Kitchen backsplash mistakes to avoid, according to interior designers

A backsplash does the important job of protecting your kitchen wall from splashes and marks, and is also an element of the room’s aesthetics. However, if you get the design wrong, it will be disappointing on both counts, which is why it is so important to know the kitchen backsplash mistakes to avoid.

And who better to ask what could go wrong than interior designers, who tend to see the same mistakes over and over again when it comes to… kitchen apron ideas. Know what mistakes they see and you can avoid the heartache of having to start over or having to endure an ineffective design.

Below are the top kitchen backsplash mistakes that design professionals see, along with their experience on what you should do instead.

1. No priority function

The kitchen features a tile backsplash surrounded by white ivory cabinets and a dark wood island.

(Image credit: Julie Ann Birch)

According to interior designer Julie Ann Birch, if you want to get the right backsplash for the area behind the stove, it would be a mistake not to think about what it will have to deal with.

“My client fell in love with a stunning mosaic from a renowned New York tile company,” she says. “It had an elegant shell-like design – a true work of art. However, it was installed behind the stove and although it looked nice, everyday kitchen splashes quickly made it impractical. We had to replace it with something more durable.”

She adds: “The key takeaway is that the backsplash behind the stove should prioritize functionality over artistry. The trick is to choose a design that both looks beautiful and can withstand the heat and splashes of a busy kitchen. This could be a favorite color or a durable art tile (like the Dutch tile above).”

2. Failure to seal the stone

Dark wood kitchen with marble tile backsplash

(Image credit: Andrew Giammarco)

Natural stone can be an attractive backsplash material, but professionals often see results if it is not sealed.

“Selecting porous materials such as marble or natural stone without sealing them can lead to staining and damage from food splashes,” says Alan Berman, president of Archetype Architecture. “To avoid stains, seal your stone backsplash every six months. To check whether it is time to close the apron, you can drop a small amount of water onto the apron. If water accumulates, the seal is still effective. If it soaks in, it’s time to reseal.

“Another option to avoid stains is to install a protective film like TuffSkin,” he says.

3. The apron is too low

White kitchen with metal pot on stove, skylight, blue and green countertops and backsplash.

(Image credit: Mary Wadsworth/Roundhouse)

A backsplash that ends in the middle of the wall is unacceptable, but designers often see it.

“Not extending the backsplash all the way down the wall to the bottom of cabinets or to the hood behind the range is a big mistake,” says Leslie Dapper, lead designer at Rumor Designs in Colorado. “This often makes the space feel unfinished.”

Going higher is an easy solution, but make sure you budget for the extra tile.

4. Neglecting left and right alignment

Kitchen with island and bar stools, stove, neutral cabinets and patterned backsplash.

(Image credit: @jennasuedesign)

Failing to line it up on both ends is a mistake when finishing a backsplash on an open wall.

“A big mistake is not extending the backsplash properly to match adjacent countertops or cabinets,” says Teri Simone, design director at Nieu Cabinet Doors. “If you have a natural stopping point (like a wall), this can simplify the design, but if your wall is open beyond where the countertop ends, the backsplash should stop in line with the top and bottom.”

5. Ignoring the overall design

modern kitchen with dark green cabinets and marble backsplash

(Image credit: Alexandra Köhler Design, photography by Aimé Mazzenga)

It’s easy to think of a backsplash in isolation, but that can be a mistake, say Mark Williams and Nicky Papadopoulos of Williams Papadopoulos Design.

“Sometimes when customers are making small purchases on their own or spending too much time browsing Pinterest, they are easily enticed by bright, exciting examples in a tile showroom or perfectly curated photos on design blogs of a plethora of eye-catching backsplash options photographed in impossibly empty kitchens,” they say. They.

Why an attractive backsplash can be a mistake? “Firstly, kitchens are generally now part of our main family living spaces and should exist peacefully within the overall design context, complementing all other elements,” they say. “Anything like a loud apron screaming, ‘Hey! Look at me!” can disrupt the balance of the home space we occupy the most.

“Secondly, all the beautiful examples of colorful tiles from the store may look like beautiful works of art individually, but if they are used as a backsplash in the kitchen, there will inevitably be a “real life layer” on the countertop in front of the backsplash. . Once you put those two things on top of each other, you get a visual circus.”

Their advice? “Because many kitchens are just part of an expansive open-plan informal dining and family room, we tend to stay tight-lipped about splashback choices. Most often, they simply use the same slab material as on the countertop and on the apron.

“Don’t get me wrong, we’re not advocating for a ‘bland bowl of oatmeal’ because it’s safe,” they add. “We strongly suggest that your backsplash may not be the right place to place a ‘statement moment’ in the most important space of your home.”

6. Style mismatch

Kitchen with modern flat-front cabinets, metal backsplash and range.

(Image credit: Archetypal Architecture. Photography: Seth Kaplan)

Combining backsplash and kitchen cabinets in different interior design styles is a mistake that professionals often make.

“Not considering the overall style of the kitchen is a common mistake,” says Alan Berman. “For example, a state-of-the-art kitchen and a traditional backsplash may seem out of place.”

And the opposite is also true. Combine a modern style backsplash with traditional or transitional cabinets and the result will not be harmonious. The good news is that this mistake can be easily avoided by keeping your style consistent.

7. Combining backsplash and tiles

Kitchen in green

(Image credit: deVOL Kitchens)

Connecting the backsplash and tiles is a mistake that will not bring any benefit to the kitchen. “A four-inch countertop and then the tile above it tends to look dated, and we don’t typically design it that way anymore,” explains Leslie Dapper.

However, there are two alternatives. “You should either extend the countertop up the wall to act as a backsplash, or run the tile from where it meets the counter and up the wall,” advises Leslie.

8. Incorrect scale

pale pink shaker kitchen with white subway tiles and glass wall cabinets

(Image credit: Naked Kitchens)

According to Tracy Metro, interior designer and interior design show host, not taking into account the size of the tiles and the proportions of the area to be tiled is a mistake. House Doctor.

“If your kitchen has a short distance from counter to base cabinet—about 18 inches—it’s important to think about the size and direction of the backsplash tile,” she says.

“If you were to choose a very standard 6″ x 3″ subway tile and lay it vertically, you would only end up with three rows of tile from the counter to under the cabinets,” she explains. “It would make the space a little awkward. However, if you were to lay the tiles horizontally, you would be laying the tiles in six rows, which would create a more expansive backsplash.”

How to bypass this trap on the apron? “It’s important to think about size in conjunction with layout,” she says.

A backsplash that elevates a kitchen should coordinate with the rest of the colors, material, and style of the kitchen. But practicality is also a must: a choice that won’t be compromised by cooking and cooking, and won’t require the hard work of keeping it clean.

Kitchen backsplash mistakes to avoid, according to interior designers

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