Making a Splash: 10 insider tips to beautiful backsplashes

Jacqueline Brynjolfson — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:47:30 +0000

We’ve all been to a friend’s home who recently had a renovation done and drooled over their beautiful backsplash which completes the entire space to perfection. Here are a few expert tips to help you achieve a note-worthy backsplash that will leave your friends jealous!

Determine your budget because like everything else there’s a high and a low end. Regardless of your budget though, creativity will take you a long way.
Determine the theme that you are going for. If you are already doing a renovation then the theme most-likely has already been determined so this should be easy. Whether it’s country, traditional, or contemporary it’s always a good idea to maintain a consistent theme. However, as backsplashes usually cover a small area, you can definitely do something a bit different to add interest.
Continue your counter material up to the wall as backsplash to be consistent. For those who have difficulty when there are too many choices, this is always a good option.
Define specific work areas by varying the type of material or colours used. For instance, try stainless steel behind your cook-top and tile the rest. Introducing different materials will make the space more interesting and allow you to highlight those big budget items, like your Wolf range! Be careful not to overdo it though because it could end up looking like a mess.
Give you backsplash the same attention your cabinetry or countertop would get. It’s at eye level, so most likely will be the first thing you see when you enter the room.
Do your research! There’s a plethora of materials to choose from including, laminates, glass, ceramics, metal, and solid surface, so make sure whatever you choose is right for your needs.
If you are on a budget but still want something special, choose one area to install the very expensive recycled glass tiles (for instance), and use something more budget friendly for the remainder of the space.
Neutrals are pretty standard these days but for interest consider adding a colourful band or border for a punch of colour.
If you are a collector of tiles and have an interesting collection gathered through your travels, by all means use some of them to make your backsplash a bit more unique.
Seek professional help if you need it and when it comes to tiling quality can vary with each tiler so make sure you do your research.

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Making a Splash: 10 insider tips to beautiful backsplashes