9 Non-Traditional Kitchen Backsplashes That Are Show-Stoppers
You'll be in awe after seeing how these kitchen backsplashes stole the show.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Photo by: Francisco Aguila
Francisco Aguila
See More Fabulous Backsplash Ideas
See All Photos
Next Up
9 Out-of-the-Box Kitchen Backsplash Ideas We're Loving
20 Beautiful Backsplashes to Inspire Your Own Kitchen
12 Two-Toned Kitchen Ideas That Will Make You Rethink Your Reno
The Easiest Way to Update Your Kitchen Without Remodeling
Granite Vs. Quartz: Is One Really Better Than the Other?
5 Food Storage Mistakes You're Probably Making (and How to Fix Them)
9 Kitchen Color Ideas That Aren't White
9 Teeny-Tiny Kitchens Packed With Character
10 Window Seats + Cozy Nooks to Get You Through the Winter
