A blue and white kitchen backsplash can help create a fresh, beachy look in your home. Combining cool blue hues with crisp white finishes evokes serene seaside vibes and breezy coastal style. Whether you want to go for a more subtle beachy aesthetic or really lean into the nautical theme, there are many creative ways to incorporate blue and white backsplash designs.
From eye-catching geometric tile patterns to classic subway tiles and beyond, the options are endless for realizing your dream coastal kitchen. Read on for plenty of stylish blue and white backsplash ideas to complete the coastal vibe in your home.
Traditional White Subway Tiles
Nothing evokes classic coastal style quite like crisp white subway tiles arranged in a brickwork pattern. This fresh, nautical look pairs beautifully with kitchen cabinets in shades of blue.
Subway tile backsplashes are a popular choice because they are relatively affordable, easy to install, and offer a clean, elegant look. The rectangular shape and beveled edges create visual interest and dimension. Feel free to add pops of color with accent tiles or mix in some seaside-inspired decorative touches.
But don’t feel limited to plain white subway tiles. You can find many creative variations with subtle patterns or textures to spice up the traditional look. Herringbone arrangements, basketweave designs, and intermittent row staggering are simple ways to add interest.
Pro Tip: Use a contrasting grout color to make the white subway tiles really pop. Dark blues or grays work nicely for a beach house vibe.
Vintage Sea Glass Tile
Recycled sea glass tiles offer a beautifully weathered, ethereal look reminiscent of treasures discovered beachcombing. Blending soft aqua, sky blue, and seafoam hues, these tiles can help capture the colors of the ocean in your kitchen backsplash.
Sea glass tile backsplashes have an artisanal, craftsman-like aesthetic that feels relaxed yet still sophisticated. The naturally smooth edges and frosted finish of the upcycled glass pieces create an organic, flowing look. Feel free to combine with accent tiles in sand, shell, or coral shades for even more coastal character.
Pro Tip: Use white or very light grout to keep the sea glass tiles as the main focal point. Let the blended blue colors shine through.
Geometric Moroccan-Style Tile
For a bolder blue and white backsplash, consider a Moroccan-style geometric tile design. Featuring brilliant cobalt blue, this intricate zellige pattern is eye-catching and elegant. The repetition of shapes creates fluidity and movement.
Geometric tiles have a timeless, ornate aesthetic perfect for achieving a coastal Mediterranean vibe. The vivid diamond, octagon, starburst, and triangular designs represent harmony. Feel free to accent with smaller mosaic tiles in turquoise or aqua shades.
Pro Tip: Use white grout and minimal accessories to keep the graphic tile pattern as the star. Let it make a vibrant style statement.
Whitewashed Wood Planks
A reclaimed wood backsplash offers warmth and casual comfort to balance the cool coastal hues. Mimic weathered driftwood or seaside boardwalks with a backsplash made from whitewashed, salvaged wood planks.
The whitewashed finish keeps the wood feeling light and beachy, while the natural grain and texture add interest. Small imperfections in the reclaimed wood will only enhance the rustic, seaside charm. For added dimension, install the planks in a horizontal ladder, vertical, or stacked pattern.
Pro Tip: Use a clear sealant to protect the wood from moisture damage and maintain the whitewashed color integrity over time.
Hazy Watercolor Tile
Capture the dreamy,abstract nature of the ocean with a stylized watercolor tile backsplash in pale blues and whites. Handpainted designs feature soft color that bleeds and blends gracefully across each unique tile.
Watercolor backsplash tiles promote a feeling of harmony and tranquility with their hazy ombre effect. Let the tiles evoke ocean mist, sea foam, cresting waves, and sandy shores. Feel free to add luminescent mother of pearl, iridescent glass, or natural shell tiles for extra whimsy and charm.
Pro Tip: Use bright white grout to contrast the soft color variations and make the tiles pop. Let it ground the amorphous shapes.
Classic Nautical Rope Motif
For quintessential nautical style, incorporate a rope motif backsplash in classic navy and white. Thick twisting ropes interlacing against a crisp white background epitomize timeless maritime aesthetic.
Rope-inspired backsplashes are perfect for cottages, beach homes, or any kitchen seeking a casually elegant seaside look. Contemporary interpretations substitute the rope silhouette with raised ridges or grooves to emulate the twisting texture. Accent with reclaimed wood or weathered metals.
Pro Tip: Incorporate subtle blue hues in the grout lines or mosaic accent tiles to tie in the main navy rope motif. Keep the background crisp and bright.
Beach Cottage Fish Scale Tile
Have fun with your coastal backsplash and create interest with a bold fish scale tile design. Iridescent ceramic or glass tiles mimic the shimmering colors of fish scales and underwater coral reefs.
Fish scale tiles promote tropical vibes with their playful pattern and palette of greens, blues, and mother of pearl shades. Feel free to incorporate additional aquatic life touches like starfish and seashell silhouettes. Just avoid overdoing it, as less is often more with such statement tiles.
Pro Tip: Use white or neutral grout to prevent a cluttered look. Let the scales shine by keeping the background simple.
Ombre Sea Glass Mosaic
Small pieces of upcycled sea glass arranged in ombre patterns create a shimmery mosaic backsplash reminiscent of ocean waves and sunlight dancing on water.
Using a variety of naturally shaped frosted sea glass in every shade of blue imaginable results in an organic tile mosaic that feels uncontrived and relaxed. Accent with occasional pieces of white beach glass, shell fragments, or mirrors for added dimension and radiance.
Pro Tip: Consider a wave-like shape for the mosaic installation rather than a traditional grid. Mimic the movement of water.
Modern Wave Motif
For clean lines with a decidedly coastal influence, try a sleek backsplash featuring modern interpretations of rolling waves and swirling eddies. Contemporary designs in calming blues on a white background evoke the serenity of oceanscapes.
Stylized waves, swirls, and bubbles offer a minimalist, almost futuristic take on conventional nautical themes. Their soothing repetition and negative space impart tranquility. Pair with chrome hardware and driftwood accents for tailored balance.
Pro Tip: Incorporate pearlescent, mother of pearl, and reflective mirrored tiles to evoke sunlight dancing across the water.
Weathered Shiplap Planks
Reclaimed boat wood or driftwood shiplap offers timeworn character that instantly evokes lazy days by the seaside. Natural imperfections in salvaged planks add to the coastal charm and create dimension.
For added visual interest, arrange the weathered planks in a chevron, herringbone, or stacked pattern. The organic texture and neutral tones promote an easygoing vibe and warmth to balance out cool blue hues. Accent with brass fixtures, rope accents, and distressed signs.
Pro Tip: Use a clear coat finish to maintain the natural patina and lightly worn character of the salvaged wood.
Handpainted Beach cottage Mural
Make your backsplash the stunning focal point and crowning coastal detail by commissioning a handpainted beach cottage mural. A talented local artist can recreate your favorite seaside retreat in exacting detail for a dreamy, escapist backdrop.
Bringing personal character to your backsplash mural will make the kitchen uniquely you. Work with the artist to portray treasured vacation memories, favorite local beaches, or even your own home on the coast captured from an interesting perspective.
Pro Tip: Incorporate meaningful details like family pets frolicking in the surf or kids building sandcastles. Make it intimate.
FAQ About Blue and White Backsplashes
What colors complement a blue and white backsplash?
A blue and white backsplash pairs best with light and neutral shades that let it stand out. Cream, tan, light or weathered wood, and white are ideal. Accent with metallics like brass, bronze, pewter, and brushed nickel. Pale greens and seafoam work for added color.
What kind of paint goes well with a blue and white backsplash?
Light neutral paint colors complement blue and white backsplashes best. Go for whites, off whites, beiges, light taupes, and pale grays with cool undertones. Soft sage green is also an option. Avoid competing cool colors or bold hues.
Should I match my cabinets to a blue and white backsplash?
It’s not mandatory, but matching blue cabinets to a blue and white backsplash can really cement the coastal aesthetic. Go for a pale sky blue, cadet blue, navy, or even robin’s egg blue depending on your style. If your cabinets are already neutral, then simply leave them be.
What flooring options work with a blue and white color scheme?
Light natural wood, weathered driftwood, bleached oak, and whitewashed pine flooring are great choices for blue and white color schemes seeking a beach house vibe. For tile, opt for neutral patterns with blue accents. White marble, travertine, or limestone are also crisp options. Use light blue rugs to tie everything together.
What type of countertop looks best with blue and white backsplash tile?
For countertops, whites and neutrals like marble, quartz, soapstone, or concrete in soft finishes complement blue and white backsplashes nicely. But don’t shy away from bolder patterned countertops like blue Moroccan cement tile or terrazzo with marine debris in white plaster.
What is the most popular blue and white backsplash tile size?
The 3 in x 6 in standard rectangular subway tile tends to be the most popular shape and size for blue and white backsplash designs. The bricks laid in offset rows create pattern and visual interest. But mosaics, hexagons, arabesque, and penny tile sizes can make great accent tiles.
Should I use dark or light grout with blue and white backsplash tile?
Either light or dark grout can work well. White grout provides contrast and helps set off the colors, while dark navy or gray grout can provide a bold outline. Go with white grout for mosaic tiles or if your tiles have texture. Use dark grout for smooth tiles like subway to add definition.
What kind of backsplash accessories go well with blue and white tile?
Coastal-themed backsplash accessories like coral, seashells, sailboats, and lighthouses make perfect accents. Also consider rope trim along the edges, fish netting, crustacean silhouettes, or anchors. Metallic starfish, shells, and sea creature tiles add shine.
Final Thoughts
The right blue and white backsplash can infuse your kitchen with breezy, coastal style and colors inspired by sea and sky. Whether you prefer traditional nautical motifs or modern abstract interpretations, the options are virtually endless. Just choose patterns and materials that complement your existing decor and align with the relaxed, beachy vibe you want.
With creative tile materials, artistic murals, and reclaimed wood planks, you’re sure to find a backsplash design that completes your coastal kitchen aesthetic. Just have fun with different blue hues and don’t be afraid to mix materials and textures. Before you know it, you’ll feel like you’re cooking in your very own seaside cottage or beach house.