Selecting the Right Backslpash for Your Kitchen Designs

by James Mahoney

Authors Note: There are several materials used in kitchen backsplashes to match different kids of kitchen designs. Any of them can create just the right look for your kitchen.

When selecting a backsplash for your kitchen, it is important to have it match the fixtures in your kitchen, but not the appliances, since they will change over time.

Whatever kitchen designs you may be considering, the fixtures will be the more permanent items in the kitchen or at least will be changed less often. At the same time your kitchen backsplash can accent your kitchen and be both functional and be beautiful since it can be crafted from such easy to clean materials as ceramic and stainless steel. These two are the most popular materials used in kitchen backsplashes, and they blend well with several different kitchen designs. So, whether you are changing the look of the backsplash or adding one this can be a quick and easy way to brighten up an existing kitchen design. When selecting a backsplash, it is important to have it match the fixtures in your kitchen, but not the appliances, since they will change over time. The fixtures are more permanent items in the kitchen.

Since there are so many kinds of kitchen designs, a wide range of materials are used for backsplashes. The most popular of these are ceramic or porcelain tile patterns, natural stone tiles, glass or metal tiles, and faux painting or wall paper.

Kitchen Backsplash Materials to Consider

Depending on the specific kitchen designs they are working with, homeowners should consider these materials when creating a kitchen backsplash:

- Ceramic or porcelain tiles

- Natural stone tiles

- Glass tiles - Metal tiles

- Faux painting or durable wall paper

- Stainless Steel

Tile Backsplashes

The nice thing about using tile as a backspash is that it comes is a huge variety of sizes, colors, textures and shapes. This makes it compatible with a wide range of kitchen designs. It is even possible to have custom painted tiles to match any theme of design. Also a tile backsplash can be easy to install, as well as easy to clean. Many experts on modern and traditional kitchen designs say that you should consider keeping it simple by choosing the same tile ideas for your kitchen backsplash as you've chosen for the kitchen floor - just in a smaller size.

Natural Stone Tiles

The most popular natural stone tiles are marble and granite. Of the natural stones marble captures more detail than granite and since it is a softer stone it is good for applications like kitchen backsplashes. It is commonly used with the more stylistic kitchen designs.

Metal Tiles

This material can work very well for use in country kitchen style kitchen designs and backsplashes. The tiles can be installed as the entire surface from counter to the bottom of the cabinets. Brushed aluminum tiles are good for modern or 1950's retro kitchen designs. Metal tiles should match the kitchen color of the faucets and decorative lighting.

Glass Tiles

A new design trend in kitchen backspashes is glass. Textured glass tiles are usually installed between the cabinets and counters. Glass is easy to clean and scratch resistant, and goes well with modernistic kitchen designs.

Wallpapering Kitchen Backsplashes

Wallpapering kitchen backsplashes can dress up a kitchen will very little work especially with pre-pasted wallpaper which is a lot easier to apply. Also with a small area for the backsplash the job shouldn't take very much time to complete. Make sure that you choose wallpaper that is washable so that spattering from cooking and splashes can be removed. This option is great for low-budget kitchen designs.

Stainless Steel Kitchen Backsplashes

Stainless steel backsplashes were popular in kitchen designs a few decades ago, but they are coming back in style because they can create a modern streamlined look to your kitchen. These types of kitchen backsplashes can blend in well with stainless steel kitchen appliances like the stove, refrigerator and dishwasher. Other advantages to stainless steel kitchen backsplashes include being easy to clean and durability.

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