10 Unusual Backsplash Trends We Think Will Be Huge in 2022

It’s not that we don’t still love a classic white subway tile backsplash (because we totally do). It’s just that – when it comes to kitchen backsplash trends – we’re starting to crave something a little different for our cooking spaces. As we saw with many of the top kitchen backsplash trends of 2021, more and more homes are leaving basic backsplashes behind and opting for designs with more colour, unique patterns and more versatile materials. With this in mind, here are our picks for the kitchen backsplash trends we think will be winners in 2022.

kitchen with green cabinets and lemon-print backsplash

HGTV

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Wallpaper Wonders

There’s a reason why wallpaper backsplashes are such a huge kitchen backsplash trend: durable, made-for-the-kitchen wallpaper backsplashes make a big visual impact for a comparatively low cost and effort. Another bonus? Stick-on backsplashes let you play with bolder designs without the major commitment. Take the fresh example in this Home Town kitchen: the peel-and-stick vinyl backsplash features a sweet lemon print for an eye-catching look.

spacious galley kitchen with glossy grey tile backsplash

HGTV Canada

2 / 10

Shiny Style

Go on, let your kitchen really shine. Glossy and shiny tiles are one of the most popular kitchen backsplash trends of the moment, with good reason: a little gleam adds a lot of interest to the look of your backsplash – without being quite as dramatic as an intricate pattern. The glossy blue-grey tiles used here in this Save My Reno kitchen, for example, make a sophisticated case for a touch of shine.

modern kitchen with white backsplash in herringbone pattern

HGTV

3 / 10

All the Angles

Another way to put a spin on traditional tiles is to play with their arrangement to create a more distinctive look. As the Property Brothers show here, simple subway tile looks bold and beautiful when arranged in a herringbone pattern. Want more stylish ideas from Jonathan and Drew Scott? Here are some of our favourite inspiring Property Brothers kitchen transformation trends.

modern kitchen with grey backsplash tiles

HGTV Canada

4 / 10

Vertical Space

If herringbone patterns don’t appeal to you, you can also flip those horizontal tiles vertical to try another stylish kitchen backsplash tile trend. As this Making It Home With Kortney and Kenny kitchen shows, arranging tiles in a vertical orientation can create a striking (and elongating) visual effect in a space.

eclectic kitchen with black-and-white backsplash tile and yellow accents

Lauren Kolyn

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Artful Additions

Who says a backsplash has to be boring? Make it a work of art by playing with an artful arrangement of tiles. We love how a curated mix of patterns and solid tiles make black-and-white really pop in this Montreal kitchen, and we think the Property Brothers would agree (you can see some of the ways that they love to integrate black and white into their designs here).

white kitchen with green penny tiles on backsplash

HGTV Canada

6 / 10

Counting on Penny Tiles

Small, round and so pretty, the penny tile is an old-school favourite making a big home-design comeback in the past few years – especially when it comes to kitchen backsplash trends. We love how this Family Home Overhaul kitchen makes these petite tiles feel fresh and modern with an of-the-moment green hue.

blue-and-white kitchen with wavy backsplash tiles

HGTV Canada

7 / 10

Major Mermaid Vibes

Want to really make waves with your backsplash design? Curved, wave-inspired tiles create a striking look. These curvaceous tiles can be quite bold, so we love how the Save My Reno team kept the look chic by choosing a neutral white tone.

sleek kitchen with navy blue cabinets and patterned backsplash

HGTV Canada

8 / 10

Pattern Play

If you’re drawn to bolder, more maximalist designs, the kitchen backsplash is the perfect place to play with patterns. To keep the look on trend, choose a backsplash with a pattern that complements your cabinet style. This Making It Home With Kortney and Kenny kitchen offers a beautiful example of this, with eye-catching lines in the patterned backsplash tile pairing with the sleek angles of the cabinetry and wall art.

modern kitchen with white cabinets and slab-style backsplash over sink

HGTV Canada

9 / 10

Stylish Slabs

Slab-style backsplashes (AKA backsplashes made of one or a few large pieces, instead of many smaller tiles) are one of the most dramatic – and sleek – kitchen backsplash trends that we’re loving for 2022. As this Save My Reno kitchen shows, having one piece stretching from counter to ceiling creates a clean-lined (and super luxe) look – especially if that same material flows into the countertops.

white kitchen with white hexagon tiles on backsplash

Lauren Kolyn

10 / 10

Going Geometric

It’s time to play with shapes. Hexagonal-shaped tiles may feel a bit unexpected on the kitchen backsplash, but they’re a great way to add a lot of interest and personality to the space – as this bright white kitchen shows.