6 Kitchen Backsplash Ideas for Your Next Remodel

It’s good to give your interior a refresher every now and then. Remodels and interior updates are a great way to breathe new life into your home and bring in some new colors, patterns, and other elements of design. One of the more subtle, yet quite eye-catching features in your kitchen is the backsplash.

The backsplash is the little wall that is directly behind the sink, burners, and oven. In some homes, it is the same color and texture as the rest of the kitchen. However, many kitchens use the backsplash as an accent for the rest of the kitchen by making it look different from the other surfaces.

1. Bare Walls for Loft Appeal

The Unique Appeal of Bare-Wall Kitchen Backsplashes

Starting with one of the simplest backsplashes you can have in your kitchen is the bare read brick that is typically found in urban industrial interiors, such as the modern loft. Do keep in mind, that with the vibrant color of red bricks, leaving the walls bare is quite a bold element of interior design. This means that it’s going to attract plenty of attention.

You don’t have to live in a brick home to create a loft kitchen backsplash. There are fake brick wallpapers out there that simulate the appearance of actual bricks, though they are only very thin slabs of the actual material. They still make it look as if you have an exposed brick wall and it’s pretty hard to differentiate it from the actual thing. So, if you’re looking to create an industrial interior, a bare brick wall kitchen backsplash is one of the most vivid and bold ways to accentuate this style.

2. Reflective Mirror Backsplash

Mirror Backsplash for Some Added Luminosity and Visual Space

Space is not purely physical. You can have plenty of space in a room that is empty, but if it is rich with eclectic colors, it will still be visually cluttered. As a result, the kitchen may seem smaller than it is. But the opposite is true as well. Instead of simply painting the kitchen backsplash, why not install some mirrors instead?

Mirrors are fantastic backsplash ideas for small kitchens as they open up plenty of visual space and brighten up the room. The one issue with having a mirror backsplash is that it can be somewhat of a hassle to clean. The backsplash is behind the sink and stove, and since it’s so reflective, every tiny stain is going to be very visible. However, if you’re willing to put up with the extra cleaning responsibilities, a mirror backsplash can open up the kitchen and brighten it up.

3. Ceramic Bricks

Simple and Bright Ceramic Backsplash for Modern Interiors

How about something very minimal, yet comes with a bit of heterogeneity that can add some personality to your kitchen. Rectangular ceramic tiles arranged in a brick bonding fashion create a very unique aesthetic. This is not as bold as the open wall red bricks of a loft interior. However, this subtlety works great in more minimal interiors which are looking to make more with less.

A bright, white kitchen backsplash works wonderfully in Scandi, Japandi, and other bright modern interiors that make good use of the color white and the simple shape of rectangular brick layouts. Nothing says Scandi or Japandi kitchen more than white cabinets with a white backsplash. While these ceramic rectangles come in many shapes and colors, the white rectangular type is quite popular in modern kitchens that want to keep the interior on the bright side. 

4. Herringbone Setup

An Unorthodox Tile Layout Can Make a Difference

The parallel setup can get a little tiresome, as you’re used to seeing horizontal bricks all your life. So how about some visual heterogeneity with a herringbone kitchen backsplash setup? This visual aesthetic is a little unorthodox for kitchen wall tile ideas but is very stylish in its own right. The perpendicular tiles add some much-needed visual complexity, but without being too overbearing. For even more heterogeneity, you can opt for a dual-colored tile kitchen backsplash, which will take this idea of visual complexity even further.

It is, however, a little difficult to set up a herringbone tile backsplash. This layout is typically relegated to wooden flooring, as it has its practical features. And although it does not offer any practical benefits when used for the kitchen backsplash, it’s visually striking and a wonderful departure from what many of us are used to seeing in the kitchen. So, try out the herringbone setup, but as long as you have a professional tiler to help you out. 

5. Gorgeous Mosaics 

Unique Patterns and Shapes for a Unique Kitchen

Having adorned kitchen mosaics is quite an old interior trend. While most modern kitchens will have plain tiles adorning the walls, making use of the color, more so any patterns or shapes, you do have the opportunity to bring in some extra visual flair with a gorgeous mosaic kitchen backsplash.

Mosaic backsplashes look stunning in kitchens with a more old-school vibe or ones that blend more traditional design features with contemporary ones. There is a lot of personalization that comes with mosaic tiles, as they come in a large variety, each with a unique visual aesthetic. Some patterns are simple and work better in more modern interiors that do not put much emphasis on visual complexity. If you have a more regal kitchen and want as much adornment in your kitchen as possible, then more complex patterns and mosaics are a better fit. 

6. Glass Tiles

The Subtle Gleam of Glass Tile Kitchen Backsplash

Tiles are typically very colorful and add a lot of personality to the kitchen. But some of them can be a little too vibrant and may get distracting at times. This is usually the case with tiles that have a bolder and more pronounced color. You can always get a set of kitchen backsplash tiles that are more muted and less vibrant, so they are also less visually intrusive. But what if you want to retain that vibrant color without the tiles being too distracting?

Glass tiles are a great workaround. They come in very vibrant colors, but thanks to their glassy exteriors, they are not overly distracting. The glass surface also allows for some extra gleam, which will help in brightening up the kitchen atmosphere. Many homeowners opt for the smaller tiles that give them plenty of room to get creative with the tile color and layout. A very popular glass tile kitchen backsplash design is to take various shades of the same colored tiles and arrange them in random patterns. Try out this design if you’re looking to spice up the kitchen, but not to the point where it’s flaming hot.