In a house, the kitchen is usually the busiest and most important place. There are many things to consider when designing a kitchen. To give your kitchen a modern and stylish design, you need to educate yourself on durable materials. Beneficial tips and guidelines can help you make wise decisions while renovating your kitchen, just like I recently did. Here, I’ll provide you with some great guidelines that will be beneficial.
Backsplash and Countertop For example, you’ve chosen a stove, appealing cabinets, and countertops ready for cooking. Likewise, you have chosen the paint colors, flooring, and taps. Everything about your new kitchen layout is perfect, but there’s still one thing that needs to be added: the backsplash!
Selecting the ideal backsplash to match your countertop is essential. It protects the wall behind the countertop from oil and grease and enhances the overall look of your kitchen. You can create an amazing, fully furnished kitchen on your own with so many options available. You don’t need to be an expert builder to choose an attractive backsplash for your kitchen. If you are well-informed about the resources and options available to you, you will be able to make a wise choice that will provide you with happiness for many years to come.
It can be difficult to choose a favorite from so many elegant options. You may be considering whether to use the same backsplash material as the countertop or something different. There are expensive countertop options as well as affordable options to choose from. Let’s look at how to choose the ideal backsplash to match your countertop and make your kitchen truly unique.
Reasons to Install Kitchen Backsplashes
Installing a backsplash in the kitchen is not only attractive and functional but also has so many advantages. Here are some basic reasons why you should think about installing a backsplash in your kitchen.
1. Protection For Wall
A backsplash prevents drops, splatters, and stains from damaging the walls behind your stove and counters. This is particularly crucial when food bits, oil, and water are in place. Moreover, Food and water can leave stains on your walls. Small flakes can grow over time to form plenty of stains, making walls look dirty and unclean. Even careful cleaning can only delay the inevitable.
2. Easy to Clean
Sometimes, backsplashes are made of materials that are simple to maintain, such as steel, glass, or tile. This facilitates wiping down and maintaining a sanitized, clean kitchen. Removing stains and cleaning up are made easier by installing a backsplash, you won’t need to spend hours cleaning and wiping them to keep their stunning appearance. A wet cloth or sponge can be used to swiftly clean most backsplash materials.
Things to Consider While Choosing Backsplashes
It includes more than just choosing a material and colors you like for your kitchen backsplash. You should select a backsplash that matches your functional needs and enhances the look of your kitchen. The following are some crucial things to remember:
1. Material
The backsplash material you select will have a significant impact on how your kitchen looks. Common materials include wood, glass, porcelain or heated tiles, typical stone, and stainless steel. Each material has benefits and drawbacks of its own. For example, stainless steel is very strong and easy to clean, yet glass tiles provide a sleek, modern appearance. Tiles are more versatile and affordable than normal stone, which may seem more beautiful but require more maintenance.
2. Budget
The cost of backsplash materials might vary significantly. Ceramic tiles typically cost less than natural stone and high-quality glass, which can be more expensive. Installment costs should also be included in your estimate because some tasks may require expert advice, which raises the whole cost.
3. Durability
Consider how often kitchens are used, and choose a backsplash material that can endure typical usage. Although glass and some types of natural stone are prone to damage, white earthenware, ceramics, and hard stainless steel are renowned for their durability.
Evaluating The Size of Your Kitchen Space
Plan size and budget always go together because wider kitchens typically demand more resources than smaller ones. Take note of your kitchen’s size as you consider your strategy and budget.
Over your stove and sink are the areas in your kitchen that typically need the most prominent additions to make them visible. These are also spots with the highest flexibility for designing. Choose a more intricate tile for these sections, and choose a darker tile for the more modest places that won’t be noticed as much.
Assessing Your Backsplash Options
Give yourself the chance to consider your options. When everything is considered and planned, this backsplash will be yours for a long time. Put tile strips on your kitchen walls for testing, and observe them for a few days. Throughout the day, as the lighting changes, keep a lookout for any changes in their appearance.
Think about how they work with the light sources and cabinets you have. Try additional options as per your desire. Make sure you are okay with the backsplash because it will be a part of your home for a long time.
Consider Your Countertops
The most basic component of your kitchen to think about is your countertops, even though your backsplash must match nicely with your cabinets and lighting. In multiple ways, your backsplash is an extension of your countertop. These two elements will be close to one another, and if you work well at selecting them, they will eventually reflect one another.
Kitchen Countertops and Backsplash Ideas
If you match your backsplash and countertops properly, you can create a stylish and eye-catching look. Typically, it’s best to choose your countertops first and then find a backsplash that complements them. This method is often easier because there are fewer countertop options compared to backsplashes, simplifying the matching process.
During my kitchen renovation, I spent a lot of time exploring different ideas separately. Now, I’m bringing together some great options for matching countertops and backsplashes in one place. This way, you won’t need to hunt for ideas separately, and you’ll find everything you need here. Let’s explore some fantastic combinations that will give your kitchen a unique and elegant look.
1. Sparkling Backsplash and Countertop
The deep walnut base cabinets might have initially felt heavy and dark, but the bright countertop and backsplash combination brings vibrancy to the space. The backsplash features turquoise tiles with a pearlescent finish, which stand out. The countertops, made from stone and recycled glass, add a slight shimmer when they catch the light. This style will create a very sophisticated look in your kitchen.
2. Updated Classic Backsplash and Countertop
Create a modern and refreshing look with traditional materials for your countertop and backsplash. In this design, classic white subway tiles are arranged in a stacked pattern, creating a sleek and contemporary style. The light-colored butcher-block countertops offer a contrasting texture that brightens the white kitchen. This combination of backsplash and countertops is outstanding. For a more visually appealing result, pair it with white cabinets.
3. Quartz Slab Backsplash and Countertop
Quartz slab backsplashes and kitchen countertops are expected to be extremely popular in the upcoming years. They are still really in right now. For your kitchen backsplash and countertops, white quartz and quartzite stones mix exquisitely. A matching hue of white cabinets will add to the overall beauty.
4. Marble Backsplash and Countertop
Marble’s lovely white and gray patterns can enhance your kitchen in a sleek and sophisticated way. It is a classic option for backsplashes and countertops that match many structural motifs, including modern, contemporary, and historical.
Marble requires some maintenance, although its beauty and it can be found in many exquisite kitchen ideas online. Since it’s softer than granite, protect it from scratches by using a cutting board. Moreover, wipe up spills right away to avoid stains. Marble gives a unique, timeless style that many homeowners adore despite its high cost.
5. Solid Surface Backsplash and Countertop
A backsplash design is an important decision to make while updating a kitchen. Although they are quite popular, white subway tiles sometimes seem a little too much. For a unique touch in your kitchen, consider a solid surface countertop and backsplash if you’re looking for something different.
Marble dust, plastic resins, and colorants are mixed to create solid surface counters. Their seams are very invisible, and they are simple to create. These surfaces are available from brands including Swanstone, Avonite, and Corian. Solid surfaces are stronger and less likely to have problems if the top layer is destroyed than laminate counters, which have several layers.
6. Stainless Steel Backsplash and Countertop
You may mix and match nearly any combination in your kitchen because there are so many materials available. For those who are planning a new project or remodeling, this variation is ideal. Even though the cabinetry and general design are the main focal points, the backsplash and countertops are wonderful locations to play around with colors and materials without taking huge risks. For your kitchen, stainless steel is a fantastic option for the following three reasons:
- Durable: stainless steel is immune to freezing, burning, warping, and staining. You don’t have to be worried about damage from items like spaghetti sauce because spills and stains are simple to remove.
- Attractive: Stainless steel is a versatile option due to its timeless, neutral appearance. It can go well with appliances, taps, knobs, and countertops made of stainless steel. It complements many different design motifs, including minimalist, classic, and modern.
- Affordably priced: Stainless steel provides a fashionable and economical substitute for backsplashes and countertops.
How To Match Your Backsplashes With Granite Countertops
You have a lot of options when choosing a unique backsplash for your granite countertops in terms of material, example, trend, and variation. You can choose from modern stainless steel or traditional ceramics, as well as bold or simple tiles. You can also use granite or marble tiles to expand the traditional style, while glass is another well-liked and adaptable option.
Take into consideration every decision’s cost, durability, ease of maintenance, and overall look. For example, it is easy to find a match for rock ledges because ceramic tiles are reasonable and come in a variety of tones and scenarios. In any case, they have a distinct appearance that you could find attractive.
You have to give your backsplash a unique flair. Look through all of the options and find the ideal match for your granite countertops.
• Match Opposite Colors
A bold, busy backsplash combined with light granite, like blue stone, will look massive! Choosing a simple and modest backsplash will make the granite countertop shine much more, provided you select a stone with unique variations, twists, and stunning examples. These combinations create the balance you’ve been looking for in your kitchen.
• Choose Glass Tiles
Glass tiles offer a clean, bright, modern, and sometimes incredibly simple look, making them an amazing choice and among the most amazing kitchen ideas for granite countertops. Choosing glass for your backsplash will help create a sleek, modern, spotless, and stylish appearance in your kitchen if you want a slightly modern look with granite shelves. Your stone will be able to shine thanks to its mild design. Selecting a color that matches the granite countertop will perfectly complete the entire set.
• Go Elegant With a Backsplash of Marble
A high-quality material that can look beautiful with granite is marble. To choose a marble backsplash, you’ll need a less bold granite to ensure they blend well together. If both the marble and granite have strong patterns, it can be overwhelming. Choose stunning slabs like Black Galaxy or Black Pearl Granite, which look great. These slabs typically have both black and white colors but are mostly dark. Using them can give the kitchen an elegant appearance. Therefore, it’s safe to say that granite countertops have always been a stunning and modern combination.
• Use The Same Granite on Both
Using the same form of granite for the countertops and backsplash in a kitchen or bathroom is a great way to create a solid, luxurious effect. This method covers design choices and creates a reliable, long-lasting atmosphere in the room. Matching countertops and backsplashes enhance the room’s sense of space and balance. This design choice creates a timeless and well-coordinated plan while also looking modern and facilitating easy space interaction.
• Make patterns with tiles
When using tiles in your kitchen, you can play with different colors and patterns. Many backsplash tile patterns can create a strong impression when paired with granite countertops. Since tiles come in various shapes and sizes, I’ll share some ways you can mix and match them to make your kitchen even more beautiful. Choose tiles you like, whether they’re triangular, hand-crafted designs, herringbone patterns, mosaic mixes, or swirling patterns. Select any tile you love and mix and match them with your granite countertops to enhance the beauty of your kitchen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all countertops need a backsplash?
The thing is, backsplashes are not an essential part of decorating a kitchen, which means that it’s fine if you don’t have any backsplashes. But they are beneficial and can enhance the overall beauty of the kitchen area. Many designers, including myself, would recommend using a backsplash because it protects the wall from grease, water, and other liquids.
What goes first, the backsplash or the countertops?
Starting with your countertop is very beneficial because there are fewer options of countertops available, and it is easy to make a decision. Then, you can select a kitchen backsplash from many options. This gives you the chance to create the perfect mix-and-match plan for your backsplashes.
What is the rule for kitchen backsplashes?
The best guideline for placing a backsplash in a kitchen is to look for a unique spot to finish. This could be a window, a wall, or anything in between. To create a certain backsplash edge, you can use bullnose tile or tile edging trim. You might also use a creative edge structure, such as holding multiple square tiles together.
What is the most timeless kitchen backsplash?
Always choose a design that is both timeless and beautiful, like a white backsplash, which can be both visually attractive and easy to create. White backsplashes are timeless and suitable for any kitchen. Their simplicity and versatility add an elegant touch to the kitchen.
