Design Trends: Add a Focal Point to your Backsplash

Tile Shown: Custom Handpainted Isosceles framed by 3x6 in White Wash. Image via: Jenny Nelson Photography.

Your kitchen backsplash is a wonderful opportunity to echo the overall style of your space. It can be the pop of color in an all white kitchen. It can be the seamless transition between your chosen cabinets and your countertops or just the break you need between them. A focal point, generally over the stove top area, is an easy way to bring additional color, texture or pattern to your kitchen. Below we'll share our favorite ways to add a focal point.

With a Pattern or Color:

An opposing pattern or color is clean and subtle way of incorporating a focal point into your backsplash. An all white or neutral toned kitchen can gain an achor with a pattern and a colorful kitchen can gain more texture. A Herringbone pattern makes for a beautiful focal point. This traditional pattern acts as a break between an offset pattern and really draws in the eye. We see this one often because it works so well! We also love the idea of trying a Parquet or simply pairing down to a smaller size. You can use 1x6 Flatliners or other Trim (you can learn more about Trim here) pieces to frame your chosen pattern.

Tile Shown: Our Cerulean Blue in Offset with a Herringbone focal point, framed with 1x6 flatliners.

Tile Shown: Foggy Morning in 2x8 with a focal point and border created with contrasting blue and green tiles in smaller 1x2 and 1x1 sizes. Please note that while we do not list these smaller tile sizes on our website, that we do offer them. Please contact us if you have any questions!

Shapes:

Are you having trouble deciding between a classic field tile in an offset pattern or one of our specialty shapes? A focal point means you can have both! We love the idea of framing any of our specialty shapes with surrounding field tile. To accomplish a look like the one below, you could try our Paseo or Ogee. Depending on the style of your home you can choose field tile or architectural moldings to frame out this look.

Handpainted:

Handpainted focal points can range from traditional to contemporary, depending on which of our collections you choose from and how you opt to install them. This is a great option if you love our handpainted tiles, but an entire installation of them is out of your budget.

Tile Shown: Ultra Cream 2x2s and Royal Blue in 2x6s frame these handpainted tiles in this Spanish Colonial style home.

Tile Shown: The customer chose to do her Isosceles focal point in two places: one above the sink (the first image in this blog) and the other above the stove top.

Like the idea of adding a focal point to your backsplash? Order free samples online now. Need some help? Simply call, chat, or fill out our Design Assistance Form and one of our talented Design Consultants will get back to you shortly.