How to Install a Mosaic Tile Backsplash in Your Kitchen (and Pick the Perfect Shade)

These beautiful tiles can add texture, pattern, and movement to your space.

A modern kitchen featuring a double sink herringbone tile backsplash a knife block bottles on the counter and a wooden cutting board — Credit:
Joe Hendrickson / Getty Images

Mosaic tile backsplashes are a stunning way to add depth, texture, and a custom feel to your kitchen.
Choose mosaic tiles that harmonize with your kitchen’s existing colors and shapes for a balanced, cohesive look.
Proper preparation, like leveling surfaces and dry-laying tiles, ensures a polished and professional installation.

This year, kitchen tile trends are shifting. Subway tile and large-format tiles were once all the rage, but they're slowly being phased out in favor of more dynamic, colorful options. The perfect example? Mosaic tile, which is endlessly customizable and looks beautiful both up close and from afar.

One place particularly well suited for mosaic tile is a backsplash. However, installing many small, disparate tiles in this area is a whole different ball game, both practically and aesthetically. Read on to learn about the rise of mosaic backsplashes and how to install one.

Lindsay Fluckiger, designer specialist at Tile Club
Jamie Chappell, vice president of brand and product at Fireclay Tile

Why Designers Love Mosaic

A kitchen stovetop with a tiled backsplash featuring iridescent square tiles — Mint Images / Getty Images

Mosaic tiles add depth and texture to a space that large-format tiles can't match.

"It's made up of many small pieces, so it has this built-in rhythm and tactility," says Jamie Chappell, vice president of brand and product at Fireclay Tile. "Even in a simple color, the scale shift creates depth and light play that a larger-field tile can’t replicate."

There's a handcrafted nature to a mosaic tile that feels unique and tailored to the individual. "Whether it's a soft marble herringbone, a glazed ceramic penny round, or a modern geometric pattern, mosaics create a focal point, without overwhelming the space," says Lindsay Fluckiger, designer specialist at Tile Club.

Why It's Trending

Mosaics, as an art form, have existed for millennia, but the way we're translating this style into the home has shifted—and is seeing renewed interest.

"I think it's part of a larger movement toward tactility and surfaces that feel made, not manufactured," says Chappell. "People are craving depth and honesty in their homes."

Mosaic backsplashes nowadays lean into "organic textures, natural stone, handmade finishes, and thoughtful, geometric patterns," says Fluckiger. This differs from years past, when busy, bold compositions were trending.

How to Choose Shape and Color

Selecting the right mosaic tile color can feel daunting—should they all be the same hue, or should they be different to create a pattern or gradient? How can you prevent them from overwhelming your kitchen entirely?

Start with your preexisting elements. What countertops, cabinets, and range are you considering, and how will these colors interact with your mosaic backsplash?

"It doesn’t have to be a strict match or contrast," says Chappell. "I often encourage people to think in terms of harmony. A mosaic can echo the undertones of cabinetry or stone for a seamless look, or it can be a confident focal point that anchors the space."

Don't forget about shape, either. "It matters just as much as color," says Fluckiger. "Linear patterns like herringbone or stacked bars feel modern and architectural, while curved shapes such as penny rounds or scallops feel softer and more playful."

Installation

Kitchen counter with jars and a cutting board against a hexagonal tiled backsplash — Ivan Zaplatynskyi / Getty Images

Since you're installing many different, small tiles at once, you may run into a few challenges or roadblocks.

"It comes down to precision and surface preparation," says Fluckiger. "The tiles are often mounted on mesh sheets, so uneven walls or rushed layout work can become noticeable once everything is grouted." Make sure your surfaces are leveled and that your installer is carefully aligning each sheet.

To help you envision what it will look like, try dry-laying the tiles out beforehand, says Chappell. "Think about where the pattern will start and end, especially around outlets, windows, or a range hood," she says.

It's a bit of extra work, but collaborating with an experienced installer will make it a breeze. "When mosaics are installed with intention and care, the finished result feels elevated and truly custom," adds Fluckiger.