Updated Jul. 24, 2024
Watching the latest design shows, you might believe that tile is the only backsplash option for your kitchen. Here are eight awesome backsplash materials that break the tile mold.
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Backsplashes are stylish and add character to your kitchen, and they also function to prevent stains and splatters from covering your bare wall. Tile is the most popular backsplash choice, but if you want to give your kitchen a less traditional look, there are plenty of backsplash alternative options to suit both light and dark cabinets.
These kitchen backsplash ideas make a statement while protecting your kitchen, and they come at a fraction of the cost of traditional tiles. What’s not to love?
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Perhaps the most common wood preservative available to DIYers, oil-based copper naphthenates are classified for general use by the EPA. It’s commonly used as a brush-on preservative for end cuts on pressure-treated lumber.
Per the EPA, copper naphthenates also protect above-ground and ground-contact wood against insect damage, with low toxicity for humans.
Copper-Green Brown Wood Preservative is a great example. Like oil-based paints, it goes on easy, cleans up with mineral spirits and doesn’t smell great when first applied. That lingering odor makes it a poor choice for interior projects, but it’s a good option for exterior projects like treating deck posts. The brown color looks good on more visible items like fence posts or landscaping timbers.
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On the other hand, borate-based wood preservatives are water-based with a significantly less offensive odor. These are often used on wood for interior framing, like sill plates, sheathing and furring strips.
PenaShield Clear Wood Preservative is a notable example. It goes on clear and absorbs deep into the wood, protecting it from the inside. Once dry and cured, wood treated with this can be painted or sealed.
As the manufacturer notes, “indoors PenaShield will last for the lifetime of the wood, and outdoors it will last for the length of the applied water repellent.”
If you’re interested in borate wood preservatives, look for the active ingredient disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (DOT).
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For many DIYers, a wax-based preserver is the first thing that comes to mind when they think of wood preservatives. As mentioned earlier, these products can’t technically be marketed as wood preservatives, but they do serve that purpose. A great example is Howard’s SunShield.
The blend of beeswax, orange oil and UV inhibitors absorbs into the wood, giving it a lustrous sheen while also protecting against exposure to sun and moderate rain. Because it’s not technically a wood preservative, it’s a great choice for indoor or patio furniture that will be used by children and/or near food.
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We don’t mean green as in Earth-friendly, but green the color!
If you’re touching up the ends of pressure-treated lumber, or blending pressure-treated and non-pressure-treated lumber on a project, go with Rust-Oleum’s Woodlife CopperCoat. Another copper naphthenate, CopperCoat doesn’t contain any tinting to hide the green coloration caused by the copper.
The manufacturer states it can be used in below-ground installations, and top-coated with paint or sealer after 24 hours.
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A spray-on wood protector makes for an easy, no-fuss application. Guardsman Weather Defense Wood Protector goes on like spray paint — simply shake, point and press the button. It defends against moisture and fungus, although it looks like it contains no pesticides.
The spray-can format also makes cleanup a breeze, with no rags or brushes to worry about. If you’re looking at a large project, spray-ons aren’t economically viable, But for smaller projects it’s a wonderful timesaver.
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If you like the black-stained look of creosote-treated wood, Woodlife CreoCoat is a copper naphthenate that brings a retro look to your backyard. Rated for exterior and ground-contact wood, it’s tinted to resemble the
distinctive dark coloration of creosote.
Note: Actual creosote is only permitted in select commercial applications, and not available for residential purchase or use.
Our final entry is a technique rather than a treatment. Charring creates a hard surface on the wood, making it more resistant to insects, moisture and (perhaps counter-intuitively) fire.
This all-natural technique, good for interior or exterior projects, relies on zero chemical treatments. For more details, see this article on Shou Sugi Ban: The Art of Japanese Wood Burning.
While you’re obviously seeking out backsplash options that aren’t tile, there’s more to your search than simply picking the first alternative you come across. Truth be told, many factors to consider are similar to what you’d look for in tile. Here are a few major sticking points to keep in mind while you shop:
Ultimately, the overall lasting power of your backsplash will be determined by two things: how you care for it in its day-to-day use and the materials used to make it. You can take amazing care of your backsplash, but it won’t make much of a difference if the overall quality is lacking. This could lead to premature cracking, discoloration, and worse. Ensure you’re getting something made well to start with; you’ll be thankful for it in the long run.
This is more dire if you’re looking to install your tile alternative backsplash yourself. The easier it is to install, the fewer speedbumps you’ll hit along the way. Just remember that if something seems too simple, it might not last as long, necessitating more regular replacement. However, more difficult installations might require the help of professionals, which will add to the overall cost.
Everything requires regular care to be kept in working order, even backsplashes (whether tile or an alternative). Typically, this means regular cleaning, especially when they get sprayed with food during cooking. However, some backsplash alternatives will require more work than others. Coatings, for instance, break down over time, especially with increased exposure to oils, food, heat, etc. This means you may need to periodically reapply them, which adds to the overall investment.
Utilizing a combination of personal investigative DIY and home improvement knowledge, reputable brands and products, popularity and more, we cast a wide net in our search for tile backsplash alternatives. Then, we narrowed it down to the best of the best, using empirical data gathered from customer testimonials to determine the best tile backsplash alternatives currently available.
I have been a home improvement and DIY journalist for over a decade, with my byline appearing in numerous international publications, such as MSN, Fox, Yahoo, AOL, USA Today and more. I take pride in my investigative skills, matched by my lengthy expertise in home-focused product journalism.
You may have heard of a material called peel-and-stick, which is kind of like wear-resistant wallpaper. It’s very cost-effective and easy to install, but it has some downsides. For instance, air bubbles can get trapped beneath it during installation, which is a bit unsightly and will require you to peel it off and try again. Furthermore, it’s not as durable as some other options—sure, it may last a while, but it won’t last forever. If you want something that will last longer, you must be willing to spend a little more.
Some people will use glass plating to cover their wallpaper, which is a pretty solid alternative to tile that will retain the original appearance of your kitchen. It’s also very easy to maintain, as you can simply use glass cleaner. That said, it will show prints, grease and food spots more than something solid and darker, like coated wood.
These are regional terms for the same thing, with backsplash widely used in the USA and splashback being a UK term.
You might think you can forgo a backsplash altogether. And that’s true, but there are some caveats. The material behind your cooking spaces—be it wallpaper, paint or otherwise—will be much more susceptible to damage, like staining, and will potentially be more costly and difficult to replace. If you’re weighing the options, a backsplash is probably a larger initial investment, but it will save you money and time in the long run.
Originally Published: August 26, 2022
