Budget-Friendly DIY Backsplash Ideas for Kitchens
Are you tired of your kitchen backsplash area? You don't have to spend much money to give your backsplash a new look. Any of these budget-friendly DIY backsplash ideas will give your kitchen an update without putting a strain on your wallet. Whether you're looking for a quick and easy backsplash makeover or are undertaking an entire remodeling project, these stylish and creative designs will help you create a beautiful focal point in your kitchen- on any budget.
Kitchens are the heart of every home, and every homeowner wants to make it look engaging, modern, and stylish. Believe it or not, a backsplash can make a huge difference in the look of any kitchen. It's a great way to add texture, color, and personality to your space. However, purchasing and installing ceramic or glass tiles for the backsplash can be quite expensive for those with a budget. Don't worry, though! I'm sharing loads of creative and beautiful backsplash ideas that are affordable, easy, and will make your kitchen look stunning!
Options for Installing a New Backsplash
If you don't already have a backsplash installed in your kitchen or want to rip out an old backsplash to replace it, you definitely have some options!
Install a New Tile Backsplash
Your first option, probably the most popular, is to install a new tile backsplash yourself. It's much easier than you’d expect. I have an entire post about how to install a tile backsplash the easy way. We have installed many tile backsplashes over the years, and it's a project even inexperienced DIYers can do!
Install a Formica Backsplash
In our old home, we eventually had our ugly tile backsplash ripped out and replaced with a gorgeous Formica backsplash. It was affordable, and I loved how easy it was to clean. We didn't complete the installation ourselves, but you could certainly DIY the installation if you want to! We enjoyed the Formica backsplash for well over 6 years until we fully renovated our old kitchen. When we did the full renovation, we installed our own tile backsplash.
If you currently have a blank wall for a backsplash but don't want to install a tile or Formica backsplash, keep reading. There are several affordable, easy DIY backsplash ideas for you to consider!
Beautiful DIY Ideas to Paint or Draw A Backsplash
If you want to add a pop of color to your kitchen or change the color and appearance of your existing backsplash, then a painted backsplash is a perfect option for you. Below are some of my favorite ideas for painting or drawing faux tiles on backsplashes.
Paint a Stone Tile Backsplash
You can make a big impact in your kitchen without changing the appliances or the footprint. In this house, we painted our countertops to look like marble, painted our kitchen cabinets, and we even the stone backsplash! Our backsplash was made of some sort of tumbled stone with texture, which was NOT our taste. But we weren't quite ready to rip it out and replace it. So, I painted the tile backsplash a solid white color using the same method I used in our last house and had zero regrets.
Paint and Stencil a Tile Backsplash
Back in 2019, I gave my friend Thea a budget-friendly kitchen makeover (it cost just under $1,000 with paint, accessories, and EVERYTHING you see). With a little bit of time and not a lot of money, we gave her outdated red tile a completely new look. Painting and stenciling the old tile backsplash was the perfect budget-friendly option, and it looks AMAZING. It's still holding up perfectly several years later! People were OBSESSED with what we did for Thea's backsplash project!
Antique Tiles Stenciled Backsplash
Just like we did in Thea's kitchen, Carrie painted and stenciled her tile backsplash to create this fantastic look! It just goes to show how much you can completely customize your own backsplash simply depending on the stencil you choose. Carrie has painted her backsplash twice, and it turned out incredible both times. I love this cement tile design with her white cabinetry!
Painted Tile
Mosaic tile backsplashes were all the rage for a while, but they can be a bit busy and distracting. Fortunately, you can paint right over them! I loved this bright pop of color with the white kitchen cabinets. The transformation that came from just painting the backsplash is amazing–it has a huge impact!
DIY Herringbone Tile
This kitchen went from basic to extraordinary with a faux-painted backsplash. I love the large scale of the herringbone pattern, and I still can't believe how simple it was to create unique patterns. The gray balances the bright splash of green from the lower cabinets perfectly!
Faux DIY Herringbone
Believe it or not, this dramatic DIY backsplash was created by tracing a template with a marker! It actually looks like a real white subway tile with dark grout. Talk about a budget-friendly backsplash–this one is as beautiful as the real thing!
Faux Painted Subway Tile
This painted subway tile backsplash came in under $30! It doesn't get much more budget-friendly than this DIY project. And the result is a modern kitchen backsplash that looks like real, classy subway tile.
Handpainted Slate Tile
This handpainted slate subway tile is an amazingly clever way to create your backsplash for a fraction of the cost of real tile. I love the shades of gray for a textured look with the contrast of the white “grout line.” This would be gorgeous with white cabinets!
How to Cover Your Existing Backsplash
If you want to do more than paint a backsplash, there are quite a few options for covering an existing backsplash with other materials, adding dimension and interest.
Install Removable Wallpaper
My friend Amy covered her mirror backsplash with this stunning geometric removable wallpaper for a completely new look! She installed it over 4 years ago, and it's still holding up remarkably well. She has a complete tutorial on installing a removable wallpaper backsplash on her site.
Inexpensive Plank Backsplash
This DIY plank backsplash led to a dramatic change in this kitchen, and it’s easy to do on a budget! The new kitchen backsplash is perfectly paired with the open shelving and black cabinets with brass hardware.
Renter-Friendly DIY Cricut Backsplash
Homeowners can do whatever they want, but renters have to be more careful with their update choices. Karen used her Cricut on vinyl to give her tile a fabulous, renter-friendly makeover. It is even durable enough to wipe down! You can also get your own downloadable SVG to recreate this! And because vinyl is removable, this backsplash option is absolutely temporary.
DIY Beadboard Backsplash
At only $30 for the project, this DIY beadboard backsplash is a total win. It looks great, doesn't take a ton of DIY skill, and is unbelievably budget friendly. This is easy to pair with most counters since it is fairly plain, AND you can paint it whatever color fits your style!
Whitewashed Faux-Brick Backsplash
Lauren has a great tutorial on covering an existing tile with faux brick paneling and then whitewashing it for an absolutely gorgeous finish! And you don't have to be an awesome painter to tackle this DIY backsplash. I love this one if your decor style leans on neutrals because it still adds texture and focus!
DIY Penny Tile Backsplash
Two best friends DIY'd this magnificent new backsplash and did an incredible job! I love the design and the shelf they added for storage and decor. The white tiles with black accents create the perfect vintage look right above that fabulous sink!
Unique Chevron Beadboard
Chevron designs have topped the “trends list” for a while, but this idea is new! The beadboard is installed at a diagonal to create the chevron pattern. This is one of my favorite budget-friendly backsplash ideas—genius, affordable, and not an overly difficult DIY.
DIY Wallpaper
This unique idea brings so much fun and color to a white kitchen. I LOVE the wallpaper, and using plexiglass behind the stove to make it easy to clean is brilliant! Adding the pattern with her stainless-steel appliances creates a contemporary kitchen design that is simple to DIY in your home.
DIY Peel and Stick Tile
If you love the look of a marble backsplash but it's not in your budget, cover it with DIY peel-and-stick backsplash tile. Ashley did it, and the look is so gorgeous! It makes her kitchen look so lux and gives it quite the upgrade while still being super budget-friendly.
Cover Ugly Tile
This is the ultimate temporary fix to an ugly backsplash! Totally removable and customizable, this renter created a faux wall to cover her backsplash, and it looks fantastic. I still can't get over how seamlessly this worked!
Peel and Stick Tile Sheet
This kitchen got a dramatic update with simple stick-on tile sheets over an old, outdated ceramic tile backsplash. It's a simple installation with great results. If you need a quick fix, this might be the easiest answer!
Driftwood Wall
Change the look of your kitchen with this driftwood DIY backsplash. It is not hard, but it does take a few tools. However, the result is seriously worth it! And the clean lines of open shelving instead of upper cabinets really allow the wood wall to shine!
Laminate Flooring Backsplash
We loved the laminate flooring in our old home, but it turns out laminate flooring can be used for a very unique and creative DIY backsplash as well. You can find laminate flooring at most home improvement stores or even order it online. Using it as a backsplash is genius! These DIYers took it all the way up to the ceiling creating an accent wall, AND leaving space to add a range hood.
Peel and Stick Subway Tile
Are you looking for a low-budget backsplash option with a quick turnaround time? Peel-and-stick subway tiles are low-cost and only take a few hours to put up. These white tiles freshen up the honey oak cabinets and black countertops without a ton of work or money!
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Aren't all of those DIY backsplash options amazing? They prove you can give your kitchen a new and updated look without spending too much money. Using different materials to cover your existing tiles is one of the easiest ways to change it up. These ideas are versatile, easy to install, and will not take too much of your time OR your money. Depending on your personal style and design preferences, you can choose any of these ideas to create a kitchen backsplash that is both functional and magnificent. So get creative, have fun, and transform your kitchen backsplash with one of these ideas!
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