Do not Renovate your Kitchen Backsplash Before Reading This!
Would it be wrong to say that the kitchen is the glue that brings the entire house together? Think about it. From the first cup of coffee to the last glass of water you drink before going to bed — almost every home activity finds a common link in the kitchen.
So, is it not fair that your beloved kitchen gets a fresh lease of life every once in a while? Of course, that is easier said than done. A full kitchen renovation can be a long, tiring and often costly affair. But what if you chose to be a little smart?
Most remodelers find that house owners tend to pay more attention to cabinets, countertops and even the island; even though in most homes, it is the backsplash that is often in the worst condition. Why? Because it takes the most abuse in the house. Countertops and cabinets have a long shelf life especially when kept well, but even a well-built and well-planned backsplash will show signs of fatigue much before an island or the cabinets. This is because it is subjected to the highest temperatures, oil splashes, and other extremes. Since a backsplash costs relatively less to design as well, it is the best item to remodel or redesign when you want to give fresh life to the kitchen without spending too much time or money.
Here are some tips to make sure you get the best out of your new kitchen backsplash without spending a fortune:
- Plan before you buy: Yes, the term ‘planning’ again. It might sound tedious, but here is the thing: every minute spent planning saves hours executing. You do not have to spend much time planning too. Consider points like:
Do you want to do this as a DIY project or will you employ a professional?
Do you want to shop online or from brick and mortar stores? Or from both?
Will you do the project right away or wait for a sale/end of the season to buy material at a lower rate?
How long do you plan to spend on the project?
Confused? Allow us to explain.
The first point will help you arrive at a rough cost estimation. Would you prefer to save that money and buy better material? Or would you rather buy basic material and get it done by a professional? Right planning will make this easy for you so that you can approach the other steps accordingly. Similarly, shopping from online or brick and mortar shops will need separate approaches. A mix of both, however, can be the best approach. How long a project takes is also an important consideration. The renovation might mean that your kitchen cannot be used like regular so you may have to consider eating out or ordering in for a few days. Planning for such matters in advance will make life much more manageable.
But enough of the boring planning. What about design patterns? Color choices? Tile sizes? These tips can jazz up the space with very little spending:
- Mix and match: This is not just for a kitchen backsplash, it can very well be a mantra for life! But profound philosophy aside, mixing and matching tiles is one of the best ways to bring life to the backsplash. This will allow you to mix and match different (and even contrasting) colors, different sizes and even different textures. For example, if your kitchen receives less natural light, mixing tiles of different bright colors might make your kitchen look more lively and cozier. If you have a large-sized backsplash, you can use tiles of different sizes (say, bigger, uniform color tiles at the center and smaller colorful tiles on the edges) to make your backsplash stand out.
- Do not forget the kitchen theme: A backsplash might stand out, but remember, it is still a part of the larger kitchen. So, when you design a new backsplash, keep the design and theme of the larger kitchen in mind. A brilliantly-bright, eye-popping color scheme might grab attention. But in an otherwise plain-looking kitchen with dull-colored cabinets, it will look more like an eyesore. It is a good idea to focus on the functionality of the backsplash before anything else. You might want to use leather tones for a rugged, almost antique-looking backsplash, but will it go with the kitchen theme? And will it be able to stand abuse? Will it look the same three or six months after usage? Ultimately, these questions will help you narrow down your choice of materials and colors. Because of its proximity to the stove, it is best to keep the backsplash easy to maintain.
- Do not forget other elements: A backsplash renovation might be all that your kitchen needs right now, but it is unlikely to be the only thing it needs. Sooner or later, your cabinets, countertops, faucet, sinks and even appliances will need to be changed. A backsplash can set the theme for the rest of the kitchen renovation, so remember to think ahead and pick an easy-to-work-with design for your backsplash. If you renovate just the backsplash, there is a chance that the resulting backsplash might look odd in the ‘old’ kitchen. Once your entire kitchen is renovated, it will fit right in. The last thing you want is to change your backsplash again when you renovate the rest of the kitchen as it will be a wastage of both time and money.
