Got The Boring Kitchen Blues? Update It With Erin Napier's Eye-Catching Design

All-white kitchens are gradually falling out of favor. In fact, a white kitchen might decrease the resale value of your home. HGTV's "Home Town" star Erin Napier is happy to put that dying kitchen trend to rest by replacing white subway tile with something more colorful. Don't get us wrong, the classics will never go out of style, but if you're looking to inject some life into an otherwise bland kitchen, tiles are often a great way to bring in a little — or a lot — of color. Napier, knows that, and often uses fun tile to liven up a kitchen design. Even as far back as the third episode of Season 2, Napier used Spanish-inspired tile to give kitchens a more custom, personalized look.

Spanish tile are known for colorful, hand-painted looks that are as timeless as they are pretty. Of course, their intricate patterns and explosion of color may not be for everyone. If you don't want bold, multicolored tile in your kitchen, you can still spice up your backsplash with a fun tile. For instance, Napier's choice on "Home Town" borrows a Spanish-inspired pattern but uses just two colors for a less in-your-face look. With a little creativity and experimentation, you can hit just the right note for your space. If you don't have the time or money to fully retile your kitchen, we have DIY ideas to help you get the look the easy way.

Just because you're keen to kick subway tile to the curb doesn't necessarily mean you have to fully embrace the look of a Spanish hacienda with hand-painted Talavera tile. Of course, those tiles are beautiful in the right setting but they aren't the only option for bringing vibrant colors to your kitchen. If you're not a fan of patterns, you might consider zellige tile which come in an enormous range of colors and have the same handmade feel as Spanish tile. With zellige tile, you can even skip the grout but still keep the charm.

If, on the other hand, you like the idea of adding a pattern without all that color, consider choosing a style that's less bold. Despite their reputation for vibrant colors, Spanish tile do come in more muted color palettes. You could also opt for another type of patterned tile, but you may find that your favorite style has a counterpart with traditional Spanish flair. Whether you gravitate toward geometric, floral, or traditional tile, Spanish tile comes in such a wide variety of options, so you may be able to source one that fits the bill. It's just a matter of locating the right combination of color and pattern to suit your taste.

If you're looking at your existing kitchen backsplash wishing you could liven it up, but don't want to go through the hassle of pulling it down and fixing the damaged drywall behind it, don't worry, you've got options. The easiest solution might be to explore our tips for putting peel-and-stick tile over your existing backsplash. This can be a quick, easy, and affordable way to refresh your kitchen. Whether you want to cover up old tile, or just want a renter-friendly solution, options like the LONGKING Peel and Stick Backsplash Tile Stickers can give you the Spanish-style look on a budget.

Another way to get the look of a colorful tile backsplash, without actually having to tile and grout, is to use a stencil. You can do this directly on your drywall or give old tiles a new life with a bit of paint and a new pattern. If you're artistically inclined, maybe you can even freehand a design on your old tile. Before you get the paintbrush out, make sure you have the right materials. To make things easy, look for paint that is specially made for tile. This will ensure your hard work stands the test of time.