Not always, although it’s the most common material for backsplashes. With today’s large assortment of colors, shapes, patterns, designs, the sky’s the limit.
Even the original subway tile, that 6 X 6 plain white oblong product, now comes in different shapes, sizes and color.
Glass tiles can give your bath a spa-like feeling. I also have them in my kitchen, giving the room a sleek, modern look; it’s also right across from a window that has direct southern exposure, so the light kind of pops, moves around and sparkles.
While you’ll mostly see backsplashes in the kitchen and bath, it’s not unusual to find them in other rooms.
They add a pop of color, a touch of elegance, and some often some much-needed texture. They often become the focal point, especially in kitchens when coordinated with countertops, and with today’s trend toward the floor-to-ceiling panel, or in living rooms when strategically placed as accent walls.
Put the floor to the wall…
The staff at About Floors n’ More hears about some wonderful uses of, what would be traditional flooring materials, on the walls.
They include:
●Laminate: This is a more budget-friendly, perfectly wonderful alternative to tile and wood. A wood backsplash seems almost counter-intuitive; after all, most of us think of them as something to protect walls against chair marks.
They are, however, becoming more and more popular, adding a warm, rustic and elegant look to the kitchen, especially when coordinated with wood countertops.
You do need to be sure the wall is clean and dry, and it is best installed over a painted, not wallpapered, wall.
●Vinyl and luxury vinyl: With either of these choices, you can have the look of tile, stone, metallics and wood. Luxury vinyl tile, which is totally impervious to water, can even be cut to look more like the real thing, and mixed and matched to create your own unique design.
● Stone: This adds architectural interest, whether they’re small marble tiles or big slabs of granite. Have a little dramatic fun with the kitchen backsplashes; use stone on both the panel and countertops, with the veins mirroring each other.
Other ideas…
Backsplashes can also be created from brick, metals, wood, glass panels or stainless steel.
For more motivation, come to visit the About Floors n’ More showroom in Jacksonville, FL.