Your kitchen backsplash takes a lot of abuse — heat, grease, cleaning products, and daily use — and the right design choices will keep it looking great for years while the wrong ones will create ongoing headaches.
Do: Set Your Budget and Measure Accurately
While an intricate mosaic tile backsplash can be stunning, it may be out of your budget in both time and funds. Experienced designers — like the team at ANVE — are used to working within a specific budget and flagging wishlist items that may fall outside your financial plan.
Once your budget is set, measure the backsplash area carefully. If you want unique borders or patterns that mix tile shapes and sizes, confirm that:
- You have the space to create the effect you want
- Your budget accounts for all the materials
- The backsplash will achieve the visual impact you're aiming for in the space
Don't: Use Textured Tiles on a Kitchen Backsplash
Textured tiles add depth and elegance, but the endless scrubbing needed to keep all those nooks and crannies clean will frustrate you within a year of installation. The kitchen is not the place to take risks with materials that aren't designed to withstand high-traffic and messy environments.
Do: Tile Behind the Stove
It's tempting to stop backsplash tile at the edge where the stove meets the wall, but most experts recommend extending it behind the stove as well. Tiling behind the stove protects your walls from heat, creates fewer areas where grease and cooking oils can stain, and keeps the kitchen looking newer for longer.
Don't: Skip Backsplash Tile Maintenance
Every few years, your kitchen backsplash tile should be resealed. Grout is porous, and the repeated heavy cleaning these tiles go through can quickly break down any sealant applied during installation. Mark a maintenance reminder on your calendar so it doesn't slip by.
Do: Think Carefully About Grout Color
Grout color is a bigger design decision than many homeowners realize. High-contrast combinations — like black grout between white tiles — look dramatic, but they also spotlight any imperfections in your walls or tile installation. Unless your walls are perfectly straight and symmetrical and the tile placement is flawless, the contrast will draw the eye to small flaws rather than the overall beauty of the design.
Take time to research or consult a professional about tile and grout color combinations that suit your space and your vision. Our tile collection can help you find the right pairing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use textured tile on a kitchen backsplash?
Textured tiles look beautiful but are very difficult to keep clean in a kitchen environment. The nooks and crannies trap grease and require constant scrubbing. Stick to smooth or lightly polished tiles for the backsplash area, and reserve textured tiles for lower-maintenance spaces.
Should kitchen backsplash tile go behind the stove?
Yes — tiling behind the stove is strongly recommended. It protects your walls from heat and grease, reduces staining, and creates a cleaner, more finished look. Stopping the backsplash at the stove's edge leaves walls vulnerable to heat damage and grease stains.
How often should you reseal kitchen backsplash grout?
Grout should be resealed every 1–3 years in a kitchen, depending on how heavily the backsplash area is used. Frequent cleaning strips the sealant over time, leaving porous grout vulnerable to staining and moisture damage.
