Clearwater, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/29/2013 -- Choosing backsplashes can be a major headache. Wait until the rest of the kitchen is done before installing it.
“Despite what you may think, choosing a backsplash can be one of the worst nightmares a homeowner will face. This is because it is one of the first things everyone sees when they go into the kitchen. If it looks strange, out-of-place, is not right for the ambiance of the room or just plain looks weird, it makes the whole kitchen look off kilter,” stated Dean Dupre, who owns Champion Tile and Marble, in Tampa, Florida.
Do not just choose any backsplash that looks good because it might be the right color or size or price. Think first about what matches or compliments the flooring in the kitchen, what would go well with the countertop, the cabinets and wallpaper or paint. Installing backsplash is intended to pull the room together and create a seamless mood for the whole kitchen. “The wrong choice can look like a sore thumb, sticking out for attention,” Dupre pointed out.
To begin with, the choice of flooring in the heart of the home sets the mood for that room. That mood should ideally be kept contiguously with the backsplash tile. For instance, a porcelain tile floor would look strikingly elegant with a glass tile backsplash, or wood may call for something more antique and artsy.
Cabinets are also a part of the whole atmosphere in the kitchen and there needs to be some degree of contrast between the floor and the tile. “Although there are some exceptions to that rule, say matching white tile to white cabinets, you might prefer having some accent colors in the backsplash so you don’t get the monochromatic buzz effect,” said Dupre.
Paint color and backsplash color are another area to consider contrasts. While the same color could still be used for tile, to match the paint, make the paint a different tone of the same color in order to add contrast.
“As far as the countertop goes, stand back and take a good hard look at the overall effect you want to achieve. You want to work to have the backsplash be a cross complimentary item with characteristics of the cabinets and countertop worked in; sort of a marriage of the two colors and styles, where they blend to create an overall appealing environment. And,” added Dupre, “when all else fails, wing it. Your instincts may rule the day.”
Learn more at http://www.champtile.com/