The backsplash in your kitchen should complement your countertop, but it does not have to be identical. Most of the time, kitchen countertops and backsplashes will be different colors/designs, opposing or complementing one another in some way. It all relies on the overall design of the area! When the kitchen has a clinical all-white aesthetic or the homeowner extends their granite countertop upwards to create a granite backsplash, you're more likely to see matching backsplashes and countertops.