Exploring Creative Backsplash Ideas

A backsplash is a beautiful accent to any kitchen. It offers a space that has infinite scope for personalization and adding visual interest. Today we explore several different creative backsplash ideas.

Designing the Perfect Backsplash

The list of creative backsplash ideas is nearly endless. If you want to install a professional backsplash, you’ll need to have the design you want in mind before you begin. There are many aspects in choosing the best backsplash for your kitchen, and we consider the most prominent here. 

Materials 

The material you choose for your backsplash will help define the style of your kitchen, from sleek and modern to cozy and traditional. Materials like stone or brick add visual and textual interest no matter what the rest of your kitchen looks like. Laminate is a smooth choice and is good on a budget, while metal is sanitary with a touch of the industrial. 

If you want a really interesting and creative backsplash, consider combining the solidity of stone and the natural elegance of wood in your design. You might also consider brick, either faux or real, or the completely unique appearance of marble. Looking for an array of textures? Try a mosaic of stones, glass, or tile. Some of the latter choice even come in a peel-and-stick variety.

Color

The color of your backsplash should reflect the rest of your kitchen’s color scheme, either by blending in or by standing out in contrast. If you have a neutral-toned kitchen, you may stick with that theme for your backsplash or you may choose to opt for a bold color or pattern to really make an impression.

Pattern

An interesting texture isn’t the only creative backsplash idea for spicing up the kitchen. Patterns can do so in two dimensions. Geometric shapes like hexagons or triangles are common, as is chevron. Interlacing subway tiles or latticed patterns offer a sense of pieces working well together. In a departure from straight lines, you might consider patterning your backsplash in florals. 

Creative Backsplash Ideas on a Budget

There is no law stating that a beautiful and creative backsplash has to break the bank. You also don’t have to leave it in the hands of the professionals. It is very possible to find beautiful pieces on a budget if you know what you are looking for. 

Temporary Backsplashes 

Sometimes the appeals of a creative backsplash have an expiration date. Temporary backsplashes are perfect for renters who want to spruce up a place without permanently changing it. There are many kinds of temporary solutions for making a backsplash more interesting:

• Peel and stick wallpaper—Some wallpaper is designed to be temporary. These sheets come in all colors and designs, and renovators need only cut out the right shape, peel off the backing, and apply the wallpaper behind the sink or stove.
• Adhesive vinyl—Along the same lines as wallpaper, vinyl sheets can be cut to the custom sizes and shapes. The appeal of vinyl is that it is waterproof as well as temporary, an important consideration in the kitchen. Vinyl is pretty inexpensive, making any mistakes when cutting less of a problem. Vinyl can be cut with scissors or a machine built for the purpose. 
• Plywood planks—Plywood planks are a semi-permanent solution depending on how they are installed. They also have the most permanent appearance, lending an elegance and sophistication. Consider treating the planks with waterproof caulk and semigloss paint to protect your backsplash from kitchen activities. If you want your planks to be truly temporary, apply them with strips of Velcro.

Creative DIY Backsplashes

If you love a good project, you can create your own creative backsplash with a little imagination and grit. The limits to how you design your kitchen’s backsplash is determined only by your own creativity. Paint is a simple solution, and you can make your backsplash unique by using a stencil with your own design.  

When getting creative, look for unique materials. Fabric, though not waterproof, offers an almost limited design scope. Apply it to the wall with liquid starch. Beadboard is an economical alternative to tile, and installation is relatively simple. Panels can be cut to the precise size and shape necessary, and application can be conducted with just about any adhesive. Nails will secure the effect. 

You can also use materials that you have around the house or that represent your unique preferences. Broken pieces of glass can be used from any container, and they come in a wide array of colors which look beautiful in the light. Glass can be set with tile grout. If you love wine or simply like the look of corks, create a mosaic to add an offbeat kind of charm.