How to save money while adding some pop to your kitchen with a backsplash

Dec 6, 2024, 7:41 AM

(Pexels File Photo)

BY ROSIE ROMERO, HOST AND OWNER OF ROSIEONTHEHOUSE.COM

KTAR.com

Once upon a time, a backsplash amounted to a few extra rows of tile installed in a kitchen above the cooktop or the sink. It was a way to keep food or water from splashing up on bare walls. But the past few years, the backsplash has become a tempting “kitchen canvas” where homeowners and kitchen designers try out exciting ideas.

Some ideas posted online include mosaic murals and tiles that seem covered in gold, silver or copper. Other ideas include huge mirrors, 3-D style tiles that make you want to reach out and touch them and shiny sheets of what looks like quartz, marble or granite.

Luxury vinyl planks and large sheets of colored glass are also used as backsplashes. Colorful designs can be mosaic in style depicting landscape scenes, abstract designs, or designs that simply but elegantly feature the tiles own beauty. In other words- your imagination is the limit to creating a unique backsplash!

Here are seven suggestions about backsplashes for your kitchen.

Where a backsplash is installed

Almost all kitchens built today have at least a 4-inch mini- backsplash above the counters — all the way around the kitchen walls. Often, this small backsplash is on top of counters and is usually the same material as the counter itself. Larger backsplashes are used above the cooktop and sometimes the sink. They run from the range or sink up to where the cabinets start.

Price varies

Price is based on how much tile you need and what type of material you choose. The price of any given material can be determined by measuring the square footage of the area as all materials are sold by the square foot. Be sure to add 15% more product than you measured for to allow for cuts and waste (if a lot of cutting is required, you may need up to 30% more than the measured square footage). Check pricing before you get too attached to those beautiful tiles! You can save money by doing the project yourself (see tips below) and watching for deals on materials. Because a backsplash is a relatively small space it can be done reasonably with flair!

Material choices for a backsplash

Using earthy and natural materials such as brick and stone make a design statement of their own. Brick can exude a rustic impression while a polished or glazed brick might give your backsplash
an elegant feel.

Ceramic tiles are a popular choice for backsplashes. Choices of color, style, shape, and pattern can really make a kitchen design pop. Glass and metal tiles can be used to create colorful patterns in a ceramic tile pattern or design or on their own.

Stone, like brick, can give similar impressions. A common use of stone is to use it as an extension of the granite countertop, up the wall, and all the way to the underside of the cabinets. Marble and other polished stone materials are good choices as well.

Easy-to-clean tiles or surfaces are probably the best choice

Remember that the more porous a surface is, the harder it will be to keep it clean. Thankfully, most products can be sealed. We heard of a homeowner who ended up using real stone in a backsplash but didn’t have it sealed. On the very first night she cooked in her new kitchen, she made spaghetti and wrecked the backsplash.

Grout can be a cleaning nightmare. The narrower the grout line (the space between tiles) the easier it will be to keep clean. To avoid problems with stains, you can also seal the grout between the tiles. One popular look is white subway tiles with black or dark grout – a technique that eliminates the threat of staining grout.

Think about under-lighting your cabinets

The addition of lighting helps to better display your new tile job. Lighting strips designed to go beneath the cabinets and above the countertop come in easy to install strips. You’ll also want to have all outlets and switches perfectly lined up with each other and located in the right places.

Removing backsplash

If you want to remove a backsplash you don’t like any more, you may wreck the drywall underneath it. If it is a small repair, you can likely do it yourself. If there is a lot of damage, allow for professional drywall repair in your budget.

Colorful backsplash

If the backsplash and tile on the walls are colorful, you want the countertops to be more neutral. It is a good idea to buy a small amount of the material you choose and observe it next to your décor at different times of day to make sure the colors are complimentary. Of course, it’s important to choose carefully, but most of all when you’re doing a beautiful backsplash, it is an opportunity to have fun and get creative.

What about a do-it-yourself backsplash?

Before you even start your project, visit a tile showroom for inspiration and ask lots of questions. If want to do something dramatic or complicated, you’re probably better off having an expert craftsperson install your backsplash.

It’s easy to install tile on a cleaned-up, painted wall surface behind counters, sink and range in your kitchen. First, remove any wallpaper. Then sand the surface and clean up dust. Easiest to work with are mesh-backed sheets of mosaic glass or ceramic tiles. Measure your space to estimate how many sheets to buy.

If you haven’t ever laid tile before, you could practice setting a few rows of tile on scraps of wood until you can get experienced with grout lines.

When you get the tiles home, measure the area again. Then use masking tape to outline the size and shape of the wall you are covering on a large piece of cardboard laid on the kitchen floor. Lay down the mesh sheets of tiles on that cardboard “map” to see how they will fit the space outlined on the cardboard.

In some cases, you must fill odd gaps with partial sheets or extra tiles. Arrange the extra tiles so they end up in an area where they are less visible. Use a tile saw or carbide nipper if you must cut tiles to make them fit. Use spacers between sheets to keep the joints of equal size.

The trickiest job is smoothly applying thin set on the wall; then setting the tiles on top of it. If any tiles are slightly concave, apply more thin set to the back of the tile.

Tools you may need for your backsplash job: