58 Unique Kitchen Backsplash Ideas, Straight From Designers (2024)

The kitchen backsplash is one of the most important—and fun!—design selections to make for your cookspace. Whether stone, tile, metal, or even wallpaper, unique kitchen backsplash ideas will add all kinds of personality to your kitchen. These days, options abound—for every design style and every budget, too. And in many cases, as you'll see here in our roundup from our favorite designer house tours, your kitchen backsplash likely will be the star of the show.

First, when looking for classic or modern kitchen backsplash ideas, you'll want to consider your kitchen's overall color palette, kitchen cabinet style, and countertop choices. Kitchen backsplash ideas with white cabinets range from monochromatic to graphic, colorful pattern. On the other hand, for those who love a kitchen with energizing kitchen paint colors, a backsplash with more subtle color or pattern, like kitchen tile backsplash ideas using a solid color or even white subway tile, is a good choice. For the ultimate pattern play, a wallpaper backsplash—yes, really!—is an approach designers are using more and more, as seen at the 2024 Kips Bay Decorator Show House Palm Beach. For small kitchen backsplash ideas, a seamless application with matching countertops works especially well.

Read on for our 58 best designer-approved kitchen backsplash ideas with wood cabinets, luxe looks using large slabs of natural stone, and even rustic farmhouse backsplash ideas. There's an eye-catching idea for every style right here!

In a North Carolina lodge, a custom-colored center island is fitted with Juno limestone counters, which also forms the backsplash. Designer Cliff Fong designed the cabinetry in the spirit of midcentury woodworker George Nakashima. Wicker stools, Stahl + Band.

A grand Atlanta estate calls for a grand kitchen. Luxurious statuario marble clads kitchen walls in earthen opulence. A large island and white cabinetry with gold hardware provide a clean palette for pops of happy color.

Ceiling-height wall tiles (they also wrap the hood are laid in a staggered bond pattern. Reclaimed brick flooring and oak countertops anchor the kitchen in beautiful rusticity in this Old Hollywood estate. Tiles, Waterworks.

In the kitchen of this Napa Valley ranch, cerused-oak cabinetry is paired with slate-hued Brazilian soapstone countertops and, around the cooktop, a backsplash of earthy brown tiles. Bronze hardware, Rocky Mountain Hardware.

In keeping with the tree bark-embellished cabinets, designer Richard Keith Langham left even more room for whimsy for the clever backsplash in this Mississippi hunting lodge bar. Wood rounds applied above the sink almost read like penny tiles. The kitchen’s wrought-iron chandelier (Currey & Company) lights a maple-topped island and suede swivel counter stools (Louis J. Solomon).

Leafy Italian tiles in the range nook create a pretty backdrop for a custom oak-​topped island in Mary Graham's restored millhouse.

In the Dallas home of hostess and author Kimberly Whitman, an enviable glassware collection sparkles behind glass-front cabinets. The bar brings even more glam with a smoky mirror backsplash and brass hardware.

Graphic black-and-white tile lends another dose of pattern play to this Kips Bay Decorator Show House kitchen designed by Christopher Peaco*ck. Cambria’s charcoal Montana Midnight Matte quartz countertops on the double islands offer a visual break. Drum pendants, Arteriors. Wine refrigerator, JennAir wine refrigerator. Woven counter stools, .

For the kitchen in this Newport Beach, California, house, architect Gil Schafer and designer Suzanne Rheinstein clad the walls in painted horizontal shiplap paneling, lending rustic warmth. The walls are adorned with botanical artwork illuminated by brass sconces with articulating arms (Robert Kime).

At this Sea Island, Georgia, home designed by Ellen Kavanaugh, the small kitchen reflects more seaside light thanks to iridescent tile from Paris Ceramics. Amping up the glam factor are the brass accents, from the floating shelves and hood cover to the cabinetry hardware and sink fixtures.

In this New York City apartment, designer Nick Olsen outfitted the kitchen with Carrara marble countertops and backsplash to minimize materials in the small space. Open shelves allow for a slightly airier feel and are the ideal spot for the owner to display his blue and white porcelain collection. The shelves and cabinets are Parma Gray by Farrow & Ball.

In this New Jersey home designed by Steven Gambrel, the kitchen backsplash and countertops are crafted of indigo green marble, which adds rich verdant shades to the tonal grey space. The caramel leather cantilever seating (York Street Studio) lends warmth. A range by BlueStar anchors the entire cookspace.

For this tiny bar space at a Michigan lake retreat, designer Summer Thornton installed a four-inch backsplash and countertops in Calacatta Viola marble. The dramatic purple veining provides bold contrast to the woodsy faux bois wallpaper.

At her English countryside home, wallpaper designer Mia Reay's kitchen features counters, a backsplash, and a shelf covered in simple white square tile. A treasured collection of Wedgwood plates was hidden from the Nazis by Aeneas’s grandmother during World War II; resurrected, it now crowns kitchen shelving. The checkered floor tiles are Victorian.