12 Beautiful Kitchen Backsplash Ideas
The area behind your countertop can be the key design accent in your kitchen
It’s one of the most utilitarian parts of the kitchen, and also the most decorative. As indicated by its name, a backsplash is simply a finishing material that protects the wall behind the sink from water damage, or the area behind the cooktop from food stains and splatters.
But aside from being functional, a backsplash can be your accent in your kitchen, the focal point where the overall interior style is established or emphasized. Here are some noteworthy examples from our Real Homes.
Marble
For the ultimate in luxury (and if you have the budget), use natural stone for your kitchen backsplash, as this is possibly the most durable material for that area. In her kitchen, RL Style Spotter Donna Cuna-Pita used a beautiful white marble for the backsplash and countertops. “Pumipili naman ako kung saan ako willing gumastos,” Donna says.
READ: A Beautiful Dream House In Cavite That Was Decorated On A Budget
Glass
As interior designer Cara Marcelo used to work for a company that sold high-end kitchens, she pulled out all the stops on this chef-worthy European-made cooking hub for her husband, who works in the food business. A seamless glass backsplash complements the sleek and modern lines of the kitchen.
READ: An Airy, Modern-Pinoy Family Home In Quezon City
Stainless steel
You could tell that this family condo’s kitchen is a working kitchen, as it sports professional-grade, stainless steel countertops, backsplash, and washing area. Stainless steel is a material widely used in the industrial-grade kitchens, as it doesn’t harbor bacteria, is heat- and stain-proof, and is easy to clean.
READ: Splashes Of Color Liven Up This Modern Condominium
Sticker mosaic
Want a dramatic mosaic backsplash without the hassle of installation? Try stickers, like what designers Honey Mutia and Rosa Manduriao did in this condo kitchen. “We used sticker mosaic tiles as these look and feel like cut-out metal sheets,” Honey shares. “Installation was so much faster without having to chip off the wall and use cement or tile adhesive.”
READ: Neutral Colors Make This 50sqm Condo Unit Extra-Homey
White subway tiles
Subway tiles have been resurrected to become one of the trendiest kitchen and bathroom finishes today. Classic white subway tiles add a homey and charming feel to this all-white farmhouse-inspired kitchen.
READ: A Modern Farmhouse-Inspired Family Home in Laguna
Black subway tiles
If you want a bit of an edge, use black subway tiles, which contrast nicely against the white cabinetry of this home by Jen Sohu. Use white grout to make the tiles pop.
READ: A Rustic Contemporary Townhouse For A Family Of Six
Red subway tiles
For homeowners that are truly brave, bright red tiles can be the ultimate focal point of a kitchen. Designer Jo-Anne Corteza used glazed red subway tiles to accent the sleek, modern, all-white kitchen of this renovated townhouse.
READ: This Four-Storey Townhouse Is Like A Mini Hotel
Machuca tiles
Decorator Gwyn Guanzon was one of the first to use a patterned cement-tile backsplash. For Paul Camangian’s modern-Pinoy kitchen, Gwyn chose randomly patterned (and colored) Machuca tiles on the backsplash, creating a wall accent that can be seen from across the dining room.
READ: A Modern Filipino Townhouse In Quezon City
Patterned panel
Interior designers Tala Singson and Dagny Madamba installed a simple black granite countertop and backsplash for this farmhouse-style kitchen, but they used black-and-white patterned tiles for the central panel, creating a dramatic focal point.
READ: A Charming, Country-Style Home For A Family Of Four
Banggerahan
The banggera is—in traditional Filipino homes and bahay kubo—a slatted wooden shelf that juts out of a kitchen window, and is a spot for drying glasses. Art Gallery owner created a mini banggerahan for his apartment’s kitchen, and he does use it for drying off his drinking glasses and mugs.
READ: A Makati Apartment Filled With Art, Vintage Finds, And Memories
Rustic tiles
In the Avida Riala model unit in Cebu, interior designer Hannah Lim used unusually shaped tiles from iTrade that have a faux-natural stone finish. The adjacent wall was painted in chalkboard paint. If you have a small kitchen, a bold backsplash can give it added depth and oomph.
READ: Achieve a Hotel-Like One-Bedroom Condo Unit
Concrete
In the “dirty kitchen” of architect Alistair Sadie’s home, the countertop and backsplash are made out of simple concrete. “I wanted it to look as natural as much as possible,” he shares. “In the design, you will see the screws, bolts, and nuts. It is bare yet still cohesive.”
READ: This Industrial Contemporary Home Stands Out In Alabang
