No More Tile Backsplashes: Joanna Gaines Has A Sleek, Modern Alternative

When choosing design features for your kitchen, you might be tempted to play it safe. Tiled backsplashes are a default for a reason, but they're so common that few of us think to consider another material. The problem? A basic tiled backsplash lacks originality. If you're ready to ditch the basic subway tile backsplash for an alternative, Joanna Gaines has a sleek, contemporary option you might want to consider, and it's made from concrete.

A concrete slab backsplash might not sound like the most beautiful kitchen detail, but one look at this design by Gaines could change your mind. In the Season 4, Episode 7 of Fixer Upper, "Design On Her Mind," Gaines installs a striking concrete countertop and backsplash combination, otherwise known as a countersplash. With its raw, monolithic look, the concrete is a natural fit for the industrial-style kitchen, and it injects the space with an element of the unexpected.

Apprehension over concrete kitchen details is understandable, but there are so many reasons to embrace this modern look. First, despite being filmed back in 2016, the space still feels fresh and modern a decade later, proving that concrete kitchen features can have serious staying power. The material's understated look also creates a clean backdrop for warmer wood tones and other decorative details, making the space feel inviting rather than cold. So, if you've been searching for kitchen backsplash ideas and inspiration, consider the search over. Concrete is the way to go.

Gaines is no stranger to using concrete as a design feature. In the Season 5, Episode 7 of "Fixer Upper," she used concrete countertops in a farmhouse kitchen, which she contrasted with a beautiful blue-tiled backsplash, and again in Season 3, Episode 11, to create a cool-toned kitchen in a bachelor pad. In this Season 4 episode, she takes the idea one step further, adding in a concrete backsplash to create the ultimate moody, dark kitchen.

Alongside the matching concrete kitchen countertop, the space features black slab cabinetry, a dark farmhouse sink, and a long-arm sconce with an exposed bulb. Together, the elements create a classic industrial kitchen idea, but you don't have to commit to a grungy, urban aesthetic to embrace a concrete backsplash. Part of what makes the material so appealing is its versatility. Like white tiles, a neutral gray creates a strong foundation for the rest of your kitchen, whether you pair it with dark cabinetry like Gaines or use it to offset a brighter hue. And of course, it has the added benefit of looking far more unique than a tiled backsplash.

Whether your kitchen style leans rustic farmhouse, traditional Shaker, or Scandinavian chic, concrete can make a dramatic alternative to tile. The key is to balance its coolness with warmer tones, colors, and hardware, creating a space that feels layered rather than cold. Be inspired by Gaines' space and add wooden open shelving, brass plumbing fixtures, and a smattering of houseplants for a space that looks edgy but still feels welcoming.