Subway Tile Is Outdated: This Colorful Backsplash Trend Will Surprise Everyone In 2026

The backsplash space in the kitchen should be used as an opportunity for design greatness, but all too often, the average homeowner will fall back on tried and true (and boring) looks. Tile is typically the material of choice for the backsplash due to having a wide variety of options and the durability to stand up against the demands of the kitchen. Subway tile has become the go-to format, but it is an outdated tile trend that is going away in 2025. It's time to embrace all that tile has to offer stylistically by going beyond simple, same-colored, side-by-side patterns. In fact, plaid may be just the pattern the backsplash needs to really shine.

Plaid tiles are showing up more and more often in kitchen renovation projects. Tastemaker Joanna Gaines installed a plaid tile design in modern farmhouse kitchens to match today's color trends, with a tempered Western inspiration. A 2017 "Fixer Upper" episode featured her use of plaid tiles to create a picturesque oven area, where the black-and-white plaid pattern added visual appeal all the way up to the range hood. The creative backsplash idea for the kitchen took up limited space while still making it stand out in the vast room. Caitlin Higgins recommended the use of plaid tile on designer Emily Henderson's blog, showcasing a 2023 kitchen backsplash project that consisted of taupe and teal gingham. "The simple addition of plaid tiled walls elevates this kitchen from everyday to extraordinary," she praised.

Plaid tiles are a bold trend that can transform the kitchen from a cooking space to a design haven. Oftentimes, plaid tile gives the illusion of texture, which adds dimension to the backsplash. It feels whimsical, but still maintains a professional look that is irresistible and approachable.

Classic plaid feels most at home in cottage-inspired kitchens because of the homey vibe, but the style is being modernized by playing with sizes and colors. Go maximalist with large, eye-catching checkers or add a hint of naturalism with green plaid that highlights the organic emerald jewel tones that are increasingly used in kitchens. Or consider using square tiles in varying colors to customize your pattern rather than a predetermined one that has plaid digitally printed on the surface. To make the style even more unique and artistic, a plaid visual can be created with small mosaic tiles. Intricate mosaics can be laid in customized shapes like a puzzle, to create an appearance that is truly one of a kind.