Natural Stone Backsplash Ideas for Rustic Kitchens

Slate

• Slate is an ideal backsplash material if you want to give your kitchen a rustic look. The stone is available in a variety of earth tone shades like gray, blue, brown, beige and black, which all provide a natural look. You can also opt for slate tile that features several colors swirled together so you can tie in other shades in the kitchen’s color palette. Whatever color slate you choose, its rough texture also contributes to its attractive, rugged appearance. For a truly rustic look, opt for slate tiles in varying colors and sizes instead of traditional monochromatic, square tiles, so the backsplash has a more natural feel.

Flamed Granite

• Traditional granite tiles usually have a reputation as a luxury kitchen material because of their smooth, shiny surface. However, if you opt for flamed granite, which has a rough, textured surface, you can create a rustic style backsplash that becomes the focal point of your kitchen. Flamed granite is treated with heat so the surface melts and cracks to create an uneven texture. It is usually available in lighter earth tone colors, like gray and sand, so you can create a natural, rugged look for your backsplash. Flamed granite is absorbent because of its shattered surface, so it should be sealed when used as a backsplash material to prevent moisture, grease and other materials from staining the tile.

Limestone

• For the most unusual rustic backsplash look, few stone materials top limestone. Limestone is a calcium carbonate-based sedimentary stone that contains shells and fossilized remains of coral and other marine organisms. As a result, no two limestone tiles look exactly alike. When you use limestone for your backsplash, you wind up with a natural look that is ideal for a rustic kitchen. Limestone comes in several light colors, including cream, yellow, tan and gray. It is also available in brick style tiles, which can help provide a more rugged look for your backsplash. As with a granite backsplash, seal your limestone tile to protect the soft, porous stone from stains.

Honed Marble

• Like granite, marble is usually used to create an elegant look for a kitchen or bathroom because of its smooth, polished surface. However, you can use it to create a rustic look for your backsplash if you opt for honed marble tile instead of polished. Honed marble’s finish is matte, so it doesn’t have the shine of polished marble. The matte finish provides a more rugged, casual look that is ideal for a rustic-styled kitchen. White or gray honed marble is ideal for a natural look. As with other natural stone backsplashes, seal honed marble tile to prevent damage and stains to their surface.