Kitchen Backsplashes

When planning a kitchen, many homeowners overlook the many different options available to them with their kitchen backsplash.  Explore our additional range of resources below.

This is area of kitchen is rarely seen as important in the overall design of the kitchen. This is a shame because there are many creative ways to design your backsplash and actually make them decorative and functional giving your kitchen added style and usable space.

Adding To the Design

One of the first things you should consider is whether you are going to use the same material as your countertop. For example if you have chosen laminate countertops do you want to also use that as your backsplash? Many people choose to change it up a bit to either add more color to the kitchen or perhaps bring in a texture or design. You can do this by adding a tile backsplash and you can design a pattern further enhancing the feel of the kitchen you are trying to create.

Another thing you will also need to consider is the height of the kitchen backsplash. Countertop manufacturers usually use a standard 4" height for the backsplash. However, many homeowners choose a full height backsplash. This means the splash will go from the countertop to the bottom of the upper cabinets. There are many good reasons to choose full height splashes. For example they are easier to clean up after a food spill because you are not trying to get food off the bare walls. The full height will also give you more room to create a design if you so choose.

Adding Functionality

You can also use the splash to create more room in your kitchen and help keep your countertops from looking cluttered. You can do this by adding a kitchen backsplash organizer. These can be purchased from any cabinet company and many of the home improvement stores will also carry a few of the basics. Some of the items you can get include knife holders, foil or Saran wrap holders, spice racks, and plate racks. Most of these organizers are stainless steel and are mounted to the backsplash with a rod.

When adding an organizer for the backsplash you should consider having a professional install them unless you have experience with this type of installation. They need to be installed level and many materials such as solid surfaces like Corian, Gibraltar or granite can have their warranty voided if not done by a certified professional. The reason for this is you can crack or split the solid surfaces by not understanding how to drill holes in it for installing the organizer.

When you are designing you kitchen make sure you don't over look your backsplash. It is a great way to add depth to your design. You can bring in a variety of colors and patterns and you can add some texture to the room. Your kitchen backsplash is also a great place to add more storage spaces and make your kitchen more functional and help keep it from looking cluttered.