If you’re wanting to upgrade the aesthetic and elevate the personality of your cooking space, consider adding a kitchen backsplash. From patterned subway tile to natural stone, there are many ways you can use backsplash to transform the walls in your kitchen.
A backsplash will give your kitchen that little something extra it is needing. Not only is backsplash a great way to break up the mundaneness of your kitchen, but it will also offer your walls a much-needed level of protection.
In this article, you’ll learn ten fun ideas for how you can incorporate a kitchen backsplash into your home.
What is Kitchen Backsplash?
A kitchen backsplash isn’t just for aesthetics. You want to protect your walls from spills and splashes while working in the kitchen, and a backsplash is a great way to do that. Typically, a backsplash is added to the wall space directly behind the oven and counter space and made of tile, ceramic, or other easy-to-clean material.
Types of Kitchen Backsplash Materials
- Ceramic
- Glass
- Stone
- Wood
- Manufactured Stone
- Metal
- Faux Metal
- Countertop Material
Ceramic
Ceramic is a clay material that is relatively affordable and offers a traditional style to your kitchen backsplash. The process used to manufacture ceramic creates a unique, unmatched appearance and is a popular choice when renovating kitchens.
Not only is ceramic one of the most durable backsplash tile options because it is a non-porous material that is resistant to heat and easy to clean, but it also comes in a variety of shapes, colors, and finish options. From an extravagant glazed mosaic tile to a more basic glossy white subway tile, you really can’t go wrong with a ceramic kitchen backsplash.
Glass
The main reason glass tiles are a popular choice for kitchen backsplashes is the easy cleanup that they provide. Sure, they may be a little more costly or difficult to install than other materials, but you truly can’t beat the minimal upkeep it takes to keep your glass backsplashes looking brand new.
Stone
Stone tiles offer your backsplash a classic look. Because of the natural composition, a stone tile backsplash requires much more upkeep and maintenance than other materials to keep them looking great. Travertine is the most common stone used in this type of tile backsplash.
Wood
Bring some warmth to your kitchen with a wood backsplash. Wood is a natural material that is very durable when properly maintained and sealed. The wood tones can give your kitchen an appealing aesthetic that will last for years.
Manufactured Stone
Veneer is a manufactured stone that is a common choice for homeowners installing a backsplash in their kitchens. Veneer is beautiful and makes for an excellent accent piece, but it’s one of the more challenging materials to keep clean. Its porous composition easily absorbs spills and food, requiring frequent cleaning and upkeep.
Metal
Metal tiles used for kitchen backsplashes are adhesive sheets that attach directly to the wall. These metals come in many unique finishes, offering a tile backsplash in your kitchen with a modern and industrial aesthetic. Metal backsplashes can be expensive compared to other options and may not hold up either.
Faux Metal
Faux metal backsplash tiles are made of thermoplastic. They are not only more affordable than other metal tiles, but they are also an easier-to-clean alternative. The only downside to faux metal tile backsplash is that it can change shape due to high temperatures, so it’s important not to install them too close to your oven. Otherwise, you may need to replace them in that area periodically.
Countertop Material
If you’re looking for a more cohesive look, you can install a backsplash made from your countertop material. This creates the appearance of your counter cascading up the wall and is a style that some people prefer over having mixed materials.
Benefits of Kitchen Backsplash
Stain Prevention
By having a kitchen backsplash, you’re protecting the vital portions of your walls that are susceptible to coming into contact with food and liquids. Backsplash materials are usually much easier to clean than your wall, depending on the material itself.
Easy Upkeep
Backsplashes are intended to make cleaning and upkeep in your kitchen much easier by providing a barrier between your walls and spills. Walls tend to hang onto stains; if you have painted walls, frequent cleaning damages the paint. With a backsplash, you avoid this altogether.
Wall Protection
Protecting your walls from food and grease is key to keeping them in great shape. Without a backsplash, your walls are susceptible to grease and other spills that may damage them over time.
Express Your Style
A backsplash allows you to incorporate a sense of style and personality into your kitchen. You can use many unique materials in your backsplash to reflect your taste, offering your kitchen a special accent that lets your personality shine through.
Pest Control
If your kitchen is prone to pests, like bugs or mice, it’s important to implement safety measures in the kitchen. By installing a kitchen backsplash, you seal off the space between the counter and your wall, which makes it more difficult for these pests to find food.
Guidelines for Kitchen Backsplash Placement
- Between upper and lower cabinets – your backsplash should run between the upper and lower cabinets protecting the wall space between them and adding depth to your kitchen.
- Not behind the fridge – you don’t need to install the backsplash behind your fridge unless you’re able to clearly see behind it at all times. This is unnecessary and saves you money on materials.
- Make sure to install it behind your stove – one of the most important places to have a backsplash is behind your oven and hood vent. These areas are more susceptible to grease and food stains, so make them a priority.
- Install backsplash anywhere food is made – a general rule for backsplashes is to install them wherever there’s a chance that you will prepare food.
- Use your cabinets to measure – generally, the end of the cabinets is up to where your backsplash will extend.
10 Ideas for Your Kitchen Backsplash
1. Extend Your Copper Countertop
Having your copper countertops extend up the walls is an excellent alternative to traditional backsplashes. When installing these counters, the same material is used to expand up the wall to create the backsplash. This sophisticated and antique-looking method can offer your kitchen plenty of personality.
2. Brick Backsplash
Brick is a durable material that makes for a great backsplash. Do you already have brick walls in your kitchen? Spruce them up by painting them to create an elevated backsplash that overtakes your entire wall space. Whether you go with a solid brick or a brick veneer, the look makes for a great backsplash.
3. Painted Glass
Glass offers a contemporary feel you won’t get with other kitchen backsplash ideas and is a super-easy backsplash to clean, making it highly favored by homeowners. If clear glass isn’t your thing, opt for a painted variety that brings a luminous shine into your kitchen.
4. Marble
There’s nothing more elegant than a marble backsplash. If you already have marble countertops, consider incorporating the material up your walls to create a water flow effect while also protecting the vital portions of your wall space.
5. Stainless Steel
If you’re looking for a backsplash just to protect the space behind your stove, consider using stainless steel. It will be the perfect complement to your stainless steel stove and provide next-level protection to your walls, allowing for a quick and easy cleanup.
6. Creative Patterns
Why not add a bit of creativity to your backsplash? You can incorporate fun geometric patterns and colors and even install a non-repeating pattern that creates an artistic flow throughout your kitchen.
7. Mixed Materials
You can incorporate multiple materials into your kitchen backsplash. For example, you could mix marble and ceramic stones or pair granite and glass tiles together.
8. Wood Elements
If you have wood cabinets or fixtures throughout your kitchen, adding wood panels as a backsplash is a great way to increase the depth of your walls.
9. Concrete
A concrete backsplash may not be for everyone. But if you’re going for a simple, modern, and minimalist tone, you may appreciate a backsplash made of concrete material.
10. Statement Material
Why not make a statement with your backsplash? Find a uniquely patterned subway tile, or paint your backsplash with unique colors and patterns to create a flashy piece that sets your kitchen over the edge.
FAQ
Should a kitchen backsplash be lighter or darker than the countertop?
If you’re following a common color scheme in your kitchen, you just want to include a material that is a color variation of your countertops. So, if your counters are dark gray, try finding a light gray material. Or, if your counters are a light tan hue, find a backsplash material that is medium to dark brown.
Where should my kitchen backsplash start and stop?
The kitchen backsplash should start at your countertops or the tops of your bottom cabinets and run upward to the starting point of your upper cabinets. Depending on your setup, you can also allow the backsplash to climb upward into your oven’s hood as well.
Which is the most durable kitchen backsplash material?
Ceramic or porcelain tile is the most durable material you can use for your backsplash. They can withstand high temperatures and offer lasting durability.
What kitchen backsplash material is easiest to clean?
A glass backsplash is often the easiest material to clean because stains and food don’t get absorbed into the material.
In Conclusion
With a kitchen backsplash, you don’t have to worry about unnecessary wall stains while cooking or preparing food. A backsplash is a wonderful way to offer your kitchen much-needed protection while also adding a new sense of style that elevates the space.
If you’re considering adding a kitchen backsplash, you can’t go wrong with ceramic or porcelain tiles. Not only are these materials affordable, but they’re built to last, so regardless of what goes on in your kitchen, you know that your walls will be protected for years to come.