Kitchen Trends 2021: 12 Backsplash Ideas With Staying Power

Be a drama queen! Forgo a flat and boring backsplash for something edgier. Bring in that coastal blue you loved on your last beach vacation by using fish-scale tiles, or get arty with an abstract pattern that will upstage your cabinets. Intrepid DIYers can even skip the tile altogether by choosing to wallpaper, paint or stick up a splashy arrangement. Here are ideas to get you started.

Peel and stick backsplash kitchen tiles that look like stone

Amazon

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Shiny Stone

Are you so over dealing with grout? Then a peel-and-stick solution is the answer. The tonal differences in these shiny self-adhesive tiles – that look great in a bathroom, too – have the luxury feel of marble without the added price tag.

Wallpaper that imitates tile on kitchen backsplash

Chasing Paper

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Wallpaper Wonder

Achieve graphic punch with this Farmhouse Tile from Chasing Paper. Wallpaper is terrific if you can’t be bothered to tile, you’re renting or you simply like to switch up your decor often. The grassy green seen here goes well with wood accents.

Herringbone kitchen backsplash in modern kitchen

Studio P

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A Different Angle

Ceramic tile is a solid choice on a backsplash – it’s durable, inexpensive and easy to install. Priya Mitrovic of Studio P Interiors opted for a herringbone pattern, instead of stacked subway tile, on this classic kitchen, which features a concealed marble-clad hood. Wait until you see what else she did with the tile…hint, flip to the next slide.

Glass cabinet in kitchen with tile behind it

Studio P

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Open Sesame

Surprise! For a luxe look, Priya carried the herringbone tile behind the glass cabinet. Open or closed, pretty dishware and tiles are always on view. Win-win.

Etsy

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Terrific Terrazzo

With its fun spotty pattern, terrazzo adds a youthful kick to floors, countertops and backsplashes, but the real stuff made of a composite of materials including marble and granite, can drain the wallet. Go for a decal, like these by McKenna Sato of Kenna Sato Designs. The Etsy seller has a range of colour options.

A modern farmhouse-like kitchen with floating shelves and a penny round tile backsplash

Paul Versluis

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Pretty Pennyround

Pennyround tile has a nostalgic charm that also brings texture and interest to a space when it covers a large surface. The design team at Kansas City-based Koenig Building and Restoration fully committed to the tile in this stunning kitchen. Chunky floating shelves, panelled cabinetry and hefty brass pulls sweeten the space. #FileUnderWant

HGTV Canada

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Arty Abstract

Jonathan and Drew a.k.a. the Property Brothers jazzed up the country-chic kitchen in this boho-style Nashville home with geometric tiles. To offset the wild backsplash, Jonathan chose a white quartz countertop so that the kitchen didn’t feel too busy. And yes those are lavender-coloured cabinets!

Painted kitchen backsplash that looks like layers of plaster

Annie Sloan Interiors

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Beguiling Backsplash

Raw and romantic, this backsplash looks like a sun-baked plaster wall in Morocco. The beguiling backsplash – as well as the cabinets and accessories – feature Chalk Paint by Annie Sloan and Chalk Paint Lacquer. To create the backsplash, you’ll have to drag, wipe and scrape the paint to build up the layered plaster effect. Read more about the process here.

Paul Versluis

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Moody Blue

From the black faucet to the dark blue colour palette, this wet bar by Koenig Building and Restoration has a rich presence. A white countertop and gold hardware are uplifting notes in the space, as are the light grout lines on the leaf-inspired tiles.

A blue fish-scale backsplash with white kitchen cabinets

Michelle Gage Interiors

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Swim Against the Tide

What a friendly kitchen! It’s all about that juicy-blue fish-scale backsplash from Mercury Mosaics in this ocean-inspired kitchen by Philadelphia-based Michelle Gage. A blue-painted wall and gold accents are equally fresh.

Peel and stick subway backsplash kitchen tiles that look like stone

Amazon

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Grey Grid

To stand out from the pack, why not give white subway tile the boot and go for something with more oomph? We’re crushing on this shiny grey backsplash that cheats the eye into thinking it’s tile when it’s actually another peel-and-stick option.

Distressed brick backsplash against sleek black cabinetry

Sagewood Kitchens

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Earthy Chic

Brick and black are best mates in this amazing space by the UK’s Sagewood Kitchens. Here, brick brings texture, tonal interest and a distressed feel against sleek bespoke cabinetry.

Contemporary kitchen with island and hexagonal backsplash

Lauren Miller

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Stipple Style

Designer Alana Fletcher brought a dynamic contemporary vibe to this lovely Toronto home. The kitchen backsplash features mini hexagonal tiles that have a subtle sheen and tonal variations. Two-toned cabinetry brings in another outstanding, warm element.