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Kitchen backsplashes were originally designed as a functional element of the kitchen: to protect the paint from splatters and spills. While they still serve that purpose, backsplashes have evolved into an important design element that can make your kitchen go from bland to grand.
If you’re looking for backsplash ideas to liven up your kitchen, these five kitchen backsplash trends may be just the thing the heart of your home needs.
Subway Tile
There’s a reason that subway tiles have been around for decades. This kitchen backsplash look is one that is completely timeless, especially if you choose a neutral color.
Subway tiles debuted in the New York subway system in the early 1900s, and it didn’t take long for this tiling style to catch on with homeowners because of durability, simplicity, and ease of maintenance. While white subway tiles are classic look, if you’re the adventurous type, you can add a pop of a trendy color in a neutral or all-white kitchen by installing brightly colored subway tiles.
Metal
Photo: Aiki Home Construction
While metal backsplashes may make you think of cold, industrial, stainless steel kitchens, there are other options. Manufacturers have created options that are stylish, warm, and appealing.
You can buy metal kitchen backsplashes in sheets of tin, stainless steel or copper. Most options are embossed with an attractive pattern, and all are easy to install. You can also use metal tiles to add more interest. Some designers even intermingle metal tiles with traditional ceramic, glass, or stone tiles to create interesting effects.
Glass Tile
Photo: Nest Homes
Sleek and elegant, glass tiles work well with many styles of kitchen décor. These tiles offer superb gloss and shine for a kitchen that glows with light. You can find glass tiles in traditional rectangular subway style or other interesting shapes.
A popular kitchen backsplash pattern features tiny one inch squares of glass tiles in several coordinating colors. However, you can find glass tiles in many shapes and patterns.
Stone
Photo: Anna King & Co.
There are several different options for stone backsplashes – all of which create a warm, rich, elegant look. Geometric stone tiles are available in myriad colors, shapes and sizes and work with a wide variety of home styles.
Additionally, you can find stone tiles that mimic the natural look of stacked stone in your kitchen. Alternately, if you prefer, you can find a stone backsplash that features tiny pebbles in a random pattern.
Wood
Photo: Our Tribe of 5ive
A wood kitchen backsplash can be painted or left natural and can sometimes be made of reclaimed wood. Cottage style homes may prefer a painted wooden backsplash featuring horizontal or vertical boards with a glossy coat finish. The advantage to this style is that it can be repainted if you want to change the look of the kitchen. You can also can glue bits of reclaimed wood to a mesh in order to make tiles that can be fitted on the wall, or you can also install ceramic tiles that mimic the appearance of wood for ease of cleaning.
The wood backsplash featured above is created from hexagonal wood blocks and is an inexpensive option. However, installing a new kitchen backsplash can get expensive, fast. We recommend getting quotes from several nearby contractors to determine how much you want to spend and to make sure you don’t go over budget.
