A backsplash is an integral design element in any kitchen. It serves both aesthetic and functional purposes. The right backsplash can elevate the overall look of your kitchen while also protecting the walls from splashes and stains. If you have cherry cabinets, choosing the perfect backsplash is key to making your kitchen style truly stand out.

Cherry wood cabinets have a rich, warm red or reddish-brown tone. This makes them versatile to pair with many backsplash tile materials and colors. Whether you want to complement, contrast, or blend with the hue of your cherry cabinets, there are countless stunning options to consider.

We will explore the most striking and unique backsplash tile ideas to beautifully match cherry wood cabinetry. Read on for an in-depth look at the different materials, patterns, colors and designs that will make your cherry kitchen cabinets pop.

Complementary Natural Stone Backsplashes for Cherry Cabinets

Selecting a backsplash with natural tones that mirror the warm reddish-brown cherry color is a foolproof option. Natural stone materials like marble, travertine, and granite inherently work well with wood cabinetry. Their earthy, organic colors and patterns effortlessly complement the striking reddish tones of cherry cabinets.

Elegant Marble

Marble backsplash tiles are a timeless and elegant choice. The smooth yet subtly varied colors and veining provide a refined and upscale look. Opt for marble in tan, cream, brown, rust, or peach tones. This creates a seamless and sophisticated color flow from the backsplash to the cherry cabinets.

Carrara and Calacatta marble are two of the most popular options. Their white background with gray veining offers a light yet rich complement. Other varieties like Statuary or Rose Lucienne marble have warmer beige, gold, and pink undertones that also pair beautifully with cherry.

Install marble backsplash tiles in a classic brick pattern or statement herringbone design. This showcases the colors and patterns of the natural stone in a clean and orderly layout against the cherry cabinetry.

Natural Travertine Tiles

For a bit more texture, consider a travertine backsplash tile. Travertine is a porous and pitted natural stone that comes in warm beige, brown, rust, and ivory earth-toned hues. This inherent color variation creates visual interest and depth.

Honed travertine tiles have a matte finish that plays nicely with cherry’s reddish-brown patina. The bumpy look of tumbled travertine also complements the grain of the wood. Use an offset brick or subway tile pattern to install a travertine backsplash. This adds movement and draws out the colors.

Granite’s Bold Colors

Granite is ideal for making a bold backsplash statement. Available in a vast array of colors from dramatic blacks and blues to warm reds, oranges and yellows, granite brings life to a cherry wood backsplash.

Finding a granite pattern with colors that highlight the cherry cabinetry is key. Look for speckles, veins or swirls in creamy beiges, chocolate browns, and rich umbers. Pairing a colorful mosaic granite tile backsplash with dark cherry cabinets makes both elements stand out even more.

Contrasting Tile Backsplashes for Cherry Cabinets

If you want your backsplash tile to contrast strongly with darker stained cherry cabinets, bold and bright options are the way to go. Vividly colored or patterned tile against the deep cherry wood creates an eye-catching kitchen backdrop.

Bright White Subway Tile

White subway tile is a classic backsplash option that powerfully contrasts with dark cherry cabinetry. The clean and simple look highlights the rich reddish-brown wood grain.

To prevent starkness, select a subway tile with slightly beveled edges or a textured finish. Install in the usual offset brick pattern or in a horizontal stack for contemporary flair. For extra pop, opt for glossy white tiles rather than matte.

Accent the white subway tiles with thin strips of decorative mosaic or marble tile in a harmonizing neutral tone. This elevates the look while tying in the cherry cabinet color.

Vivid Solid Color Tile

Use vibrant solid colored tiles in aqua, teal, cobalt, emerald, or mustard to make the backsplash the focal point. These colors make lighter stained cherry pop while contrasting strongly with deeper shades.

Installing the tiles in an offset brick or herringbone pattern ensures the color grabs attention. Maintain the rest of the kitchen decor in neutral, earthy tones so these vivid backsplash tiles steal the show.

Retro Patterned & Geometric Tile

Retro-inspired patterned or geometric print tiles offer playful contrast against serious cherry cabinets. Midcentury mod motifs, Arts & Crafts inspired florals, or art deco zigzags and chevrons all make unique and spunky backsplash choices.

Stick to black, white or Sherwood green patterns to pop against reddish cherry wood. Keep grout lines thin to maintain the graphic nature of the tile print. For extra dimension, pair patterned tiles with a coordinating geometric mosaic accent strip.

Blending Backsplashes for Seamless Cherry Cabinet Flow

Rather than making it stand out, you can also select backsplash tile that subtly blends with cherry cabinetry. The idea here is to create a seamless look and full color harmony.

Warm-Toned Natural Stone Mosaics

Small stone mosaic tiles offer an easy blended backsplash option for cherry cabinets. The small scale mixes up the textures while unifying the colors.

Stick to mosaics in beige, brown, taupe and other warm neutral hues that are of similar intensity to the cherry stain. Materials like travertine, limestone, and beige granite all complement nicely without much contrast.

Whether opting for a uniform mosaic sheet or mixing up stones and colors, the result will be a smoothly blended backsplash.

Rustic Wood-Look Porcelain

For a more coordinated look, porcelain “wood plank” tile backsplashes are perfect for pairing with real wood cherry cabinets. Thanks to printing technology, porcelain tiles can mimic a startling array of natural materials.

Select porcelain planks with a rustic appearance in similar brown, beige and reddish tones as the cabinets. Mixing in lighter and darker tiles recreates the depth and variation of real wood. Blend with a cherry stain or distress the porcelain to heighten the cohesive look.

Lay the wood-look plank tiles vertically in a brick pattern or horizontally to simulate a wood panel backsplash. The smooth uniformity of porcelain balances the more pronounced grain of the cherry cabinetry.

Neutral Patterned Subway Tile

Another seamless option is simple subway tile with neutral tones and patterns that blend with cherry cabinets. Beige, brown, taupe and light cream tiles in natural stone looks or ceramic prints all complement the wood shade.

Subtle texture such as a pressed tin pattern adds interest without detracting from the cherry cabinetry. Lay the tiles in an offset stack for a streamlined look. Use thin grout lines in a matching neutral color for a cohesive flow.

Creative Shape and Material Mixes with Cherry Cabinets

Don’t be afraid to get creative by mixing and matching tile materials, colors, shapes, and layouts. Contrasting or coordinating tiles with unique designs and arrangements make for an eclectic backsplash that enhances rich cherry cabinets.

Geometric Shapes

Playing with hexagons, triangles, diamonds, and other geometric shapes in glossy or textured tiles creates visual intrigue. Using at least one tile color that ties into the cherry wood unifies the look.

Installing the unconventional shapes in a brick-style layout results in a tailored mosaic appearance. You can also have fun forming patterns like zigzags or starbursts.

Mixed Natural Stones

Bring together complementary natural stones like travertine, marble and granite tiles in an organic pattern for textural drama. This allows you to integrate colors and movement to accentuate the consistent grain of cherry cabinets.

Using marble diamond inserts or granite strips on an otherwise travertine backsplash breaks up the squares. Mixing polished, honed and textured tiles also adds eye-catching light play.

Mirrors & Metallics

For contemporary edge, work in mirror tiles, stainless steel, copper penny rounds or other metallics. This industrial vibe plays up the sleekness of the cherry wood against very reflective or patina-rich metal accents.

Keep metal and mirror tiles as strategic embellishments, like a backsplash focal point or borders that frame the edges. Use them in jewel tones or aged metal finishes to tie into cherry’s reddish patina.

Best Practices for Designing a Cherry Wood Backsplash

When brainstorming your ideal backsplash for cherry cabinets, keep these top design practices in mind:

• Select tile materials, colors and textures in a complementary or contrasting tone intensity as the cherry wood. Don’t choose hues that are too similar or washy, as this causes the kitchen to look monotonous and flat.
• If choosing a matching color backsplash, vary up the finish and texture. For example, combine glossy ceramic mosaic with honed travertine subway tiles. This keeps the overall look visually intriguing.
• Always view tile samples against the cabinetry before purchasing. Colors appear different on small samples, so seeing full-sized tiles or sheets is key.
• For patterned or multi-colored mosaic tiles, adhere a sample section directly to the wall. Step back to judge the overall effect paired with the cabinets.
• Incorporate cherry wood itself into the backsplash design. Frame with live edge wood strips or use reclaimed cherry boards behind the cooking area.
• Accent with other natural materials to complement the wood aesthetic. Think stone, nickel, iron, bronze, reclaimed wood beams, or copper pots mounted on the backsplash.
• Install lighting under or over top cabinets to cast a spill of light onto the backsplash and highlight its colors and textures.

Standout Backsplash Ideas for Cherry Wood Cabinets

Now that we’ve covered the foundations of choosing stunning and cohesive backsplash tiles for cherry cabinets, let’s look at some specific design ideas.

The following unique and creative backsplash tile inspirations will help you design an eye-catching cherry wood kitchen:

Marble Herringbone Statement

The classic herringbone tile pattern makes a bold angular statement, especially when executed in natural marble. The white Carrara or grey marbling ties into cherry’s reddish undertones and warms up the veining. Installing herringbone marble mosaic tiles or larger cut marble on the diagonal amps up the visual interest.

Balance the strong herringbone shapes with clean straight lines on the lower cabinets. For extra elegance, add marble countertops and a live edge cherry floating shelf over the tile installation.

Geometric Multicolor Moroccan Style

Inspired by vibrant Moroccan design, this colorful geometric mosaic backsplash is full of life. Using small tiles in different shapes like hexagons, diamonds and triangles creates intriguing patterns. Opt for a mixture of glossy tiles in citrine yellow, ruby red, sapphire blue and emerald green.

The strong colors and fun mosaic look fantastic against dark cherry cabinets. Contrast the exuberant tiles with simple shaker style doors and integrated handles on the cabinetry.

Rustic Wood Plank Panels

Rustic wood panel backsplashes complement the natural vibe of cherry cabinets. Arrange varying widths and lengths of reclaimed barn wood vertically like wainscoting. The varied grain, knots and distressing add loads of character.

For a coordinating look, choose wood pieces that are red oak, hickory or maple with a reddish patina. You can also lightly stain the reclaimed wood in a cherry tone. Allow the wood’s texture and unevenness to stand out against the more uniform cabinetry.

Dramatic Contrast Black & White Geometric

Bold black and white geometric tile patterns add an edgy vibe while powerfully contrasting rich cherry cabinets. Go for large-scale graphic black and white tiles laid in an offset brick or checkerboard layout.

Clean horizontal lines on the cabinets balance the visual movement. Define the window area by framing it with a border of small-scale mosaic tiles or thin Cherrywood strips.

Natural Stone Rows

Lining up individual stone tile strips or ledges creates tailored elegance. Use the same stone type like travertine or marble for a unified natural look. Vary only the height, length, and finish like honed and polished. The thin stone rows showcase the lovely veining and colors of the stone.

Install the ledge tiles just 3-4 inches deep to save costs. Choose warmer neutral stone tones like beige, taupe and ivory that blend nicely with reddish cherry wood. The combination exudes organic harmony.

Textured Gray Stacked Subway

For an on-trend take on subway tiles, opt for textured gray porcelain in stacked horizontal rows. Look for tiles with cleft or ribbed surfaces and a handmade vibe. Shades like fog, charcoal, graphite and steel blue-gray offset cherry cabinetry beautifully.

The muted color and craggy texture of the tiles give this contemporary backsplash lots of refined dimension. Complement with sleek open shelves in cherry wood, for rustic-urban charm.

Blue & White Moroccan Fish Scale

The fish scale tile pattern gains major drama and elegance in glossy navy blue and white ceramic. Lay out the mosaic tiles so they resemble an undulating wave. Contrast this fluid motion with the strong horizontal lines created by the cherry cabinets.

Consider open shelf supports and floating cabinets to further enhance the feeling of movement and visibility. Anchor the Moroccan fish scale tile pattern with classic shaker style cabinet doors.

Antique Mirror Geometric

Faceting antique mirror tiles adds serious retro glamour and shine. Use large format mirror tiles cut into geometric shapes like diamonds, chevrons and starbursts. Layout in a dynamic staggered brickwork pattern against rich cherry cabinetry and open shelves.

The reflective light enhances the gorgeous wood grain while the faceted mirrors refract it into shimmering pieces. Keep the rest of the decor minimal to maximize this stellar focal feature.

Natural Stone Diamond Inserts

Accenting a neutral backsplash with inlaid stone diamond mosaics amps up the elegance. Frame the cooking zone with rectangular stone subway tiles in a creamy beige travertine or sandstone. At intervals, set contrasting gray and brown diamond-shaped granite, slate or marble tiles into the field tiles.

The diamonds provide beautiful one-off details that catch the eye. Make sure the stone diamond inserts tie into the undertones of the cherry cabinetry for a unified earthy look.

Modern Zigzag Deconstructed

Modern angular white, black and gray ceramic tile laid in a deconstructed zigzag pattern dramatizes a cherry wood backsplash. Lay the tiles so the zigzag appears to be shifting off-kilter. Choose a combination of glossy white, matte black, and textured gray tiles.

The high-contrast color scheme makes the contemporary pattern eye-catching and bold. Sleek flat panel cabinets in a dark cherry stain complement the graphic tile arrangement.

Natural Wood Organic Layout

For a super on-trend and coordinated look, bring wood up onto the backsplash using reclaimed planks. Arrange authentic salvaged barn siding in an organic uneven grid for a casual statement. The rich wood tones and natural distressing of reclaimed boards complement any shade of cherry cabinetry.

Mixing wood types like oak, maple and hickory adds to the impression of time and texture. It brings wonderful warmth and rural ambiance to handcrafted cherry cabinets.

FAQ About Cherry Wood Backsplashes

Designing and installing the perfect backsplash for your cherry cabinets comes with many choices to make. Here are helpful answers to some frequently asked questions:

What color backsplash goes well with Cherry cabinets?

• Warm natural stone colors like cream, beige, taupe, brown and terracotta beautifully complement the reddish-brown color of cherry wood.
• For contrast, vivid solid colors in the blue, green, black, and white spectrum pop against cherry cabinets.
• Multicolor mosaic tiles in red, orange, yellow and brown earth tones harmonize nicely with the reddish patina of cherry.

What kind of backsplash tile material works with cherry cabinets?

• Natural stones like marble, travertine, slate, and granite pair wonderfully with rich-grained cherry cabinetry.
• Handmade artisan tiles with variation and crazing reflect the rustic warmth of cherry wood.
• Mirrors, stainless steel, and other metallics inject contemporary edge into a cherry kitchen.
• Reclaimed and raw-edge wood boards offer harmonious coordination with real cherry cabinets.

What backsplash colors make cherry cabinets stand out?

• Contrasting black, navy blue, emerald green, and bright white backsplash tiles make lighter cherry wood pop.
• Vibrant jewel-toned backsplashes in ruby red, sapphire, topaz and citrine yellow accentuate darker cherry.
• Natural materials like marble, travertine and stone with veining draw out the grain and pattern in cherry wood.

Should cherry cabinets have a dark or light backsplash?

• Darker cherry cabinets tend to look best with lighter backsplash tiles for bold contrast. Go for whites, off-whites, grays, and soft natural stones.
• Lighter reddish-brown cherry wood can handle darker backsplash materials like black subway tiles, navy blue glass or black granite.
• Matching the value of the cherry stain (dark or light) ensures the backsplash ties in instead of competing.

How do you decorate around Cherry cabinets?

• Use secondary materials like iron, bronze, nickel, and reclaimed wood to highlight the warm wood tones.
• Incorporate natural greenery, plants and organic textures and patterns for an earthy vibe befitting cherry wood.
• Glass pendant lights, industrial metal fixtures and recessed lighting show off the gorgeous grain and color.
• Accent walls in mustard yellow, burnt orange, olive green, or ruby red make both the cabinets and backsplash pop.

Conclusion

The perfect backsplash design can elevate the whole look of your cherry wood kitchen. With so many options for materials, colors, shapes and layouts