Taking The Plunge With Backsplash

A backsplash can either make or break your kitchen.  With so many styles, materials and colors to choose from, it can seem a tad overwhelming.

Before choosing a paint color for any room in my house, I like to take a stroll through the appliance section of Home Depot.  Conveniently available for all to see are mock kitchens, done in different cabinet styles, counter tops, backsplashes and paint colors.  Inspiration less than 100 feet from the paint section.

I find it difficult to stand in front of 1,500 paint swatches and just choose a color. The same can be said for selecting a backsplash.  How can you really know what will work with your kitchen, just by staring at a swatch?  Here are a few tips to help you through the process...

Backsplash Rules of Thumb

1. Look At Your Kitchen As A Whole

A retro style backsplash will most likely not work with country cabinets and floors.  Though it may be tempting to select a bold pattern or style, you must imagine how it will work with the rest of your kitchen.  Take everything into consideration, including: appliances, cabinets, counter tops, floors and overall decor.

2. Obey The Counter Tops

Because a backsplash is usually the last piece of the kitchen to be put into place, the counter top should determine the tone. This is a mistake many people make, especially with granite.  Unless your granite is solid in color, going with a busy backsplash could be where your kitchen goes downhill.  Granite is commonly rich in color, showcasing the highs and lows of the material, so sticking with a neutral backsplash is the way to go.

3. Choose Colors That Compliment Each Other

If your kitchen has a warm tone to it, then go for a backsplash in that color family.  Kitchens that have a modern look with stainless steel appliances, silver cabinet pulls, dark charcoal or black counter tops, etc should consider cooler color tones.

4. Think Long-Term

Once you've applied the backsplash, you've entered into a long-term relationship.  So before you make your decision, keep in mind that you'll still be looking at it ten years from now.  Which brings me to the next rule...

5. Take It For A Test Drive

It's so convenient that we can now take a sample of paint, plop it on the wall and give ourselves time to decide without having to buy an entire can of paint.  You absolutely can do the same with a backsplash.  Ask for a sample swatch of the styles you're considering, tape it temporarily to the wall and leave it there for a week.  One tip though, if you're considering multiple swatches, is to spread them out.  Looking at them side by side can be confusing to the eye.

6. Pair It With Paint

Let's face it, you will repaint your kitchen eventually.  And if you're like me, you'll probably choose a different color. Take a look around your house and decide if you tend to choose cooler tones: blues, purples and greens or warmer tones: reds, oranges and yellows.   A backsplash should work with the paint colors that you tend to select.

7. Be Inspired

The Internet is full of unique kitchen design images, so it's best to be inspired by something that comes the closest to your own kitchen. You can simply type in the style of your kitchen, "country kitchen", "retro kitchen", "Mediterranean kitchen" and get a myriad of images that will help you through the designing process.

Compass Real Estate Group, LLC

2490 Black Rock Turnpike, #150

Fairfield, CT  06825

www.compass-reg.com