5 Clever Tile Backsplash Designs from HGTV Stars

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Photo: Alison Gootee. From: HGTV Magazine

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The HGTV Star Backsplash Challenge

Got a backsplash that’s dull as dishwater? Give it pizzazz with these inventive and fun tile designs from some familiar HGTV faces.

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Photo: Alison Gootee. From: HGTV Magazine

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Yellow and White Ceramic Subway Tiles, Tiffany Brooks

“Subway tiles have gone way beyond standard white,” says Tiffany. “In bright, grab-the-sunglasses yellow, they’ll instantly happy up a kitchen. Setting them on an angle gives them even more energy.” Tiles: 3" x 6" glossy subway tiles in yellow, $1 each, store.missionstonetile.com; American Olean Starting Line 3" x 6" gloss ceramic wall tiles in white, $0.50 each, lowes.com

Photo: Scripps Networks

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Quick Tip

Stockpile some extra tiles in case you need to do repairs later on—otherwise the colors may not match.

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Photo: Alison Gootee. From: HGTV Magazine

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Blue-and-White Cement Tiles, Emily Henderson

“These richly colored cement tiles have beautiful, subtle variations,” says Emily. “Have them laid as close together as possible so the overall pattern looks seamless. I love how the exotic motif gives any kitchen a casual, I'm-on-vacation vibe.” Tiles: Fez 8" x 8" tiles in blue and white, $7 each, granadatile.com

From: Emily Henderson

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Quick Tip

Make sure your installer pretreats cement tiles with acrylic sealer — otherwise they’ll absorb grout and stain.

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Photo: Alison Gootee. From: HGTV Magazine

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Black and White Ceramic Tiles, Jillian Harris

“To update a classic combo, I mixed extra-large white subway tiles with skinny black accent tiles,” says Jillian. “Some of the black tiles are installed horizontally right above the counter, and the others are trimmed and installed vertically. I love how the braided rope detail on them juts out from the wall a bit—the 3-D effect is so fresh.” Tiles: Daltile Modern Dimensions 4 1/4" x 12" gloss ceramic tiles in arctic white, $110 for a set of 28, and Daltile 1/2" x 6" semigloss ceramic rope accent tiles in black, $1 each, both homedepot.com

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Quick Tip

Get creative when you're shopping: These white tiles are meant for a baseboard but we love them on a backsplash.

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Photo: Alison Gootee. From: HGTV Magazine

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Green, White, and Blue Porcelain Penny Tiles, David Bromstad

“For a backsplash with attitude, make your own pattern with mesh-backed penny tiles,” David says. “Here I cut a sheet of green penny tiles and a sheet of multicolored penny tiles into strips of two different widths, then alternated them. The final result? A totally one-of-a-kind creation.” Tiles: ModDotz porcelain round penny tiles in key lime and Pacifica, $13 for each sheet of 224, modwalls.com

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Quick Tip

You can cut mesh-backed penny tiles with household scissors — no special equipment required.

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Photo: Alison Gootee. From: HGTV Magazine

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White Porcelain Tiles With Tangerine Grout, Sabrina Soto

“I wanted to highlight the curves of these lantern-shape tiles, but they were barely noticeable against white grout,” says Sabrina. “With an orange-tinted grout sealer? Gorgeous! Ask your installer to space the tiles an eighth of an inch apart, about double the standard width, to show it off.” Tiles: SomerTile Morocco Provenzale 8" x 8" porcelain floor and wall tiles in white, $77 for a set of 16, overstock.com Grout sealer: Color seal kit in sedona by Hydroment, $30 for 8 ounces, groutshields.com

From: HGTV Magazine

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Quick Tip

Grouts and sealers come in a range of stock colors, but specialty companies can customize a shade to match a paint, wallpaper, or fabric.

5 Clever Tile Backsplash Designs

The HGTV Star Backsplash Challenge

Yellow and White Ceramic Subway Tiles, Tiffany Brooks

Quick Tip

Blue-and-White Cement Tiles, Emily Henderson

Quick Tip

Black and White Ceramic Tiles, Jillian Harris

Quick Tip

Green, White, and Blue Porcelain Penny Tiles, David Bromstad

Quick Tip

White Porcelain Tiles With Tangerine Grout, Sabrina Soto

Quick Tip

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