Are you renovating your kitchen? The kitchen is the first room that potential buyers will use to judge the value of your home, making it essential that any renovations or upgrades offer both stylish design and lasting appeal.

One of the most important parts of a great kitchen is the backsplash. Just like a great rug can tie together any living room, a great looking backsplash makes any kitchen a comfortable, stylish place to spend your time.

These five tile ideas are perfect for modern, classic, and retro kitchens alike. Choose one – or combine several ideas for a creative look – and create your perfect kitchen, courtesy of The Tile Depot.

1. Black and white mosaic tiles

Black and white tiles are iconic – a classic look that suits any retro kitchen. Seen in classic movies as a symbol of 1950s design and Americana, they’re the ideal choice for classic homes and country kitchens.

While black and white mosaic tiles will look out of place in a modern kitchen, they look wonderful when paired with natural wooden shelving, white cupboards, and classic granite countertops.

2. Rich, powerful copper tiling

Copper is a powerful material that isn’t suitable for every type of kitchen. However, when this strong material is paired with the right cupboards and countertop, it can create a look that no other backsplash material can match.

In most cases, copper is too powerful for lightly coloured kitchens. Avoid mixing it with porcelain tiles, white countertops, or light cupboards. Instead, use copper to add even more life to rich mahogany shelving and dark granite countertops.

3. Modern black porcelain tiling

Black porcelain tiling looks wonderful alongside both dark colours and the various shades of white and grey. This dark tiling choice tends to suit modern kitchens due to its rugged look and powerful shading.

Avoid pairing black porcelain with a classic or country-style kitchen, as it’s simple too powerful to be used alongside light wooden shelving. This modern material is particularly stylish when it’s used alongside stainless steel or black appliances.

4. Rugged, minimalistic brick

Give your kitchen the style of a New York City deli with rugged, minimalistic brick. A brick kitchen backsplash looks wonderful in older buildings and urban apartments, particularly those in dense inner cities.

Try to avoid using brick tiling and white appliances together, as the contrast makes even the best kitchen feel a little too abrasive. Brick and stainless steel, however, is an excellent look that will produce a timeless kitchen.

5. Stylish, elegant granite

While granite is rarely sold as tiles, sheets of this strong and impressive material are excellent choices for your kitchen’s backsplash. Choose a shade of granite to match your kitchen counter and give it the appearance of extending up into the wall.

Granite backsplashes are stylish, elegant, versatile and very easy to clean. This wide range of benefits has made granite one of the most popular modern backsplash tile choices, particularly in new houses and apartment complexes.