1. Home
  2. Kitchens

Inspiration From Kitchens With Stainless Steel Backsplashes

This month at Decoist, we’ve been celebrating the sleek, sturdy look of stainless steel. From exploring design ideas for kitchens with stainless steel countertops to learning about how to clean this durable material, we’ve covered everything from getting the look to maintaining it. Today we continue our love affair with stainless steel by moving into backsplash territory.

Why go stainless steel for your backsplash? Because it’s hardy, and it’s easy to clean. Worried about sauce splashing onto your walls? Install stainless steel backsplashes, and cleanup is a non-sticky snap, especially if no grout is involved. No wonder so many industrial kitchens go stainless. Plus, it just looks cool! It’s modern, and it’s a great way to add a metallic touch to your culinary space. And with a range of styles increasingly becoming available, you can get a variety of effects, including mosaic and subway tile options. Read on for all the gleaming details…

Stainless Steel Across the Kitchen

When your backsplash spans the entire length of the countertops, you have the ability to make a strong statement in silver. Let’s take a look at some modern spaces that successfully incorporate stainless steel backsplashes. Stainless steel is the perfect counterpart to white. Note the clean feel of the kitchen below, which is amplified by open shelving with neatly stacked white dishes! [from Cary Bernstein Architect]

Stainless steel provides a clean look in the kitchen

Plus, stainless steel is undeniably modern. Perhaps it’s the industrial vibe created by the metallic shine… [from Schwartz and Architecture]

Modern kitchen with a stainless steel backsplash

Stainless steel adds a cool-toned breath of fresh air to kitchens featuring wooden cabinetry. The warm glow of the wood is beautifully complemented by the sleek touch of stainless, especially with backsplashes that add metallic style to the walls! [from Cary Bernstein Architect]

Stainless steel backsplash in a warm-toned kitchen

We see a similar effect in the rustic-meets-modern kitchen below, as the cool tones of the metal are accentuated by an abundance of silvery accessories, including modern barstools. [from Stone Interiors]

Stainless steel backsplash in an industrial kitchen

Stainless steel backsplashes beautifully complement red tones, as shown by the chic modern kitchen below. Note the use of clean lines, which allows the color scheme to shine. [from Craft Art]

Stainless steel pops against shades of red

Stainless steel is amazingly sleek when displayed in smooth sheets. Yet adding a bit of texture can certainly make things interesting (and distract from dreaded fingerprints). A tiled surface catches the light, creating an added shine that’s more organic than glitzy. Perfect for modern kitchens! [photo credit: Ann Sacks, from HGTV.com]

Stainless steel mosaic backsplash

Elongated backsplash forms create a subway tile look that is undeniably modern and refreshing, resulting in a bistro style that’s charming yet contemporary. [from Steele Real Estate Consulting]

Stainless steel tile backsplash

Below we get a closer look at a tile stainless steel backdrop, which is the perfect choice for backing open shelving displaying crisp white dishes. [from HGTV.com]

Stainless steel tile backsplash behind open shelving

Also note that stainless steel tile backsplashes are beautifully enhanced by other metallic touches, including pendant lights and hints of gold. The kitchen below showcases all of the above, plus marble countertops. This look couldn’t be more on-trend (check out that gold-toned flatware on the kitchen island)! [from Kate Obriens]

Stainless steel tile backsplash in a white kitchen with metallic accents

Stainless Steel Backsplashes for Behind the Range

When it comes to stainless steel, sometimes less is more. The kitchens below prove that a touch of stainless behind the stove can really punctuate your culinary space. Look at what a strong statement the range backsplash makes in this next kitchen, which features white walls and grey lacquered cabinetry. [from Custom Spaces Design]

Stainless steel backsplash in an all-white kitchen

A sleek stainless steel backsplash can also shine when surrounded by tile. The smooth surface of the metal is a welcome contrast. [from Bernard Andre Photography]

Stainless steel backsplash near the stove in a bright kitchen

We know what an impact a stainless steel backsplash can make in a red kitchen, but check out the refreshing look of stainless steel plus mint! The look ranges from the retro to the modern, especially when pops of red are included. [from Home Decoration]

Stainless steel backsplash in a minty kitchen

If the walls and cabinets are white, consider adding color to your backsplash area through special accents such as bright utensils and countertop appliances, as shown in the kitchen below. [from Clifton Leung Design Workshop]

Stainless steel backsplash in a kitchen with colorful accents

When your countertops are a strong color, stainless steel is a perfect choice for your range backsplash. Keeping the motif shiny and sleek just might be the answer to a modern space featuring countertops like the ones below, which appear to be sodalite. [from PowellKleinSchmidt]

Stainless steel backdrop in a kitchen with blue countertops

Remember the mosaic-style backsplash in the section above? Go with penny tile for your range backsplash if you’re looking for a surface that’s easy to clean (but can also hide splatter until you’re ready to wipe down the area). [photo by Robert Radifera Photography for Rill Architects]

Small stainless steel circles create a backdrop near the stove

Below we see how penny stainless steel tiles catch the light and add drama to all-white kitchens, preventing the gleaming space from becoming too stark. [from i.poise via Houzz]

Kitchen with penny stainless steel tile

Don’ forget that there are a variety of stainless steel range backsplash options, including a ridged look that creates instant texture. [photo by Linda Oyama Bryan, from Nicholas Design Collaborative]

Sleek backsplash over the stove

Below we see another ridged pattern, which looks dynamite with the cherry-hued cabinetry. Textured stainless steel backsplashes are often scratch-resistant and easy to clean. [photo credit: Stainless Living, from HGTV.com]

Textured stainless steel backsplash

Did you get some stylish design ideas from the images above? If you have another moment, go back and look at the kitchen accessories featured in the photos. There are some amazing ideas for items such as pendant lighting, canisters and utensils that pair well with stainless steel. Happy decorating!

Kate Simmons

Kate Simmons is a freelance writer and design blogger with a love of all things decor. She spent her childhood writing stories and working on interior design-themed DIY projects. Kate’s published writing reflects her special interest in how design has changed through the decades. Her blog Mirror80 ( http://mirror80.com/) explores the fashion and [...]

You might also like