Flop Or Not: Are Side Splashes Helping Or Hurting Your Tile Design?

Choosing the right backsplash style and material for your space is hard enough, but things can get even more tricky when you consider the placement. Typical backsplashes cover the wall behind your sink or appliances, but if your kitchen or bathroom counter ends in a corner, you might be wondering whether or not you should extend the design even further. The answer, according to Artem Kropovinsky, interior designer and founder of Arsight Studio, is simply that it depends on the situation.

In an exclusive interview with House Digest, Kropovinsky shared the pros and cons of including a side splash and how to decide if you should incorporate one into your space. One of the major benefits, just like with regular backsplashes, is the ease of maintenance. "Side backsplashes can protect side walls from stains and splashes from the sinks and stoves, at the same time creating built-in look," he said. If you're particularly worried about keeping your space clean or tend to deal with messy splatters, a side splash might be a necessity, regardless of how it impacts the style of the room. With that being said, however, they're not always needed, and there are ways to make them look more cohesive and stylish instead of like a last-minute addition if you do decide to incorporate them into your home's design.

According to Kropovinsky, the first step in deciding whether you should add a side splash requires you to look at your existing layout and determine what style you're going for. "To determine if a side backsplash is a good idea for your design, think about the kitchen layout and the material of backsplash," he said. "If the kitchen direction is an open concept, adding the side backsplash will reduce the minimalist approach in the space." If you're trying to give your kitchen a modern, minimalist look and the corner isn't a high-activity space, you might be better off nixing the side splash to decrease visual clutter.

If it's right next to your range or a frequently used sink, however, a bit of extra wipeable material can go a long way in keeping the space clean. "It's a great idea for cooking areas with high traffic because it will also become a practical extension," Kropovinsky shared in his exclusive interview with House Digest. While that couple square feet of extra backsplash material might slightly impact your kitchen's design, a few tiles will look much better than a wall that's perpetually stained with tomato sauce or grease splatters.

While some side splashes can look awkward, especially if they just seem to float on the wall, others can add to the look of your kitchen. According to Kropovinsky, the difference lies in the material you choose. In his exclusive interview with House Digest, the designer shared that side splashes typically look better when they're made out of a material that's already in the space. "If matched with the material of the countertop, they can create continuity and make the kitchen space feel more completed," he said.

Following this line of thinking, natural stone side splashes are typically the safest bet, and they align perfectly with the matchy-matchy all-for-one countertop trend for 2025. "I typically recommend using quartz or marble, but it's important to make sure that the pattern will look seamless," Kropovinsky said. If you do decide to extend a tiled backsplash to the corner, however, the designer recommends that you pay special attention to the size, shape, and alignment of the material you choose. "When considering tiles for the backsplash, the pattern plays a crucial role, because in this case, some [designs] might become too busy," he said.