We Asked 3 Interior Designers to Name the Biggest Backsplash Trends and This One Will Surprise You
I fully support your right to timeless white subway tile, but hear me out: There are so many backsplash options out there. The possibilities are truly endless! Why limit yourself? I polled three different interior designers on what they think the best backsplash colors are, and what I learned is that it really depends on details like material and texture, among other things.
Whether you’re in a small coastal space or an open-concept galley kitchen, looking for trendy tiles or a more neutral texture, there’s always an opportunity to have some fun with your kitchen backsplash. Here’s what the experts said are the best kitchen backsplash colors of 2024 — for every kitchen.
1. Coordinating Stone
“When I design a kitchen, I like to coordinate the backsplash stone with the countertop — either keeping it the exact same or entirely different for contrast,” says Kristina Philips, founder of her namesake interior design firm in Ridgewood, New Jersey. In a recent kitchen she designed, she first chose a quartzite with plenty of movement for the island and a solid gray Pietra del Cardosa granite for the countertops, leading her to a calacatta marble subway tile in a herringbone pattern for the backsplash.” The result was balanced, encouraging the eye to dance around the space.
If you prefer a seamless, modern aesthetic, Philips recommends book-matching the edges — especially with a piece that has a lot of movement, to avoid it looking disjointed.
2. Warm Hand-Painted Tiles
To bring old-world charm to a space, Grey Joyner, founder of her namesake interior design firm in Wilson, North Carolina, likes to incorporate hand-painted tiles. “I love to see warm colors like browns, rich reds, and coral tones,” she explains. “All of them pair well with greens and blues.” Two of her favorite sources are Mosaic House and My Moroccan Tile, which she says have “amazing selections and phenomenal colors.”
3. Unexpected Neutral Materials
A decidedly unique — but still neutral — backsplash Joyner admires is incorporating textures like waterproof stucco, plaster, and concrete. “Some companies even have wallpaper that mimics these looks, like this plaster finish wallpaper from York Wallcoverings,” she says.
4. Green Tiles
To say green is a popular color right now would be an understatement, and it’s certainly the color of choice for Chandler Helms, founder of her namesake interior design firm in Austin, Texas. “There are wonderful variations of soft green and deep green tiles emerging right now,” she notes. “A green backsplash can add a lot of character to your space in a very small footprint.” Take, for example, this deep emerald green subway tile from TileBar, which combines a classic silhouette with a trending hue.
5. Handmade White Tiles
And if Helms’ clients want an all-white kitchen? “I select a handmade white tile with slight color variation,” she explains. “Adding texture through handmade tile creates an organic look and gets rid of the builder-grade feel.” When you don’t have any layers of color, it’s even more important to add layers of texture, like this zellige tile from clé does.
Which is your favorite backsplash color? Let us know in the comments below!