Backsplash Tile Trends: Zellige, Fluted, and Color-Forward Subway Looks We Love Right Now

The backsplash is having its moment. For years it was treated as an afterthought, a practical surface to protect the wall behind the sink and stove from splashes. Today, homeowners and designers alike treat the backsplash as the single most expressive design element in the kitchen — the place where color, texture, pattern, and personality come together in a way that no other surface quite matches. If you are planning a kitchen refresh or a full remodel, the backsplash is where you have the most freedom to make a genuine design statement.

Here is a look at the backsplash tile trends that are defining kitchens and bathrooms right now, along with specific tile collections we stock at Builders Surplus that bring each of these looks to life.

Trend 1: Zellige and Handmade-Look Tile

Zellige tile, a traditional Moroccan glazed ceramic characterized by its slightly irregular surface, subtle glaze variation, and the way it catches and plays with light, has moved from the pages of design magazines into mainstream kitchen and bathroom projects. Its appeal is easy to understand: the slight imperfection of each tile creates a surface that looks genuinely handcrafted, warm, and alive in a way that precisely machine-made tile cannot replicate.

The key to the zellige look is the glaze. Each tile absorbs the glaze differently, producing slight variations in color depth and sheen across the field of the backsplash. As light moves across the surface throughout the day, the wall appears to shift and shimmer subtly. In kitchens where pendant lighting or under-cabinet lighting grazes the backsplash, this effect is particularly beautiful.

Our Zest collection delivers this zellige aesthetic at an accessible price point. Available in four colorways, the 2.5 in. x 8 in. satin ceramic tile brings authentic handmade character to any kitchen or bathroom backsplash.

• Zest Sky — a soft, airy blue-grey that pairs beautifully with white and warm wood kitchens
• Zest Aloe — a warm sage green that works with natural, earthy, and transitional kitchen palettes
• Zest Midnight Black — a bold, dramatic option that makes a striking statement in contemporary kitchens
• Zest Star — a warm neutral that layers beautifully with creamy whites and natural stone countertops

All Zest tiles are priced at $7.99 per square foot and come 5.24 sq. ft. per case, making them one of the most affordable ways to bring the zellige look into your home.

Trend 2: Fluted and Ribbed Tile

Fluted and ribbed tile has become one of the most sought-after backsplash looks in current kitchen design. The parallel raised ridges running vertically across the tile face add a sculptural, three-dimensional quality that flat tile simply cannot provide. Light plays differently across a fluted surface — it catches the ridges and creates a subtle shadow pattern that gives the wall genuine depth and visual interest.

Fluted tile works especially well in modern and transitional kitchens where the goal is sophistication without pattern overload. Because the texture comes from the tile’s physical form rather than a printed design, it maintains a clean, refined look even in large-scale installations.

Our Gems collection is a standout option for anyone drawn to this trend. The 5 in. x 10 in. polished porcelain fluted subway tile is available in four rich colorways at $9.99 per square foot, with 8.71 sq. ft. per case.

• Gems Bianco — a crisp, luminous white with polished finish perfect for bright, airy kitchens
• Gems Grigio — a soft mid-grey that pairs beautifully with both white and dark cabinetry
• Gems Caraibi — a rich teal-aqua that brings Caribbean warmth and a designer color moment to the kitchen
• Gems Cobalto — a deep cobalt blue that creates a bold, jewel-toned backsplash statement

The larger 5 x 10 format means fewer grout lines across the backsplash, keeping the look clean and letting the dimensional texture do the work.

Trend 3: Classic Subway Gets a Color Refresh

Standard white subway tile is never going away — it is a classic for good reason. But the current trend is moving the subway tile format into more expressive territory: moody colors, glossy finishes, and unexpected colorways that transform a familiar format into something fresh and personal.

The traditional 3 x 6 subway tile is being reimagined in colors like slate blue, charcoal, sage, and warm ivory that shift the entire mood of a kitchen without sacrificing the clean, timeless lines that make subway tile so dependable. Paired with dark grout, even a classic white subway tile takes on a new graphic energy.

Our Restore subway tile collection is an exceptional value entry into this trend. The 2 in. x 8 in. glossy ceramic tile is available in four colorways at just $3.59 per square foot — making it one of the most budget-friendly ways to introduce color to your backsplash.

• Restore Ash Gray — a sophisticated cool grey with glossy finish, ideal for modern and transitional kitchens
• Restore Tide Blue — a soft, coastal blue-grey that adds calm and character to any kitchen
• Restore Ivory — a warm, creamy white that softens the brightness of pure white and suits traditional and farmhouse kitchens
• Restore Black — a bold, dramatic statement color that works beautifully in dark or high-contrast kitchen designs

Trend 4: Penny Round Mosaics as Accent and Full-Field Tile

Penny rounds are experiencing a genuine revival, used not just as a classic bathroom floor but as a statement kitchen backsplash surface in their own right. The small circular format creates a softer, more tactile look than rectangular subway tile, and the additional grout lines give penny round backsplashes a vintage, artisanal quality that is very much in step with the current preference for handcrafted aesthetics.

Used as a full-field backsplash in the kitchen, penny rounds work particularly well in white, cream, and light grey colorways that feel clean without being stark. As an accent, a panel of penny round mosaic behind the range adds visual interest and textural contrast against a field of flat subway tile.

The Restore collection includes three penny round mosaic options that complement the subway tile line beautifully:

• Restore White Jumbo Penny Round — bright white glazed porcelain mosaic, 11 x 13 in. sheets, $7.99/sq.ft.
• Restore Aspen White Jumbo Penny Round — a warmer off-white option, 11 x 13 in. sheets, $8.06/sq.ft.
• Restore Engine Gray Penny Round — a cool medium grey that adds depth and contrast, 12 x 12 in. sheets, $5.75/sq.ft.

How to Choose the Right Backsplash Tile for Your Kitchen

With so many compelling options available, choosing a backsplash tile can feel overwhelming. A few simple principles help narrow the field. First, consider your countertop. A busy stone countertop with strong veining generally calls for a simpler, more restrained backsplash. A plain white or solid-color countertop gives you the freedom to go bolder with pattern, texture, or color in the backsplash.

Second, think about your cabinet color and finish. White cabinets give you the most flexibility — virtually any backsplash color works. Dark or bold cabinet colors benefit from backsplashes in neutral tones that provide visual relief. Natural wood cabinets pair beautifully with warm earthy backsplash tones: sage, ivory, warm grey, and terracotta all feel harmonious.

Finally, consider your grout color. The same tile can look dramatically different depending on whether you choose a matching, contrasting, or dark grout. A white tile with white grout reads as a seamless, airy surface. The same white tile with charcoal grout becomes a bold graphic statement. It is worth requesting tile and grout samples together and viewing them in your actual kitchen before committing.

See the Zest, Gems, and Restore Collections at Builders Surplus

All three of these tile collections — Zest, Gems, and Restore — are available in stock at our showrooms in Louisville, Florence, and Cincinnati. You can see the actual tile, compare colorways side by side, and bring home samples to test against your cabinets, countertops, and lighting before making a final decision.

Our design consultants are available in every showroom to help you put together a complete tile plan, from backsplash to floor, that works cohesively and stays within your remodel budget. Whether you are drawn to the artisanal warmth of the Zest zellige look, the sculptural sophistication of the Gems fluted tile, or the versatile color options of the Restore subway line, we have exactly what you need to make your backsplash the most memorable surface in your kitchen. Stop in and see us, or browse our full tile collection online.