About Kitchen Backsplashes | eHow

The backsplash's functional purpose is to protect the wall behind the stove from splashes of food, grease spatters, smoke and other stains that can occur in the course of cooking. Beyond the mere practical purpose, a backsplash can have a huge impact on the look of a kitchen. Like an accent wall elsewhere in a house, the backsplash can serve to provide visual interest, a sense of continuity with other decor and an air of sophistication and attention to detail.

Backsplashes can be made in a variety of sizes. They are generally found behind the stove, and sometimes do not extend past the sides of the stove. However, a backsplash may run the entire length of a wall. Similarly, a backsplash may extend only halfway up the wall, or may extend all the way up to the ceiling or to the cabinets or hood above the stove. The size of the backsplash depends on the size of the wall, the dimensions of the kitchen, the presence of other design elements, such as cabinetry, and the taste and budget of the homeowner.

While they share a common purpose, backsplashes can be constructed from just about any material, limited only by the imagination of the homeowner or designer and the practicality of the material for use in a kitchen. Many backsplashes are simply vertical continuations of the countertops; the same marble or tile used for the counters is extended up the wall. When this type is made of tile, accent tiles in coordinating colors or textures are often used for contrast. Mosaic-style backsplashes can be made from small tiles of various colors, and these tiles may be made of glass, porcelain, ceramic, stone or other materials. Backsplashes may also contain murals made of painted tiles. Modern-looking backsplashes may be made from single pieces of backpainted glass, or from pieces of stainless steel or slate.

The visual effect of a well-designed backsplash can be dramatic. A mosaic backsplash can lend color and vibrancy to a small or monochromatic kitchen, while one that is made of the same material as the countertops can be especially effective in a large kitchen with a lot of cabinetry. Depending on the colors and materials used, a backsplash can make a kitchen seem modern or rustic, larger or cozier. Some homeowners even choose materials for their backsplash that echo material used elsewhere in the the house; for example, the tiles in the kitchen may be the same as the tiles in the bathrooms. This lends a sense of continuity to the entire house. Like an accent wall, a backsplash adds visual interest to the space around it, and can give the kitchen a sense of sophistication and attention to detail. Plus, the material of the backsplash, whatever it is, should prove easier to clean than a painted wall, cutting down on time and effort put into cleanup and maintenance.

The benefits, then, of backsplashes are twofold: They are easy to clean, and they make an important visual statement. Instead of having to touch up the paint on the wall behind the stove on a regular basis, the owner of a backsplash can just wipe it down and then step back and admire the look of the material. A well-designed backsplash, whether large or small, tile or stone or any other material, can improve the look and function of any kitchen.