How to Creatively Update Your Kitchen Tile this Season

Transform your Kitchen with an Eye-Catching Tile Backsplash

Almost every kitchen requires an easy-to-maintain backsplash. An easy to maintain tile can relate to tile cleaning or to maintenance. The material of choice for backsplashes is tile – and with good reason. It is easy to clean, easy to maintain, and highly resistant to wear and tear. Tile is also preferred because it comes in many designs like glass, metal, ceramic and mosaic. These kitchen tile ideas can also lend inspiration.

To make your backsplash area noticeable, choose a tile that contrasts with the countertop. A mix of patterns or varying colors will rejuvenate your outdated kitchen. But if you prefer a uniform look, stick to one color or pattern. Choose tile for your backsplash area carefully because it will dictate the entire look of your kitchen.

Give Special Attention to your Resilient Tile Floor

The kitchen is among the busiest rooms in the house and its floor handles plenty of traffic. But it is an area that’s often neglected. As you give your kitchen a makeover, look to tile flooring. It offers many design possibilities and can make your kitchen floor come alive.

Installing tile flooring has become a very common trend as tiles resembling natural materials are readily available. Technology enables the creation of tiles mimicking wood, concrete, and stone. Some are waterproof and scratchproof and go well with any space. Wood-look ceramic tile is perfect for kitchens. Take a look at the pros and cons of this resilient floor tile.

Choose the Right Tile for Your Countertop

Your kitchen countertop can make or break your kitchen. It is a focal point in the room as it takes up a lot of space. Choose a countertop tile that adds color and life to your kitchen. You can try out a modern design that will make it stand out. For a simple, uncluttered look, a neutral color like white, ivory, or cream is appropriate.

A tile countertop is resistant to both water and heat. It is easy to install and you can fix it on your own if you wish to save some money. The good news is that you don’t need special tools or knowledge to install tile – unlike other countertop materials. To make sure your tile countertop does not stain, use glazed tile and seal the grout after installation. In addition, choose dark colored grout as light colored grout can be hard to maintain.

Another thing to remember when installing tile on your countertop is to choose classic designs over quick-fleeting trends. Classic tile countertops are likely to stand the test of time and often will keep the value if you plan on selling your home in the future. These green countertop ideas are good ones to try for your kitchen.

Try Adding Kitchen Tile to your Walls

Tile enhances the function and beauty of kitchen walls. Tiled walls are resistant to moisture and are easier to clean than drywall, paint, and other elements. Tile is a great choice for a humid room like a kitchen that is often exposed to cooking splatters. It stands up better to the thorough cleaning often carried out in the room. Install tile between the backsplash area and the wall cabinets to minimize maintenance and to make the place look appealing. Mosaic tile and artisan tile can update your kitchen with pops of color and metallic accents.

Choose wall tile that coordinates with the backsplash tile and grout that complements it. If you want to make the grout lines stand out, choose a dark grout.

Tile is perfect for transforming your outdated kitchen into a modern one. It easily determines the look and feel of the space so you must choose it carefully. To enhance its beauty, decorate it with borders and accents and you’ll be sure to create a unique look.

For more kitchen ideas browse or kitchen archives.

4 Kitchen Design Questions to Choose the Perfect Kitchen Cabinets

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Determine what your Kitchen Design Goals are for your Kitchen Cabinets:

First start by defining your goals for your kitchen? Get some general idea of how you want your kitchen to look and function so that you can create a space that you’re happy with. Here are some questions you might consider asking yourself to determine your goals for your kitchen.

1. What’s Wrong with Your Existing Kitchen Cabinets?

In order to get the custom kitchen cabinets you want, you should start with what you have. You’re obviously changing the cabinets for a reason, and jotting those reasons down will help when it comes to designing your new ones. Whether they were just old and dated or they did not provide enough shelf space, everything you dislike should be written down. The more specific you can be with what you don’t like, the easier it is to create what you would like.

2. What’s your Kitchen Design Purpose in Installing New Cabinets?

The purpose for new kitchen cabinets can help you in determining how much you’re willing to invest in them. For instance, if you were selling your home, you could invest a smaller amount of money and purchase economically friendly, practical cabinets to appeal to potential buyers. However, if you intend to make good use out of the home for years to come, investing a bit more and going all out with customization would be to your advantage.

3. What Design Style of Home Do you Have? What Kitchen Cabinet Style will Look Best?

The decor and style of your home will play a significant role in the design of your kitchen and the type of cabinets you choose. For instance, if you have a more modern home, you might stick with more modern, sleek cabinets. However, if you had a more country, rustic home décor, you could go with vintage wood cabinets to tie everything together. You also want to make sure the cabinets you choose will flow with the kitchen colors. These 8 kitchen cabinet style doors on Houzz give you ideas on how to choose what looks best in your home.

4. How Much Storage Space do You Need?

Does your existing kitchen cabinet space provide enough storage for now and in the future? Or will you need more storage space? If you’re not sure, just go to the kitchen and look at all the things you’d like to store on a cabinet shelf or in a drawer. If everything is securely put away in the existing cabinet space, then you can invest in the same amount of space with the new cabinets. However, if you have a lot of things and no room to put them, you might want to invest in more cabinets. If you’re trying to squeeze more room into your kitchen these 20 kitchen space saving tips  could help from Apartment Therapy.

Each of these questions will help to shape goals for your kitchen’s design. You’ll have a better understanding of the style of cabinets you’re interested in, how much space you need, and what features you absolutely must have to make your kitchen as functional as possible. Again, be sure to work with a professional contractor for the creation and installation of your cabinets for end results you’ll be proud of.

For more kitchen design help on Stagetecture, look to our kitchen and bath archives.

How Refacing Kitchen Cabinets Can Be Inexpensive

Try refacing kitchen cabinets with a professional

Hiring a professional refacing person that applies veneer onto your existing boxes is much cheaper than replacing the entire cabinets. Moreover, it’s much less disruptive than a kitchen remodel project that involves the replacement of old cabinets. In most cases, it can render your kitchen unusable. Whereas, a cabinet reface does not involve this level of disruption and can be done in just a few days especially when done by a professional.

Painting kitchen cabinets can save money

Whether your kitchen cabinet design calls for you to brighten up with bold colors or lighten up dark cabinets, there is no doubt that paint can provide an instant makeover for almost all types of cabinets. And apart from being a fastest and easiest method to update a tired, worn-out kitchen, painting cabinets can save you a lot of money and hassle. While you are at it, consider changing the kitchen cabinet accessories such as the knobs and handles for the best result.

But, don’t make these mistakes when painting cabinets, Good Housekeeping warns.

Kitchen cabinet ideas: Remove doors and stain shelves

Going with an open-shelf cabinet arrangement is another great way to lower the overall cost as you won’t need to buy the new doors. But as it’s a complete style change, make sure to spruce up the interior of your kitchen cabinets by cleaning and staining the shelves. You can also apply white paint to these surfaces for a cleaner and brighter cabinet interior.

Watch this how to convert kitchen cabinets to open shelving video from BHG.

No doubt, if done correctly, cabinet refacing can be an easy and cost effective way to upgrade the kitchen and give it a brand a new look. Moreover, you can easily avoid the muss and hassle of a more extensive remodel.