Ceramic tile provides your kitchen walls with grease and food spill resistance, and you don’t have to deal with the upkeep of painting — just clean up all that grease!
There are many shades and styles of kitchen wall tiles available — from matte tiles to go with a minimalist or industrial style, to gloss tiles that bounce light to brighten up small kitchens.
Ceramic
Ceramic tiles are a good choice for kitchen wall coverings, both in terms of color, design, size, finish and glaze – from unglazed to glazed to help you keep them clean. Ceramic tiles are available in glazed and unglazed options, different colours or even patterns of matte or glossy finish (from vivid prints to stripes or solids), they are very tough against wear-and-tear like wear-and-tear stains, heat burns or scratches and can be easily washed with wet cloth or sponge!
Both porcelain and ceramic tiles consist of materials such as clay, silica, dyes and compounds which are mixed, ground, compressed or compacted by any number of processes and then placed into a kiln to be fired. Their chief differences are porosity (or void-to-solids ratio) and hardness.
You need to consider not only aesthetics but your financial allowance when deciding which materials to use – whether ceramic, porcelain or natural stone. Search for reputable manufacturers like Adila who offer quality assurances for your products to remain beautiful and durable.
Porcelain
The density of porcelain tiles are very apt for the traffic-heavy areas such as the kitchen. They’re water and chip resistant so they last well through the heavy use, and are beautifully durable – Better Homes and Gardens claims “the style return that porcelain offers is worth the cost of the investment in the first place”.
Porcelain tiles can be imprinted with patterns that simulate the look of natural stone, wood and marble, thanks to modern ink-injectors. Because of this innovation, these porcelain kitchen wall tiles can be textured in realistic and through-body colours for a look that is chic and durable.
They can also be matched into designs, such as herringbone or basketweave, for more modern and dramatic patterns. Or you could have solid porcelain tiles because they are easy to make minimalistic and work well with other decor items. Porcelain comes in different colors including neutral shades which are suitable for any style of design.
Glass
Glass backsplash tiles can make any kitchen look bright and modern with back-painted glass, mosaic or otherwise – there’s a design for every taste.
Glass is very tough so it will be good for the busy kitchen where you and your family eats. Also, easy to clean, this material is the ideal one – dirt and spills are readily wiper-able and there is no mold, mildew or any other bacteria growing on the surface.
There are also eco-friendly glass tiles that can be made out of recycled glass or old pieces of heirloom china. Reclaimed glass tiles can even have pieces from treasured vases, plates or other items embedded in the design for that extra personal touch to your new kitchen backsplash.
Natural stone
Natural Stone Tiles are a unique look to your kitchen backsplash and you can buy the varieties of granite, marble, slate, and travertine. Natural stone alternatives are more expensive than porcelain alternatives, but they are luxurious and will give a unique look to any home.
Natural stone tiles are hard-wearing and easy to maintain which is an excellent option for backsplashes in kitchens. Specifically, unlike other types of tile, natural stone is not as porous so it can take on more staining, although you still need to seal regularly.
There’s one more thing that stone-look tile does better in the kitchen: it can be installed. This not only makes it a very economical and time-saving choice if you do not want to hire expert installers, but it’s also a uniform style that can be used both in rustic and in modern design aesthetics – Lowe’s carries several types of stone-look tiles to suit whatever design theme you have in mind.