1. BE DECORATIVE
Yes, this is a functional room, but that doesn't mean you can't add in a little prettiness. The Delft-like prettiness of the tiles, above, soften the inevitable hard corners of the countertop and cabinets. "The shapes and colors you choose can make all the difference in turning a room into a place of rest and respite," says designer Minnie Kemp, a big fan of decorative kitchen tile ideas herself. She favors those made by Wayne Pate in collaboration with bathroom brand Balineum, which also work in kitchens. "For something a little more graphic, they are enduring classics," she says.
2. USE TONAL VARIATION
"The star of the show in this kitchen is undoubtedly the backsplash," says Ben Hawkswell of Roundhouse Design. "Early on in the project the owners knew they wanted an amazing stone feature and chose the striking Calacatta marble from a quarry in Italy. The base stone is a very crisp white, similar to the worktops, with marble veining that complements color tones in the pale grey cabinetry. We worked with a specialist marble fabricator to achieve the amazing four-piece book-matching pattern that’s centred perfectly on the wall."
3. MATCH THE BACKSPLASH TO THE CEILING
Wrapping your kitchen in color is a true way to make a design statement, and what better way than to use terracotta, one of the biggest current kitchen trends?
4. CONTRAST YOUR BACKSPLASH WITH YOUR FITTINGS
In this modern kitchen, the aged brass finish of the boiling water tap is contrasted beautifully by the creamy stone of the backsplash. "The contrast between this vintage, patinated finish and the crisp Neolith sintered stone behind is particularly striking," says Annie Ebenston, lead designer at Blakes London. "The sink, in crisp white enamelled cast iron, flows seamlessly with the pale surfaces."
5. STYLE YOUR BACKSPLASH UNEXPECTEDLY
Zig zag tiles are one of the biggest bathroom trends at the moment, and they're making their way over to kitchens, too. They feel more elevated than the classic subway placement of straight lines and blocks - subway tiles mostly seem out of style now - and are a lot jauntier and just generally more dynamic. ‘A unique placement of your tiles can really draw the eye and make a statement,’ says Amanda Telford of CTD Tiles.
6. CLASH COLORS BOLDLY
When you're planning a kitchen, it's important to think about its longevity. Backsplashes last a long time, and so it's key to make it as versatile as possible so you can update it as your tastes evolve.
7. PICK A HARDWEARING MATERIAL
"While the vertical surface is going to be less at risk of staining than the countertop, if you're the sort of person who worries about every scratch then you may prefer a composite like Caesarstone," says Hayley Robson of Day True. "It has the beautiful color and veining of marble, but is more durable." This sort of material is ideal for use in your kitchen countertop ideas and behind gas hobs where a naked flame could damage a surface over time.
8. CONSIDER THE STATEMENT TILE
The tiles Heidi Callier used for her backsplash ideas here run across a few colors in the beige spectrum, until you get to a patch of blue above the sink, like the sky bursting through the clouds. It's an innovative approach, like creating a patchwork quilt but with tiles, and is distinct to you and unique, and can help add hits of brightness to your kitchen color ideas.
9. TAKE THE TILES TO THE CEILING
Whoever said the backsplash had to be compact? If you've found a tile you love enough to want to live with, why not take it all the way to the top? This look is a commitment, but really plays into the height of a room, emphasising the use of space and stopping your eye from seeing shortening lines across the wall.
10. USE THE BACKSPLASH AS A SHELF
Architect Ben Allen used colored concrete tinted with oxidised copper to create this hardwearing alternative countertop in his own kitchen. Cleverly, it climbs the wall and creates a little shelf on which to store bottles and ingredients.
Concrete was an inspired choice by Ben, made for its hardwearing durability. "Things like melamine may be more affordable, but once the surface gets damaged, it looks terrible," Ben says. "You then start to feel worse about your surrounding, stop taking care of them, lose pride in your home which can have a negative effect on yourself."