To me a backsplash to a kitchen is a bit like a belt to an outfit. It has the power to change the whole look and feel of a space.

via The New Professional
Today in the Love Your Kitchen Series we will discuss some inexpensive ($75 or under) backsplash options for transforming your kitchen. The first option is for those of you who already have a tile backsplash that you don’t like.

via 11 Magnolias Lane
1. Paint it! Do you already have a backsplash up that you would love to get rid of but do not want to go through the effort of demolishing it??? Then you are in luck! The easiest and least expensive option for you is to paint it. Several fellow bloggers have done it and have reported success. See Christy’s experience at 11 Magnolia’s Lane as she provides a step by step tutorial on how to paint tile and a 1 year update on how it has held up.
2. Beadboard or Paneling. Don’t want to deal with the mess of mastic and grout? Beadboard or paneling are great, relatively easy, and inexpensive options. Want to know what the process involves? Check out LeAnn’s tutorial at The Modest Homestead. Below are examples of how designers have employed this style of backsplash.
Painted the same color as the cabinets
Painted a pretty light blue
Paneling as backsplash and beyond
Go horizontal with it
3. Peg board! I absolutely LOVE the polished yet cozy ambience of the kitchen below! And what’s the backsplash? Well, it’s not peg board. It is a basket weave tile but doesn’t it resemble peg board??? I think it does! It made me think, with a 4ft x 8ft peg board only totaling $17.98 at Lowe’s it’s a great option to getting a similar look. It can be installed the same way as beadboard is installed.
4. Stencil it. Melissa at
Pembrooke Lane made a stylish and thrifty backsplash using a free online stencil and Martha Stewart Opalescent paint. So pretty!
5. Wallpaper. Well, I thought 5 years ago that I would never say this but wallpaper is now a trend again. Although it might not be the best surface for a backsplash, given the right situation I think it could work and be just the right detail to take a kitchen from builder blah to custom beautiful!
6. White 3X6 Subway tiles. The most commonly used backsplash in high-end kitchens could arguably be the white 3×6 subway tile.
It is a beautiful classic look that
thankfully does not come with a high-end price tag. In fact, it is one of the cheapest tiles out there ringing in at Home Depot at only $1.76 a square foot. I purchased the Bright Snow White color found
here for my kitchen backsplash. I borrowed a friend’s wet saw and went for it. This was my first tiling experience and I overall enjoyed it. With materials and everything it came out costing only $75. Believe me when I say you can do this! It really isn’t hard. Check out my recent step by step tutorial on
tiling a backsplash.
Is this look too boring for you??? Jazz the 3×6 white tile up by placing it in this fun herringbone pattern.
Julian Wass via This Old House
And why not mix it up and do both beadboard and subway tiles like below
So what kind of belt backsplash is your kitchen dressed up in? Has anyone tried any of these budget-friendly backsplashes? I would love to hear about it!
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