Jasmine Roth's Tips Make Choosing The Right Kitchen Backsplash A Breeze

Getting to choose exactly how you want one of the most used rooms in your house to look is exciting and something many renters dream about. So, when you're choosing your kitchen backsplash you want to make sure you're making the right choice. That can be somewhat complex with so many different options for materials, colors, and patterns. However, using HGTV designer Jasmine Roth's tips for choosing the right kitchen backsplash will make the selection process a breeze.

The "Hidden Potential" host's first suggestion is to hire a professional. While going the DIY route might be tempting, you're likely going to end up with something that is visibly unprofessional. "Usually it's not the actual tile installation since so many backsplash tiles come in easy-to-install sheets, but rather the unfinished edges, trying to figure out where to start and stop the material, lack of under-cabinet lighting, and not using a level," says Jasmine Roth in her blog.

It's also best to choose your kitchen backsplash after you've chosen your cabinets and your countertops. Choosing a backsplash first will force you to have to match your cabinets and countertops to the backsplash rather than the other way around. Since your cabinets and countertops are bigger focal points, you'll want to select those first and then match your backsplash. 

From there you can decide whether or not you want your backsplash color to be bold and contrast with your cabinets and countertops or if you want something that matches them and will blend in more. Jasmine Roth says that this is really a matter of personal preference. It's best to jump on Pinterest and start looking for designs that you like to give you some inspiration.

The material you'll choose for your kitchen backsplash will depend on how you will be using your kitchen. If you're going to be cooking a lot of greasy foods or are a messy cook, you'll want to avoid porous materials. This includes tiles made out of cement and natural stones like marble, granite, or limestone. You'll also want to steer clear of tile with a crackle finish. These tiles will absorb that grease and be harder to keep clean. You'll also want to avoid using white grout since it stains more easily.

If your kitchen won't be used heavily or you're passionate about keeping things as clean as they can be, then you can go with a more porous material and whatever color grout you want. This also opens you up to additional options like a gorgeous mosaic backsplash, textured stone, or even some funky wallpaper.

Deciding what size tile you should use is also a matter of personal preference and what the rest of your kitchen looks like if you ask Jasmine Roth. "It's impossible to say if large format tile or mosaic tile is better — it totally depends on the house. I've used all of it over the years, from tiny little tile to handcrafted tile, to medium-sized subway tile — you name it!" the designer explains. Whether you choose a small or large tile, either won't be going out of style any time soon. 

One new trend she does see emerging is people ditching tile altogether and opting to extend their countertop material up and also use it for backsplash. "It's a really clean way to finish the kitchen," she says. There is, however, one classic type of tile that Roth loves using over and over again, and that's subway tile. This is because it is so versatile. Subway tile comes in so many different colors and sizes. And using the same color tile with a different color grout will give you a drastically different feel. You can even lay them in different ways to create different patterns. Subway tile can be installed vertically, horizontally, or even in a herringbone style. Moreover, subway tiles are also known to be very easy to clean.