The kitchen backsplash is the small piece of decorative real estate, roughly 18-20 inches between the countertop and the wall cabinet. Although it is a relatively small piece of the kitchen, it has the potential of being a dramatic focal point for the room.

That 18 to 20 space is your canvas to create a display using ceramic or porcelain tiles, natural stone tiles, and decorative tile trim pieces.

Designing with the right colors
Tile patterns and colors do more than create your focal point on the backsplash, they also help draw attention to your cabinetry or to your floor or sometimes to both. If you are adding cherry cabinets or a maple floor, for instance, tiles with red tones make a more dramatic statement and help bring out the richness of the cherry cabinets. While tiles with white and beige tones will add a more subtle touch and accent the floor. You can also look for tiles or create patterns that contain both colors.
Another option is to add some contrast with a cream tile that blends with the maple floor and some randomly placed black ceramic tiles. The backsplash would pull together the cabinetry and floors and a black granite countertop.

Which Style?
The stone look can help give a new kitchen the appearance of Grandma's old house. Some are made to look worn and aged. The style blends well with more traditional kitchens with ornate cabinetry molding, raised panel doors, cornices, and period hardware. Those who prefer a more contemporary design would look for a polished tile that looks like granite or a tile with bold colors.

Sizes
Tiles typically are sold with two or three coordinating sizes and variations of the main pattern. A wall tile might be made in a 4-inch by 4-inch size and a 6-inch by 6-inch size, for example. The same pattern in a 1-inch by 1-inch size could be used as a border or to create a pattern in some areas of the wall.Some home owners also vary the size and spacing of the tile, instead of having even rows of the same size tiles for a backsplash. The look is more creative and can add some texture to the design, as it lays out like a puzzle.