Choosing the Right Backsplash for your Kitchen

A kitchen remodel gives you an excellent opportunity to make a bold statement with your home’s aesthetics. There’s nothing quite as striking as upgrading an outdated kitchen with a beautiful, open-plan room with the great design elements.

Making the decisions necessary to get from Point A to Point B in a kitchen remodel is often easier said than done. There are just so many different components to coordinate and the design elements have to come together perfectly to create the right effect.

One aspect of a kitchen remodel you certainly don’t want to overlook is the backsplash. The wall space between your counters and cabinets may not seem so important, but a quality backsplash can act as the perfect finishing touch for a kitchen remodel.

The only challenge is picking from the seemingly-endless amount of backsplash options.

Key Considerations for Your Kitchen Backsplash 

Homeowners often have their hands full when choosing materials for kitchen countertops and floors. But deciding between quartz and granite for your counters (and hardwood or tile for floors) is nothing compared to backsplash considerations. 

Here are just a few things to consider as you start down the path of choosing your perfect backsplash: 

• Selecting Your Material: There are a myriad of possible materials from which to choose. You’ll need to sit down with a designer and walk through them all in order to make your decision. Use inspiration to get you started, consider materials like limestone pavers, granite, ceramic/porcelain tile, stainless steel, brick, and glass as potential options for your backsplash.
• Height: There aren’t really any rules when it comes to backsplash height. You can extend the material all the way to your ceiling, or you can maintain a uniform height for the space between counters and cabinets. The decision comes down to preference and the stylistic effect you’re looking to create.
• Color: The key to making a bold yet appropriate statement with your backsplash is complementing the rest of the room. Deciding between neutral tones or colorful tiles is critical for the overall design of your kitchen remodel. If you’re working with the right designer, this decision should fall seamlessly into place.
• Pattern: Your backsplash pattern will be dictated, somewhat, by the material you choose. But for the most part, you’ll have plenty of flexibility to create the exact look you want. Extra-large tiles, subway-style, patterned granite, brick—it can all be customized to your desired effect.
• Consider the Practical: One thing you don’t want to forget about is the practical side of your kitchen backsplash. It’s meant to protect your work areas and hide things like water stains and food splatter. As a result, consider how materials are finished and the upkeep. If it goes with the look of your kitchen remodel, you may also want to consider going with a darker grout to hide any staining or dirt over time.

When designed correctly, a kitchen backsplash becomes a focal point that not only boosts perceived value, but also the actual value of your home. Whether you’re just looking to impress friends and family or interested in increasing home value, a backsplash is an important part of any kitchen remodel.

Working Through Backsplash Decisions

Maybe you’ve spotted the perfect inspirational design for your kitchen remodel or maybe you’ve decided to invest in a new kitchen, but aren’t really sure where to start. Either way, there’s a lot of planning to be done before your project can get started.

With so many moving parts in a kitchen remodel, you have to go into the build phase with a complete plan laid out. That way, you know how each component contributes to the overall design. Having a kitchen remodeler you trust is essential.