Stop Wrecking Your Kitchen With This Tile Style

If your kitchen is in desperate need of a remodel, you'll soon need to make myriad design decisions. From selecting the cabinetry and hardware to choosing the appliances and light fixtures, you'll be snowed under with thoughts of layouts, budgets, and time constraints. That said, there's oodles of fun to be had in finally creating a dream kitchen that matches your artistic vision and lifestyle. Just bear one thing in mind: Don't wreck your aesthetic with dated metallic mosaic tiles that have a shimmery surface.

Once upon a time, tiled mosaic kitchen backsplashes were in vogue for their eye-catching, unique character. But nowadays these shimmery tiles are out of style because they don't gel with the modern demand for sleek, minimalist design, open-concept layouts, and neutral color palettes. The reflective nature of these metallic tiles looks passé when combined with handless cabinetry and a streamlined layout; they simply don't fit. Moreover, their busy design can make them take center stage, drawing the eye away from the chic beauty of the expensive and carefully considered countertops and appliances you've selected. 

One of the worst things about mosaic tiles, regardless of their color and reflective surface, is the amount of grout lines they produce. This can be a real problem if you've laid them directly behind the stove, where cooking oils and grease can accumulate. As time goes by, these white grout lines can turn an unsightly yellow unless you regularly scrub them clean with a toothbrush (a time-consuming task no one wants to spend their weekend executing). In contrast, larger, paler colored tiles produce far fewer grout lines and make a compact space look lighter, brighter, and roomier. Having said that, if you like the intricate design of mosaic tiling, you can get away with using neutral-colored rather than dark, metallic options as long as you give them a daily wipe down to avoid greasy buildup.

As always, take care to seal your kitchen backsplash tiles to keep them stain-resistant and boost their durability. Some materials, like glass, don't require sealing, but the surrounding grout lines do benefit from extra protection. Opting for a lighter color made of natural stone is a meet-in-the-middle solution that gives you the classic beauty of mosaic without the outmoded feel of a metallic finish. Other small space kitchen solutions, like selecting cream-colored cabinetry, can also open up the space and lend it a modern and clean vibe.