The walls of a kitchen are prone to dirt and all kinds of grease stains. You can help prevent such an unsightly sight by using kitchen wall tiles in areas around the kitchen that get dirty the most. These areas are usually behind the stove but also behind counter-tops as well as behind the sink. Regular paint especially if it is matte will easily stain over time. You can help minimize the stains by having proper air ventilation. Even so, stains will become apparent over time and when it builds up it is usually hard to get rid of. Kitchen wall tile can prevent all such staining because tiles are much easier to clean than wiping walls without tiles. The only concern you might have is grout but with proper cleaning this shouldn’t be an issue whatsoever. Kitchens usually have wall tiles in certain areas. They are used as a backsplash often but some kitchens also have wall tiles on all sides from the floor to the ceiling. The look can look quite beautiful especially if you have an all white kitchen with white tiles and kitchen wall cabinets that are a dark rich wood color.
When it comes to designing your walls with tiles there are many colors,shapes, size, finish, materials and patterns you might want to consider. Although white, cream and almond colors are the most preferred colors there are thousands of other colors and pattern for all types of kitchens. Some tiles have modern styles while others are more suited for traditional and country kitchens. White is not the only popular color yellow, burgundy, tan and light orange are also appealing and popular
Kitchen Wall Tiles – What To Consider
The shapes and sizes of tiles vary greatly, regular sizes are 4.25 x 4.25 and 12×12. Some kitchens require much smaller or larger sizes and this can be arranged with a special order. The type of glaze is also very important. Glazed tiles are much easier to clean and are worth a consideration. Some glaze tiles are higher gloss and these are the easiest clean but might not necessarily be the best looking tiles for some kitchen designs. There are also matte and low gloss finishes and might look better in your kitchen. As far as style goes mosaic, quarry and other kinds of materials such as granite and marble are very popular.
Types Of Wall Tiles
Ceramic kitchen wall tiles are a great choice for your kitchen. After all you can’t go wrong with this style because it is the style that most kitchens have. What’s great about ceramic tiles is that they are very durable, easy to clean and they look great. There are many styles and colors available and you can also choose the type of finish you want.
Glass tiles are also used in the kitchen and often as a backsplash. The designs are quite beautiful and popular styles are stained glass, brick glass Iridescent glass styles. You can compliment glass tiles with glass liners or marble moldings to give your backsplash a spectacular look.
Porcelain tiles are made from ceramic tiles and usually come in the same styles and finishes as ceramic tile. They are less expensive but a fully glazed porcelain tile can prove to be very durable and also water resistant.
Marble tiles are very pricey but also the best that you can buy. Recent years have seen the decline in marble prices due to increased manufacturing in more countries. Marble is the epitome of luxury and many people only use them for countertops but some also use them for kitchen wall tiles and well for the floor. They are beautiful, stylish and very durable and will practically last forever.
Clearly there are many styles, colors and types of tiles that are available. There isn’t a right or wrong way in terms of decorating your kitchen wall. Solid light color glazed ceramic tiles are the most common choice among homeowners. Some people prefer something more stylish or bold and are decorating their kitchen in this manner. Style is not everything though, you have to also consider durability and also the grease that is prevalent in kitchens. It can be very difficult to clean unglazed tiles that are not finished so consider these simple facts as well. You might have something else completely in mind and would prefer custom made kitchen wall tile. Some tile companies will be more than willing to accommodate your needs for a price of course.