How the herringbone pattern works
The herringbone pattern places rectangles of equal size at right angles, so the end of each piece meets the long side of the next. The result is a row of stacked V shapes that reads as a zigzag, and the name comes from the way it resembles the bones of a fish.
Chevron, the pattern commonly confused with herringbone, cuts the end of each piece at an angle so the pieces meet in a clean point instead of overlapping. Herringbone looks more woven, chevron more like an arrow. Both have a long history: Roman builders laid herringbone brick, a technique called opus spicatum, and herringbone wood parquet later made the pattern a classic indoors. For the angled version, see chevron tile backsplash.
Mosaic sheets and real coverage
Herringbone marble mosaic sheets measure 12 1/8 x 13 3/8 inches, and the Blanc Matte ceramic sheet measures 10 x 13 inches. Because the edges of a herringbone sheet are stepped, so that one sheet can lock into the next, the outer measurement of a sheet is larger than the wall area it actually fills.
A marble herringbone sheet fills a little under one square foot of wall, even though it measures over a square foot by its outer edges. Coverage per box is the figure to use when estimating a backsplash, and it is listed on each product.
White marble: Alpina White
Alpina White herringbone backsplash tile has a white marble base with soft gray veining, and it comes in both honed and polished finishes on the same 12 1/8x13 3/8 sheet. White herringbone is a popular choice for a kitchen because the pattern adds movement while the color keeps the room light.
Honed Alpina White has a soft, low-sheen surface that lets the veining show without glare, which suits a farmhouse or a transitional kitchen. Polished Alpina White reflects under-cabinet light and makes the white look brighter, which suits a modern kitchen with glossy cabinets or a marble countertop.
Gray marble: Bardiglio Light
Bardiglio Light herringbone is a blue-gray marble with darker gray veining that runs through the pieces in fine streaks. A gray herringbone backsplash gives the pattern more contrast than white, so the zigzag stands out from across the room.
Bardiglio Light comes in honed and polished finishes. The cool tone pairs well with white or gray cabinets, stainless steel appliances and white quartz or marble countertops, and the polished version deepens the blue in the stone.
Beige and green-and-white marble
Sahara Beige herringbone backsplash tile is a warm beige marble with moderate variation, so the tone moves from piece to piece. It comes honed, and an Andorra trim cut from the same stone is available to finish an edge in a matching profile.
The Verde and Calacatta T herringbone pairs green Verde marble with white Calacatta T in one sheet, in a fine textured finish. The mix of green and white gives a backsplash a strong focal point.
A matte white ceramic option
Blanc Matte herringbone is a glazed ceramic mosaic on a 10x13 sheet, about 15/64 inch thick, thinner than the 3/8 inch marble sheets. The pieces are an even matte white with no veining, so the pattern itself becomes the only detail on the wall.
A uniform ceramic herringbone suits a minimal or Scandinavian-style kitchen, and it brings no competing color or vein to the countertop. The glazed face takes up very little water, which makes it practical right behind a sink.
Honed, polished or textured herringbone
Herringbone finish changes how the pattern reads more than in most layouts, because every piece meets its neighbor at an angle and catches light differently. Polished marble herringbone shifts as you move past it, since neighboring rows face the light at different angles.
Honed herringbone gives an even, matte surface where the veining and the zigzag carry the look without shine. Fine textured herringbone, as on the Verde and Calacatta T blend, adds a slight tactile surface that shows the stone grain. Matte ceramic is the calmest of the finishes, with neither shine nor veining.
Pattern direction on a backsplash
Herringbone direction on a backsplash is a design choice that changes how tall or wide the wall looks. Turned so the V shapes point up, the pattern draws the eye vertically, which suits a tall wall behind a range hood or a backsplash that runs up to the ceiling.
Turned so the zigzag runs sideways along the counter, herringbone emphasizes width and suits a long, low backsplash between counter and upper cabinets. A diagonal orientation is also common on a herringbone backsplash and gives a more dynamic look on a short wall.
A focal panel behind the range
A herringbone panel behind a range is a popular way to use the pattern in a kitchen: the herringbone fills a rectangle above the cooktop, framed by a plain tile or a trim, while the rest of the backsplash stays simpler. The panel becomes the kitchen's focal point without covering every wall.
A full herringbone backsplash, running across every wall between counter and cabinets, works best with a quiet color such as Alpina White or Blanc Matte, since a bold pattern over a large area can feel busy. For other stone backsplash options, see marble tile backsplash.
Matching countertops and cabinets
Countertop and cabinet color decide which herringbone backsplash looks settled in a kitchen. White quartz or Carrara-look counters with white cabinets suit Alpina White for a soft, all-white kitchen, or Bardiglio Light when the backsplash should stand out against the white.
Dark counters such as black granite or soapstone give Alpina White a crisp contrast, and warm wood cabinets or butcher block suit Sahara Beige. Green or navy cabinets pick up the green in the Verde and Calacatta T blend, while the plain Blanc Matte ceramic suits most counters because it brings no color of its own.
Bathrooms, bars and laundry rooms
Herringbone mosaic tile works beyond the kitchen wherever a small wall is seen up close. A bathroom vanity wall, the back of a shower niche, a wet bar or a laundry room splash zone are all common places for a herringbone panel, since a few sheets give a finished, detailed look.
In a bathroom, honed Alpina White or Bardiglio Light gives a calm, spa-like feel, and the Verde and Calacatta T blend adds color to a powder room. Other small-scale mosaic patterns for bathroom and feature walls are in mosaic wall tiles.
Grout color for herringbone tile
Grout color decides how strongly a herringbone backsplash shows its zigzag. A grout matched to the stone, such as white with Alpina White or light gray with Bardiglio Light, lets the pattern read softly through the shape of the pieces.
A contrasting grout outlines every rectangle and turns the zigzag into a graphic line: a mid gray on Alpina White or a white grout on Bardiglio Light puts the herringbone at the center of the kitchen.
Herringbone mosaic or subway tile in herringbone
Herringbone mosaic sheets and subway tile laid in a herringbone layout produce the same pattern at different scales. Herringbone mosaic sheets have small pieces mounted in the finished pattern, which gives a fine, detailed zigzag; a subway tile laid one piece at a time in herringbone gives a larger, bolder zigzag.
The wider herringbone range is in herringbone tiles, and the small-scale mosaic look in other patterns is in mosaic tile backsplash. Subway tile for a larger herringbone layout is in subway tiles.
