furniturelike presence and dark-stain range hood and lower cabinets punctuate the milky hue of the backsplash.

Luxury on a Budget

Marble on the range backsplash amplifies this kitchen's luxurious look. If you love marble, get the look for less by using marble tiles instead of a single marble slab, as was done in this kitchen.

Keep It Simple

Despite the strong architectural details, the off-white basket-weave tile behind this black La Cornue range gives this French-inspired kitchen a light, airy feel. The antique-looking backsplash softens the more visually compelling components and works with custom hickory cabinets to add to the Franco-mystique.

Steal the Show

In the company of lusciously layered woodwork, plaster surfaces, and ceramic and glass tile in copper and bronze hues, the thoroughly modern stainless-steel cooktop almost goes unnoticed. The focal point of the kitchen -- a convenient niche in the cooktop backsplash -- glistens with a combination of limestone and glass. The same mosaic glass tiles dress up the substantial ventilation hood presiding over the range.

Color Burst

The cooking area in this kitchen gains prominence thanks to a decorative tile backsplash and a display shelf above the range. Varied shades of blue and green in the backsplash tile add a refreshing burst of color in this tranquil kitchen. Bring even more prominence to a focal point backsplash by framing it with a neutral tile, as is done with the beveled Carrara marble subway tiles here.

Cottage Kitchen Backsplash

Opt for a beaded-board backsplash as a low-cost option to break up banks of cabinets and enhance a room's cottage feel. Here, the cool blue backsplash complements the warm terra-cotta tiles underfoot.

Classic but Contemporary

To balance traditional with modern, sleek perimeter cabinets with a glossy pearl-lacquer finish were topped with Calacatta marble counters and backed by a green glass tile backsplash. Adorned with stainless-steel appliances and a marble border, this backsplash helps create a sleek, polished kitchen in this early-1900s Italian Renaissance-style estate.

Compile Colors

Patterned slate tiles connect to form a backsplash that pulls together the colors of this Asian-inspired kitchen. Rich brown and red tones in the tile echo the warm wood floors and cabinets, while steely grays help the sleek stainless-steel appliances blend.

Penny Tile Backsplash

A classic white penny tile backsplash is the focal point of this kitchen. The glazed tile, which came in 12x12-inch sheets, was an easy and budget-saving weekend project. Honey-color grout adds a sense of dimension.

• Learn how to tile a backsplash.

Contrasting Cabinetry

Inspired by black soapstone, this black travertine tile backsplash creates the same effect at a fraction of the cost. The backsplash pops against the distressed white cupboards and plays up the kitchen's French persona. Over time, the travertine will show wear, resulting in a lovely patina.

Nature-Inspired Palette

The owners of this contemporary kitchen decided to use large panels of soft green glass as a backsplash because it reflects the leafy views outside. Zebrawood laminate cabinetry and beige-flecked concrete countertops complete the earthy look..

Energizing Tile

Choose a hardworking, family-friendly surface, such as these easy-to-clean glass mosaic tiles, to add sparkle to a backsplash and energy to a room. The light and dark hues of the kitchen's warm contemporary color scheme are found within the tiles, resulting in an overall look that is fun yet pulled together.

Design Details

An informal, crackle-finish backsplash tile envelopes this kitchen, melding with the character and age of the 1903 home. Above the oven, a unique backsplash design -- blue bordering a diamond pattern -- repeats the cabinets' colors and gives the range a hearthlike look.

Colorful Kitchen Backsplash

Let a backsplash set the color palette for your kitchen. An antique blue-green-and-brown tile backsplash is the source of the color scheme for this hospitable kitchen. Cream-colore cabinets and cupboards frame the vintage design, allowing the backsplash to make a statement.

Timeless Beauty

Calacatta marble tiles installed in a herringbone pattern cover the wall behind this commercial-style range. The timeless backsplash reflects the venous marble countertops, and the soft white and gray colors provide an elegant setting for the warm wooden island and custom-built hearth.

Cottage Charm

With distinctively colored cabinets, this kitchen needed repetitious elements for a harmonious look. A colorful backsplash would have overpowered the robin's-egg blue cabinets. Instead, a salvaged brick backsplash coordinates with the terra-cotta floor, providing a seamless backdrop of surfaces for the bright cabinetry. The result is a rustic cottage kitchen, filled with warmth and character.

Chic Glamour

Pillowed metallic tiles create a three-dimensional effect above the range, drawing the eye upward. The simple quiltlike pattern on the backsplash contrasts the ornate embellishments. Using two contrasting elements ensures a balanced look. Here, rustic wide-plank wood flooring teams up with the backsplash to infuse down-to-earth elegance.

Recycled Shells

Light-color, recycled, and contemporary materials were used to give this kitchen a casual, day-at-the-beach feel. For the one-of-a-kind backsplash, real seashells were embedded into concrete, along with impressions of starfish made by casting actual starfish into molds. These were then hand-stamped onto the tile surface. Pearly accent tiles were added behind the range for a bit of shimmer and shine.

Classic, Low-Cost Tile

White porcelain subway tile looks good in any kitchen, and it's an easy, elegant, and inexpensive option for covering your kitchen backsplash. In this budget-friendly kitchen, white subway tiles wrap around the entire backsplash. Subtle tan accent tiles follow the line of the range hood to give the wall some depth and make the room feel less static.

• Get free tile & stone estimates from local professionals.

Hearthlike Appeal

To create a homey hearth feel in this kitchen, repurposed bricks were used for part of the backsplash. The bricks were also used to balance a wall of bricks directly across from the cooktop area. The rest of the backsplash is covered with classic beaded board that was painted a pale green to match the Shaker-style cabinets. The beaded board carries vertical lines and charm to the tops of the upper cabinets.

Purple Pizzazz

To give a traditional kitchen some much-needed pizzazz, grayish-purple mosaic tile was installed from the backsplash all the way to the ceiling. The gray and lavender tiles balance the bolder shades of purple, keeping the backsplash from dominating the room. The homeowners used awebsite that allowed them to mix and match colors and patterns to create the custom design.

Go Green

The homeowners of this California condo were serious about being environmentally friendly: They used only recycled and renewable materials, and products sourced from environmentally responsible companies. For the kitchen backsplash, they chose green, yellow, and blue tiles made from 100-percent recycled glass. The tiles provide a burst of color between the white cabinets and dark flooring. The colors chosen mirror the lush marsh views outside their kitchen window.

Stunning Slate

Here, slate tiles in a mix of brown and blue tones create a lively backsplash that serves as the focal point of this kitchen. The tiles also add color to an otherwise all-brown kitchen and texture, as two different types of slate were used to achieve the desired combination.

Small, Sleek Tiles

These colorful ceramic tiles provide a fresh take on the classic white subway pattern. The tiles are smaller -- 2x4 inches -- than traditional 3x6-inch subway tiles, making the look sleeker. The backsplash, combined with the green cabinetry and the natural light from the kitchen windows, balance the dark mahogany cabinets in this lively kitchen.

Long-Lasting Aluminum

A dramatic aluminum tile backsplash lends a contemporary edge and reflects light in this kitchen. The backsplash, along with metal accents found throughout the room, complement the warm tone of the bleached-cherry cabinets. Another bonus? The aluminum tiles -- which are from Mexico -- are hardworking and can be wiped down easily.

Decorating Rules You Can Break

There is no rule book when it comes to decorating. But if there were, the rules are meant to be broken. Break out of your comfort zone and forget some of the guidelines that have informally become law.

 

Paint the Ceiling

Ceilings don't have to be white. Painting the ceiling a color adds interest to the room and brings harmony to the walls and ceiling. Choose a color similar to the walls, or have the wall color mixed a shade or two lighter or darker.

 

Be Creative with Wallpaper

Wallpaper isn't just for walls. Paper the drawer or door fronts of a painted dresser or cabinet, or use it to decorate a plain headboard. You'll get a custom-looking piece of furniture with lots of impact.

 

Paint It Dark

A small space can handle dark walls. In fact, deep and strong hues can be better in small spaces because a little goes a long way. The bold statement adds personality and impact.

 

Mix Plaid and Floral

Patterns don't have to match, they just need to coordinate. Put geometric patterns with florals. Mix modern designs with traditional. The key: Make sure they share a common color.

 

A Different Centerpiece

A charming centerpiece doesn't require a large vase of flowers and a pair of candlesticks. A collection of interesting objects -- an old pewter pitcher, a big bowl with mounded moss and a small crystal sphere, or a gathering of favorite books -- is so much more interesting on the dining table. The more unusual the better.

 

Raise the Curtain Rod

Hang curtains near the ceiling rather than the typical placement just above the window trim. This gives the illusion of height, which makes a small window appear larger or a low ceiling appear higher.

 

Layer Floor Coverings

Wall-to-wall carpet doesn't eliminate the use of rugs. Add an area rug in the bedroom to create an intimate sitting area, just as you would under the dining room table and chairs on a wood floor. Layer multiple rugs of coordinating colors and patterns in different sizes atop one another to make a striking design statement.

 

Perk Up the Bedroom

Convention says the bedroom should be decorated in soft hues and soothing patterns to encourage sleep and relaxation. But if you're drawn to bolder colors and patterns, unwind in a bedroom surrounded by what you love. Warm lamplight tones down bright colors at night, while the same hues energize in the morning. Busy pattern offers the same morning pick-me-up and can be balanced by using it in just certain areas, such as on a single wall or draperies, but not bedding.

 

Forget the Matched Set

Just because furniture is sold as a set doesn't mean you have to use it that way. Mix a new dining table with a medley of refinished antique chairs. Buy the new sofa you love, but have your favorite chairs re-covered instead of settling on the matching settee. Rearrange the furniture you have, using pieces from different collections in different rooms.

 

Think Big

You can put oversize furniture in small spaces. Too much small furniture in a small room can make the space feel cluttered and full. Instead, buy fewer, larger pieces to make a small space feel roomier.

 

Make Your Own Art

Wall art doesn't need a famous signature or even have to be purchased. Personalize your space by hanging a puzzle you put together or framing a map showing your favorite destination. Dig out family treasures -- old pictures or your grandmother's platters -- to appreciate instead of collect dust. For a creative twist, hang dinnerware in open frames.

 

Paper the Ceiling

Wallpaper works on the ceiling. In a room with lots of pattern, a white ceiling stands out like sore thumb. Use wallpaper on the ceiling to tie the space together.

 

Add Furniture with Character

Not every piece of furniture has to be what is expected. An old grain cart discovered at a flea market makes a whimsical coffee table that keeps this room casual. Not only is it movable, the low height is easy for stacking books, and it could hold a tall flower arrangement that might sit too high on a standard table.

 

Paint Kitchen Cabinets

While stained-wood and white-painted kitchen cabinets are the norm, it doesn't mean you have to stick with tradition. In a room ruled by function and sometimes lacking in decorating opportunity, painted cabinets can add interest and color. Use a solid, bright finish for a contemporary space, or distress door and drawer edges for a more casual look.

 

Embrace One Color

A monochromic color scheme isn't dull and undecorated. On the contrary, it can make a stunning design statement. In this bedroom, similar shades of pinks and reds make a smooth transition from the walls to the windows to the bed, creating a cohesively decorated space. Use contrasting trim, such as white molding, to define the perimeter of the room.

 

Be Versatile with Draperies

Draperies aren't just for windows. Use window treatments to add interest to a large, plain span of wall. Hang draperies in a large doorway to make it more intimate. Use a curtain panel in place of a closet door.

 

Make Rooms Multitask

A room doesn't have to have just one purpose. Make the most of the space you have by sharing. A less-used guest bedroom with a pullout bed is the perfect place for a home office contained in a storage armoire. The family room media entertainment space can have a playroom corner.

Trend Watch: Luxurious Bathrooms Don’t Always Need a Fancy Tub

Trend Watch: Luxurious Bathrooms Don’t Always Need a Fancy Tub

Colorful Interiors: What Are the Top Color Picks for 2012?

Just want to make sure you are fully aware of what colors will be considered "hot" for 2012

This article by Home Trends, Melissa Tracey will provide insight and deliver the news you can use.

Colorful Interiors: What Are the Top Color Picks for 2012?

What Will Be Hot in Home Interiors in 2012?

An interesting article I found. Always love seeing and reading about new trends in home interiors. Keeps me on the edge of "latest and greatest". However, keep in mind, it's too easy to get carried away. Enjoy the article. It's a "good" read.

What Will Be Hot in Home Interiors in 2012?

Lessons on Scale and Proportion

Consider scale and proportion when you decorate. Attention to these details will create harmony and make your rooms visually appealing.

 

Using Scale

Scale refers to visual size—how furnishings look next to each other and how they fit in a room. Rooms need big things, little things, tall things, and short things. If everything is the same size, nothing will stand out. Vary scale within a room to create interest and drama.

 

Make Compliments

Variation in scale throughout a room is important. But, drastic differences can be unsuccessful. An oversize lamp on a petite table or one small piece of artwork above a large-scale sofa creates unbalance. Use similar scale when appropriate, such as this substantial piece of art over the fireplace as a focal point.

 

Find the Right Size

Make sure pieces of furniture are scaled for their function. A sofa provides seating for several people, so the coffee table should be long and large enough to provide space for drinks, reading material, and more.

 

Adding Dimension

Layers keep a room from being flat. To achieve layering successfully, vary the scale of each item. Here, framed mirrors and art are layered against the wall, with smaller accessories on the table. Gradual transition from large-to-small scale keeps the grouping cohesive.

 

Architectural Touches

Consider proportion when adding architectural elements, such as paneling, to a room. Furniture weighs down the bottom half of this room, so carrying the wainscoting two-thirds up the wall lifts the eye. A tall floor lamp and artwork placed above the paneling also brings balance. In a dining room, a classic chair rail hung at the bottom one-third of the room compliments the proportion of high-back dining chairs.

 

Working with Pattern

When working with multiple patterns, vary the scale to give each pattern special attention. Start with large, airy prints on the wall or windows, then layer smaller-scale patterns on the furniture. Here, the large-scale draperies and medium-size pillow and ottoman fabrics are followed by even smaller and more neutral patterns in the upholstery and on the rug.

 

Finding the Right Pair

Scale and proportion is important in the simplest of decorating tasks, such as a pairing a lamp with a table. This shapely lamp has enough heft to balance the dark wood of the writing table without being too bulky to contradict the table's petite size. To determine height proportion, use this rule: The bottom of the lampshade should be at cheek-level when you're seated.

 

Group by Scale

Pieces of furniture don't have to be an exact match to create symmetry. Use scale to pair objects. These different armchairs work together because they are similar in height and weight. Apply the same concept to bedside or end tables.

 

Grouping Objects

Combine small objects with other like objects to create impact. This collection of ceramic pots makes one big statement on the mantel because the similar pieces are grouped together. Just a few pots scattered about would look disconnected and out of proportion. Try this approach with artwork over a sofa: A cohesive group of small frames can work as well as one large piece.

 

The Scale of Art

The scale of a wall art grouping can vary as long as the variety has purpose. Here, different size photos and frames still create a unified arrangement thanks to other similarities: Black-and-white photography, white frames, and repeated color mattes.

 

Control Clutter

Too much variety of scale can cause visual chaos in a focused area, such as bookshelves. To make open shelving more pleasing, group items of similar scale together, such as lining up like-size books and arranging glassware or other collections in groups of similar type and scale. Another trick: Use same-size storage bins or baskets throughout to keep clutter out of sight.

 

Create an Illusion

You can use scale and proportion to create an effect. Choose longer curtains, for instance, and hang them near the ceiling rather than just above the window trim. This gives the illusion of height and improves the proportion of small windows, a small room, or a low ceiling.

 

Playing with Pillows

Consider proportion when placing and arranging pillows. On a sofa, use proportion to set the mood: For a cozy look, layer multiple pillows, keeping their height in scale with the piece of furniture. For a clean, contemporary look, add just a pair of large pillows at the ends or line up an odd number spaced out across the sofa.

 

Pillow Arranging

Mounds of large pillows on a bed are usually impractical and overwhelming. Simplify with a better proportion: Pare down to just the sleeping pillows and decorative shams, then add a decorative accent or two.

 

Fill the Space

Use scale to balance a room. High ceilings and tall windows require at least one other tall object in the room to achieve balance. Consider a tall cupboard or artwork that reaches up the wall.

 

Color and Scale

Color has scale, too: Dark and bright colors are heavy, while soft and muted colors are light. Balance the color scale in a room to prevent it from feeling too heavy or too light. Here, a dark leather sofa is balanced with light pillow fabrics and a wicker ottoman. Likewise, the wall art uses color differences to create interest with light-color artwork surrounded by dark frames.

 

Creating Height

Use height to expand the feel of a small space. In this small bedroom, curtains hung at ceiling height and a tall headboard that stretches up the wall use vertical scale to grow the feel of the room's size.

 

Finding Balance

Use multiple items to build scale. This petite sconce and single chair would look dwarfed and lost next to the large, dark armoire. Adding the decorative plates as artwork unifies the single items into one larger visual collection that balances the single substantial piece.

 

Build Proportion

When working with scale, start with the largest piece of furniture in a room, then add pieces that fit. A table and lamp may be proportionate to each other, but when placed next to a bed or sofa, they may look too large or too small. To maintain the simplistic, clean-line design of this bed, the sparse linear wall-attached lights are a better complement than bulky table lamps.

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