The kitchen backsplash serves both a practical and aesthetic purpose, protecting walls from splashes and spills while adding style and personality to the space. With a wide array of materials, styles, and designs to choose from, selecting the perfect backsplash for your kitchen can be an exciting yet daunting task. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the options and choose the best backsplash to enhance your Nashville kitchen’s beauty and functionality.
The Top 5 materials
- Ceramic Tile: Ceramic tile is a popular choice for kitchen backsplashes due to its durability, versatility, and affordability. It comes in a variety of colors, sizes, and patterns, allowing you to create endless design possibilities. Ceramic tile is also easy to clean and resistant to heat and moisture, making it ideal for kitchen use. Ceramic tiles are by far the most popular choice because of their prices, large variety of design and also being very resistant and easy to maintain!
- Glass Tile: Glass tile adds a sleek and modern touch to any kitchen with its reflective surface and luminous appearance. It comes in a range of colors and finishes, from glossy to matte, and can be installed in various patterns, such as subway or mosaic. Glass tile is non-porous and resistant to stains, making it easy to maintain and clean.
- Natural Stone: Natural stone, such as marble, granite, or travertine, lends a timeless and luxurious look to your kitchen backsplash. Each piece of stone is unique, with distinct veining and color variations that add character to the space. While natural stone is durable and heat-resistant, it requires sealing to prevent staining and etching over time.
- Porcelain Tile: Porcelain tile offers the look of natural stone with added durability and stain resistance. It’s available in a wide range of colors, textures, and finishes, including matte, glossy, and textured. Porcelain tile is easy to clean and maintain, making it suitable for high-traffic kitchen areas.
- Metal: Metal, such as stainless steel or copper, provide a sleek and contemporary aesthetic to your kitchen. They’re durable, heat-resistant, and easy to clean, making them ideal for busy cooking environments. Metal backsplashes can be installed in large sheets or individual tiles for a customized look. See example of Gold and metal modern tiles in our projects here!
The most amazing styles
- Subway Tile: Subway tile is a versatile option for kitchen backsplashes, characterized by its rectangular shape. It can be arranged in traditional horizontal or vertical patterns, as well as herringbone or basket weave designs for added visual interest. In our experience, subway tile is easily one of the most common and timeless choices that pairs well in many situations. A more recent choice is to utilize non-modular sizing where the tile length is more than twice the width, giving the backsplash a unique, more modern look while retaining the classic subway look for your Nashville kitchen backsplash. Usually measuring about 3 x 6 inches, subway tiles provide a classic look that’s versatile enough for both traditional and modern kitchen designs. They are valued for their cost-effectiveness and ease of installation.
- Mosaic: Mosaic tile backsplashes feature small tiles arranged in intricate patterns or designs, adding texture and depth to the space. They come in a variety of materials, including glass, ceramic, and natural stone, and can be customized to suit your style preferences. These are typically under 2 inches in size and offer intricate visual detail, making them a popular choice for adding texture and visual interest in a kitchen space.
- Patterned Tile: Patterned tile offer a bold and artistic statement in the kitchen, with intricate designs and vibrant colors that create visual impact. From Moroccan-inspired motifs to geometric patterns, there are endless options to choose from to reflect your personal style.
- Solid Slab: Solid slab backsplashes, made from materials like marble or granite, create a seamless and sophisticated look in the kitchen. They offer a sleek and minimalist aesthetic, with uninterrupted surfaces that showcase the beauty of the natural stone.
- Large Format Tiles: These tiles are 12 inches or larger and are favored for creating a sleek, modern look. They help make smaller kitchens appear more spacious due to fewer grout lines, which also eases maintenance.
The top backsplash tile designs
- Classic White: White subway tile backsplashes remain a timeless choice, offering elegance that complements both traditional and modern kitchens. This style’s popularity endures, with the classic 3×6 inch tiles often used to create a clean and traditional look through a staggered layout known as the running bond pattern. For a contemporary twist, adding colored grout can introduce a striking contrast that personalizes the space. Or pair it with dark grout for a striking contrast or with light-colored cabinets for a fresh and airy feel. The cost of white subway tiles varies, typically ranging from $10 to $25 per square foot installed. We have done lots of work with Subway tiles at Tura and we will help you find the best design/brand that fit your budget! Example of classic and elegant white backsplash in our project here!
- Bold Color: Inject personality into your kitchen with a bold-colored backsplash that serves as a focal point in the space. Opt for vibrant hues like emerald green, navy blue, or fiery red to add drama and visual interest to your kitchen design.
- Geometric Patterns: Geometric patterns like hexagons, chevrons, arabesques, and quatrefoils offer endless possibilities to customize your kitchen backsplash. These patterns provide a modern look that adds depth and dimension to the space, making the backsplash both a functional and striking element of kitchen decor. Geometric tiles can be particularly impactful, creating a unique aesthetic that can range from subtle to bold depending on the colors and materials used.
- Mixed Materials: Mix and match different materials and finishes to create a dynamic and eclectic backsplash design. Combine glass tile with metallic accents, or juxtapose natural stone with ceramic tile for a layered and textured look that adds depth to your kitchen.
Our Favorite Backsplash Tile Shops in Nashville!
Below are some of local favorite shops where we source backsplash tiles and stones for our client’s kitchen renovation projects:
- Stone Source Nashville: We love their choice of higher-end stone backsplash tiles! Especially for the luxury large stone slates!
- Address: 2910 Sidco Dr, Nashville, TN 37204
- Phone Number: 615-244-6448
- Business Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM; Closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
- Specialty: Vast selection of high-end porcelain tiles and natural stone slabs suitable for both backsplash and countertops.
- Tile Shop Nashville: The Tile bar carries the largest choice of tiles. We love their Zellige tiles for example!
- Address: 6622 Charlotte Pike Ste 104, Nashville, TN 37209
- Phone Number: 629-333-7690
- Email: [email protected]
- Specialty: Offers a wide range of tiles including an extensive selection of Zellige tiles. Very friendly and helpful too!
- Red Rock Tile Work: This local artisanal shop offers artistic handmade which are sure to make your kitchen stand out!
- Address: 447 Atlas Dr, Nashville, TN 37211
- Phone Number: 888-348-8453
- Business Hours: Typical business hours but specifics should be confirmed directly with them as they are not listed.
- Specialty: Offers artisanal and handmade tiles. The tiles look amazing and are handmade in Nashville. We loved visiting their workshop and recommend it to everyone.
Artistic Tile Nashville Showroom:
- Address: Nashville Design Collective, 510 Merritt Ave, Suite 301, Nashville, TN 37203
- Phone: 615-810-0470
- Business Hours: Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, closed on weekends.
- Specialty: Premium tiles and stone in a showroom combined with a slab gallery.
The home Depot Nashville: Home Depot has less choice but offers good price for a selection of baclsplash tiles – including Daltile brand.
- They have multiple locations in Nashville Metro.
- Specialty: Offers budget conscious choices – we’ve worked with a wide variety of their backsplash tile products and would love to give recommendation for the ones which are the best value.
Key takeways
Choosing the best backsplash for your kitchen involves considering a variety of factors, from materials and styles to designs and colors. Whether you opt for classic subway tile, sleek glass tile, or luxurious natural stone, the key is to select the backsplash that reflects your personal style and enhances the overall aesthetic of your kitchen. In our opinion, the only mistake you can make is to go without kitchen tiles, and with careful planning and attention to detail, you can create a stunning backsplash that adds beauty, functionality, and personality to your Nashville kitchen space.
Learn more about our all included seamless Kitchen remodeling services here + our transparent kitchen renovation prices here!
Matt @Tura Renovation
Matt is Tura Renovation's head craftsman and project manager. He has 20 years of experience in bath & kitchen remodeling management. He is also an expert tiler and mill worker. Matt loves to share his passion for restoring homes and for craftsmanship! His main goal is to deliver the best customer experience to Tura's clients, no matter the budget or the scope of work. When Matt is not at work, he enjoys spending time with friends and family, walking in beautiful Nashville parks, gardening, being involved in local no-profits and going to downtown music gigs.
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