This Post is sponsored by Benjamin Moore

It used to be that many other “options” were prioritized when it came to a kitchen. Flooring for instance, was always considered the forefront of a home design. More and more though other factors are becoming important as well. Take a backsplash for instance. These not only have a form and function, but they can be used to invoke certain emotions (colors), they can be used to brighten a space up, they can be used to incorporate different styles, and they add interest to a kitchen. In most cases materials are quite inexpensive and yet they add so much value to a kitchen! If you are planning on going with a backsplash for your next project, here are a few of the top trends in 2016 to follow.

Extend Your Backsplash

If you think that you have to stop at a certain point with your backsplash tiles, think again. This new trend allows you to install your tiles all the way up to the crease between the wall and the ceiling. It acts almost like an accent wall for paint, but its tile. It can really create a nice look and if you really LOVE your material and want to use more of it, you can! Here is an example of a full wall backsplash tile design! This is also a good idea if you can manage to find a material that is inexpensive.

Install Your Tiles In A Pattern

If you think that you HAVE to install your tiles a certain way such as your brick shaped tiles vertically or horizontally, you don’t. Let’s be honest this is a trend, but it’s really not because even though trends are important, what is more important is designing your kitchen how you want. If you want to create a diagonal design with subway tiles; do it. If you want to create a checkerboard design with your diamond and circle tiles; do it! Right now though, horizontal and diagonally placed subway tiles are becoming a hot trend.

Hide Your Electrical Outlets

If you have electrical outlets on the same wall as your backsplash, and you probably do, it’s important to hide them as best as you can. This can really break up the design of the backsplash and make it look gaudy or disorganized. There are a few ways to hide them, but one of the best ways is to have an electrician come in and remove the ones on the wall and instead install them under the lip of the counter OR under the cabinet (above the counter space). If you absolutely cannot move your outlets, that’s okay, just make sure that ALL the outlets on the wall are facing the same direction i.e.; vertical or horizontal so you won’t break up the look of the design of the backsplash.

Wood Is In!

If you think that a backsplash is just made from things like ceramic, glass, stainless steel and stone, think again! Another popular trend for 2016 is using wood materials. You can use plywood, planks of wood, salvaged wood, wood flooring materials and more. This has a really nice beautiful look to it, but also if you can manage to find a place that has left over wood; it can be budget friendly as well. You can use crates and you can even use wood pallet – just break it down, sand it down, add a stain, add a coating, and then get them installed on your wall. Go by your local wood shop or home improvement store and see if they have any wood that they might just be throwing away. You can also contact a few companies that use pallets and see if they are throwing any away. Here are a few really nice wood backsplashes for you to look at.

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Use The Same Tile Materials Throughout The Design

A few years ago it was a popular idea to create a frame using one material or one color and then create another design inside. This trend is out. Instead, the new trend states that you should use ONE color or ONE material for your entire backsplash. Sure, a mosaic style backsplash is pretty to look at, but once you add in all of your other materials such as your granite countertops, wooden cabinets tile floor, etc. it just goes from pretty to busy. Definitely not something you want in a kitchen. Instead of using mosaic tiles, consider using mirrored or shiny surfaces such as mirrored glass, tin, steel or even glass to create a reflective design. This will make the kitchen seem simple and clean, but it can also make your kitchen look larger than it actually is, because the material can reflect the kitchen off of it. It’s a trick of the eyes, but it works.

Stylish Cookware

Stylish cookware is one way to make your kitchen look amazing. There are some great items out there such as air fryers and halogen ovens. These used to look bulky when they first came out but now they can look great on the work surface. Using one of these means you won’t have to use pans and therefore backsplash won’t happen at all.