Designer and Founder - DIYGirlfriend
Adding a tile back splash in your kitchen is an easy way to protect your wall from water or other kitchen grime. A simple backsplash can also add style to your kitchen. There are so many tile options available that you can transition your kitchen into a Tuscan getaway or a modern geometric space.
One of the hardest things to decide is what type of tile is best for you and what pattern you want.
Here are some options to think about:
Classic White
One of the most popular backsplash options is a classic white style. White can make your kitchen take on that modern or farmhouse look.
Colored Tiles
You can make a bold statement in your kitchen by utilizing bright colors. If you have white or darker cabinets, this can create a pop of color to the space. For example, if you have gold kitchen accents a deep green can really compliment the overall look and show off your personal style.
Spanish Tile
Love the Moroccan style? No problem! There are many decorative tiles to choose from to help create those interesting patterns. Using blues, greens, or terracotta you can show off some beautiful clay or ceramic tiles.
Glass Tile
While glass tiles are more expensive, they are easy to clean. The reflective nature of glass tile has great reflective quality, and the best part is they are generally made of recycled glass.
Peel and Stick Tiles
Easy to install, these tiles are an inexpensive way to update your kitchen. They are self-adhesive tiles that look like the real thing. These tiles also eliminate the mess of taking on a tile project.
Once you have decided what style you like, you can then have fun with the pattern. You can find tiles shaped like octagons, chevron, hexagon, rectangular, square, and even penny size tiles.
All these options can become overwhelming, but it does allow you to customize your backsplash so that it is a true representation of your personality.
In our tutorial this week we opted a herring bone mosaic tile using a double sided adhesive tile mat. With this adhesive mat you can create your backsplash with less mess. We finished our backsplash over the weekend and super excited about the results.
Follow along below for our step-by-step tutorial.
Let’s get started.
You can find these items in any local home improvement store. Specialty tile tools are also available to rent at local home improvement stores.
At the bottom of this article we have provided some links to make locating these items easier.
DIYG Tip: if this is your first time tiling it might be better to start in an inconspicuous place like a hidden corner, etc.
DIYG Tip: Try to plan the tile cuts in inconspicuous places like the top of the backsplash under the cabinets. The cabinets will camouflage any cutting imperfections.
DIYG Tip: Adhesive backsplash mats are an easy and inexpensive way to tile backsplashes. It also allows you to do everything the same day since you do not need to let the mortar dry. However, avoid using adhesive tile backsplash mats on floors, ceilings, fireplaces, steam rooms, shower floors and surfaces that will be submerged in water.
DIYG Tip: For areas that do not have a countertop for support, use tile edging trim to support the weight of the tile. This can be found at Lowes, Home Depot, etc… in the tiling section.
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Use a level along the way to make sure the tile is level at every point
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