Herringbone Tile Ideas for Backsplashes

Herringbone tiling is a technique with ancient roots, dating back to the construction of roads during the Roman Empire, Egyptian jewelry making and 16th-century French palatial flooring. 

The style features interlocking rectangular tiles, otherwise known as subway tiles, that create a distinctive pattern. Herringbone tile backsplashes are a creative way to protect your walls from spills and splashes, moisture, humidity and wear, while adding style and personality to your space. 

This guide explores the best herringbone backsplash ideas, including different patterns, materials and uses. 

Benefits of Herringbone Tile Backsplashes 

Herringbone tile backsplashes offer a wide range of benefits, blending practicality with aesthetic appeal. 

• Timeless appeal: Herringbone tiling has been around for centuries. Its popularity has endured thanks to its sophistication and elegance. 
• Visual interest: Tile backsplashes create a visual accent. Whatever color you pick, the dynamic herringbone pattern adds dimension to any room.
• Versatility: Depending on your chosen material, you can adapt herringbone tiling to suit multiple home interiors, from rustic farmhouse to modern minimalist styles. You can create a herringbone backsplash with rectangular tiles in virtually any color or material.
• Durability: Most tiles are highly durable and resistant to wear, moisture and heat. Plus, they are easy to clean and care for. Some of the longest-lasting materials include natural stone, porcelain and ceramic. 

Color Ideas

Part of the beauty of herringbone tiling lies in its versatility. Rectangular tiles come in a wide range of sizes, materials and colors. You'll need to select tile and grout colors when creating your backsplash. Depending on your desired effect, you may choose a monochromatic or multicolored palette. It's totally up to you.

Here are our favorite color ideas for herringbone tile backsplashes.

• Monochrome: Create a visually impactful accent wall by choosing a single, uniform tile and grout color. This seamless, minimalist colorblock approach is perfect for adding character to modern interiors. One of our top color choices for this style is an earthy green tile. 
• Ombré: If you are looking to add a touch of whimsy to your home, consider opting for an ombré backsplash, which uses tiles with multiple gradients of the same color to create a stunning effect. Generally, ombré backsplashes flow from dark to light in one direction, either horizontally or vertically. 
• High contrast: For a backsplash with a wow factor, using highly contrasting colors can draw all the attention to your tiling. For this style, you can either alternate contrasting colors such as black and white or choose a grout that contrasts with your tiles. 
• Classic white: There's nothing more timeless than a white backsplash. White tiling brightens any room while creating the illusion of space and can complement existing colorways in your home. 

Material Ideas

The best material for your herringbone backsplash depends on its placement and your desired aesthetic. Most backsplashes are behind areas that frequently contact moisture, so choose a material that resists water and humidity.

• Natural stone: Available in a range of colors and patterns, natural stone provides a timeless and long-lasting finish. Examples of natural stone materials include granite, marble and slate, all of which create a luxurious feel. 
• Porcelain: This durable material offers a lightweight alternative to stone, with multiple colors and finishes to choose from. One of our top tips for those seeking an affordable alternative to marble is to select a marble-look porcelain tile, which provides a similar aesthetic at a lower cost and weight.  
• Ceramic: Ceramic tiles are ideal for projects that require a high-quality finish on a tight budget. Though they are slightly more porous than porcelain tiles, they remain a popular choice for backsplashes and are available in a wide range of finishes. Consider choosing a weathered-look ceramic tile for additional character with an industrial twist. 
  

Pattern Ideas 

There are plenty of options to explore when creating a herringbone tile pattern. While the traditional herringbone backsplash pattern is beautifully simple, you can vary the motif to put a unique spin on the style. 

Consider these concepts.

• Traditional: This recognizable pattern features rectangular tiles set at a 45-degree angle, joined in a side-to-end fashion to create the signature zigzag look. Looking at this pattern will reveal where the style gets its name, as it resembles a fish skeleton. 
• Herringbone with square insert: Adding rows of square tiles between the rectangular tiles provides your backsplash with an extra layer of visual texture and interest. 
• Extra-long tiles: You can use longer, thinner rectangular tiles to create an elongated version of the classic pattern, also known as “skinny” herringbone. 
• Double herringbone: Double herringbone follows the same pattern as traditional herringbone, but uses two rectangular tiles for every one present in the conventional layout. This variation lends itself to an appealing backsplash with a similarly timeless effect. 

Ideas by Room

Herringbone backsplashes make an excellent addition to any room with walls that need protection, easy cleaning or additional design. 

Here are our top picks for herringbone tile backsplashes by room:

Kitchen 

Herringbone kitchen tile backsplashes must be able to withstand grease, water and heat, while also elevating the aesthetic of one of your home's busiest rooms. 

Our favorite herringbone backsplashes for kitchens include the following:

• White ceramic: Easy to clean and suitable for any existing colorscape, white ceramic tiles combine the practicality and visual appeal that your kitchen needs. 
• Greige porcelain: This trendy, French-inspired color that marries beige with warm gray is a stunning addition to any farmhouse-style or contemporary kitchen. 

Bathroom

The herringbone pattern tiles in your bathroom should be nonporous and able to withstand a lot of moisture and humidity.

Here are our top herringbone backsplashes for bathrooms:

• Monochrome marble: Whether you choose the real deal or a marble-look tile, there's nothing more elegant than an understated marble vanity backsplash. 
• Blue ombré: Create a coastal feel in your bathroom with shades of blue. Opt for square insert herringbone pattern tiles to add even more color gradients between your subway tiles. 

Laundry Room

You can install a herringbone backsplash to protect your laundry room walls from detergent and water. Some of the best herringbone backsplashes for laundry rooms include the following:

• Marble-look glass tiles: Add a little bit of sparkle to your laundry room with glitzy herringbone glass tiles. They're easy to clean and as pretty as they are practical. Plus, they are more cost-effective than real marble tiles. 
• Brick-look porcelain: If your home has a more industrial aesthetic, a brick-look porcelain herringbone backsplash could elevate your laundry room while ensuring durability and easy maintenance. 

Create Your Ideal Backsplash with Carpet & Tile Mart

Carpet & Tile Mart has over 300 wall tiles to choose from. From bold colors to neutral tones, and from glossy to textured finishes, work with us to create a stunning herringbone backsplash for any aesthetic or budget. 

Explore our selection of high-quality wall tiles in one of our stores or fill out a contact form today.