Kitchen Refresh: Patterned Tile Backsplash with Vinyl

 

You know how you get an idea in your head and you think to yourself, “Duh! Why didn’t I think of this before?” If not, then congrats on your clear-headed brain! Mine is a little foggier… and so sometimes it takes my ideas white a while to make it to the light bulb stage!

I recently had one of those moments while I was driving the kids to gymnastics. And that’s a shock in and of itself because I can rarely think of anything while driving those 3 around. I’m usually being asked 3 different questions simultaneously, fielding compaints and tattles, or being asked to turn and look at something. Usually it’s a messy, loud combination of all of them.

But on this day, the kids were preoccupied with something, and so my mind was free to move in its own direction. I had that light bulb moment that I should use vinyl to deck out my backsplash a bit, because I do love patterned tile, and I don’t so much love my backsplash. So soon as they went into their classes, I settled into my 45 minutes of calm. I checked out Etsy and found some beautiful tile patterns and stores, like Bleucoin and Quadrostyle (see samples below), but I also knew I should at least try something with my Cricut first, in case I hated the way it looked.

But the moment I got home, my light bulb burnt out. 🙁 My tiles were staggered, not directly in line. Argh!

I still thought I should give it a try, creating the look of a grout line in the middle of the offset tiles, so that it would look like a design of 3x3s.

Surprisingly, it worked! I loved this project, messing with the tile sizes to make it look right, learning how to use my Cricut, working on my new craft cart… life was good!  Here is the design I initially played with.

And then here it is in the middle of the project.

I’m digging my “new” backsplash. I’m not jones-ing as much for some patterned tile, and it distracts from the part I don’t love so much. I’m even thinking about decking out my stair risers with something similar 🙂

Want to make one for yourself? Find your fave tile stencil and jump in. If your tiles are staggered as mine are, just separate each tile into quarters and leave a gap the size of your grout line. If you have colored grout, you may have to get creative with a strip of vinyl that matches your grout.

Don’t have a vinyl cutter? Have no fear. There are tons of talented artists on Etsy to get you whatever you need.

Enjoy!

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