Butler’s pantry…scullery…built-in buffet and hutch, beverage station…whatever you call it, having a dedicated area in or near your kitchen or dining area for food/beverage prep, staging, and servingware storage has really never been more popular. While a traditional home may feature a hidden butler’s pantry or back kitchen/scullery, a modern butler’s pantry is often located adjacent to or just behind an open kitchen.

Modern Butler’s Pantry Backsplash - open kitchen

A modern butler’s pantry usually serves as a transitional area between the kitchen and other areas of an open floor plan home (such as a lounge/living area). A modern butler’s pantry helps reduce kitchen clutter and is often used to store servingware for special occasions. However, because a modern butler’s pantry is often on full display in your home, it should feature a functional and aesthetically pleasing design that complements the rest of your kitchen and dining area.

How to Choose a Butler’s Pantry Backsplash

Contray to popular belief, a butler pantry backsplash does not need to match the backsplash in your kitchen. In fact, many of our customers are specifically looking for a unique and luxurious backsplash tile that can draw attention to a butler pantry or bar area in their kitchen, dining room, or great room. Many prefer a simple stone slab or subway tile backsplash for their main kitchen area and an eye-catching luxury mosaic tile for over the stove and/or the back of a butler pantry or built-in buffet cabinet.

That being said, any backsplash that you choose for a butler pantry should complement the overall aesthetic of your kitchen and dining area.

Some key factors to consider before choosing a backsplash for a butler pantry or scullery:

butler pantry and kitchen cabinet colors
kitchen backsplash color/design
overall kitchen design style/aesthetics
backsplash durability
budget

Since a butler's pantry is typically used for beverage/food prep and storage, it’s best to choose a backsplash made out of material that's durable and easy to clean, such as ceramic or porcelain tile, glass tile, or natural stones like marble or quartzite.

If you are looking for a classic yet modern backsplash for your pantry, consider a timeless subway tile backsplash in neutral colors associated with modern design such as white, gray, or black.

Modern Butler’s Pantry Backsplash - white subway tile

Other popular backsplash ideas for a modern butler’s pantry include:

Modern Butler’s Pantry Backsplash Idea #1:

White and Gray Mosaic Tile

While your butler’s pantry does not need to match your kitchen backsplash, it should complement the color of your kitchen hutch or butler pantry cabinets. For a modern farmhouse butler’s pantry with white or gray cabinets, you can’t go wrong with a neutral white and gray tile backsplash like the Arabesque Marrakech marble waterjet mosaic tile.

Modern Butler’s Pantry Backsplash - white gray tile

A white and gray arabesque tile backsplash is ideal for a modern farmhouse butler’s pantry. It can also be used to tile the back of a kitchen hutch cabinet or kitchen wet bar.

Modern Butler’s Pantry Backsplash Idea #2:

Colorful Square Tiles

Square tiles are one of the most popular backsplashes for modern kitchen designs. That’s because a square tile backsplash offers clean lines and a minimalist look that’s a mainstay of modern interior design. Square tiles provide a cohesive, modern look that doesn’t overpower other elements of a kitchen design.

A square tile backsplash is also ideal for a butler’s pantry or scullery. Square tiles are available in a wide variety of materials and colors, making it easy to match or complement the color of your pantry cabinets.

Modern Butler’s Pantry Backsplash - square tile

While square mosaic tiles are a popular backsplash option, 6x6 ceramic square tiles in trendy colors like green or blue can help add a pop of color to your pantry or scullery.

Modern Butler’s Pantry Backsplash Idea #3:

Patterned Hexagon Tile

Hexagon tiles are a great choice for a butler pantry backsplash. While hexagon mosaic tiles have a retro look that’s ideal for a mid-century modern style pantry backsplash, patterned hexagon tiles in highly durable materials like porcelain, ceramic, or glass are also available for a more updated, contemporary look. To achieve a modern boho aesthetic, consider using colorful hexagon carpet look porcelain tile from our Bohemian Tile collection.

Modern Butler’s Pantry Backsplash - bohemian tile

Modern Butler’s Pantry Backsplash Idea #4:

Antique Mirror Tiles

Antique mirror is a popular material for a kitchen hutch or pantry backsplash. Marble waterjet tiles with antique mirror glass accents like Bellagio can add visual interest and glamour to a built-in kitchen hutch cabinet backsplash or butler’s pantry. They’re ideal for a contemporary or modern luxury butler’s pantry design.

Modern Butler’s Pantry Backsplash - bellagio tile

Antique mirror is also a popular backsplash idea for a dry bar or wet bar in the kitchen or elsewhere in your home.

Modern Butler’s Pantry Backsplash Idea #5:

Stacked Subway Tile

While a staggered subway tile backsplash is a classic choice for kitchen or pantry, create a more modern, updated look with vertical or horizontal stack glass or porcelain subway tiles.

Modern Butler’s Pantry Backsplash - stacked subway

Modern Butler’s Pantry Backsplash Idea #6:

Patterned Porcelain Tile

Patterned porcelain tiles are a great choice for a butler pantry backsplash. That’s because patterned porcelain tiles are highly resistant to moisture and easy to clean and maintain. Colorful patterned porcelain tiles are available in a wide variety of designs and can complement nearly any kitchen design style.

Modern Butler’s Pantry Backsplash - porcelain tile

While Victorian style patterned porcelain tiles were ultra-trendy in recent years, more updated and modern designs (such as the Matte Gray Diamond Pattern 6x6 Porcelain Tile) are also available.

Additional Modern Butler’s Pantry Backsplash Ideas

Some additional backsplash ideas for a modern butler’s pantry include:

3D tiles – Some of our favorite 3D tiles for a modern pantry backsplash include Bianco Carrara Marble and Glass Modern Cube 3D Mosaic Tile and Calacatta Gold, Black Marble, & Brass 3D Geometric Tile. The Calcatta and black marble 3D geometric tile with brass accent can also be used for a bar backsplash.

Rustic Subway Tile – A rustic subway tile backsplash is ideal for a modern farmhouse or rustic modern butler pantry backsplash. To achieve this look, we suggest using colorful slate or weathered brick look porcelain subway tile.

Modern Butler’s Pantry Backsplash - rustic

Herringbone Tile – The herringbone layout pattern for subway tiles adds visual depth and movement to a design, making it a popular choice for a modern kitchen or pantry backsplash. Herringbone mosaic tiles can also add style, movement, and color to a kitchen or butler pantry backsplash.

Seamless Stone Backsplash – A seamless stone backsplash provides a clean, minimalist yet upscale look that complements nearly any type of modern butler’s pantry design. The best natural stones for a seamless slab backsplash include marble, quartzite, granite, and slate.

Create Your Own Modern Butler’s Pantry Backsplash Design

For additional butler’s pantry backsplash ideas, check out these articles:

Upscale Home Bar Backsplash Ideas

11 Unique Backsplash Tiles for Kitchen or Bathroom

For assistance with selecting the right backsplash for your pantry or kitchen, contact our Customer Service team today!

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