Glass Backsplash Ideas

Explore glass backsplash ideas, and prepare to install a bright and beautiful backsplash in your kitchen.

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By: Sean McEvoy

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When it's time to install a new kitchen backsplash or update your old one, glass backsplash ideas should definitely be in the running for your kitchen design.

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Your options for a new backsplash will be vast, from common ceramic tile to ultra-high-end natural stone and granite—but a glass backsplash can be an economical, attractive and low-maintenance option.

If a glass backsplash is definitely in the cards for your kitchen design, you've already done some of the hard work by deciding on the material you'll use for your backsplash. Next up, you'll need to figure out the area of kitchen wall space you want to cover with your glass backsplash, as well as the style, color and texture of glass you'll use.

To perform the first step, a simple measurement is in order—but before you reach for the tape measure, think about how you use your kitchen and how bold you want your design to be. If you cook often and generate a good amount of cooking and cleaning spatter, a slightly larger backsplash may be in order. On the other hand, if your kitchen is mainly a repository for food deliveries, you can probably get away with a more low-profile backsplash. That said, you also may have a vision for a backsplash design that's a visually stunning, countertops-to-cabinets affair (or even countertops-to-ceiling, for a particularly dramatic approach). Whichever amount of coverage you decide on, mark it off, measure it and calculate the square footage to determine how much glass material you'll need.

Now that you've got the figure in hand, it's time to decide on the style and type of glass you'll use for your backsplash. Your choices will range from a sheet of clear glass over decorative wallpaper to frosted, leaded, opaque or brightly colored sheets. There's also a wide selection of glass tiles in every conceivable color, pattern, shape and texture. Ultimately, the glass style you choose for your backsplash will reflect your own personal design aesthetic, and with an almost infinite array of choices, you should have no trouble finding the style that's right for you. To explore the options, your local home improvement or tile specialty store is a good place to start, and you can also dive into the many tile retailers online for an even larger selection.

When you've settled on a style and sourced the material for your glass backsplash, it's time to move from the planning phase to execution so you can get your backsplash up on the wall. The choice is simple here—you can install the backsplash yourself, or you can hire a professional to install it for you. Hiring a contractor will but a bigger dent in your wallet, but it'll almost certainly save you time and the possible mental anguish of a botched installation. That said, if you've installed a backsplash before or are particularly handy, a DIY installation will be considerably cheaper. Plus, in addition to the financial reward, you'll feel the satisfaction of having executed a successful home improvement project.

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