Avoidable Countersplash Mistakes To Remember Before Your Renovation

If you're constantly looking for the latest DIY grout cleaning method to get spaghetti sauce stains out of your kitchen grout, you may be eyeing the latest trend in backsplashes with interest. Countersplashes use a slab of the same material as the countertop on the backsplash, creating a seamless, easy to clean look. A countersplash can create a timeless, luxury look, but it's a big, sometimes bold, choice. Because of this, it is critical to get the details right so small mistakes aren't staring you in the face for the next couple of decades.

When choosing your material, keep in mind that the veining is going to be important in a variety of ways. Busy patterns may not strike the right timeless note, but they could also make matching the veining trickier for your fabricator and contractor. You will also want to think about the other details, like where to put your outlets, so you don't interrupt the seamless look of your backsplash. Figuring out where to stop your stone is also critical to nailing the look. As they say, the devil is in the details, and that is very true when tackling the countersplash trend.

You can use any countertop material as a backsplash, but if you're using a stone with veining — think marble or quartz, for example — you have to keep a couple of things in mind. One of the benefits of a slab backsplash is that they act as a focal point, but if you choose an overly busy stone, that may be a drawback. This is especially true if you're running the stone all the way up the wall — a busy pattern can quickly become overwhelming, or even look fake. Avoid this potential mistake by opting for a more muted pattern.

The other thing to consider when choosing your materials is how hard, or easy, it will be to match the pattern. Ensuring the veins in your stone match up is key to achieving a high-end look that won't have you regretting your decision. However, it's not just the stone that matters in this case; it's also about communicating with your fabricator to make sure they understand how to match the pattern. Choosing a material for both your countertop and backsplash in one go is a big commitment, so be sure to avoid this regrettable mistake when buying new kitchen countertops.

During the excitement of slab shopping, it's easy to forget some of the more mundane details of a kitchen, like where your outlets will go. However, no one wants to spend money on a beautiful slab only to cut holes into it for a wall outlet. So, be sure to communicate with your electrician, and make sure your outlets can be hidden under your upper cabinets so they are still easily accessible but do not compete with your backsplash for attention.

Another decision you will have to make is how far you will run the countersplash up the wall. Yes, you can go full height, but if that is not an option, you will want to think about how to stop the backsplash without it looking like you ran out of budget. In some spaces, your cabinets may create a logical stopping point. If not, adding a shelf can make it look like an intentional design decision and not just a budgetary one. If you have plenty of stone and just can't get enough of it, you may also want to consider this matchy-matchy all-for-one countertop trend for 2025.