Love a White Backsplash but Not Subway Tile? Try One of These (2024)

Kitchen Backsplashes

Kitchen Backsplashes

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White Kitchens

White Kitchens

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Kitchen Design

Tile

Tile

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What’s New in Tile for 2024Before and After: 5 Kitchens With Light Neutral BacksplashesWhat’s New in Tile for 2023The Changing Face of Tile at Italy’s Cersaie 2022 Trade Fair

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Materials

Kitchen Design

Kitchen Design

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Kitchen of the WeekSmall KitchensColorful KitchensKitchen StylesKitchen IslandsKitchen CabinetsKitchen CountertopsKitchen BacksplashesKitchen LightingKitchen WorkbookKitchen StorageKitchen AppliancesWhite KitchensKitchen LayoutsKitchen SinksKitchen PantriesKitchen Makeovers

If you want to go beyond the classic rectangle, consider these 11 white backsplash tile options

Erin CarlyleMarch 23, 2020

Former Houzz Editorial Staff. Writing about the cost of renovation and what it takes to remodel. Former Forbes real estate reporter. Fascinated by cool homes, watching the bottom line.

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Kitchen backsplashes come in all flavors, from the bold and colorful to the subtle and calm. If you like the look of white subway tile but prefer to try something more adventurous, consider these 11 fresh alternatives. All are white, which keeps them understated, yet each has a shape or size that makes it special.

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1. Elongated Hexagon

This tile offers a fresh approach to both hexagon and subway tiles with its elongated shape, which can be laid horizontally or vertically. Here, taupe grout emphasizes the tile’s contemporary form.

Find a kitchen designer near you

User

Here’s how elongated hexagon tile looks in a San Francisco kitchen.

Shop for tile on Houzz

SR Design Group, Inc.

2. Oversize Herringbone

Large backsplash tiles arranged in a herringbone pattern bring a classic tile layout to this contemporary kitchen. Subtle gray coloring adds interest.

Karen Berkemeyer Home

Karen Berkemeyer Home

3. Hexagons With Shimmer

Iridescent mosaic tiles bring a jewelry feel to the white hexagon tiles they surround in this Manhattan kitchen. This up-close photo shows the shimmery mosaic and hexagon combo. The tile is 3½-inch Thassos marble hexagon tile with three-eighths-inch-square mother of pearl inlay.

4. Hexagon With Dark Grout

Hexagon tiles bring clean geometry to this loft kitchen in Los Angeles. Dark grout underscores the honeycomb pattern.

Shop for white hexagon tile

Lynn Gaffney Architect, PLLC

5. Rectangles Inside Squares

This backsplash pattern comes from rectangles paired to create the look of a single square. It’s a pleasing surprise in this New York kitchen.

Urbanism Designs

6. Geometric

These tiles in a San Jose, California, kitchen look like angular fans or slices of origami paper laid one on top of the other.

Nick Smith www.nsphotography.co.uk

7. Diamond Tiles

In this London kitchen, small diamond-shaped tiles are laid in a pattern of stars or tumbling block shapes, depending on how you look at them.

Fans of M.C. Escher might enjoy this tile shape and pattern.

Make Interiors

8. Fish Scale

If you like more texture with your tile, you might appreciate the backsplash in this home in Svetlogorsk, Russia.

The sculptural tiles bring a scale-like feel to the kitchen walls — appropriate for a home located on the Baltic Sea.

Make Interiors

Here’s how a full wall of the fish scales appears above the kitchen sink. A spiral shell reinforces the seaside theme.

Read more about this home

Walker Woodworking

9. Circles and S-Curves

Swoops and circles add texture to the backsplash in this Charlotte, North Carolina, kitchen. The pinwheel-pattern tile is ordered by the piece.

Breeze Giannasio Interiors

10. Square Trays

The edging on these tiles gives each the appearance of a miniature square tray. It’s a look that’s both current and classic.

Breeze Giannasio Interiors

Here you can see that the tray-like tiles rise to the crown molding in this Los Angeles home, which belongs to Drew Scott of Property Brothers fame.

Collected Interiors

11. Back-Painted Glass

If you want a really simple white backsplash, a sheet of glass back-painted white might be the way to go. There are no grout lines, and you get a wipeable and smooth-looking surface.

Tell us: Do you have a beautiful white backsplash that doesn’t use subway tile? We’d love to see what you did. Show us in the Comments!

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Love a White Backsplash but Not Subway Tile? Try One of These (2024)

FAQs

Love a White Backsplash but Not Subway Tile? Try One of These? ›

Back-Painted Glass

What is replacing subway tile? ›

Herringbone Mosaic Tile

The herringbone pattern is a great alternative to subway tiles. It tends to add visual interest and dimension to the walls while creating an interesting pattern. So, if you're fond of a unique appeal without making your kitchen look old-school with subway tiles - this is one of the best ways.

What is the most timeless kitchen backsplash? ›

Marble, granite, and limestone are all popular options because of their timeless, organic look. They come in a range of colors and they can be installed with minimal grouting so they offer a uniform surface with less visible seams.

What backsplash tile never goes out of style? ›

A white subway tile backsplash design is the ultimate preference in many kitchens. Since they were found at the very beginning of the 20th century, the subway tiles we now use in our kitchens have been a popular choice.

Is subway tile in the kitchen outdated? ›

White subway tile will never go out of style and will never feel or look dated. How can we say and claim that with such certainty? It's easy! White subway tile is a staple of modern kitchens and presents a modern classic that easily fits in any kitchen style and goes perfectly with any kitchen cabinets colors.

Is subway tile backsplash outdated? ›

Yes, it's been in vogue (and perhaps overused) of late, but if you think it's dated, think again–this tile has been around since the early 1900s, and homeowners are still clamoring for it. Let's face it. Subway tile isn't truly a design trend–at least, not in the same way the chevron prints or popcorn ceilings are.

What are the disadvantages of subway tiles? ›

Listed below are a few disadvantages of subway tiles:
  • They can be difficult to clean due to their small surface area and grout lines.
  • They require more grout than other types of tiles, which can be expensive and time-consuming to install.
  • The grout lines can easily become stained or discolored over time.
Feb 1, 2023

What is the trend in backsplash in 2024? ›

However, the 2024 trend is using stone tiles to add texture and style to your kitchen. Whether you decide to use tiles with a weathered finish or ones that have an acid-wash look, your kitchen backsplash will be spectacular with stone tiles.

Should backsplash be lighter or darker than countertop? ›

So, if you have lighter cabinets and countertops, you should incorporate a darker backsplash to provide more visual interest and depth to your space. When you have darker cabinets and countertops, you should bring in a lighter backsplash to make your kitchen feel fresh and inviting.

What is the best backsplash to brighten a kitchen? ›

A solid marble slab for the kitchen's backsplash helps brighten and visually open up the room — a luxurious way to make the walls disappear.

Where should you not put backsplash? ›

The backsplash connects the two sets of cabinets, which helps the room feel bigger and more cohesive. Do not put a backsplash behind your fridge unless you can clearly see that wall. In most cases, the space behind the fridge is not visible anywhere in the kitchen.

What is groutless backsplash? ›

Stress-Free Peel-and-Stick Tiles

With no grout or special tools needed, peel and stick backsplash tiles are installed with ease and absolutely no mess. Our peel-and-stick tiles come with a paper backing that you can peel away and stick as an easy way to upgrade the look and functionality or your kitchen or bathroom.

What kitchen countertops never go out of style? ›

5 kitchen countertops that never go out of style – timeless choices to suit any homeowner
  • Marble.
  • Quartz.
  • Granite.
  • Butcher block countertops.
  • Soapstone.
Aug 16, 2023

Is Subway tile out of style in 2024? ›

There are a few staples when it comes to bathroom tile, the design equivalents of your favorite white T-shirt. Simple subway tile and black-and-white patterns are timeless and aren't going anywhere anytime soon. But we're not here to talk about the classics.

Is the subway tile outdated in 2024? ›

Subway tile backsplashes, known for their classic and versatile appeal, are becoming less popular as homeowners seek more distinctive and personalized design elements for their kitchens, says Mariya Snisar, the head of interior design at Renowell. Hexagonal tiles or larger-format tiles feel more contemporary, she says.

What can you use instead of tiles in the kitchen? ›

Think marbles, concretes, bricks, metallics and glossy blacks and whites – the opportunities are endless! Splashbacks are not only practical to help protect your walls from any unruly cooking, by they also prevent steam and heat from damaging the wall behind.

What is the difference between field tile and subway tile? ›

Difference Between Field Tile and Subway Tile

While both options can be made using ceramic tile, subway tile is typically smaller and rectangular, while field tile is larger and can be square or rectangular.

Does subway tile increase home value? ›

If you want to customize your kitchen and increase the resale value of your home, a kitchen subway tile backsplash can help you achieve that balance. Subway tile backsplashes are versatile, low maintenance, and last for decades.

Why are tiles discontinued? ›

Roofing tile companies merge together.

Generally, when large roofing tile companies acquired the smaller ones, they stop producing the smaller company's tile products. These abandoned product lines would be considered “discontinued” tile.

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