Refresh Your Kitchen With These Farmhouse Backsplash Designs for White Cabinets

White kitchen cabinets create a clean, airy look in today's farmhouse kitchens. But plain white walls can feel dull. The perfect backsplash brings life to white cabinetry with color, texture, and charm.

From natural stone and brick to classic subway tile, backsplash options create a cozy farmhouse mood. Consider the cabinet paint finish and overall style when selecting materials. Then choose a backsplash design to complement your dream kitchen.

Choose the Perfect Farmhouse Backsplash for White Kitchen Cabinets

Why add a backsplash to white cabinets at all? For starters, a backsplash protects the walls behind a cooktop or sink from inevitable splatters and stains. It also adds personality and polish to a kitchen.

For farmhouse enthusiasts, the backsplash finishes the look. A well-chosen backsplash ties everything together - from the cabinets and hardware to the windows and flooring.

Most Popular Farmhouse Backsplash Ideas for White Cabinets

Here are some of the best farmhouse backsplash options for white kitchen cabinets:

• Subway Tile: Classic rectangular tiles laid in a brick pattern suit traditional and modern farmhouse spaces.
• Marble Tile: Elegant marble backsplashes with gray veining give white cabinets an upscale look.
• Granite Tile: Speckled granite tiles in warm beiges and browns complement white cabinets.
• Brick Backsplash: Genuine or faux brick backsplash adds hearty texture for a rustic charm.
• Shiplap Planks: Vertical overlapping wood planks create depth and casual farm style.
• Wainscoting Panels: Crisp white beadboard wainscoting offers a refined, coastal vibe.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Backsplash

Keep the following in mind when selecting your farmhouse backsplash:

• Budget - Prices range dramatically - subway tile is most affordable.
• Maintenance - Natural stone requires sealing - ceramic is virtually carefree.
• Durability - Natural materials tend to be more long-lasting.
• Style - Traditional or modern farmhouse? Color scheme?
• Tiles or Panels? - Tile offers more patterns but panels are easier to install.

Classic Subway Tile Backsplash for Timeless Farmhouse Style

Subway tile reigns supreme in the world of farmhouse backsplash materials. The recognizable rectangles stacked in an offset brick pattern suit both rustic and contemporary kitchens.

Subway tiles first appeared in early 20th century New York City subway stations. By the 1990s, they emerged as a versatile backsplash trend. Minimal grout lines and easy maintenance make subway tile a go-to backsplash choice.

Why Subway Tile is Perfect for Farmhouse Kitchens

What makes basic white subway tile backsplash such a farmhouse favorite?

• It's classic and timeless, never going out of style.
• The slick finish and simple shape work in any kitchen.
• Crisp white subway tiles keep small spaces feeling open and airy.
• Affordable and easy for DIY installation.

Plus, white subway tiles serve as a blank canvas. Just mix and match sizes, lay them in patterns like herringbone, and play with grout colors to get the look you crave.

Tips for Getting the Look with Subway Tile

Use these subway tile backsplash ideas to accent your white cabinets:

• Stick to white or light gray tiles to avoid visual clutter.
• Combine glossy and matte tiles for subtle contrast.
• Use varied tile dimensions (3x6, 4x12, etc.) for interest.
• Highlight white tiles with dark grout for modern flair.
• Extend subway tile from counter to ceiling for a bold look.

Subway Tile Design Ideas

Some chic ways to use subway tiles with white kitchen cabinets include:

• All-white tiles with black grout in herringbone pattern
• Mix of white and gray subway tiles in offset grid
• Gray subway tiles in running bond pattern
• Subway tile backsplash with open corner shelving

Create a Rustic Farmhouse Feel with Brick Backsplashes

Brick backsplashes infuse warmth and texture into modern farmhouse spaces. Genuine reclaimed brick or faux brick panels create an inviting mood in kitchens with white cabinets.

Brick backsplashes lend a sense of history along with natural color variations. The irregular texture and handmade look provide an authentic farmhouse vibe.

The Appeal of Brick Backsplashes

What makes brick backsplash tile so fitting for a cozy farmhouse?

• Adds organic texture lacking in many new builds.
• Warms up sleek, modern kitchens.
• More affordable than stone backsplash options.
• Relatively easy for DIY installation.
• Fits with industrial, traditional, or cottage styles.

Tips for Pulling Off the Brick Backsplash Look

Follow these guidelines for executing a beautiful brick backsplash with white cabinets:

• Stick with neutral grout like tan or gray to let the brick shine.
• Use varied sizes and shapes of brick for authenticity.
• Combine with floating shelves for an informal vibe.
• Add flat white tiles below the brick for visual contrast.
• Consider faux brick panels for low maintenance.

Inspiring Brick Backsplash Ideas

Creative ways to use brick backsplash tile with white cabinets:

• Random pattern of gray, brown, and red bricks
• Running bond layout of oversized gray bricks
• Herringbone pattern of thin red bricks
• Faux white painted brick backsplash with open shelves

Finish Your Farmhouse Kitchen With Shiplap or Wainscoting

For the ultimate farmhouse backsplash, go beyond tile and panels with reclaimed wood planks or crisp wainscoting. These textured backsplash materials complete a rustic or coastal kitchen.

Shiplap Backsplash for Rustic Farmhouse Charm

What is shiplap? It refers to wide planks of reclaimed wood installed horizontally with the edges overlapping. This forms visible "steps" for an informal look.

Benefits of a shiplap backsplash include:

• Provides natural texture and depth
• Relatively inexpensive DIY option
• Looks great paired with open shelving
• Distressed finish adds to farmhouse appeal

Wainscoting Backsplash Adds Traditional Flair

Crisp white wainscoting offers structure and refinement. Made of beadboard or tongue-and-groove wooden planks, wainscoting suits formal farmhouse spaces.

Painted or wallpapered wainscoting backsplashes provide:

• A bright, clean look popular in older homes
• Coastal cottage or nautical flair
• Customizable patterns with paint or wallpaper

• Limit panels to 30-40% of wall space for optimal balance and impact.
• Use trim to create a framed backdrop for shelves or tile sections.
• Pair with simple subway tile backsplash for textural contrast.
• Extend shiplap planks floor to ceiling for a dramatic statement.
• Add windows or open shelving over panels to break up the wood.

Whether you favor a modern or traditional look, the backsplash sets the tone in your farmhouse kitchen. From natural stone to reclaimed wood, backsplash materials bring warmth, texture, and personality to cabinets in crisp white.