11 White Backsplash Ideas With Nary a Subway Tile in Sight
If you want to go beyond the classic rectangle, consider these other white backsplash tile options
Kitchen backsplashes come in all flavours, from the bold and colourful to the subtle and calm. If you like the look of white subway tile but prefer to try something more adventurous, consider these 11 fresh alternatives. All are white, which keeps them understated, yet each has a shape or size that makes it special.
Here’s how elongated hexagon tile looks in a San Francisco kitchen.
2. Oversize herringbone
Large backsplash tiles arranged in a herringbone pattern bring a classic tile layout to this contemporary kitchen. Subtle grey colouring adds interest.
Large backsplash tiles arranged in a herringbone pattern bring a classic tile layout to this contemporary kitchen. Subtle grey colouring adds interest.
3. Hexagons with shimmer
Iridescent mosaic tiles bring a jewellery feel to the white hexagon tiles they surround in this Manhattan kitchen. This up-close photo shows the shimmery mosaic and hexagon combo.
Iridescent mosaic tiles bring a jewellery feel to the white hexagon tiles they surround in this Manhattan kitchen. This up-close photo shows the shimmery mosaic and hexagon combo.
4. Hexagon with dark grout
Hexagon tiles bring clean geometry to this loft kitchen in Los Angeles. Dark grout underscores the honeycomb pattern.
Read more about this kitchen
Hexagon tiles bring clean geometry to this loft kitchen in Los Angeles. Dark grout underscores the honeycomb pattern.
Read more about this kitchen
5. Rectangles inside squares
This backsplash pattern comes from rectangles paired to create the look of a single square. It’s a pleasing surprise in this New York kitchen.
This backsplash pattern comes from rectangles paired to create the look of a single square. It’s a pleasing surprise in this New York kitchen.
6. Geometric
These tiles in a San Jose, California, kitchen look like angular fans or slices of origami paper laid one on top of the other.
Tile cleaning 101
These tiles in a San Jose, California, kitchen look like angular fans or slices of origami paper laid one on top of the other.
Tile cleaning 101
7. Diamond tiles
In this London kitchen, small diamond-shaped tiles are laid in a pattern of stars or tumbling block shapes, depending on how you look at them.
Fans of M.C. Escher might enjoy this tile shape and pattern.
In this London kitchen, small diamond-shaped tiles are laid in a pattern of stars or tumbling block shapes, depending on how you look at them.
Fans of M.C. Escher might enjoy this tile shape and pattern.
8. Fish scale
If you like more texture with your tile, you might appreciate the backsplash in this home in Svetlogorsk, Russia.
The sculptural tiles bring a scale-like feel to the kitchen walls – appropriate for a home located on the Baltic Sea.
If you like more texture with your tile, you might appreciate the backsplash in this home in Svetlogorsk, Russia.
The sculptural tiles bring a scale-like feel to the kitchen walls – appropriate for a home located on the Baltic Sea.
Here’s how a full wall of the fish scales appears above the kitchen sink. A spiral shell reinforces the seaside theme.
Read more about this home
Read more about this home
9. Circles and S-curve
Swoops and circles add texture to the backsplash in this Charlotte, North Carolina, kitchen. The pinwheel-pattern tile is ordered by the piece.
Swoops and circles add texture to the backsplash in this Charlotte, North Carolina, kitchen. The pinwheel-pattern tile is ordered by the piece.
10. Square trays
The edging on these tiles gives each the appearance of a miniature square tray. It’s a look that’s both current and classic.
The edging on these tiles gives each the appearance of a miniature square tray. It’s a look that’s both current and classic.
Here you can see that the tray-like tiles rise to the crown moulding in this Los Angeles home, which belongs to Drew Scott of Property Brothers fame.
11. Back-painted glass
If you want a really simple white backsplash, a sheet of glass back-painted white might be the way to go. There are no grout lines, and you get a wipeable and smooth-looking surface.
TELL US
Do you have a beautiful white backsplash that doesn’t use subway tile? We’d love to see what you did. Show us in the Comments!
MORE
How Long and How High Should Your Backsplash be?
If you want a really simple white backsplash, a sheet of glass back-painted white might be the way to go. There are no grout lines, and you get a wipeable and smooth-looking surface.
TELL US
Do you have a beautiful white backsplash that doesn’t use subway tile? We’d love to see what you did. Show us in the Comments!
MORE
How Long and How High Should Your Backsplash be?
This tile offers a fresh approach to both hexagon and subway tiles with its elongated shape, which can be laid horizontally or vertically. Here, taupe grout emphasises the tile’s contemporary form.