The kitchen in our new home needs virtually no work—except that I hate the color of the cabinets (reddish-toned wood) and I'm not a fan of the muticolored stone backsplash. But the kitchen has already been gutted, opened up, and installed with new appliances so I'm left with cosmetic updates. Great. I'll paint the cabinets and retile the backsplash. Or I could paint the backsplash, according to Christy, one part of the blogging trio behind 11 Magnolia Lane. Really?!?! Paint the backsplash? I was totally skeptical. Will it stand up to heat? Will splashes and grease be rubbed clean without removing paint? Will it chip? Christy, who painted her backsplash in late 2011, says it still looks terrific. Scroll down to find out how she did it.
Here's how to paint a backsplash so it sticks and stays:
What you'll need:
TSP all-purpose, heavy-duty cleaner
Primer (Christy used Zinsser Bulls-Eye 123)
A quart of gloss oil-based paint (Christy had her Behr paint tinted to match Benjamin Moore's White Dove at half strength)
Paintbrush (a roller won't get into the grout)
Directions
1. Scrub the tiles with TSP and degrease them with rubbing alcohol. Allow grout to dry completely, about two days.
2. Prime the tiles. Make sure the primer is specifically formulated to adhere to your backsplash, like the Zinsser Bulls-Eye that Christy used to cover her ceramic tiles.
3. Brush on two coats of paint, allowing sufficient drying time between (follow the manufacturer's instructions).
Note: Christy uses the abrasive side of a sponge and Method cleaners to keep her backsplash spot free.
If painting tile is just too wild for your taste, try one of these 14 creative kitchen backsplash ideas.
Tell us: What's the craziest thing you've painted? How's it holding up?
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Plus:
See more of our pretty handy project ideas »
The 6 biggest mistakes people make wheninstalling a DIY kitchen backsplash »
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