Simple Kitchen Backsplash Tile Ideas: Backsplashes That Complement Many Kitchen Designs
Not all backsplash tile needs to be overly decorative. Sometimes a kitchen needs a quiet place for the eye to rest; a simple backsplash is what's needed.
Whether a kitchen is modern or more traditional, sometimes busy granites, lots of stainless steel, decorative cabinet knobs and a bold paint color can overwhelm and the backsplash design needs to compliment, but not compete with the space. These simple backsplash ideas will ensure that the kitchen looks pulled together and not too busy.
Solid Color Backsplashes Use Shape to Decorate
Whether using a ceramic tile backsplash, or one made of tumbled stone, keeping to one color throughout will help keep the kitchen from having too much going on, especially if there are competing design elements elsewhere. Different shapes and sizes of the same material can be used for a tone-on-tone effect.
Try placing a row of 4x4” tumbled stone straight along the countertop, then top with a few rows of mosaic tile in the same color. Switch back to the larger tile above it to continue to the cabinet. This adds texture and depth to the backsplash without making it too busy.
Keep One Shape of Backsplash Tile Throughout
Another option is to use one particular shape throughout the backsplash, but change its orientation. This works particularly well for ceramic tile backsplashes.
Run subway tile in a running bond along the counters; switch this up behind the stove by laying the same tile in a herringbone pattern. This can be framed by a molding of the same tile, or for a small splash of color, in a glass mosaic, or a molding in a complimentary color to the rest of the kitchen.
A line of 4” square tile can be run straight along the counters, and turned on an angle behind the stove for a simple decorative backsplash.
Accent Sparingly with Mosaic Tile
If a solid color is too plain for the kitchen, but going overly decorative will overwhelm the space, consider cutting sheets of mosaic tile into strips, and running these as a border through a field of a larger tile.
One row of 1” mosaic, one tile up from the counter, can add just a bit of color and style to a backsplash. If a slightly more dramatic look is required, use the same mosaic to fill in the area behind the stovetop, and frame it with a molding of the same material as the field.
Occasional Pops of Color Can Compliment Kitchen Design
If mosaic tile seems too busy, but a small amount of accent tile is desired, consider cutting in plain 2” tiles in a color picked up elsewhere in the kitchen. If the field tile is laid on an angle, one 2” tile can be cut in every 12” in a straight line around the kitchen. This can be done tone-on-tone as well, to add extra depth without necessarily adding additional color, if the kitchen is monochromatic.
If trying to decide if an accent is too much for the space, try using pieces of masking tape, and marking off on the wall where the accent is to go. If the space looks overly busy, the accent can be eliminated from the design prior to ordering.
Remember that sometimes simple designs are the most classic, and often have the most staying power. To ensure that the kitchen continues to appeal for years to come, consider sticking to the classics and leave the trends for elsewhere.
