14 Stone Kitchen Backsplash Ideas That Really Rock

stone kitchen backsplash

Hart & Lock Design

Considering a stone kitchen backsplash? First of all, good choice. They’re beautiful, timeless, and add a ton of character to any kitchen. In selecting, there are two very different aesthetic routes you can choose from: rough, textured stacked stones that create a rustic, organic look, or sleek, modern stone backsplashes, like quartzite or marble

Stone backsplashes are not without their drawbacks though. If you’re an avid home cook, you may want to avoid stacked, rough stones, or commit to a regular cleaning schedule, as wayward grease and spills will inevitably find their way into the nooks and crannies. Natural stone needs to be continually resealed too. How often? That depends on the type of stone (travertine, for instance, is more porous than granite, meaning it’ll need to be sealed more often), but you’re likely looking at annual or bi-annual resealing. 

If you can commit to a little bit of maintenance, stone backsplashes provide endless charm and elegance to everyone’s favorite room to congregate in. Scroll on for stylish stone backsplashes to inspire your own kitchen design.

01 of 14

Find Inspiration Outside Your Home–Literally

stone kitchen backsplash

Julian Interior Design

For this kitchen’s backsplash, Billie Tharaldson of Julian Interior Design didn’t have to look too far to find the stone inspiration.

“When we selected this rock, it was the same found on the exterior of the home,” she says. “We wanted the wall to feel like a foundation wall since it is the heart of the home, and give it some architectural strength and structure that sheetrock simply couldn't do.”

The results are strong, natural, and textural.

02 of 14

Make the Most of One Stone

stone kitchen backsplash

Black Lacquer Design

“I tend to like my kitchens to feel both dramatic and clean,” Caitlin Murray, founder and creative director of Black Lacquer Design, says. “So, a great book-matched stone that serves as both countertop and backsplash is one of my go-to's.”

Because this 1920s craftsman bungalow had a kitchen that was on the smaller side, Murray embraced the opportunity to go big with materials while still staying with the inherent architecture and goal of lightness and brightness.

“I opted to cover all walls touching cabinetry with quartzite for a completely encompassing effect, down to the integrated floated shelving,” she says. This was also a useful tactic for establishing seamlessness where existing windows were placed somewhat sporadically.

03 of 14

Bring the Outdoors In

stone kitchen backsplash

Interior Impressions

Amy Leferink, owner and principal designer of Interior Impressions, had a bold vision for this basement bar area.

"We wanted to create a bar that was equal parts inviting and statement-making,” she says. Enter the stone backsplash, which Leferink used to add an extra level of dimension and depth, all while bringing the outside in. It’s organic, simple, and effective.

The architectural wood “tile” on the face of the sitting bar counter added another natural layer of dimension to the project. 

04 of 14

Go for Elegance With a Marble Mosaic

stone kitchen backsplash

JLK Interiors

Nothing screams "elegant" like marble, that's for sure. Jamie King of JLK Interiors chose a beveled edge marble for this kitchen, laying it vertically to draw the eye up, creating the illusion of height. It’s endlessly elegant, so it will last decade after decade without becoming dated.

“The addition of the marble mosaic inlay enhanced the details in the cabinetry while adding additional interest to the backsplash," she says—and we agree.

05 of 14

Stack ‘Em Up

stone kitchen backsplash

Gilmer Kitchens

Texture, texture, and more texture! To add depth to your kitchen, take inspiration from this Gilmer Kitchens-designed stone backsplash, which paired the stacked stone with natural wood and luxe marble countertops. With so many smooth surfaces, the backsplash provides a textured focal point.

06 of 14

Quartzite Is Your Friend

stone kitchen backsplash

Black Lacquer Design

This Black Lacquer Design kitchen can be summed up in three words: sleek, sophisticated, and sexy.

“While I wanted to keep with a mostly neutral palette in this kitchen, there was so much cabinetry that it called for a statement at the same time to avoid feeling redundant or boxy,” Murray says. “White and black felt like the classic answer.”

Murray always prefers natural stone, but for a high traffic zone, it can be a pain to maintain marble or anything porous. “Because of this, quartzite has become my savior in kitchens,” she notes.

To break things up visually, adding much-needed contrast, she went with mercury mirror glass inserts on some of the upper cabinets, and a white and gray veined countertop and backsplash.

07 of 14

Enhance a Cottage Kitchen

stone kitchen backsplash

Hart & Lock Design

We'd like to cook a feast in this beautiful kitchen ASAP, please. This cottage kitchen by Hart & Lock Design is a standout for 100 reasons, one of which is the white stone ledge wall tiles, which tie all the various neutral tones of the room together, from the French hood to the stainless steel oven to the gray marble countertops.

08 of 14

Enhance a Focal Point

stone kitchen backsplash

Julian Interior Design

If you can tear your eyes away from that stunning La Cornue stove for one second—we don’t blame you if you can’t—you might get some backsplash inspiration from the stone technique Billie Tharaldson of Julian Interior Design employed.

“It was a relatively small wall for the La Cornue to be on, as it is a substantial piece,” she says. “By picture framing just the backsplash we were able to keep the space clear and also enhance the focal point.”

09 of 14

Big Contrast, Big Reward

stone kitchen backsplash

Kris Tamburello for Sire Design

The near-black cabinets in this Sire Design kitchen pop against the small, subtle stacked stone backsplash, don't they? Yet for as contrasting as the light backsplash is next to the dark cabinetry, all the elements make for a cohesive kitchen design, thanks to the various shades in the stone that pick up on tones in the countertops, hardware, and the more textured stone wall opposite the backsplash.

10 of 14

Stay Neutral

stone kitchen backsplash

Arjay Builders

To warm up a white kitchen, choose a backsplash carefully, as that can make or break whether it feels stark and cold or fresh and inviting. Take notes on how this stone backsplash by Arjay Builders did just that. The stacked stone in variegated neutral shades of brown and beige create a rich backdrop. Here's betting everyone will gravitate towards this type of kitchen, guests and family members alike.

11 of 14

Think Thick and Thin

stone kitchen backsplash

Norstone

While there's much to love about this Norstone backsplash—the one-of-a-kind feel and the understated texture, for starters—first and foremost we're entranced by the use of both thick and thinly cut pieces, making for a perfect fit and unexpected layout. Bonus: the slate tones are an easy complementary match to stainless steel appliances and accessories.

12 of 14

Go Big, Bold, and Beautiful

stone kitchen backsplash

Aidan Design

Rustic stone backsplash, meet a modern kitchen. Stainless steel oven dual range, meet the hefty stones of this backsplash. Aidan Design knew what they were doing pairing the two opposite styles, which unexpectedly complement each other though. Here's proof you don't have to commit to one kitchen style, instead melding old with new, shiny with matte, and rustic with modern.

13 of 14

Add a Little (Or a Lot) of Color

stone kitchen backsplash

Carolyn Leona

In this Carolyn Leona-designed kitchen, the stone backsplash takes a backseat—and that's on purpose. The powder blue cabinets steal the show, while the silver/gray/white stack stone backsplash tiles star in the under-appreciated supporting role, creating a just-neutral-enough background for the cabinets to shine.

If you want a stone backsplash, but you don't want it to compete with other standout design features, like colorful cabinets for instance, here's proof it can work.

14 of 14

Stone Can Be Subtle—Trust Us

stone kitchen backsplash

Getty Images

Think stone backsplash and you might imagine big, bulky stones. That's one option. Another is like the one above, with stacked tiles of monochromatic tiles with the faintest of grout lines. It's subtle, it's sleek, and it's still a stone backsplash.