Backsplash or Kitchen Jewelry?

Statement pieces are all the rage. A statement piece of jewelry can complete your outfit, jazzing up even the simplest ensemble. Colorful pillows and decorative accents add pops of color in an otherwise monotone room. So you're dressed to the nines and your living room is warm and inviting, but aren't we forgetting about something? Maybe, the room that's referred to as the heart of the home. That's right, your kitchen! I can sum up most of our reader's dream kitchens in three words: white, stainless, and marble. Now that you're imagining a crisp and clean white chef's kitchen, keep in mind that too much white in your kitchen can feel cold, sterile and unwelcoming.

Houzz blogger Jennifer Ott, stated in her article, Cooking with Color “you'll see that most of the kitchens you've been saving to your idea books, while predominantly white, also tend to include natural wood in some way — usually in the form of flooring or furniture, which adds warmth, charm and character." Ott adds, "Make sure your snowy walls, cabinets and counters don't feel cold while you're riding white's popularity peak"

Now don’t get me wrong, I still appreciate white subway tiles and think they can look clean and chic. But I am ready to admit a little color is a welcome change. You see, white makes the perfect backdrop for small dashes of bold color. Read that last part again, White makes the perfect backdrop for small dashes of bold color. Cue the tile guru! Now imagine those basic white kitchens, clean and crisp, yet stark and sterile. Wouldn't the back splash be the perfect place to add some color, warmth or texture? Perhaps jewelry for your kitchen, a statement piece to tie your space all together. Take the following pictures for example, the blue and green back splashes add color and personality to an otherwise boring and monotone space.

In the previous photos, the styles are contemporary; however, in this next photo, a colorful back splash is utilized in a traditional and classic white kitchen adding color and pattern to an otherwise washed out space.

Back splashes are also a great way to add texture and pattern as well as color to your kitchen. In these mosaics, visual interest is added artistically with the use of lines and shapes.

 Now this, is just icing on the cake (remember were still in the kitchen, corny food puns are permitted!) Notice, the colored back splashes expand your color palette while still having the trendy white kitchen. Here, the decorative dishes echo the colors in the back splash, ultimately tying the whole space together.

Colored back splashes are a fun and exciting way to expand your color palette while still having a clean and modern kitchen. Next time you are dreaming of a white kitchen, just remember a colorful back splash can add the perfect finishing touch, just like a fabulous necklace can accentuate any outfit!