The Kitchen Backsplash: My Toughest Reno Decision Yet

The kitchen backsplash was turning out to be the toughest decision yet.

I have come to realize that the kitchen is the most complex and time consuming room in the house to redesign. There are so many details and decisions to make it is mind boggling. And one of those decisions has had me virtually paralyzed: The Backsplash.

Months ago I had selected our IKEA Abstrakt high gloss white cabinets and our beautiful Whirlpool White Ice appliances. The palate was simple – white – so how hard could selecting a backsplash really be? You have no idea the torture I have put myself through!

All white can make a small kitchen appear larger.

A backsplash can be a feature or it can add consistency to your existing design.

I consulted designers who said in a smaller kitchen (which despite being totally redone and enlarged, ours apparently still is) white makes things appear larger. So I was on the right track.

However, the advice on backsplashes was both conflicting and confusing. Some experts said a backsplash could be used as a way to add detail and colour to a singular palate or introduce interesting materials such as stainless steel or glass. Others said by adding colour or contour one would make the space seem divided. And others still indicated that a backsplash is unnecessary and one could just continue the countertop up the walls or use a durable paint.

A backsplash can be used to introduce colour and texture.

Add colour to a white kitchen using colourful accessories.

I knew I wanted a tile backsplash as my cooking left something to be desired and the durability and ease of cleaning was appealing. I also knew that I wanted to maintain the simple and clean design of the rest of the house so staying in line with the white cupboards for the backsplash made the most sense.

Plus, I believed  the advice of designer Silvia Mazzone form edesignboutique.com when she told me that the best way to add colour or contour in most rooms is through accessories. In other words, use items you can easily change. This will give you flexibility and ensure that your design stays relevant longer.

Adding colour by using accessories gives you more flexibility in the space.

Sometimes all it takes is a deadline to help you make decisions.

OK. Easy-peasy, right? No way! I was blown away by how many options there were for my white backsplash. From variations in colour to size to shape, design and material, this decision just kept getting more and more difficult. But it really only took one simple thing to help me make a decision: A deadline. That made it very easy.

I simply had to decide so I went back to the main principles and budget and ended up with something I am very happy with. The size is interesting at 4″x16″, the colour is white with a hint of steely grey that works with the stainless steel accents of the Whirlpool White Ice appliances and there is a hint of texture to it.

What do you think?

A deadline and a clear vision lead me to this backsplash find.

This post is sponsored by Whirlpool Canada.