Backsplash Tile

I installed the tile myself, and my main goal was an inexpensive DIY backsplash kitchen with an expensive-looking outcome. The total cost was under $200!The focus of this project was more about stenciling the kitchen backsplash tiles.

We installed the kitchen backsplash tile ourselves with a thinset mortar. The cost/benefit analysis was in our favor even though we had no previous tile experience. Therefore, we studied a plethora of YouTube videos and read articles. Overall, we didn’t find installing kitchen backsplash tiles in our new backsplash kitchen too challenging. Making sure the tiles were evenly flat against the wall was the biggest consideration.

For the amount of work we did in this space, we were on a fairly tight budget so we DIYed the backsplash tile. The purchase of the tile was a splurge because I fell in love with some expensive tiles and couldn’t find another that compared. I decided it was worth the splurge to buy the kitchen backsplash tiles I loved. I was right. This was our first time tiling and it was surprisingly easy to install backsplash tile for kitchen. Messy, but easy. I prepped the space and did most of the tiling while my husband worked the saw and made cuts as I brought tiles to him. It was a great system for us, and we got our backsplash kitchen done over a weekend.

It was a total whim. Before I installed the backsplash tile for kitchen, I thought I might be selling the house, and I wasn’t sure how long subway tile would be trending. Since I needed a backsplash quickly, I created mine in one weekend with a knock-down wall texture and a stencil. I studied the directions on the back of a can of pre-made wall-texture from a big-box home improvement store and figured it out. The backsplash turned into the focal point of my kitchen and I can’t imagine the space without it!

We went with a rather bold counter top choice in a light grey granite with black spots throughout and we already had cherry cabinets. I wanted a backsplash that was beautiful on its own but didn't compete with the rest of the higher contrasting elements. The tumbled marble tile provided the understated elegance we were looking for and we used white sanded grout.

We live on the coast in a waterfront home. The colors found at the beach and in coastal landscapes are present throughout our home and are the inspiration for the decor. I love the classic look of subway tile but I didn’t want to do the normal, white 3”x6” tile. The kitchen backsplash tile was a great opportunity to bring in some coastal color and character into the space. With vinyl wood flooring, wood countertops and soft white cabinets, things were going to be bland without a little pop. I decided to go with a larger, glass subway tile to get an updated, classic look. I fell in love with a 4”x12”, glass tile that is called natural white. It looks like the color of a glass coke bottle. A little hint of green but not too much. It is perfect in the space. I love how it changes color throughout the day depending on the lighting and how it feels coastal without being too beachy.

By design, my backsplash completely hides dirt! But for the sake of this conversation…let’s just say "I clean it weekly." Just a simple wet cloth and dish soap is all it needs.

Unless I make a mess, I use a tile cleaner specifically for marble and I clean it about once a week. In addition, I reseal every six months.

I wipe the tile behind our sink daily. With butcher block countertops, you have to be careful about letting water and moisture sit too long. When I do the dishes or wash my hands, I usually do a quick wipe around the sink and the backsplash behind the sink gets a quick wipe too. The rest of the backsplash gets cleaned every few weeks with Windex or other good glass cleaner. It is glass tile and can be streaky if you don’t use the right cleaner. Windex leaves it clean and bright without streaks and even does a great job with the area around the stove which can be greasy.

I dig fairly deep to find creative ways to make my projects look expensive on an extremely conservative budget. I don’t mind going off the grid and doing something unique. In the kitchen, I saved money in some aspects, which allowed me to splurge in others. Everything came together as planned and I was able to match my vision which came in under budget. I’ll admit, that doesn’t always happen. Anytime I save money on a project that turns out well, I get excited because I know I’ve economized and "paid it forward” in some way.

My husband and I are very team oriented when it comes to home projects. The most enjoyable aspect of our makeover was being able to work together on selecting the kitchen components and making choices as well as compromises. We had very different visions and it challenged us to incorporate both visions in an aesthetically appealing way.

For me, the part I enjoyed most was watching my vision come to life. This was our design, our color choices, our ideas for the space. Since we DIYed the entire project, I was a part of every step and saw the vision in my head become real one project at a time. It is such a satisfying feeling to see the transformation and say, "We did that." It was our hard work that created this beautiful space that we love so much.

Since we paid everything out of pocket, we could only do what we could afford at certain times. This means we had to back-burner several projects until we could afford the time (or money) to fund it. Waiting was SO hard, but was a good exercise in patience.

Math error by husband...We ran into a rather stressful situation with our backsplash tile. He used an incorrect calculation for the backsplash and we realized this error after purchasing. Because we had chosen a very popular tile, the inventory was extremely low and the store searched all across the country to find us the remaining tile. If they couldn’t find it, we were literally going to wait until it arrived from Japan, by boat.

The most challenging and stressful part of the makeover was the butcher block countertop installation. We ordered two 12 foot long section and one 8 foot long section. They are extremely heavy, hard to maneuver, and a mess up meant having to wait a few more weeks for new ones to come in and spending more money, so there was definitely tension in the room when it came time to finally make the cuts. Plus we were at eight or nine weeks into the makeover by then and we were both exhausted and ready to be finished. Luckily, things went as planned and we got it right the first time.

Address functional issues first and foremost. In our case, we leveled our island and added butcher block. By doing so, we created a better work space and added seating options for our family. It was such huge relief to be able to maximize the use of this area. On the cabinetry — inspect the “bones” before you rip and replace them. I treated mine like I do any furniture makeover. Mine needed a good cleaning, some creative embellishments, and a coat of paint. This saved me a minimum of five-figures in home improvements! Some additional ideas for embellishing your cabinets include: adding trim, glass cabinet inserts, installing new hardware, corbels and leaded glass. In my case, I did it all. If you’re painting your cabinets, be sure to set up a dust free environment – you’ll want to paint in a sanitized location. I recommend spraying cabinets with two coats of an enamel paint. A top coat isn’t necessary when you choose the right paint. Not only does this save time, but it makes touching up so much simpler in the future. Water based enamels won’t yellow as quickly as oil based.

I would generally advise someone pick all of their finishes (tile, floor, cabinets, etc…) before they start, particularly if you are working with a spouse or someone else who has input in the design. Because we picked one element at a time, we realized that we had painted ourselves into a corner and later regretted the stone facing on the bar. While it's beautiful and we get many compliments, it doesn't fit with the rest of the kitchen design.

Purchase considerations for backsplash tile

When customers shop for backsplash tile, color (researched by 32% of customers) would likely play the most important role in their selection process. On top of that, it is also helpful to account for material and tile design. Finally, some shoppers narrow down the choices by shape, popular sizes, price, mosaic pattern, tile finish type, availability, and special offers. Positive reviews in the backsplash tile category bring up "great quality", "vibrant colors", "awesome price", "great look", "great shipping", "great pattern", and "great room".