Modern Kitchen Backsplashes

Explore ideas for modern kitchen backsplashes, and get ready to install a sleek and sophisticated backsplash in your home.
Wide view of kitchen with tiled backsplash, stove, hardwood floor, kitchen island with chairs, and appliances - new overhead lighting.

kitchen-backsplash-modern_4x3

Wide view of kitchen with tiled backsplash, stove, hardwood floor, kitchen island with chairs, and appliances - new overhead lighting.

By: Sean McEvoy

If your kitchen features a modern design and you're looking to install a new one or update an existing one, you'll to browse ideas for modern kitchen backsplashes before beginning the project.

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Often featuring the sleek, streamlined, minimalist style that's a hallmark of modern design, modern kitchen backsplashes can work well in many types of kitchens.

It's important to note that your backsplash design doesn't need to precisely match your overall kitchen design—many homeowners use the backsplash to add visual interest, color or diversity to a kitchen's style. There's no hard-and-fast requirement to pair a modern backsplash with a modern or contemporary kitchen, and ultimately the choice to incorporate a contrasting design or match the overall look and feel is yours alone. Also, keep in mind that a simple, elegant and understated modern backsplash design can be brought to life with the use of color and texture. So, although modern design is generally an era-specific style that reflects the classic, clean-lined, sleek styles of the mid-20th century, those rules can always be bent a bit to suit your personal style.

As you're planning your modern backsplash, the first decision you'll need to make will involve the scope of the project. Some homeowners want a backsplash to cover the entire wall area above their countertops, while others may prefer to cover only a portion of the surface area. This is an important aesthetic decision, and it'll also help define the amount of materials you'll need and therefore the budget. Measuring the surface area you want to cover and calculating square footage will give you an answer regarding how much material you'll need.

When you've decided on the scope of the backsplash project, it's time to turn your attention to those materials. For a modern backsplash design, some materials are more common than others, simply because they lend themselves particularly well to the sleek, minimalist, modern look. Ceramic tile is available in enough colors, styles and textures that you will have no trouble finding a wide range of modern options. Granite, travertine and other stone products often have a distinctly modern feel, and they can add great visual interest and texture to your backsplash design. Metals like copper and brass are also often employed in modern kitchen backsplash designs, providing a distinctive pop of color and the added benefit that their look may "evolve" over time with exposure to air and moisture.

One you've decided on the right materials for your modern kitchen backsplash design, it's time to begin construction. You've got two options here—hire a contractor to install the backsplash for you, or go the DIY route and install it yourself (hopefully with some assistance from friends and family). Depending on the scope and complexity of the project, you may be able to save a considerable amount of money by installing the backsplash yourself. Alternatively, hiring a contractor will save you time and sweat, especially if you've never installed a backsplash before or aren't particularly handy.

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