12 Stylish Erin Napier-Approved Backsplash Ideas To Try For A Kitchen Refresh

Erin Napier's design skills have found their way into public view on her show "Home Town." Though some of Napier's bold kitchen backsplash alternatives have sparked debates among fans, some look through the HGTV star's collected works to find inspiration to refresh their kitchens. Napier is all about her clients' preferences, which is why her projects rarely look the same. Her eclectic backsplash selections featured in the show's makeovers include rustic brick, bold patterns, and modern minimalism.

Sometimes, the backsplashes in Napier's remodels are the focal point, creating a work of art in the kitchen. Other times, it becomes the key driver of the color tones throughout an entire home. And sometimes they are a quiet backdrop that avoids fighting with other elements in a kitchen or continues a minimalist thread. Though Napier is no stranger to a backsplash pattern that pops, it appears her personal preference is something more low key, as we can see in her own countryside home, which she says was inspired by the kitchen in "Downton Abbey." Whether inspired by TV or your personal tastes, its worth seeing if any of these backslpashes will work in your kitchen.

In a July 2022 episode of "Home Town," Erin Napier's backsplash idea brought warmth to an otherwise modern kitchen. She chose the patterned design to counterbalance the "modern masculine look" the client requested because, as she said, "it gets a little cold." The tile also added a bit of playful whimsy to the space with an understated celestial pattern.

When Erin Napier ditched the tile backsplash for an alternative with 10 times the charm, it was for a very personal project featured on "Home Town:" a countryside retreat for her and her husband Ben Napier. For this house, she wanted it to feel like the downstairs kitchen on "Downton Abbey." The couple opted for a less modern touch with V-groove walls and skipped the tile backsplash altogether. If you go this route, choosing a washable paint becomes imperative, as it may otherwise be hard to wipe down splatters and spills.

Fans loved the backsplash in this March 2019 "Home Town" makeover. As she frequently does, Erin Napier pulled out one tone — in this case the green undertones in the splashback — to coordinate with other kitchen elements, like the drawer knobs. Despite the coordination, she still avoids making things too matchy-matchy and predictable, adding to their homey appeal.

This may not be for everyone, but unorthodox shaping and interesting texture for a backsplash is Erin Napier-approved. While trying to fit a backsplash between shelves might feel limiting, Napier showed a unique approach to tackling this feature, making it more of a kitchen focal point rather than merely a functional afterthought.

When Erin Napier revealed this kitchen backsplash on a November 2025 episode of "Home Town," she told the client it matched her physical aesthetic. "It literally looks like you at this moment with your blonde hair and your light blue jacket." The appreciative client was thrilled with the pop that it brought to the space. "Thank you for giving me color," she said in the episode.

A photo from this kitchen makeover is featured on the "Home Town" Facebook page with the caption, "There is no better way to add a fun pop of color to a small space than to add wallpaper." While the bold choice may not appeal to everyone, the budget-friendly, cheerful pattern is something Erin Napier enjoyed implementing.

Of this remodel, Erin Napier wrote on Instagram, "I know the ... decadent color choices aren't for everyone: and that is the point." In designing this backsplash, she stayed true to her client's taste with an avant-garde makeover, which featured sienna-hued tiles. Napier revealed in the episode that she mimicked the pattern on the tiles on the front door.

One "Home Town" fan perfectly summarized this Erin Napier-designed backsplash on Facebook: "My favorite backsplash! It's colorful, but plain and timeless!" The blue tile was a subtle way to add a pop of intriguee to an all-white kitchen back when this aired in 2021.

While Ben Napier's hand-crafted countertops were the focal point in this kitchen makeover, the simple backsplashes — both the subway tile above the stovetop and the horizontal tiles elsewhere — complemented his work beautifully without distracting from it. They also showed Erin Napier's knack for pushing boundaries, even with simplicity, by choosing two tile shapes.

When the homeowners saw the final results of their remodel on this 2025 episode of "Home Town," the husband spotted the backsplash and enthusiastically exclaimed, "I love this color," while his wife said, "I might pass out" from the excitement of the reveal. That's the kind of joy you want to get from any backsplash, and Erin Napier delivered.

In a July 2025 episode of "Home Town," Erin Napier repurposed bricks from the building's original fireplace to use in the kitchen. It gives the industrial aesthetic of exposed brick but also juxtaposes it cleverly against neutral cupboards. The homeowners were blown away by this element in their kitchen.

When the homeowner of this house, featured on "Home Town" in 2026, saw the kitchen tiles, she immediately said, "Mary Engelbreit," referring to a Missouri-based artist. Erin Napier confirmed that the backsplash was indeed the artist's work to the delight of the owner. Napier explained that the tones in the tiles inspired the color scheme throughout the rest of the house.