When you hear the words “backsplash”, the first thing that probably comes to mind is traditional tile in neutral colors. Although tile is the most popular backsplash design in America, it isn’t the end-all-be-all of backsplashes. While tile is a fine choice, why not express your individuality with a creative backsplash that’s guaranteed to be a conversation-starter among family and friends? If you’re interested in bringing some style to your bathroom, try one of these creative backsplash ideas that won’t break your budget.
Pegboard
While pegboard is definitely an out-of-the-box backsplash choice, it’s as stylish as it is functional. The pegboard can easily be painted to match the color scheme of the rest of your bathroom and provides extra storage and display space. The inexpensive pegboard panels can be purchased from any home improvement store and are easy to fasten to the walls – even a novice DIYer won’t have a problem with the task. Purchase some hooks, and you can free up valuable storage space by hanging hair dryers, curling irons, toothbrushes, or other bathroom accessories from the pegboard.
Pennies
We’ve all seen penny floors and kitchen countertops, so it was only a matter of time until they invaded bathroom backsplashes. Perfect for bathrooms with a rustic or traditional ambiance, penny backsplashes can be purchased from manufacturers and installed by professionals or can be built from the ground-up with a bit of grout, a massive penny collection, and some TLC. Although some question the legality of using federal currency for decoration, we highly doubt the U.S Department of Treasury will show up at your door over a chic and stylish penny backsplash.
Maps
Whether you’re a world-traveler or just a dreamer, express your personality by using a world map as your bathroom backsplash – I bet you can already imagine yourself daydreaming of your next vacation while you brush your teeth. The best thing about this idea is that it isn’t limited to maps: you could use wrapping paper, your favorite comic strip, magazine covers, newsprint, or whatever you prefer! For the DIYers at heart, simply cut a thin piece of plywood to the exact size of the wall, glue the paper on top, apply shellac and, when dry, attach the plywood directly to the wall.
Salvaged Wood
Vintage, reclaimed, salvaged, antique, rustic – they all mean relatively the same thing, and they’re all trending in home decor right now. Although you can easily ‘fake’ the worn wood look by purchasing distressed wood or weathering it yourself, there’s nothing quite like the real thing. To make this backsplash on your own, cut a thin piece of plywood to the exact wall size, attach the strips or pieces of salvaged wood, and screw the whole thing directly onto the wall. Using salvaged wood for your backsplash is great for cottage-style homes or a bathroom in need of a bit of texture.
Chalkboard
Whether you use a genuine chalkboard or a coat of chalkboard paint, a chalkboard backsplash is great for the walls near a vanity – write yourself notes, leave a reminder for your husband, or invite friends and family to draw a picture that’s representative of themselves. If you intend to use this idea in a child’s bathroom, why not extend the idea to the walls surround the bathtub? Your child can express their creativity (and stay occupied) during their evening baths, and you won’t have to worry about having to scrub crayon residue or permanent marker from the walls!