11 Gorgeous Marble Backsplashes That'll Refresh Any Kitchen

There's something about a marble backsplash that will never go out of style. The statement-making stone is classic and works just as well in sleek, modern spaces as it does in traditional kitchens. One of the best features about marble is that no matter what room you use it in, it instantly elevates the space: "To incorporate a luxe feel, we often gravitate towards a marble tile," says Bria Hammel, principal designer and CEO of Bria Hammel Interiors. "There's nothing more elegant and timeless."

A backsplash may seem like a small detail, but it's often the focal point of the kitchen. And marble—especially slabs featuring dramatic veining—acts like a piece of art. Not only will it help protect from food splatters, but the backdrop is what most people will comment on when they see a new kitchen design. Whether you decide to incorporate a backsplash that goes from the countertop to the hood or straight up to the ceiling is up to you—either way, you can't go wrong. Another reason we love marble is it has the most stunning natural color palette: subtle neutrals of white, creams, grays, and gold. These earth tones will never look dated.

Hammel recommends letting the stone make a statement and keeping the rest of the kitchen design simple. "Pair a marble backsplash with either a white, gray, or black countertop to avoid having too many competing colors," she says. But that doesn't mean flashes of metallic are off limits. Interior designer Emily Henderson loves to add brass flourishes to an all-white kitchen with marble for a glam look. The options when it comes to marble backsplashes are more varied than you might think. You just need to get creative. Here, we've rounded up gorgeous marble backsplash ideas to inspire your next update.

For this home with an "elevated-yet-laid-back California vibe" designer Amber Lewis, CEO of Amber Interiors Design Studio, selected marble to complement the neutral palette. "The combination of marble with greige cabinets and antique hardware is the perfect mix," she says.

You don't have to go with a marble slab, another option is to use tiles. "To make a space feel luxe, we often gravitate towards marble tile," Hammel says. "This one gives a traditional coastal style home a refined touch. It effortlessly mixes with more casual details like the farmhouse sink to give the room easy sophistication."

One popular design feature is a marble shelf that's affixed to the top of the backsplash, as seen in here cookbook author and design blogger Athena Calderon's gorgeous kitchen. The lifestyle expert uses the space to display pottery, a vintage lamp, and an antique mirror.

"I love how this backsplash creates such a clean and dramatic aesthetic—it's the perfect way to maintain simple lines while adding color and texture," says Bailey Austin of Bailey Austin Design.

"Slab marble in classic white always looks tailored and correct," says Michael Schoeller, co-owner of Schoeller + Darling Design. "There's a reason why some finishes become classics. A polished finish and white-on-white never gets old in my book, especially with blue walls."

"It's so fun to mix tile of different textures and sizes in a kitchen, as it gives the room much more visual depth," says Prudence C. Bailey, founder and principal designer of Prudence Home + Design. In this kitchen, she used 4x8 subway tiles to give the illusion of a bigger space, and then added 1x3 Carrara marble tiles in a herringbone pattern for the backsplash. "The end result is a clean and chic kitchen that will last a lifetime," she says.

"I love a delicate short marble backsplash," says interior designer Emily Henderson. "It's elegant and modern, but still protects your wall from those water stains."

"I love a solid slab for a backsplash," says Jennifer Muirhead of Jennifer Muirhead Interiors. "Because of the natural variations in veining, it will always look custom and unique." The counters in this kitchen were fabricated from the same slab for a seamless look.

A honed or matte finish has become popular for countertops and backsplashes. "The finish absorbs the light and the stone looks more like suede," says Schoeller. He designed this modern kitchen with dark gray marble to match the gray oak cabinetry.

Matching a marble backsplash with a waterfall island, like in this sophisticated kitchen by Cortney Bishop of Cortney Bishop Design, is another popular design trend.