9 Non-Traditional Kitchen Backsplashes That Are Show-Stoppers

You'll be in awe after seeing how these kitchen backsplashes stole the show.

By: Kayla Suazo

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A full-scale kitchen renovation — I'm talking new appliances, cabinetry, the whole nine yards — isn't in the budget for most of us. But a mini-refresh? That's totally within reach. That's why updating those bare kitchen walls with a fun backsplash is the perfect solution. Here are nine kitchens that use unexpected materials and traditional tile in creative ways.

Brickwork

When it comes to that rustic-meets-industrial vibe, Fixer Upper’s Chip and Joanna are the experts. They used vintage pavers with gray grout for the backsplash. The brickwork adds a rustic warmth to the space and pairs nicely with the white cabinetry and appliances. Thank you again Joanna for making our hearts swoon over another kitchen!

Kitchen, Detail

Joanna used antique pavers from Chicago for the kitchen backsplash and walls. The natural variation in the bricks and dark gray grout are nice touches that augment the kitchen's rustic theme.

From: Fixer Upper

Photo by: Rachel Whyte

Rachel Whyte

Graphic Wallpaper

Wallpaper is one of the easier (and cheaper, yay!) ways to give your kitchen some glamour. Designer Hugh Jefferson took a dynamic black-and-white wallpaper to add visual interest to this clean, contemporary kitchen. Worried about smudging the pattern? Cover it up with easy-to-clean glass or plexiglass panels.

Modern Kitchen with Graphic Black-and-White Backsplash

This kitchen is a study in contrast, with large corner windows, structural steel columns and a dynamic wallpaper behind a glass backsplash.

From: Hugh Jefferson Randolph Architects

Photo by: Hugh Jefferson Randolph Architects

Hugh Jefferson Randolph Architects

Tin Tiles

Interior designer Jill Wolff can rock some tin tiling. She used ornate tin squares to give this clean space some visual appeal. If you have a free weekend coming up, this is a great DIY and budget-friendly way to add texture to your kitchen walls.

White Traditional Kitchen With Tin Backsplash

Traditional Kitchen Features Budget Friendly Tin Backsplash

The tin backsplash in this white kitchen is budget friendly and adds visual interest. White cabinets and countertops keep the small space feeling light and open.

From: Jill Wolff

Photo by: Jill Wolff

Jill Wolff

DIY It: How to Install a Tin Tile Backsplash

Chalkboard

This one is for all you artsy folk out there. If you are looking for a creative way to frequently change up your kitchen, chalkboard backsplash is your answer. The application process is easy and it’s a breath of fresh air from more traditional options.

Chalkboard Kitchen Backsplash

Add custom artwork, or just a to-do list, to your kitchen by including a chalkboard backsplash. This kitchen even features the chalkboard behind open shelving, perfect for labeling where all the dishes go.

From: Marian Parsons

DIY It: How to Create a Chalkboard Kitchen Backsplash

Traditional Tile With a Twist

Subway tile has made its way to the design scene and isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Hop on the tile train and see how this transitional kitchen uses subway tile as an accent wall. The tile extends up to the ceiling and adds a subtle textural interest to the space.

Kitchen with White Tile Backsplash and Black Marble Countertops

Black and White Modern Kitchen

This black and white modern kitchen features white subway tile backsplash and black marble counter-tops as seen on DIY Network's Bryk At A Time.

I love this kitchen by Rebecca Zajac because she breaks the traditional repeated pattern that using tile can create, and establishes a fun and graphic backsplash. The blue-and-white tile brings in a pop of color and visual interest.

Blue & White Tile Backsplash With Gray Cabinets & Stainless Cooktop

Custom Kitchen Backsplash

Rebecca Zajac custom-designed the backsplash by placing white tiles in the original pattern to give it an organic feel and break up the repeating pattern.

From: Rebecca Zajac

Photo by: Rebecca Zajac

Rebecca Zajac

Using oversized tile strays away from the more conventional backsplash commonly seen in kitchens. The large colorful tiles featured in this kitchen become the focal piece of the space and heighten the ceilings as they extend up the walls.

Modern-Meets-Traditional Kitchen With Oversize Tile Backsplash

Get kitchen design ideas from this space featured in HGTV Magazine that blends modern and traditional styles. Hand-poured cement tiles from Architectural Ceramics satisfied Jennie’s desire for craftsmanship and color. Matt, hesitant at first about having huge yellow and blue diamonds spanning the entire wall, now loves how the tiles make the kitchen feel energetic and lively.

From: HGTV Magazine

Photo by: Trevor Dixon (styled by Karin Olsen)

Trevor Dixon (styled by Karin Olsen)

Instead of glass tile, this kitchen by Kapito Muller Interiors used marble as the backsplash. The individual tiles break up the pattern seen throughout the marble and add a sophisticated and subtle charm to this chic kitchen.

Kitchen Sink With Gold Faucet and White Counters

A gold faucet and drawer and cabinet pulls make all the design difference in this sleek kitchen, luxe-ing up the white cabinets and counters.

From: Kapito Muller Interiors

This bold kitchen by Sarah Barber-Bazail establishes a color palette through the backsplash. A vibrant blue tile dresses the walls up to the ceilings, making quite a statement and drawing in all the attention.

Vintage Glam Kitchen with Bright Blue Backsplash

Bright Blue Backsplash in 1940s Vintage Glam Kitchen

The kitchen of this home needed to have character like the rest of this vintage home so designers added bright, bold colors and mixed shiny, smooth textures with vintage favorites. The bright blue backsplash was one of the flashy, glamorous pieces and by mixing that with more traditional cabinets, the space gets a touch of the old world and the new.