These Are The Best Kitchen Backsplash Colors

Choosing a backsplash for your kitchen can be a daunting task. With myriad of colors, textures, finishes, and materials, the selection process can be overwhelming. So, we've curated a collection of color recommendations based on home resale value as well as current popularity in home decor styles. Choose from white, neutrals, earth tones, and dramatically dark or vibrant colors, depending on your kitchen style and personal preferences. Or, mix and match a few hues to get the curated look you're dreaming of.

A backsplash in the kitchen serves the vital function of protecting the wall from stains and damage that may result from cooking and food-prep activities. However, it also provides an opportunity to add style and personality to your kitchen space, adding to its functional value. You may choose a backsplash color that blends seamlessly with the colors on your walls, cabinetry, and countertops. On the other hand, you might take the opposite approach and treat it as an ideal place to introduce color contrast for visual interest. In open-concept home designs, the kitchen is seen from anywhere throughout the space, and the backsplash can become an artistic focal point for the home. Here are some of your best options.

White in the kitchen has long been considered a wise choice. While current homeowners and decorators are getting away from the stark look of all-white kitchens, there's no doubt that white continues to demonstrate its functionality and popularity. A white tile backsplash reflects light, providing a clean, bright background where you prep, cook, and clean. In a 2021 survey of prospective home buyers, Zillow found that classic white in the kitchen is your best bet for home resale value because it attracts more viewers and buyers. Realtor makes a similar suggestion, saying that a white or neutral-color backsplash will help you get "top dollar" for your home. 

White subway tiles are a popular choice for a backsplash, as they complement multiple decor designs, a typically budget-friendly, and offer style longevity. The rectangular tiles, reminiscent of early 20th-century subway stations, are available in ceramic, porcelain, and glass and multiple sizes, like these from The Tile Shop. Alternatively, you can play around with different tile designs to boost the aesthetic appeal. So, if you're not a big fan of subway tiles, consider mosaic and 3-D options. The range of designs, patterns, and textures will leave you spoilt for choices. Besides, you get to experiment with the tile arrangement, too. For instance, hexagonal or herringbone shapes are sure to create visual interest and vertical layouts can draw the eye upward.

An easy way to style your white tiles is outfit your kitchen with colorful accents. You can even opt for a contrasting grout like charcoal grey, black, or even navy. Or, sneak in a row of complementary tiles in a different color, to break up the monotony and make your backsplash stand out. However, ensure their design and finish matches your white tiles, or you could end up with an eyesore. Dark-colored cabinets and shelves are another good way to create contrast and prevent the space from looking sterile. 

Neutral colors include varying shades of ivory, beige, tan, and gray. A backsplash rendered in a light neutral color lends a crisp and clean appearance to the kitchen work area. It allows the eye to rest as you look around the kitchen. However, if you want to add some more personality to the space, you can add pops of bright and bold color in cookware, curtains, or artwork.

It's no secret that neutral colors are appealing to prospective home buyers and they never go out of style. In a survey by Zillow, neutral colors in the kitchen were rated second only to white for boosting home values. Trulia echoes these claims, stating that replacing or adding a backsplash pays off when it's time to sell your house. As a bonus, a light neutral color can make your kitchen look bigger, making you feel like you're working with more square footage. Plus, the backsplash is a tough item to swap out. So, going neutral gives you more flexibility when changing other kitchen finishes in the future.

In case you're worried that neutral tones will make your cooking haven feel boring, think again. These colors play nice with most of the design themes, decor elements, and accessories, giving you a broad range to work with. Varied patterns and textures will garner attention without stealing the spotlight from your room's focal point. So, go with a dramatic or playful motif to make a statement. A hand-crafted zellige backsplash, like this option from TileBar, will add movement and create texture. Plus, the quality craftsmanship and the perfectly imperfect tiles will guarantee your neutral choice looks anything but boring. Add visual interest and depth with a few well-placed light sources that play off the texture of the backsplash.

Although ceramic tile might be a popular material for kitchen backsplashes, it's certainly not the only option. Natural stone tile is a viable choice, and it increases your home's resale value. For example, if you add stone countertops, you can expect up to a 200% return on investment. Keeping that in mind, a similar backsplash will also help elevate your home. Many natural stone materials feature earthy colors that bring a warm vibe to your kitchen design. These include the brown, tan, sand, deep red, and rust tones found in granite, marble, terra cotta, and slate tiles.

Earthy colors represent a current trend in kitchen design. DIYers and professional decorators are using less white and more warm tones in kitchens. Since people feel connected to nature in the presence of earth colors and natural materials, bring these elements into your home environment to produce a calm atmosphere. They can also had texture and visual interest without being overwhelming.

Natural stone backsplashes aren't just reserved for a farmhouse or rustic setting. They look equally good in a modern home, especially if you want something that'll stand in stark contrast to the otherwise sleek decor. The selection becomes more interesting when you add warm earthy tones to the mix. Not only will such a backsplash make your otherwise busy kitchen more inviting. But, it'll also help you crank up the moody dial if you play your cards right. Just think of how well a natural stone backsplash in warm earth tones will play off wooden cabinets and overhead beams. A contemporary range hood and light fixtures can create contrast, add functionality, and complete the look. 

As homeowners and designers move on from the all-white kitchen aesthetic, it appears that the color blue is becoming increasingly popular. Homebuyers react positively to this trend. Zillow reports that you can increase your home's resale value by using blue as a decor color in the kitchen. In fact, blue kitchens sold for a $1,809 premium. It's not that decorators are moving toward all-blue rooms. Instead, blue is a frequent choice to break up the blandness of the white and neutral colors that remain popular in modern kitchens. 

The backsplash is an ideal area to add an accent color to your kitchen decor scheme, and blue is the perfect candidate. With myriad shades available, you can choose from cobalt, navy, aqua, sky blue, sea blue, and more. They can either create bold and vibrant color statements or softly restful palettes that blend into the background. 

You don't just get to explore the varied hues, you can also dive into various aesthetics that blue tile can be part of. Create a breezy coastal look with a powdery blue tile and white cabinetry, or go with dark blue tiles and deep wood cabinets for a more intense, glam vibe. If you find it difficult to just pick one hue, use multiple complementary shades for a stunning display, like this mosaic option from Floor and Decor. And, don't just consider tiles in solid shades. Check out varied textures and patterns to give your space a visible facelift. Brick-style tiles, scalloped shapes, floral or geometric designs, and dramatic shapes are all fair game. If you're looking for a custom design, a graphic tile with a blue design, like this one from Lowe's, can create a truly unique look.

Marble is a classic, natural stone material that never goes out of style. It contributes an aura of luxury to any home interior. Often, homebuyers are looking for high-end finishes and are willing to pay more for homes that offer the elegance of marble. This means that homeowners who invest in these materials may see a nice return on their investment when it's time to sell their homes.

When it comes to color, white marble with gray veins is a popular choice. Used as a backsplash material, marble in this color combination provides a lovely contrast with dark cabinets. Polished marble reflects light, and the white background lends a clean and bright ambiance to the work area, while the gray veins contribute visual interest. Marble is heat-resistant, water-resistant, and durable. However, it's possible for your marble backsplash to chip, crack, or stain. In case of damage, replacing a few marble tiles is easier and less expensive than replacing a large slab. So, if that's a concern, you can go with a large-format marble tile like this option from The Home Depot. 

While you might feel like you won't have a lot of options if you opt for this simple design, that's rarely true. This is because the distinct swirls and veining will naturally draw the eye no matter which of the two options you pick. Carrara marbles have a relatively delicate veining, whereas Calacatta typically features dense veins and demands a higher price tag. Moreover, this subtle backsplash color can serve as the perfect backdrop for bold cabinet and furniture ideas. Wooden cabinets and a butcher block also contrast well with the luxurious marble. Plus, you can up the ante by pairing the look with gold (or copper) accents and brass hardware. 

Even though multi-colored backsplash might seem too busy or childish for your tastes, colorful tile backsplashes are trending. It's like adding a piece of beautiful jewelry to a stunning outfit. The backsplash becomes a focal point for a lively kitchen design that allows you to express your unique personality, especially if you want to make a statement with multiple colors.

When using a wide range of hues, stick to simple shapes to balance the look. However, the backsplash color palette can be as subtle or dramatic as you want. In fact, you don't have to primarily stick with bold colors. An excellent way to introduce multi-colored glass tiles in your kitchen is to go for a gradient mosaic, wherein the tiles go from dark to light or vice versa for an ombre effect. Or, go with a solid neutral with subtle pops of colored accents like this option from Modwalls Tile.

Then, nail the colorful tile look with these design tips. For starters, carefully choose the finishes you want to pair together since you don't want to display a jumbled mess in your kitchen. A good starting point is to look at your current design scheme and find a way to strike a balance between the two. Combine multi-colored backsplashes with cabinetry and countertop colors that blend well with the hues. Then, keep the rest of the details, like cabinet hardware and light fixtures simple to allow the colorful backsplash to shine.

We associate green with living things and nature. The earth tone reminds us of good health and a fresh, outdoor environment. Those associations make green a viable color option for modern kitchens. Sage green, deep olive green, forest green, and emerald green shades appear to be gaining in current popularity. In a survey of homebuyers, Zillow found that dark green in the kitchen produced more interest.

If you have light-colored cabinets and countertops, a vibrant or dark green color in the backsplash creates contrast and visual interest. An intense green color can be stunning when the backsplash is made of a polished, high-gloss material like glass, ceramic, or porcelain, creating a jewel-like effect. However, green-colored tiles are available in a wide range of shades. Softer greens may blend with other light colors in the kitchen to produce a calming feel. In recent years, pale mint green has been trending in kitchen designs. However, Zillow reports that mint green in the kitchen is not popular with potential homebuyers, often resulting in a nearly $2,000 loss.

So, set aside a few hours to ooh and aah over the gorgeous ideas on the Internet and take notes on what you want your kitchen to look like. Visualize varied colors and how they'd fit a simple pattern or something a little daring like herringbone, emerald, chevron. Then, keep the cabinetry in your kitchen simple so the backsplash can serve as a focal point. For example, emerald green tile shines against white cabinets while hunter green shades look uber sophisticated with deep wood shades.