Butcher Block Backsplash Ideas (Top 10 Options)

Thinking about installing a butcher block backsplash in your home? The good news is that working with wood is simpler compared to working with other kinds of materials. This makes wood an excellent option for your home in different elements, from floorboards to countertops. It is also a great consideration for your backsplash, and a butcher block can be a wonderful option. 

A butcher block refers to individual wooden strips combined together to form a sleek slab. This timeless design and style of building this material is affordable and looks chic and cool. 

With the open option of a DIY installation, it becomes a great choice if you have a limited budget for your project. You even decide how you want the butcher block to look, from patterns and shades of colors to what hardwood and grain to use.

Types of Wood for Butcher Block

Some types of wood you can use for butcher block countertops normally have a thickness of 1.5 to 6 inches. And the thickness would influence the cost of the butcher blocks.

Here are the types of wood that can be used for butcher block backsplash:

• Acacia – Has striking patterns and smooth texture with incredible durability and is highly resistant to wear and tear.
• Appalachian Red Oak – Has distinctive graining and warm tones.
• Birch – Fine-grain appearance and light in color.
• Cherry – Has rich, warm colors that I love seeing in high-end kitchens.
• Hard Rock Maple – Popular choice for wooden blocks with a beautiful light hue.
• Hickory – Has strength and durability combined with prominent graining and works with a rustic style.
• Walnut – Features a deep and rich patina in decorative panels and luxury cabinetry.
• Teak – Extremely moisture-resistant with a light golden hue and tight grain.
• Wood Alternatives – Porcelain or Ceramic Tile (These can be used to mimic the look of real wooden surfaces on a wall)

If you feel like butcher block can be the best option for you, here are some butcher block backsplash ideas you can try out.

• Dark-hued reclaimed pine butcher block with white solid tile countertops and white cabinets (A classic look!)

• Red oak butcher block and green countertops with brown leather chairs

• Lighter-colored and stained wooden surfaces and black marbled countertops with dark grey and light grey cabinets (Light-colored wood with stains offers a rustic and welcoming vibe)

• Refinished walnut butcher block backsplash and black open shelves with greenery plants to add a refreshing look

Painted Wood Paneling

Painted wood paneling is a traditional material that can be used to give the look of butcher blocks. This style for butcher blocks provides a modern farmhouse design that can make your kitchen look better.

Painted wood paneling can also be used for the following materials:

• Butt board
• Shiplap
• Tongue and groove
• Beadboard

And when they are used in the kitchen, painted wood paneling as cabinets and drawers use oversized wooden pulls to tie everything into the countertops. 

Some of the options you can try out are the following:

• Light Wood Paneling: shows a beautiful yet subtle beauty with a light palette (mostly white) applied on the surface, which may be ideal for cabin style or a clean Scandinavian style

• Matching Wood: you can try out a coordinating cherry wood backsplash and match the hue with another material you have for your kitchen

Tile Backsplash With Wood Countertop 

If these options are not what you have in mind, you can try the combination of tile backsplashes with wood kitchen countertops. 

A subway tile is a good choice for a backsplash, especially if there’s a wood counter to pair it with. And this works even without considering the style and design of the room. 

These subway tiles can come in a variety of colors and arrangements. And they can easily match with wood countertops, especially if you’re going for a rustic and more aged look. 

Wood countertops are perfect for traditional homes, showcasing a warm and more welcoming look, even for modern and contemporary-looking kitchens. These countertops can be ideally matched with stainless steel appliances and white solid cabinets. 

Matching wooden countertops with wonderfully looking backsplash-like subway tiles provide a simple yet sleek style. See more pros and cons of butcher block countertops here.

If this is what you want for your kitchen, you have a wide variety of choices for the type and how you integrate these materials into your kitchen. Your creativity (and budget!) is your limit!

Creative Wood Backsplash Materials

There are many types of kitchen backsplash materials that can be used to complement for butcher block. Everything will depend on your preferences and the design and general vibe you want your kitchen to have. 

There are different materials you can use to produce different design styles. For a humble and rustic traditional look, here are some materials you can use:

• Painted brick

• Hand-painted tile

• Beadboard

And for specific designs, here are the materials you can guarantee to bring the best out of that style and look. 

• Transitional: colored tiles & stacked stones

• Eclectic: antique tile, colorful penny rounds, & tin tiles

• Industrial: stainless steel & subway tile

• Scandinavian: colored mosaic tiles

• Modern/Contemporary: back-painted glass & subway tile with a twist

• Updated Midcentury Modern: back-painted glass & Calacatta quartz

• Modern Mediterranean: stainless steel

Best Backsplash For Wood Block Countertops

Don’t know what backsplash to use with your butcher block countertops? What you can do is check out what most people consider the best material for this specific countertop. 

Butcher block countertops are an affordable and cost-effective element so when it comes to the backsplashes, you may have more freedom with your budget. 

The best match considered for butcher block countertops by professionals is a subway tile backsplash. This style is guaranteed to be versatile and ideal for the kitchen setup. When it is installed up to the ceiling, the room will feel and look bigger than it is.

Here are some gorgeous combinations to try:

• Maple wood countertops & white subway tile

• Reclaimed oak counter & white subway tile

• Reclaimed chestnut kitchen countertop & white subway tile

• Large walnut countertop & colored subway tile

• Wenge butcher block countertop & dark blue or gray subway tile

• Distressed sapele mahogany countertop & tan subway tile

These are only a few of the renovation choices you have. For best results, match the wood you choose for butcher block countertops to a complementing color of the subway tiles used for the backsplash.

How to Clean Wood Backsplash

To determine if this is the ideal material for you, you should also be able to consider its maintenance.

Here are some things you can use to clean butcher block wood.

• Scraping dirt with a plastic spatula
• Warm water and dish soap solution
• Vinegar solution
• Table salt and lemon
• Sandpaper and oil (Every after 10 years)

See more related content in our article about herringbone backsplash tile on this page.