Over Tile? Refresh Your Kitchen With These Wall Coverings

Is your kitchen backsplash an overwhelming sea of tiles? White, beige, gray tiles stretching across your walls can get mind-numbingly monotonous. When it's time to renovate your kitchen, look beyond cold ceramic and marble to refresh your space with stylish, practical wall coverings.

Paint, wallpaper, wood, and other materials offer affordable, on-trend alternatives to tile. With some creativity and DIY elbow grease, you can easily install fresh new kitchen walls. Read on for inspiring ideas to upgrade your kitchen's look without breaking the bank.

Invigorate With Colorful Paint and Textured Finishes

Nothing transforms a room like a new coat of paint. Vibrant paint colors and textured finishes breathe youthful life into dull, dated kitchen walls.

On a budget? Paint costs a fraction of pricey tile installations. After proper prep and priming, use high-quality latex paint in your color of choice. Matte finishes hide flaws; opt for semi-gloss or high-gloss sheens for wipeable, scrubbable walls in high-traffic areas. Specialty paints, like mold/mildew-resistant bathroom paints, provide extra durability.

Textured and Patterned Paint Techniques

Beyond just painting walls a solid color, there are endless ways to add artful dimension with textured paint treatments.

Sponging, rag-rolling, and stippling involve dabbing on layers of contrasting paints to create an undulating, mottled effect. Varying paint textures like sand or granular paints also add visual interest. Stenciling is another easy DIY option for painting geometric patterns or nature-inspired shapes like leaves, flowers, or vines.

Let your creativity run wild with paint. Modernize your kitchen with on-trend textured finishes like Venetian plaster or faux-crocodile textures. Painted brick, wood grain, and stone faux finishes offer budget-friendly ways to get the look of pricey authentic materials.

Wallpaper and Removable Papers

Wallpaper offers endless options for colors, patterns, and textures at a fraction of the cost of pricey tile.

Traditional pre-pasted wallpaper comes in a spectrum of solids, florals, geometrics, and more. Go bold with a graphic black-and-whiteprint or soften things up with an airy watercolor design. Grasscloth and flocked papers add subtle texture. Murals depict sweeping scenic vistas or charming countryside cottages.

Temporary Wallpaper Options

Temporary and removable wallpaper options give you flexibility to quickly switch up your kitchen's look.

Peel-and-stick wallpaper, removable wall decals, contact paper, and repositionableoptions let you customize without committing. These renter-friendly products allow you to decorate without damaging walls or requiring extensive removal prep.

Use removable papers to inexpensively cover a small space like a backsplash or accent wall. When you tire of a look, simply peel it off and replace it with something new.

Warm Up With Wood

Wood wall treatments add homey warmth and dimension. The rustic reclaimed wood look is hugely popular for today's cozy, farmhouse-inspired kitchens.

Shiplap and Reclaimed Wood Planks

Tongue-and-groove shiplap planks create texture and visual interest. After finding reclaimed or aged new wood planks, carefully space and secure them to walls. Distress wood beforehand or let it naturally patina over time.

Stagger lengths, leave small gaps between planks, and vary orientations for an authentically rustic look. Use adhesive, nails, or screws to install, taking care around areas like light switches or outlets.

Faux Beams

Exposed wood beams add character, but genuine beams involve costly renovations. With clever paint or wallpaper, recreate the look with faux beams.

Use painter's tape to outline "beams", then paint inside tape lines a wood tone. Remove tape after paint dries. For removable faux beams, apply planks of wood-look wallpaper horizontally across walls and distress edges to mimic a weathered look.

Sleek and Modern: Metal, Stone, and More

Beyond classic materials like tile or wood, get creative with unexpected kitchen wall coverings. Metal panels, faux stone, and more modernize walls with unique style.

Metal

Add an edgy industrial vibe with metal wall panels. Affordable corrugated tin sheets offer a practical budget option. Adhere tin tiles for an artsy backsplash on the cheap. Or go bold with a gleaming stainless steel or rustic copper statement wall.

Measure carefully and cut sheets to fit your kitchen's dimensions. Use adhesive, screws, or rivets to install metal securely. Finish joints cleanly for a cohesive look.

Faux Stone and Brick

Natural stone and brick textures entail costly professional installation and maintenance. With faux panels or finishes, mimic the look at a fraction of the budget.

Premade stone or brick panels install like tile and recreate the visuals. Paint brick patterns onto walls, or use brick-look wallpaper for a removable option. Faux treatments offer realistic textures without weight,bulk, or needed upkeep of authentic materials.

Personalize With Artistic Accents

Infuse personality into your refreshed kitchen walls with artsy focal points and displays.

Murals and Decals

Immerse yourself in serene natural settings or city skyline vistas with a removable mural. Self-adhesive wall decals and murals depicting landscapes, architecture, food scenes, and more provide huge decorative impact.

Apply these wall stickers just like wallpaper. When it's time for a change, murals and decals peel off easily without damaging paint.

Display Collections

Show off your hobbies and interests by displaying favorite kitchen tools. Mount a cutting board or row of shining copper pots as art. Floating shelves neatly exhibit cookbooks or quirky kitchen collectibles.

Grouped art prints, photos, or paintings also inject color and personality. Arrange gallery-style vignettes for maximum visual impact.

If your kitchen backsplash needs an overhaul, don't default to rows of lifeless tile. With creativity and smart alternatives like wallpaper, wood, metal, and paint, you can customize your kitchen with style and substance.

Revamping your kitchen walls is an achievable DIY for many homeowners. Before you renovate, think beyond boring tile and explore the myriad practical, affordable options available to refresh your space.