The Best Materials for a Kitchen Backsplash
Installing a backsplash is one of the most practical kitchen renovations out there. The right backsplash will protect your walls from water damage, flying food, and grease splatter. Plus, a well-designed backsplash can easily improve the aesthetics of the whole room.
But which materials are best for a kitchen backsplash? After all, you want the perfect combination of form and function.
Here are your best options.
Ceramic or Porcelain Tile
Ceramic and porcelain tiles are among the most common backsplash materials available. This is because both are waterproof, durable, and easy to clean. These tiles also come in a wide variety of styles and designs to suit any kitchen.
Best of all, while porcelain may be somewhat expensive, ceramic is a remarkably affordable material. Even if you’re remodeling on a budget, ceramic tiles may still be an option for your kitchen backsplash.
Across the board, there are virtually no downsides to a ceramic or porcelain tile backsplash. They can even help make your home safer.
Glass Tile
You might think of glass as a fragile material, but glass tiles are plenty sturdy enough for a backsplash. In fact, glass is a very popular choice for many homeowners, and the trend shows no signs of slowing.
Glass tiles will give your backsplash a sleek, sophisticated look, meshing well with a modern kitchen. The reflective surface will also brighten the whole space. Installing multicolored tiles will enhance this effect even more, as the glass glitters and glints in the light.
And because glass is nonporous, you’ll never have to seal your glass backsplash or worry about moisture getting inside the tiles. (Though the grout between the tiles will still need to be sealed, of course.)
If your remodeling project requires much cutting, however, glass may not be ideal. Glass is notoriously tricky to cut, and many would-be DIYers end up with a mess on their hands.
Stone
Natural stone will give any kitchen a more textured, organic feel. There are quite a few varieties to pick from, too, such as:
- Marble
- Granite
- Sandstone
- Slate
- Travertine
Each of these materials could provide its own unique complement to your kitchen décor. For example, white marble offers a clean, chic elegance, while slate has an earthy character.
Stone tends to be porous, though, so you’ll probably have to reseal it regularly.
Metal
Lately, metal tiles and panels have become increasingly fashionable, especially as backsplashes. Stainless steel, copper, and brass have been popping up behind counters and stoves across the country, and countless homeowners are delighted at the distinct feel they can offer a room.
As you can guess, these metal tiles and panels are completely impervious to moisture and nearly all other forms of damage. They can also come with any number of intricate patterns, and as with glass, their reflective nature can help keep the room bright.
You may want to be careful before you order those copper panels, though. Many appliances are already made with stainless steel, and installing even more metal could make your kitchen a little too shiny.
Wood
Wood may not seem like the obvious choice for a backsplash, but you might be surprised at how practical it can be if properly sealed before installation. It is true that a wood backsplash will still require a bit more maintenance to avoid stains or moisture damage, but the homey feel they can give to a room is often well worth the effort.
Right now, shiplap and beadboard backsplashes are very much in vogue, and it isn’t hard to see why. Both complement a minimalist or cottage-style kitchen well and can introduce some serious personality to the space—especially if your kitchen is already full of stainless steel appliances and cold stone countertops.
However, for obvious reasons, you probably won’t want to put a wood backsplash behind your stove. Your local fire code may even regulate how close flammable materials like wood can be to a gas burner or other heat source.
But if you’d like the look of wood in your kitchen without the added hassle or potential fire hazards, you can always opt for wood-look tiles—porcelain tiles that have been designed to look exactly like wood.
Upgrade Your Kitchen With the Perfect Backsplash
A quality backsplash will provide plenty of beauty and convenience for your kitchen. And if you’re gearing up for a home renovation project, we can help.
At Downright Tile and Renovations, we offer first-class renovation assistance for homeowners throughout the greater Kansas City area. We install, repair, and replace tiles in various applications, including:
- Walls
- Floors
- Bathrooms
- Kitchens
- Basements
- Fireplaces
- Patios, porches, and decks
We even offer custom design services. Just contact us, and we’ll come to your home to help you make the right decisions for your unique needs and preferences.
client Reviews
Ann Butler
Cody was very professional, he was very good at advising us what would work well together. He showed up when he said he would , and never left a mess. We were under a time crunch , and Cody came through. The bathroom turned out beautiful. We are very happy with the end result.
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Stillwell, KS.
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Downright Tile did two bathroom remodels for us and we were very happy with both. One of them required extensive demolition and substantial changes to the plumbing. Cody was careful, clean, and great with communication. His tile work is absolutely first rate.
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Weatherby Lake, MO.
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Not only did DownRight Tile do an excellent job, but Cody and his team went above and beyond to complete the job within a tight time frame.
Read moreNicole Galemore
Our experience with DownRight Tile was exceptional. We hired DownRight to install glass subway tile for our kitchen backsplash and coffee nook. They were extremely helpful throughout the entire process. From the get-go, they answered my millions of questions quickly and thoroughly. They were on-time throughout the project. I would say our project was a bit more complicated due to using glass tile and having a 70+ year old home with warped walls that weren't square. They exceeded our expectations and now we are using them for our bath remodel!
Shawnee, KS.
Read morePatricia Landwehr
My husband and I contracted with Downright Tile and Renovations to tile our basement laundry room and bath. Our house is 100 years old and the basement floor is not flat in places. They were able to level it out before installing the tile. The walls are not perfectly square, so we had lots of discussion about the best way to lay the tile to minimize the issue. They were very professional, arrived when they said they would, cleaned up the area daily and did a great job installing the tile. My husband is an engineer and very picky and was very pleased with the work. We highly recommend them. They are true craftsmen.
Brookside, MO
Read moreDonald White
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Independence, MO
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Overland Park, KS
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Overland Park, KS
Read moreJon Sestak
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Overland Park, KS
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Independence, MO
Read moreAlexzis Thomson
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Blue Springs, MO
Read moreBrian Joy Wilhide
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Lenexa, KS
Read moreAngie's List Customer Review
We hired Downright Tile and Renovations to re-tile two fireplaces and our master bath floor. We picked our floor tile and when it arrived, found a lot of surprises. It was the last tile of it's kind from the quarry and there was a lot of variety. Downright Tile came up with a unique design which made great use of the variety and the final product is truly beautiful. They also re-tiled our family room fireplace with the same tiles. They suggested stacked stone tiles for our bedroom fireplace. Both fireplaces were transformed from boring to beautiful. Downright Tile took on our project where others might not have. It required a lot of extra cutting of tiles. They enjoyed the challenge and we are very happy with the outcome. We would confidently hire them again for any future tile work.
Kansas City, MO
Read moreDaniel J Lopez
I am very happy with my experience with Downright Tile and Renovations. They had great communication, explained everything well, were punctual, and kept the job site clean. The finished product is exactly what we were hoping for and the price was good. I would definitely recommend them for any tile jobs you have in the future.
Overland Park, KS
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Shawnee, KS
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Kansas City, MO
Read moreAngie's List Customer Review
Downright Tile and Renovations were excellent to work with. They clearly understand their craft. They were professional, clean, and conscientious. I'll hire them again when I need more tile work done and refer them to others.
Kansas City, MO
Read moreBeverly Bellinger
The project went beautifully. There were several areas around the tub and where the tub meets the floor that needed to be re-caulked; Downright Tile noted wherever new caulk was necessary within the shower/tub area and took care of it all. The amazing difference is in the floor. White tile with white grout can become discolored and hard to clean after a decade. Now it looks as good as when first installed, plus they offered care tips to maintain it. They also very graciously looked at a couple of loose kitchen backsplash tiles and provided advice on those. They're meticulous, professional and probably something of perfectionists—color matching was of critical importance to them. Our minor restoration project was clearly unworthy of their talents. Their charge was exactly as estimated ($300 plus materials). Imagine what a wonderful job they'd do on a start-from-scratch tile installation! If I had another tile project, Downright Tile is the only supplier I'd call.
Kansas City, MO
Read moreAngie's List Customer Review
We were very satisfied with Downright Tile and Renovations' services. They were very responsive via text and were able to schedule us quickly. We had a very positive experience working with Downright Tile and love our new tile. We highly recommend them and would use them again if we eventually need tile work again.
Kansas City, MO
Read moreDavid Duffield
As a very competent DIYer, it has always been difficult for me to relinquish control and hire someone else to do work on my home. My past experiences with hiring contractors has always left me disappointed in the quality of workmanship and/or the professionalism of the contractor. I can honestly say that, for the first time, Downright Tile and Renovations have exceeded my expectations. The crew were professional, timely, and the level of craftmanship was exceptional. Downright Tile took the time to plan the layout of the tile so there were professional results. I couldn't be happier and will definitely use them again on other projects. Thanks Downright Tile for all of your efforts!
Overland Park, KS
Read moreDan Lopez
Our house sold opening weekend. I’m sure the bathroom was a key contributor. We’re in a brand new house now so we’re set but I will definitely pass along your info to anybody who is looking. You did great work.
Overland Park, KS
Read moreJames Densmore
We recently remodeled our basement bathroom. We had multiple bids and they were all about the same. We chose to go with Downright Tile and Renovations as they warrantied their work more than the competitors. We picked out the tile and materials and then Downright Tile installed. They were on time and finished the project as expected. They explained various things when asked. We would use Downright Tile for a future project.
Mission Hills, KS
Read moreAnna Challacombe
We hired Downright Tile to re-tile our guest bathroom and they did a phenomenal job. We've never hired anyone with more integrity or attention to detail. They always showed up when they said they would, communicated expectations, did a really exceptional job on the tile itself, and went above and beyond to make sure we were happy with the finished project and that it met their exacting standards. I would highly recommend Downright Tile to anyone looking to have tile work done.
Merriam, KS
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