6 Trending Kitchens That Show How to Work In a Bold Backsplash

While the white kitchen seems to be a trend with staying power, we’ve noticed more homeowners choosing colorful tile backsplashes lately. That trend was evident in many of the most popular new kitchen photos added to Houzz from April through June, as measured by how many people saved them to their ideabooks during that period. Below are some of the standouts from new kitchen photos that made the top 40. Which backsplash style is your favorite?

Mosaic wall. A custom tile backsplash amps up the energy in this Seattle kitchen, which also features a chopping station. The first photo made the top 40 new kitchen photos; the second did not but shows a nice detail of the tile.

Party tile. Teardrop-shaped teal and white tiles evoke the bubbling top of a glass of Champagne in this Canadian kitchen backsplash. The inventive pattern is more lively than a full wall of the teal tiles would be. Also, fading to white as the backsplash goes higher gives the space a more airy, open feel.

Halfway up. This intricate backsplash in a kitchen in Moscow goes halfway up the wall — just the right amount so that the detailed pattern doesn’t overwhelm the eye. Capping the backsplash with a shelf adds to the kitchen’s storage and design.

Mezzanotte. This hand-painted ceramic tile brings an artisanal look to a traditional white kitchen. Geometric pottery and wooden salt and pepper containers underscore the handmade feel.

Countertop: Caesarstone 5133 Symphony Grey; Fatima hand-painted field tile in Mezzanotte finish from Walker Zanger’s Duquesa collection

Here’s a pulled-back view of the backsplash against the surrounding white Shaker cabinetry. This photo was the fourth-most popular new kitchen photo added to Houzz from April through June of this year.

Happy pop. This kitchen features a neutral palette that gains visual interest from the sunflower-patterned mosaic tile, which adds an upbeat, energetic feel to the room.

Backsplash tile: Ann Sacks

A queen every day. This backsplash is a combination of geometric porcelain tile and wallpaper that features the likenesses of historic queens. The owner of this home — actually a houseboat in Sausalito, California, that belongs to an international lawyer — experimented with pattern and color for a truly unique floating residence.

Wallpaper: Trove; porcelain tile: Global Tile Design

By Erin Carlyle, Houzz