6 Different Patterns to Install a Tile Backsplash
Bold grout lines, bright colours and unusual layouts can turn rectangular tiles into an eye-catching focal point
One way to make a kitchen backsplash stand out is with beautiful, customised patterned tile – a popular option these days, but one that tends to be on the pricier side. If you’d like to have a visually interesting backsplash, you might consider simple rectangular tiles instead. By paying special attention to your tile’s colour and the way it is laid out, you can create a backsplash high on style. Here are six tile and pattern combinations to consider.
This kitchen also uses flat-front cabinets and colourful tile with a stacked bond pattern. The cabinetry, counters, walls and floors have minimal pattern. This smooth, calm backdrop offers a nice contrast to the bold colour and stacked bond pattern of the tile backsplash. You can work with your kitchen designer to choose inexpensive flat-front cabinets and standard rectangular tile to create a look similar to this kitchen.
2. Vertical stacked bond pattern with any colour tile
Now take the stacked bond pattern and stand it on its side. Vertical stacked bond also works well with simple, sparse cabinets, but it feels more playful than the horizontal version – perhaps because of the unusual orientation of the tiles, or the stronger sense of repetition from this layout’s many vertical seams. The vertical stacked bond tiles seem to mimic the lines of the doors, almost like shoji screens.
Now take the stacked bond pattern and stand it on its side. Vertical stacked bond also works well with simple, sparse cabinets, but it feels more playful than the horizontal version – perhaps because of the unusual orientation of the tiles, or the stronger sense of repetition from this layout’s many vertical seams. The vertical stacked bond tiles seem to mimic the lines of the doors, almost like shoji screens.
3. Running bond pattern with vertical subway tile
Placing traditional subway tiles in a vertical arrangement is another way to add visual interest and bold design detail to your kitchen. Here, the tile layout is the typical running bond pattern seen with subway tiles, except turned on its side. Similar to the idea of slimming vertical stripes on your clothes, vertical grout seams draw your eye upward, making your counter space and ceilings feel taller. Consider installing the backsplash all the way to the ceiling, as pictured here, to take advantage of this visual trick.
How long and how high should your backsplash be?
Placing traditional subway tiles in a vertical arrangement is another way to add visual interest and bold design detail to your kitchen. Here, the tile layout is the typical running bond pattern seen with subway tiles, except turned on its side. Similar to the idea of slimming vertical stripes on your clothes, vertical grout seams draw your eye upward, making your counter space and ceilings feel taller. Consider installing the backsplash all the way to the ceiling, as pictured here, to take advantage of this visual trick.
How long and how high should your backsplash be?
Using multiple colours in vertically laid out tile can add even more visual interest. Here, the oranges and reds warm this kitchen, adding depth and cosiness to a space with modern, flat cabinetry surfaces. Again, the vertical lines of the tile and grout make the space feel taller and help balance the long, horizontal window. A wide, long window can make a room appear longer and its ceilings lower, but strong vertical lines in the tile layout counteract that.
4. Herringbone pattern with bold use of colour
Herringbone uses standard rectangular tile, turned 45 degrees and stacked in a diagonal layout to create a classic pattern. This arrangement really shines when bold colour is added. This kitchen mixes black, grey and white rectangular tiles for an expensive-looking herringbone layout.
Herringbone uses standard rectangular tile, turned 45 degrees and stacked in a diagonal layout to create a classic pattern. This arrangement really shines when bold colour is added. This kitchen mixes black, grey and white rectangular tiles for an expensive-looking herringbone layout.
5. Basket-weave pattern plus bold colour
This photo shows a clear example of the basic basket-weave pattern, which uses rectangular tile both horizontally and vertically, with smaller square tiles filling in the gaps. This pattern feels traditional and is often found in Tuscan and French country kitchens.
This photo shows a clear example of the basic basket-weave pattern, which uses rectangular tile both horizontally and vertically, with smaller square tiles filling in the gaps. This pattern feels traditional and is often found in Tuscan and French country kitchens.
A basket-weave pattern avoids long grout seams that draw your eye horizontally or vertically; instead, basket weave offers a comfortable, quilt-like look. Using white or bright colours can make basket weave look more contemporary and custom. In this kitchen, the brightly coloured tile and two-tone colour scheme –pale for most of the backsplash, bold beneath the range hood –creates a transitional basket-weave look.
6. Invent your own pattern with your favourite tile
This kitchen backsplash contains sage green, dark green, tan and cream tiles, and both the colours of the tile and the lines of the grout repeat. See how the grout lines between each sage green tile are centred on the dark green tiles? This design repeats both horizontally and from the top of the wall to the bottom. The backsplash adds warm colours to the kitchen, but the pattern offers a more rigid, architectural look.
To try your hand at designing a backsplash pattern of your own, you might start by purchasing colourful sample tiles to play with, or you could use paper and pencil to draft up a design. The key to creating a successful pattern is deliberate repetition. Either the colours or the lines should repeat to create a rhythm that looks intentional.
This kitchen backsplash contains sage green, dark green, tan and cream tiles, and both the colours of the tile and the lines of the grout repeat. See how the grout lines between each sage green tile are centred on the dark green tiles? This design repeats both horizontally and from the top of the wall to the bottom. The backsplash adds warm colours to the kitchen, but the pattern offers a more rigid, architectural look.
To try your hand at designing a backsplash pattern of your own, you might start by purchasing colourful sample tiles to play with, or you could use paper and pencil to draft up a design. The key to creating a successful pattern is deliberate repetition. Either the colours or the lines should repeat to create a rhythm that looks intentional.
This kitchen uses simple subway tiles with a running bond pattern (mentioned above), the typical pattern seen with subway tiles. With running bond, the tiles stack like bricks, with every vertical seam centered on the tile below.
However, this backsplash also has tiles with a subtle colour difference placed in large diagonal bands, creating a diagonal striped effect. The stripes even wrap the corner and become two other colours with subtle differences.
Using colour to create a pattern adds movement to the visual design. This means when you look at the backsplash, your eye will want to look around to take in the multiple patterns. It’s a dynamic look for sure.
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However, this backsplash also has tiles with a subtle colour difference placed in large diagonal bands, creating a diagonal striped effect. The stripes even wrap the corner and become two other colours with subtle differences.
Using colour to create a pattern adds movement to the visual design. This means when you look at the backsplash, your eye will want to look around to take in the multiple patterns. It’s a dynamic look for sure.
TELL US
Did you find this story useful? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to like or share this story and save your favourite photos. Join the conversation.
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Read more stories on kitchens
In a stacked bond pattern, vertical and horizontal grout seams all line up, like the pattern on a piece of grid paper. This simple, fresh look works particularly well with brightly coloured tile and clean-lined cabinetry. In this kitchen, the seams between the flat-front cabinets mimic the clean, orderly grout lines of the tile’s stacked bond pattern. And because the cabinet colours are neutral white and wood, the bold tile colour offers contrast and creates a vibrant focal point for the room.