Your kitchen feeling a bit drab? You dont have to put a sledgehammer through the wall to give your space a new look. Sometimes, its simply a matter of adding a fresh coat of paint, some statement tiles, et voil! But other times, all you need is one addition: backsplash tiles. Whether its a cheeky patterned inlay, an unexpected metallic backdrop, antique ceramic gems, or classic white subway tiles, the perfect kitchen backsplash can be the final touch that brings your design scheme together for the cooking space of your dreams.Tile is design eye candy, says Anna Lood with Clay Imports. It is such an effective way to bring texture, movement, and life into a space. When selecting the right tile for your kitchen, Lood recommends thinking outside the box while staying true to the space. Why not take it all the way up to the ceiling or create an unexpected statement wall? One-of-a-kind patterns, clever layouts, or playful shapes are easy ways to create an intriguing stop and stare moment.Wherever you fall on the chef spectrum (no judgment, HelloFreshers!), we've pulled 75 inspiring images from the pages of our archives. There's no doubt that your kitchen will, indeed, stop all your houseguests in their tracks and make them gawk.1Small But MightyDouglas FriedmanIn this vibrant 5,800-square-foot Bay Area retreat, ELLE DECOR A-List designer Ken Fulk devised an open-concept great room where the familyincluding teenage daughter Isadoraspends the most time together. A small area features Italian tiles that contrast well with the room's pink flourishesproof that small vignettes can pack a mighty punch. 2The Art of CookingGiulio GhirardiIf your cabinets make their own statement, consider tiles that complement them. In this Paris getaway, the custom green cabinetry is accentuated by a backsplash in tiles hand-painted by artist Matthieu Cosse. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below3Kitchen MuralsDEA / A. DAGLI ORTI//Getty ImagesTake a page from this mural-filled kitchen in Valenza, Spain. The kitchen, which dates back to the 18th century, shows scenes of daily life depicted on azulejos tiles. 4Spanish-Style TilesAdrian GautIn a new Spanish-style Houston house designed by Curtis & Windham architects, with interiors by Ashe Leandro, the kitchens diamond-patterned floor mixes reclaimed terra-cotta tiles from Chateau Domingue and acid-washed limestone tiles from ABC Stone. The kitchen's backsplash tiles are the cherry on top.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below5Neutral Culinary BackdropLaure JolietWe love a laquered shine. In the kitchen of this 155-year-old house in Massachusetts, painted in Atmospheric by Benjamin Moore, the kitchen tiles provide a much-needed neutral backdrop that is practically gleamingno matter how much spaghetti sauce is thrown at it. 6Hand-Painted TilesAdrian GautWhoever said a monochromatic moment is boring? In this Florida pied--terre, the kitchens backsplash and ceiling tiles are custom-painted by Matthieu Cosse. Ivory on ivory never looked so good.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below7Reusable TileHaris Kenjar The striking burnt orange tile backsplash of this Los Angeles home was a holdover from ELLE DECOR A-List design firm Nickey Kehoe's first renovation of the house. It was a color that liked being in the house, she laughs. Points for sustainability!8Brutalist BacksplashPatrick BillerThe cooking space of this lowkey Toronto home features a custom backsplash that nearly steals the show. The wall is ornamented in Brutalist-inspired tiles by local artist Catherine Carroll of Black Rock Tile Studio. A shelf, illuminated by vintage Charlotte Perriand sconces, showcases a bevy of vintage vessels. Who needs wall space for art?9Bold and BrightEric PiaseckiDesigner Ellie Cullman (with Cullman & Kravis) was not afraid to take some chances here, with this stunning hexagon backsplash by Studium, which provides a satisfying distinction from the pops of yellow throughout this New Jersey family kitchen. The hood range ties the color scheme together in a resulting fanfare of color and contrast. 10Terra-Cotta Badksplash TilesRichard PowersThe raked-edge countertop of this seaside guest retreat is White Macaubas quartzite, and the terra-cotta backsplash tiles are from Mosaic House. The island sink fittings are by Waterworks, and the vintage pendants are from Ollier.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below11Small and Sweet BlacksplashWilliam Jess LairdKitchen backsplashes do not have to turn into soaring statement walls to truly make a statement. This one, by Studio Muka, is perfectly contained and plays off the floors reclaimed terra-cotta, as well as the olive green walls that enclose it. The tiles have an almost mother-of-pearl sheen to themboth relaxing and refreshing to the eye.12Chevron BacksplashPieter EstersohnNo, chevron is not strictly a 2015 thing. This print stands the test of time and is used here by designer Anne-Marie Midy, in the form of talavera tilesto add a bit of playfulness to the rust-orange walls and pine cabinets. Imagine this being the first thing you see when stepping out of the bedroom for your morning coffee. Instant invigoration!Advertisement - Continue Reading Below13Color-Block BacksplashHelenio BarbettaIn the kitchen of artist Julie Polidoro, the backsplash is kept to a subtle and unimposing strip of tiles rimmed with marblesharply contrasting with the neon green walls. These are Sicilian tiles, to be exact: a great choice when it comes to infusing the space with some timeless geometric appeal. Sicily is callinganswer!14Dark and Dreamy BacksplashSimon UptonThis ceramic backsplash by Portuguese artist Bela Silva, in an Eric Allartdesigned apartment, would be a bit emo if it werent boosted by the painted pink walls above and pops of color in the form of the red kitchen chair, similarly red countertop, and that blue fish-vase hybrid (!). Look at how the tile material shines. Let it inspire your upcoming kitchen reno.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below15Hexagon BacksplashStephen Kent JohnsonThough you can barely make them out, the galley kitchen here is treated to a backsplash of gemstone green hexagonal tiles. Gone are the days when the only pop of color in a kitchen had to be relegated to the rug. Thinking outside the box for backsplashes (in terms of tile shape and hue) has never felt better.16Bespoke BacksplashJohn Daniel PowersDid you expect to witness designs of chile peppers and harissa tubes on a tiled kitchen backsplash? Neither did we, but this apartment in France proves that good design doesnt have to be so serious. The aforementioned harissa tubes actually bear the homeowners names in Arabicshowing that the possibilities for customization are endless!Advertisement - Continue Reading Below17Bold and BrightOfficine GulloOfficine Gullos design of this farmstead-turned-luxury hospitality space, Tenuta Carleone in Radda, Italy, is honing all the vibes of its bucolic setting. Patterned tiles create a stunning mosaic that is bordered by warm sunshine-yellow cabinetry with stainless steel appliances and polished chrome hardware. With an abundance of natural light shining through the arched windows, the kitchen is a sun-splashed utopia. 18Quartzite BacksplashTim LenzYoure going to see a lot of subway tile backsplashes in this roundup, primarily because they bear a classic shape, are easy to install, and bestow an understated kind of sophistication upon any kitchen space. The cooking hub in this Pappas Mirondesigned Greenwich Village apartment is made even more elevated through the addition of brown quartzite (versus the comparatively ubiquitous marble) countertops. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below19Chipped CharmJana Roach / Riad TileDesigner Jana Roach cant stop gushing about her four-inch Riad Snow zellige tile backsplashand we cant blame her when it looks this good. I adore zellige tile, she tells ELLE DECOR. It transcends trends and decor styles. It has the best texture, and the natural variation in color adds so much depth and character to my kitchen. If you look closely, no tiles are exactly the same, with their individual pits, cracks, and chipped edges. For Roach, that adds to its charm. It gives my space a one-of-a-kind, handmade feel that perfectly complements my preference for old furniture and natural materials. 20Streamlined StyleLindsey DrewesInterior designer Madison Lussier had her work cut out for her before she renovated the kitchen in this Santa Barbara, California, home. Originally there was a very heavy-feeling hood with molding that had carved grapevines in it, and the cream crackle subway tile thats in the rest of the kitchen was behind the range as well, Lussier explains. She replaced the hood with a much simpler look that matched the cabinetry and framed it all out in a more rustic wood. I really love the way it turned out, she adds. I think it complements and draws attention to the stunning LaCanche range so much more than the original design.Rachel SilvaAssociate Digital EditorRachel Silva is the associate digital editor at ELLE DECOR, where she covers all things design, architecture, and lifestyle. She also oversees the publications feature article coverage, and is, at any moment, knee-deep in an investigation on everything from the best spa gifts to the best faux florals on the internet right now. She has more than 16 years of experience in editorial, working as a photo assignment editor at Time and acting as the president of Women in Media in NYC. She went to Columbia Journalism School, and her work has been nominated for awards from ASME, the Society of Publication Designers, and World Press Photo.Stacia DatskovskaAssistant Digital EditorStacia Datskovska is the assistant digital editor at ELLE DECOR, where she covers news, trends, and ideas in the world of design. She also writes product reviews (like roundups of the top firepits or sheet sets)infusing them with authority and wit. As an e-commerce intern at Mashable, Stacia wrote data-driven reviews of everything from e-readers to stationary bikes to robot vacuums. Stacias culture and lifestyle bylines have appeared in outlets like USA Today, Boston Globe, Teen Vogue, Food & Wine, and Brooklyn Magazine.