Kitchen Backsplash
The backsplash ties your countertops, cabinetry, and fixtures together. We install tile that protects your walls and defines the look of your kitchen.
Back to KitchensA backsplash does two things: it protects the wall behind your countertop from water, grease, and food splashes, and it sets the visual tone for the entire kitchen. The tile you choose, the pattern you lay it in, and how it relates to your countertop and cabinetry all shape how the space feels.
We work with subway tile, mosaics, natural stone, brick-look porcelain, and large-format slabs. Whether you want a simple white subway or a full-wall statement piece behind the range, we handle the layout, cutting, and installation so every edge is clean and every line is straight.
Backsplash Styles
Modern Subway
The most popular backsplash format for good reason. Rectangular tiles in every finish (glossy, matte, hand-made look, textured) and every colour, laid in modern vertical stacks, fluted profiles, or classic brick offsets. Works in every kitchen from farmhouse to modern.
Mosaic & Accent Tile
Penny rounds, hexagons, and glass blends that add depth and personality. Perfect as a full backsplash or as a feature strip behind the range. Available in glass, porcelain, and natural stone.
Natural Stone
Slate, marble, travertine, and quartzite bring natural texture and warmth. Each piece is unique. Requires sealing to protect against kitchen grease and splashes but delivers unmatched character.
Large Format & Porcelain Slab
Oversized tiles or full porcelain slabs that minimize grout lines for a seamless, modern look. Easier to clean and ideal for contemporary kitchens with clean-lined cabinetry.
Modern Subway
The default choice for good reason. Crisp, clean, and forgiving of small imperfections in the wall behind it. Available in dozens of sizes (3x6, 4x12, 2x8), dozens of finishes (glossy, matte, hand-made look, textured, fluted), and every colour from classic white to deep greens and blacks. The layout you pick (brick offset, straight stack, vertical stack, herringbone) changes the feel more than the tile itself.
Benefits
- Timeless style that reads well in every kitchen aesthetic.
- The most budget-friendly tile category across every material and finish.
- Many layout patterns from the same tile - no extra cost for visual variety.
- Widely available in the exact tile you specced if a replacement is ever needed.
Considerations
- So common that a plain white subway backsplash can feel generic if the rest of the kitchen doesn't have strong character.
- Bright-white glossy subway is hard to keep pristine behind a cooktop - matte or textured finishes hide kitchen splatter better.
- Lots of grout lines compared to large-format tile, so grout colour choice matters more.
Mosaic & Accent Tile
Small-format tiles that add texture, pattern, or colour. Penny rounds, hexagons, fish scale, glass blends, and decorative relief tile live in this category. They work as a full backsplash when you want something distinctive, or as a narrow accent behind the range to break up a simpler surrounding tile.
Benefits
- Turns a functional wall into a design feature - real visual impact from a small area.
- Works as a statement behind the range without committing to a full-wall pattern.
- Huge variety: glass, porcelain, natural stone, metal accents, and mixed materials.
Considerations
- More grout lines per square foot means more cleaning and a higher likelihood of staining without epoxy grout.
- Busier patterns fight with heavily veined countertops - pick one feature, not two.
- Higher install cost per square foot than subway or large-format tile because of the extra cutting and layout work.
Natural Stone
Marble, travertine, slate, and quartzite bring real material character to a kitchen. Every piece has a different grain, so the finished backsplash is genuinely one of a kind. Natural stone reads as warmer and more handcrafted than porcelain, and it ages in a way that feels like patina rather than wear.
Benefits
- Genuine, one-of-a-kind material - no two stone pieces look exactly alike.
- Warmer tones and softer variation than most porcelain alternatives.
- Pairs naturally with wood cabinetry, butcher block counters, and earth-tone palettes.
Considerations
- Porous - must be sealed before installation and re-sealed annually, especially behind the cooktop.
- Stains from acidic foods (tomato, wine, citrus) and grease if not properly sealed.
- More expensive than ceramic or porcelain, and often requires special cutting for honed or tumbled edges.
- Colour matching between lots is difficult - order extra on day one.
Large Format & Porcelain Slab
Oversized tiles (12x24 and larger) and full porcelain slabs that minimize grout lines for a seamless, modern look. A 60x120 slab can cover an entire backsplash in a single piece with only one or two joints. Ideal for contemporary kitchens where clean lines matter and grout should not compete with the cabinetry.
Benefits
- Minimal grout lines - easier to clean and maintain, especially behind the range.
- Seamless, modern look that pairs beautifully with slab-door cabinetry.
- Book-matched slabs can carry the same veining pattern across the entire wall.
- Fewer tiles = less cumulative lippage risk when installed well.
Considerations
- Large tiles amplify any wall imperfections - the substrate must be flat and plumb before install.
- Higher material and install cost, especially for full slabs which require specialized cutting and handling.
- Outlet and switch cutouts are harder to hide when each tile covers a big area - planning matters.
- Damage to a single tile can mean replacing a much larger visible area than with subway tile.
Matching Your Countertop
The backsplash and countertop need to work together. A busy countertop with heavy veining pairs best with a simple, neutral backsplash that lets the stone be the star. A solid-colour countertop gives you room to be bolder with patterned or textured tile.
White and light countertops (Cambria quartz, white marble) work well with white subway tile, soft grey mosaics, or warm picket tile. The result is clean, bright, and timeless.
Dark countertops (Empira Black, dark granite) pair beautifully with lighter backsplashes that create contrast, or with matching dark tile for a dramatic, monochromatic look.
Wood and butcher block countertops call for natural materials - stone, brick-look tile, or matte ceramic in earth tones. The backsplash should complement the organic feel of the wood without competing with it.
Layout & Pattern
The same tile looks completely different depending on the layout. A standard subway tile can be laid in a classic brick offset, a modern straight stack, or a herringbone pattern, and each creates a distinct feel.
Brick offset is the classic subway layout and the most popular choice. It is clean, familiar, and works in any kitchen. Straight stack (aligned vertically or horizontally) gives a more modern, grid-like appearance that pairs well with contemporary cabinetry.
Herringbone adds visual movement and works beautifully as a feature behind the range. Vertical stack is increasingly popular for drawing the eye upward, especially in kitchens with tall ceilings or open shelving.
We also install full-height backsplashes that run from countertop to ceiling. This creates a dramatic, finished look and provides wall protection behind open shelving and range hoods. It works especially well with large-format tiles or natural stone.
Grout & Maintenance
Kitchen backsplashes are exposed to cooking grease, steam, and food splashes daily. The grout you choose matters as much as the tile itself. We strongly recommend avoiding white grout on kitchen backsplashes. White grout stains quickly behind a cooktop and is nearly impossible to keep looking clean long-term, no matter how well you maintain it.
We recommend epoxy grout for kitchen backsplashes because it is waterproof, stain-proof, and does not require sealing. It costs more than cement-based grout but it will not discolour from grease or steam. If you have your heart set on a lighter grout colour, we use specific grout and sealant combinations that we have tested and trust to hold up in kitchen environments.
Porous natural stone backsplashes like marble, travertine, and slate need extra attention. The tile itself absorbs grease and moisture, not just the grout. We seal stone before installation and pair it with the right sealant for kitchen conditions. Annual re-sealing is essential, especially behind the cooktop where heat and grease exposure are highest.
Ready to Choose Your Backsplash?
Bring us your countertop samples, cabinet colours, and inspiration photos. We will help you find the tile and layout that pulls everything together.
Get a Free Estimate