The lighter one, but I am not sure it is the quite right either ..a bigger tile perhaps

I don't think either one is right. Definitely not the darker one.

If you have to choose one of these, definitely the lighter of your two options.

The lighter one but perhaps it will be too busy as it is a small tile.

Wouldn't a bigger tile look weird as backsplash?

The cabinets are white w a grey glaze. White tile is too stark and makes the cabinets look dirty. What is a good color to go w this busy countertop?

I love your cabinets and benchtop. Classic colours. Have you considered glass backsplash? thus eliminating the busy grout lines. I'd probably go either a really light grey.....or even (depending on the rest of the design/look of the room and available natural light) a smoked grey mirror backsplash. Anything too white or bright might be too much in this space that looks like you've chosen to go with a dark-moody classic theme.

I bought glass subway tiles, but haven't looked into full glass as a backsplash

I like Mel N's idea of a glass splashback. You can then choose an exact colour to paint behind the glass to match your lovely elements already. Just make sure there is no green in the glass to alter the paint colour chosen or that they have some system in place to prevent this.

Hi James Here's more examples of splashbacks, the 1st one looks like tiles. If your cook top is next to it, you don't have the grout to clean.

https://goo.gl/images/fdVcBF

https://goo.gl/images/ZmTWf3

https://goo.gl/images/KNq5gg

Is this cheaper or more than individual tiles?

The 1st one is 3yrs old but a good guide

http://www.homeimprovementpages.com.au/article/how_much_does_a_glass_splashback_cost

https://www.bunnings.com.au/our-range/kitchen/splashbacks/glass

https://www.reflectionsplashback.com.au/Reflections-Splashback-vs-Glass-Splashbacks/

And the final word from Houzz:

https://www.houzz.com.au/magazine/splashing-out-on-a-kitchen-splashback-stsetivw-vs~53547085

Using Monteytaffy's suggestion above, paint a much much lighter version of the cupboard above or pick the light grey in the bench. Use paint pots of both to see what works. Then put glass over making sure there is no green tinge to ruin the colour chosen. The overhead cupboards and bench tops are so striking I think the splashback should be barely there.

To answer your question about cost James, I'd say 'same-same'. Glass subways are not cheap and the labour involved would put price up also. I would imagine very very close. If I had to say, I would guess that full glass may work out slightly cheaper.

James, what did you end up doing?

I like the lighter tile but perhaps placing them horizontally instead of vertical :) my opinion - I think if you like the darker tile perhaps there is a Matt version instead of shiny

From experience we put a plain glass splash back in our home and little bugs always got stuck behind it so in the end pulled it off and painted the back of the glass with a shiny grey color to hide the bugs

Nothing yet...Still deciding. Love this tile but not with countertop

Ordering a few colors to see what works best. Probably going w a glass tile. Tried marble but looks too off

Have you considered plain glass so the bench is the hero?

I wouldn't have tiles, too busy and in my opinion not all that practical. Lesleyh is spot on with her glass splashback suggestion,

Lesley-Yes considered white glass but not plain glass. Since I will be installing myself, it's cheaper to do individual tiles as opposed to a full sheet of glass. I am going to have the grout match so it's not too busy

I found this online. Looks similar to my countertop and it doesn't look too busy to me.

James, check out Bunnings glass splashbacks as I think you may find they are economical.

I also don't think the image you found looks too busy and looks good with the countertop - the problem is going to be the getting a colour that goes with your cupboards - the cupboards in the picture are white which goes with pretty much anything, and that is why it doesn't look too busy. I think you need a much lighter shade of your cupboards for the splashback - but it needs to be a really warm grey not the cool greys in your original pic.

Glass splash backs have been around for at least 25 years and are pretty well at the end of their run. Textured splashes are now the go unless your looking for a 'spaceship ultra modern look' . They are much more expensive than tiles, crack easily while being installed, and show every mark.The style of the cupboards and bench are heading towards a classic or 'hamptons style' and a tile would be more in keeping with the kitchen. Be careful about the mosaics. I see this all the time in my work, when you look at one or two sheets it doesn't look to much but if you do a full splash in mosaic plus the pattern in the bench It will be pattern on pattern and could be overwhelming.

Thanks. The cabinets are actually white. In the above photo it doesn't look like that. What do you mean by textured splashes?

Do you mean your cabinets are white!??? The original picture at the top, posted with this dilemma?

Yes. My cabinets are white. The color of them in the top photo looks different. Bad lighting.

okay!!! A lot of these commenters obviously thought what I did - that the cupboards are a deep browney grey!! I think the responses would have been very different if we knew the cupboards were white. If you re-read thru the responses you will see that. Perhaps try re-posting the dilemma with a better pic. One of those original tiles may actually look ok.

james91328 are you posting from the US by any chance?

Yes New York

Given the cupboards are white the lighter subway would be fine - either matt or glass. there are some glazed more vintage looking options that could work but make sure the grout is close to the colour of the tile.

I love the glazed vintage but the ones at Home Depot are very dark and don't look right with the counter