Before making any big decisions on kitchen design and installation in South Oregon, there are five backsplash styles on their way out and what to do instead. And the biggest backsplash mega trend coming in hot this year is going to help add some elements of personality and style to any kitchen.
Here is what South Oregon homeowners need to know before picking a backsplash tile.
Backsplash Trends on Their Way
Out in South Oregon Kitchens
1. Classic White Subway Tile
The most controversial one on this list. That classic white subway tile is definitely something that has got to go.
Backsplash Tile Trends in South Oregon
The problem with white subway tile is that it has just been overdone, overplayed, and overused. It is in almost every flipped house or rental property and that is why it is becoming a real problem for anyone trying to get a very high-end or custom look.
White tile is out of trend. Not only is white subway tile quite boring at this point, but it also has a major issue when the grout is white as well, because it will show every little stain as well as every pasta sauce splatter.
Try a different color or a different finish. Use a marble subway tile or something more like a zel that has some movement to it and looks handmade. Change the color or change the material. Another option is a very small tile in a stacked pattern instead of a standard subway tile.
2. Bold, Brightly Colored, Highly Patterned Tiles
This next backsplash trend on its way out, is something that can be very bold and also very overstimulating. Bold, brightly colored, primary colored, highly patterned, contrasting-pattern tiles that give a very busy look to a kitchen. These are becoming a lot of people’s biggest design regrets. A lot of them are cement encaustic tiles with a blue and white pattern that is very elaborate, and when put together, creates a very busy pattern.
One of the biggest regrets homeowners have about using this in their kitchen is that it is on the backsplash, visible all the time, very noticeable, very jarring, and it creates a lot of busyness and clutter. Today’s designs in South Oregon homes are definitely trying to have a more minimalist, clean line look, and busy patterned tiles do not help achieve that aesthetic.
3. Travertine, Tumbled Stone, and Slate
Tuscan-style kitchens were definitely all the rage, and everybody was using travertine, tumbled stone, and slate for backsplashes. Those are definitely on their way out in 2025. They can just make a kitchen feel very dark, very heavy, and seriously dated.
Designer Alice Mazinski from Planner 5D says that some of these tumbled stone travertines can definitely give a Fred Flintstone vibe. Too clunky and heavy for the beautiful, light, bright, and sleek modern kitchens being craved in South Oregon homes today.
4. Framed Picture Style Inlays and Decorative Medallion Inserts
Framed picture style inlays above the stove or decorative medallion inserts placed at sporadic spots throughout the backsplash design are definitely on the way out. These used to be a way to create a focal point or some visual interest, but now they just look dated and really interrupt the clean lines being carved in today’s modern kitchen design and installation in South Oregon.
Anything a little bit too fussy, a little bit too frilly, with way too much embellishment, those are all signs to avoid it in a backsplash choice.
Putting those picture frame moldings right in the middle of a backsplash design interrupts the visual flow and can also make a kitchen look smaller because it interrupts those clean through lines needed to make a kitchen look more expansive and bigger.
5. Fake-Looking Porcelain Trying to Imitate Natural Stone
Porcelain that is trying to look like natural stone but doing a terrible job at it is something to avoid. There is a lot of porcelain out there trying to look like marble or travertine and the problem is that the design is just not real enough. The pattern printed on there looks obviously fake. All those porcelain tiles with that fake-looking marble veining are definitely things to avoid because people are really craving natural stones and bringing the outside in.
Avoid the artificial wood grain tile or porcelain tile made to look like wood on a backsplash. People know real wood would not be used behind a backsplash, especially behind a stove. Avoid fake wood-looking tiles as well as fake marble-looking tiles.
People are craving authenticity and a handmade look for natural materials. Anything that looks mass-produced or just looks straight up fake is something to be avoided in South Oregon kitchen design and installation.
FAQs
Is white subway tile completely out for South Oregon kitchen backsplashes?
The problem with white subway tile is that it has just been overdone, overplayed, and overused. It is in almost every flipped house or rental property and that is why it is becoming a real problem when trying to get a very high-end or custom look. Try a different color or a different finish, a different material, or a different shape.
Why are bold patterned tiles becoming a design regret in South Oregon homes?
These very high-energy, dopamine-inducing patterns can just become very overwhelming over time. Busy patterns compete with everything else in a kitchen and can make a space feel very chaotic when the goal is organized and clean.
What natural stone works for kitchen design and installation in South Oregon?
Pick something that is a lot lighter and definitely more refined. Travertine is coming back in a big way, but it is a very light color trend tending toward the very light beige end. A honed marble or a limestone in lighter neutral tones gives that organic feel without weighing down the entire room.
Why should framed tile inlays be avoided in modern kitchens?
Putting those picture frame moldings right in the middle of a backsplash design interrupts the visual flow and can also make a kitchen look smaller because it interrupts those clean through lines needed to make a kitchen look more expansive and bigger.
Conclusion
In this blog post, you have looked into the five latest backsplash tile trends in South Oregon:
- Classic white subway tile.
- Bold, brightly colored patterns.
- Dark travertine and tumbled stone.
- Framed picture style inlays.
- Fake-looking porcelain imitating natural stone.
