5 Best types of tile design for your kitchen backsplash

Explore the top 5 types of tile design for your kitchen backsplash.

1. Subway or brick style

Subway tiles, a current favorite, boast a history of over a century. They’re also known as brick-style tiles, featuring a pattern where each tile in a row aligns with the midpoint of the adjacent row.

Typically sized at 3″ x 6″ rectangles, they’re predominantly white and are often hailed as America’s most cherished tile.

Originally intended for subway use, designers George C. Heins and Christopher Grant La Farge employed them in New York’s inaugural subway station in 1904.

2. Vertical layout

In this layout, tiles (typically the same as those used in subway style) depart from the common horizontal arrangement and are stacked vertically instead. This optical technique accentuates the height of your space, creating the illusion of taller walls.

The vertical layout is particularly effective in compact spaces, directing focus upward to the sky, thereby enhancing the perception of heightened walls and ceilings. Alternatively, it can be chosen for a bold, contemporary aesthetic.

3. Herringbone style

This is the tile design that derives its name after the herring fish.

The herring fish skeleton resembles a V-shaped zigzag where the spine bones are alternating in 45 degree angles.

The herringbone design was first used in the Roman Empire as a pavement system on their roads.

Romans discovered that when the planks were pointed in the direction of traffic and interlocking at 45 degrees, the roads were extremely stable; making this pattern both aesthetic and very durable.

Over time this stylish pattern got used more often for indoor projects such as floors and bathroom walls.

Today the herringbone design is a common choice for kitchen backsplashes, probably second to the subway style.

4. Chevron style

The chevron pattern finds its roots in the chevron insignia, characterized by an inverted V-shaped mark.

Often confused with the herringbone pattern, which bears a similar appearance, the key distinction lies in their shapes: Chevron forms an inverted ‘V’, while herringbone adopts a broken zigzag pattern.