• Create a bold tile backsplash with strong colors and shapes.Tile image by Laima Penekaite from Fotolia.com
  
  French bistros are quintessential hangouts in France; re-creating the bistro look in a home kitchen creates that intimate and exciting space indoors. As a small bar serving wine and snacks, bistro design blends a casual mood with a relatively formal decor. When deciding on tile backsplash ideas for your kitchen, keep in mind the color scheme of most French bistros---black, white, red, creams and yellows feature predominately.
  
  

Mural

• Tile murals bring out the essence of a place by depicting a scene. On stone or ceramic tiles, consider painting or commissioning someone to paint a French scene. An image of a country farm, a tree-lined road, a rustic kitchen or a Parisian bistro are just a few ideas. You can create a large mural to fill the whole backsplash area or create a thin, horizontal scene just two tiles high and seven or eight tiles across.
  
  

Color Design

• Use typical French national colors to create a color-centric backsplash. Choose red, blue, black, white, yellow and other rustic or city colors when choosing tiles. Think about adding a few fleur-de-lis tiles, a stylized symbol of France. For the border, consider making a thin black tile border to create a plain black tile edge that mimics black bistro chair design.
  
  

Black and White Checkers

• Consider a classic black and white checker design for the backsplash. Choose either large tiles, about 5 inches wide, or smaller 2-inch tiles to alternate black and white. Think about adding a few colored tiles into the mix to add bursts of color. You can also make the black and white tiles pop by adding a colorful bouquet of flowers in front of the backsplash or setting French-inspired pots, pans, printed vases or jars near the backsplash to add a bistro effect.