When you're remodeling your kitchen or bathroom, the backsplash is one of the first things to consider. It's also one of the easiest aspects of your remodel to overlook.
But don't make that mistake! The backsplash can be a great way to add personality to your space while also protecting your walls from water damage.
Here are a few tips for choosing the right backsplash for your next remodel project no matter how big or small it is.
Functionality
Don't forget about functionality! The backsplash needs to be durable enough for everyday use, but it should also look beautiful in your space and be easy to clean.
What kind of material do you want? A glass tile backsplash is both elegant and durable—but it can also be hard on the wallet if you have a lot of square footage to cover! That's why we recommend looking into other options like porcelain or ceramic tiles, which are much cheaper but still easy to clean and maintain.
Due to their lower absorption rate porcelain tiles are also a great option for bathrooms or kitchens with high humidity. If you're looking for something unique, try a marble backsplash made from real stone that's been cut into thin slabs and polished to a smooth finish. This will give your kitchen or bathroom an elegant touch of class!
Consider whether or not your backsplash will be easy to clean: Some materials—like glass tiles—are easier to clean than others (like stone). And if there are children in your home, consider whether they might be able to reach up and touch the backsplash, which can increase its chances of getting dirty over time.
Style
Choose a material that matches your style! If you love modern design, choose something sleek and modern like glass or porcelain tile; if you prefer traditional styles, try subway tile or marble slabs. One of the latest emerging styles for wall tile are large format tiles that resemble art murals than backsplash.
Marble has always been one of the luxury materials and was used to reflect the luxurious bathroom look. However, with the increasing innovation of technology, you can recreate the marble look by using porcelain tiles. The Marble Attache by Daltile is a great example. These are 24x24 large format tiles that recreate that elegant feel of real marble.
It's certainly a personal choice and the look should be consistent with the rest of the finishes in that space.
For the kitchen backsplash, where humidity might not be necessarily high, you can use ceramic tile which is very versatile in its design options. We see a lot of our customers favor dark subway tiles in a vertically stacked pattern with light or wood color cabinets. Another trend is to use a light colored backsplash with dark cabinets. This can be done by using light colored cabinets and then painting the walls white or off-white. You can also use a dark stain on the cabinets, which will help them stand out against the lighter wall color.
Light Source
Consider where the light source will be coming from in your room when choosing materials like tile or granite—if it will hit directly on them all day long (like in kitchens), then those materials won't stand up well over time because they'll fade quickly; if it's indirect light (like in bathrooms), then those materials will last much longer since they won't get hot enough (and therefore fade) as fast.
If you don't have much light in your room, it can be difficult to get the right feel and the cabinets and counters in the new bathroom won’t show up well. Try sticking with warm colors that have some red or orange in them—they'll make the room look brighter and happier. If possible, also try to add more light sources into the room so that there's no dark spots and your kitchen looks spacious and beautiful!
There are a ton of options out there, so it's easy to get overwhelmed. But don't worry—we've got you covered! Whether you're looking for something classic or contemporary, with some pops of color or want to keep it light and natural, we've rounded up our favorite kitchen and bathroom backsplashes so you can find the one that fits your style best.