The Ultimate Guide to Backsplash Height | CrossKitchens (2024)

Kansas City loves style. From our fountains, our culture, to decorating our homes, Kansas City residents take pride in where we live and what we have to offer. When designing your home, we see our customers take the same care with their design, ensuring that their kitchen remodel is stylish, exciting, and something they can be proud of. The right backsplash can make or break a kitchen’s style but rarely gets the design attention it deserves and can be hard to get right. If you’re planning your kitchen remodel and are bewildered by backsplash, we have some helpful insight to help you choose the right backsplash height for your kitchen.

What Is the Purpose of a Backsplash?

A backsplash is a surface installed behind the sink, stove, and countertop. It serves two primary purposes: to protect the wall from stains and splatters and to provide you with an aesthetic design element that can separate upper and lower countertops and frame the kitchen.

Traditionally providing a protective function, a backsplash is now a stylish design staple for many, giving homeowners and designers the ability to be creative with color and texture in the kitchen.

The Standard Backsplash Height for Kitchen Renovations

The standard kitchen backsplash height is 15 inches, but you can go higher or lower. When deciding what the right backsplash height would be for your kitchen, there are many considerations.

The first step is measuring the space you’re working with and looking at the cabinets surrounding the area. If you have a 22-inch tall cabinet, you might have glass doors that open up to display your cookbooks and spices instead of a standard cabinet with wooden doors. Here, it might be better to go with a higher backsplash so that it doesn’t look out of proportion compared to your tall cabinets.

On the other hand, if you have lower cabinets with glass doors and want to create more of an illusion of space, going lower may help draw attention away from the low-hanging objects in your kitchen nook or island countertop area.

In general, you want to ensure that the backsplash is at least 6 inches lower than the top of your cabinets. This will help create a consistent look with your kitchen nook or island countertop area and prevent water from splashing onto your walls when someone uses a nearby sink.

Reasons to Go Higher With Your Backsplash

There are a few reasons why you might want to go higher with your backsplash.

• If you have a small kitchen and want to make it feel larger, going taller than usual might help. Taller walls can create the illusion of more space in a small room while also giving it a more dramatic look.
• You may be trying to avoid cluttered-looking walls by keeping things off them as much as possible. A tall backsplash is perfect since it allows for less artwork or photos on display without increasing clutter in the room overall.
• Suppose you’re looking for something that will stand out from all other aspects of your design scheme. In that case, having an eye-catching wall behind your stove or sink is one way to achieve this goal without having anything too much taking center stage in decorating touches (like wallpaper).
• Lastly, if getting messy while cooking has left stains on your walls over time- or if they’re just too hard to keep clean- adding extra height underneath these areas could be beneficial because it will make cleanup easier!

Backsplash Height vs. Other Kitchen Design Variables

The height of your backsplash is one of the essential design variables in your kitchen, but it’s not the only one. There are other factors you must consider if you want to increase or decrease your backsplash.

The size of your kitchen countertops

The height of your kitchen countertops can affect the size of your backsplash. If you have high-rise counters that extend from floor to ceiling, then a taller backsplash might be necessary to balance out the proportions of your kitchen design. Additionally, if you want to install a freestanding stovetop or cooktop in your space (instead of an integrated one), adding extra height underneath these appliances will help prevent accidents!

The Size of the Wall Cabinets

The size of the wall cabinets in your kitchen can also affect the height of your backsplash. If you have tall cabinets extending up to the ceiling, you may want to consider adding a taller piece of tile so that they don’t seem too imposing in your space.

How Many Windows are Available, and How are they Arranged?

If there are many windows or they’re placed high up on the walls, consider adding extra height to your backsplash, helping enhance and incorporate the style in the overall design. Alternatively, with no windows or short windows, you can get away with a shorter backsplash.

Your Height (and Other Members of your Household)

If you’re short, it might be best to go shorter so you don’t have to bend over too much when cooking or cleaning. A taller backsplash can work great if you’re tall, as it attracts a higher line of vision, and cleaning will likely not be an issue. You might also want to consider whether your cabinets are taller enough to accommodate a taller backsplash.

How to Pick the Best Backsplash Height for Your Remodel

When it comes to selecting the right backsplash height for your remodel, there are several things you need to consider. Your priority should be ensuring that the size works well with your space, whether a tall or short kitchenette, a large and airy dining room, or an intimate living area.

The second most crucial step is ensuring that the material selected for this project complements the style of your home and overall décor.

If you’re looking for something truly unique as far as design goes, choosing a backsplash height that is functional and visually appealing can help set your space apart from all others while adding personality to any room.

Choose Cross Kitchens as Your Kitchen Remodeler

When planning a kitchen remodeling project in Kansas City, you must consider how you want the new kitchen design to contribute to your overall style. A backsplash is a crucial design element, and choosing one that will fit your style and the type of home you live in is essential. Whether you’re looking to create a more functional space or want to update your kitchen design, Cross Kitchens can help!

Our team of professionals can guide you through a successful kitchen remodeling project. We will provide you with expert advice, design assistance, and more. Contact Cross Kitchens today to receive a free estimate from one of our contractors or design specialists to get started on your kitchen remodeling project.