Tips for Choosing Tile Backsplash

Designing your dream kitchen can be a big undertaking.  Even if you are just remodeling or making changes in your kitchen, choosing design elements and special features can feel like an overwhelming task.

Designing your dream kitchen can be a big undertaking.  Even if you are just remodeling or making changes in your kitchen, choosing design elements and special features can feel like an overwhelming task.  What will look good?  Will these styles go together?  Will this look too matchy-matchy?  Will this set the tone that I want?  I’m spending a lot of money – will this hold up over time?  The backsplash is often one of the last pieces of design you choose for a kitchen.  It can be subtle or bold and can be compromised a wide variety of materials to suit any design aesthetic.  Once you have chosen your backsplash materials it will be installed by your contractor after everything else is in place to ensure a seamless and beautiful look.

Backsplash is somewhat like jewelry.  It is not the main outfit but it can subtly or boldly enhance the look and the outfit would look boring without it.  The kind of backsplash you choose will be largely determined by what your countertop material is.  The backsplash will directly meet the countertops so they need to look good together.  If your counter has a very busy pattern, such as a particularly busy granite, a busy pattern on your backsplash will look too overwhelming and may even clash.  If you have a more subdued countertop pattern or a solid countertop, the options for pattern with your backdrop will be much more varied.  When choosing a backsplash decide what type of pattern you are interested in and if you want to draw focal attention to certain area, such as the cooktop.  There are many different size and shape backsplash tiles.  These can all be laid in specific patterns or the patterns may come in a grid that is easy to be laid.  A mirrored backsplash will create more visual space and make a room feel more open.  If you are working with a small space and want to enlarge it another way to do so is by choosing a consistent size and style backsplash because once wrapped around the entire backsplash in the room it will help give the room a feeling of continuity. One of the best ways to coordinate countertop and backsplash without being too matchy-matchy is to coordinate color but mix materials.  The natural different in pattern and texture between materials will ensure they do not look exactly the same but offset each other nicely.  If you want to add backsplash but need to be budget-friendly, opt for a less expensive backsplash and splurge on more expensive materials wherever you are choosing to draw attention.  By creating a high-impact visual area you will make a bold statement and still add luxury but with far less expense.  One of the last, but most important things to do when choosing backplash tile is to plan ahead.  Be sure that you or your contractor have measured correctly and ordered about 10% extra to give you a cushion and ensure all of the tile comes from the same lot.  By choosing a color palette that coordinates and is visually interesting your kitchen be the place you and your guests all want to be.