Backsplash Purpose
The main purpose for a backsplash is to protect the walls from cooking messes. As you prepare and cook food, it's not uncommon for splatters and messes to happen, and this part of the wall is a prime target for grease and other stains. By installing a protective surface or one that you can clean easily, you minimize messes and help keep your home easier to maintain.
Backsplash Materials
Tile is a common material for a backsplash. Subway, ceramic, copper, glass, limestone, stone, and marble are just a few of your tile options. You could also opt for river rock, sandstone, polished agate, brick, volcanic rock, industrial steel, wood, modular panels, mosaic tile, and etched glass for your kitchen.
Making a Statement
There are no hard-and-fast rules for this area of your kitchen remodel, however. Don't be afraid to step out of the ordinary and make a bold statement. This is where you let your personality shine through, so do some thinking about colors, finishes, and patterns you like. Go ahead and make some offbeat combinations if that's what suits your tastes. Make the final look work for you.
Benefits of This Upgrade
A lot of kitchen remodel work is expensive and time consuming. Installing flooring and countertops is not something you want to do often. Updating your backsplash does not have to be expensive, though. In fact, you could change nothing but this area of your walls and the entire room would have a huge makeover. Adding tile to the wall might be as inexpensive as a few dollars per square foot. Another benefit is that you don't have to tear anything out or move anything to make this upgrade. Your cabinets and countertops can stay right where they are while you cover the walls with a fresh and vibrant surface.
Making a Choice
If you're torn between a few different looks, try each one out for a few days to see which one you like best. Tape tile samples onto your wall and leave them there so you can see how they look throughout the day as natural light hits them in certain ways. Try each material on the backsplash area to help you decide which one fits your décor and style.
You're certainly not locked into one surface on your wall. If you find that you're tired of the ceramic tile you installed just a year ago, take the plunge and spend a weekend changing it. There's simply no excuse for backsplash boredom when it's so easy to install a new surface with a different texture, finish, color, or pattern. This update is inexpensive enough to make it a regular kitchen remodel update.
