Kitchen Color: 15 Fabulous Green Backsplashes
Get the feel of spring all year round with a tiled, painted or glass backsplash in colors from pale celery to deep olive
Jennifer Ott
December 4, 2013
San Francisco-based architectural color specialist and design writer. Jennifer's work has been featured in many print and online publications. Her recently-published book, "1000 Ideas for Color Schemes," is a beautifully illustrated and easy-to-navigate guide that takes the guesswork out of selecting the perfect color palette for your home or special event. For more information on Jennifer Ott Design, visit http://jenottdesign.com/.
San Francisco-based architectural color specialist and design writer. Jennifer's... More
Sure, your kitchen backsplash serves a very practical function: protecting the wall area above your countertop from splashes and spatters. But it’s also the perfect place to add a dash of fun color. The weather where I live in Central Texas has turned rather frightful, so I’m starting this new series on colorful kitchen backsplashes with happy, fresh, spring-inspired green hues. Here I’ve gathered some of my favorite examples with tips for working ones like them into your own kitchen.
Create an eye-catching feature wall in your kitchen by extending a bold-colored textured backsplash tile all the way to the ceiling. This larger-format tile works best on a wall where you are forgoing upper cabinets, so the pattern can be fully appreciated.
Backsplash: Studio Moderne Paramount pattern decorative field tile in Clover Gloss from Walker Zanger
Backsplash: Studio Moderne Paramount pattern decorative field tile in Clover Gloss from Walker Zanger
This backsplash has vibrant green hues, but the intensity is broken up due to the subtle shade variations of the handmade tile. I like the mix of greens and wood tones, as it has a very natural, organic feel.
Backsplash: 2- by 8-inch field tile in Olive Gloss from Heath Ceramics
Backsplash: 2- by 8-inch field tile in Olive Gloss from Heath Ceramics
This gorgeous green onyx linear tile backsplash also has a nice mix of colors. (Always see a sample of your chosen backsplash material in person before you make a selection.)
Similar backsplash: Check out the Sublime line of glass tiles from Bedrosians.
Similar backsplash: Check out the Sublime line of glass tiles from Bedrosians.
I love this kitchen for its openness to the outdoors as well as for its gorgeous splash of leafy green. The darker tile accent strip is a nice detail that helps break up the expanse of bold color and ties in well with the wood tones of the floor and table set.
Backsplash: Field tiles in Apple of Your Eye from Glasshues with an accent strip of Barcode in Barracuda
Backsplash: Field tiles in Apple of Your Eye from Glasshues with an accent strip of Barcode in Barracuda
If you’re on the hunt for a kitchen backsplash material, you have no doubt noticed that tiles now come in every color, shape, size and texture imaginable, so I say why not go for something unusual? I’m a huge fan of these triangular tiles, which have a wonderful vintage-modern vibe.
Backsplash: Waveline tile in Reed from Island Stone
Backsplash: Waveline tile in Reed from Island Stone
Large-format tiles are becoming increasingly popular, as are tiles in zingy colors. But the best thing about the tile here is that it was selected by the homeowner’s 2-year-old son. Very nicely done!
Backsplash: Studio Moderne 4½- by 11½-inch field tile in Clover Gloss from Walker Zanger
Backsplash: Studio Moderne 4½- by 11½-inch field tile in Clover Gloss from Walker Zanger
What a fantastic grassy green color. It really brightens up and enlivens this kitchen, even on a cold winter day. This line of tile is available in a wide range of rich colors as well as interesting shapes and sizes, and it’s also manufactured in part from recycled materials. It works well with a variety of design styles, from traditional to contemporary, and has thus become one of my go-to tiles.
Backsplash: Debris field tiles in Spruce Gloss from Fireclay Tile
Backsplash: Debris field tiles in Spruce Gloss from Fireclay Tile
If you go with a bold green backsplash tile, try picking up the hue in small bits around the room for color balance and cohesiveness. You can take your chosen backsplash tile to your paint retailer and have the color matched, or you can even have a paint color formulated for you that’s a few notches lighter or darker than the tile, should you want to break things up a bit.
Backsplash: Field tile in Green Apple Gloss from Heath Ceramics
Backsplash: Field tile in Green Apple Gloss from Heath Ceramics
For those looking for a softer, mellower green backsplash, there are plenty of options. If you do go with a lighter and more subdued hue, try selecting one in a glossy finish, because it will add interesting sparkle and texture to the kitchen. These pretty glass tiles pair nicely with the rich dark brown cabinets and light and neutral countertop.
Backsplash: 3- by 6-inch Cristallo glass tile in Bottle Green from Olympia Tile + Stone
Backsplash: 3- by 6-inch Cristallo glass tile in Bottle Green from Olympia Tile + Stone
Here’s another glassy, soft green backsplash. This particular shade of green reads as a neutral, so accents of other, bolder colors can be added, such as the red-orange on the base of that fantastic kitchen island.
Backsplash: 6- by 16-inch Glasshues glass tile in Foliage Green, glossy finish, from Interstyle Ceramic & Glass
Backsplash: 6- by 16-inch Glasshues glass tile in Foliage Green, glossy finish, from Interstyle Ceramic & Glass
These hand-crafted tiles have subtle variations in color, which adds much charm and warmth to this gorgeous kitchen.
Backsplash: 3- by 6-inch ceramic field tile in Apple from Waterworks
Backsplash: 3- by 6-inch ceramic field tile in Apple from Waterworks
This backsplash has a wonderful sheen and texture in addition to a slight hint of green. This is how to do a light and airy kitchen right.
Backsplash: 1- by 1-inch Vintage Glass mosaic tile in Onyx Lustre from Walker Zanger
Backsplash: 1- by 1-inch Vintage Glass mosaic tile in Onyx Lustre from Walker Zanger
My favorite interior design style is contemporary with bits of industrial and rustic thrown in for warmth and charm. This kitchen captures that style perfectly with its clean, horizontal lines and minimal ornamentation. The exposed ceiling beams, colorful salvaged-wood-clad island and vintage metal stools are perfect decorative elements. As is the light spring-green glass backsplash, which adds a nice hit of color but keeps to the clean, minimalist and contemporary vibe of the kitchen.
Backsplash: Chiaro Tile System glass field tiles in Radium #5 from Grid Architectural Surfaces and Tile
Backsplash: Chiaro Tile System glass field tiles in Radium #5 from Grid Architectural Surfaces and Tile
Not a fan of grout lines? Looking for a clean and modern alternative to tile? Consider a back-painted glass backsplash. It’s an easy-to-clean surface that has a cool and contemporary vibe.
Similar backsplash: Check out Lime Rickey from Sherwin-Williams.
Similar backsplash: Check out Lime Rickey from Sherwin-Williams.
Or you could skip the tile and glass entirely and paint the wall a fun hue. If you go this route, I’d recommend installing at least a short splash to give you a finished edge where the countertop meets the wall, and to protect the area from splashes. Then use a paint in a semigloss finish to give the wall extra protection and allow for easier cleaning.
Similar backsplash: Check out Malachy Green from Benjamin Moore.
Tell us: Which green backsplash is your favorite?
Similar backsplash: Check out Malachy Green from Benjamin Moore.
Tell us: Which green backsplash is your favorite?
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Thanks Maria! That is really good to hear. It's funny you recommend looking at fabric because the first thing to convince me it might work was a Jacobean print that my Mom had picked out years ago for upholstery. I have always loved it but never looked closely at the colors, so I didn't even notice that green and red are the most prominent.
We just finished up this midcentury modern Deck house remodel, including a green backsplash in the kitchen.
Green apple gloss tile