DIY Creative Kitchen Backsplashes

Try one of these ideas to make your kitchen backsplash both hardworking and decorative.

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Broken-Tile Backsplash

Inspired by the old pique assiette (French for broken plate) mosaic technique, this free-form backsplash combines a grab bag of tiles, pottery, flowerpots, and found objects into a work of art on the wall above the sink.

To do something similar, collect crockery, tiles, and pottery. Leave some small tiles whole but break up the rest by wrapping items in a towel and striking them with a hammer.

Apply mastic to the wall and press the broken pieces into place. Larger pieces that are too heavy for the mastic need to be supported by nails until the mastic dries.

Mix floor grout with a little sand for texture and apply to the wall following the manufacturer's instructions. After the grout has set, seal the mosaic with polyurethane.