5 Outdated Kitchen Backsplash Trends Designers Just Aren't Choosing for 2026 — And What They're Picking Instead

A deep burgundy colored kichen with a Belfast sink, shown with a mix of plain and subtle textured tiles forming the backsplash. .

Every kitchen needs a backsplash to protect walls from cooking spills around the hob and water splashes in the sink zone.

So yes, kitchen backsplash ideas need to be functional, but the right one also injects serious style into your space. And as someone who has written about kitchens for a very long time, it's cool to see how the humble backsplash has become an important design detail of every kitchen. Of course, like every element of your interior, kitchen backsplash trends do shift over time.