If you’re in the middle of remodeling your kitchen or bathroom right now, you know very well that it’s an exciting experience. But there are a lot of choices to be made, and sometimes you might not feel equipped to make them.
The trick is to take the process one step at a time. Start by choosing the material of your kitchen countertops or bathroom countertops, because there isn’t a better baseline than that.
Your countertops are the centerpiece of the room; they’re where eyes fall first. Instead of thinking “What are the best countertops for my backsplash?” you’ve got to think “What is the best backsplash for my countertops?”
Pairing Your Countertops and Backsplash
It can be daunting to match your countertops with your backsplash. After all, “matching” can mean a few things. You can use the same material for your countertop and your backsplash, or you might choose complementary colors.
The main advantage of choosing the same material for your countertop and your backsplash is the fact that you can highlight the material you’re using. If you found something you really love, this is a great way to show it off. With a seamless transition from the countertop to the backsplash, you can also make a small room seem bigger.
Whether you’re leaning toward an exact match or something complementary, we stick by our recommendation that you should always choose the countertop material first—that way, you’ll be able to accurately choose elements that support your kitchen countertops or bathroom countertops.
If you’d rather choose a complementary match for your countertops and backsplash, you’ve got plenty of advantages there too. In this instance, you have a chance to play with color—while many people stay on the safe side and choose gray or black, that’s not a requirement.
Pick out colors on the surface of your countertop and use the backsplash to emphasize them. Or if your countertop is on the plain side, you can bring out its personality by choosing a backsplash that makes a statement.
Thinking about Patterns
Patterns are a great way to add visual interest to your kitchen or bathroom—just make sure to use them correctly. That is, don’t overuse them!
If your countertop is expressive with a lot of personality, choosing a busy tile pattern could overwhelm your space and counteract the stylish vibe you were shooting for. In order to take advantage of patterns the right way, allow one element to be the focus and that’s it. Everything else should be toned down.
Visual Interest
All-white kitchens and bathrooms are on-trend right now and have been for a while, and we totally support this matching countertop and backsplash style choice. But here at True Blue Surfaces, we also think that these all-white rooms need a bit of visual interest (that is, contrast) to keep the room from becoming bland or devoid of personality.
Use color in order to make this happen (think of choosing a few kitchen or bathroom appliances in interesting shades) or texture.
Another way to jazz up your monochromatic palette is to turn to the shine factor. Shine adds dimension, and as it uses reflective materials, it ramps up the visual interest of a space. You can use glass or metallic tiles in small doses in order to bring the room to life in a modern way.
Cabinets, flooring, wall color, hardware, and fixtures are also great ways to increase the visual interest of your space. In order to make the room warm and inviting, you’ve got to utilize all of its elements, because they all play important roles.
The Big Picture
It’s not always easy to see the big picture when you’re designing your room or bathroom, and it can be difficult to know whether you’re making the right decision. To get help with this tough concept, contact the experts at True Blue Surfaces today.