Kitchen Guides
What Are the Best Backsplash Tiles for Indian Homes?
Materials like granite, ceramic, glass and natural stone know how to survive Indian kitchens, their fumes, curry stains, pressure cooking
We would love to have a smart, eye-catching kitchen backsplash, but we have to strike a balance between what’s stylish and what’s practical and long-lasting. Here’s a list of five types of tiles that are best suited for Indian kitchens. Take down notes.
Granite
Granite is a hard material, resistant to extreme heat, acids and abrasions. It has a natural shine and, once it has been properly sealed, does not easily get stained (nonetheless, spills and splashes should not be allowed to rest on the surface for too long). Due to its smooth surface, dirt and marks can be easily cleaned with a damp cloth.
The only drawback to granite as a kitchen backsplash material is that since it is somewhat porous, it requires annual maintenance with a sealer to prevent staining.
Granite is a hard material, resistant to extreme heat, acids and abrasions. It has a natural shine and, once it has been properly sealed, does not easily get stained (nonetheless, spills and splashes should not be allowed to rest on the surface for too long). Due to its smooth surface, dirt and marks can be easily cleaned with a damp cloth.
The only drawback to granite as a kitchen backsplash material is that since it is somewhat porous, it requires annual maintenance with a sealer to prevent staining.
Glass
These tiles can be made of textured glass, frosted glass, back-painted glass or coloured glass. The best thing about them is that they resist mould, mildew and staining (requiring just a damp cloth for cleaning). Tempered glass tiles can take a fair amount of heat and are scratch-resistant. Also, in small kitchens, having a glass tile backsplash can be beneficial as its surface reflects light and makes a space look bigger. However, poor-quality glass tiles can get scratched and might break under force.
Tip: Some glass tiles tend to expand and contract a great deal with changing temperatures. Ask the tile retailer or manufacturer if you need to set grout lines slightly wider behind a hot stove.
See how these bathrooms are transformed with glass tiles
These tiles can be made of textured glass, frosted glass, back-painted glass or coloured glass. The best thing about them is that they resist mould, mildew and staining (requiring just a damp cloth for cleaning). Tempered glass tiles can take a fair amount of heat and are scratch-resistant. Also, in small kitchens, having a glass tile backsplash can be beneficial as its surface reflects light and makes a space look bigger. However, poor-quality glass tiles can get scratched and might break under force.
Tip: Some glass tiles tend to expand and contract a great deal with changing temperatures. Ask the tile retailer or manufacturer if you need to set grout lines slightly wider behind a hot stove.
See how these bathrooms are transformed with glass tiles
Natural stone
Natural stone is available in several varieties, such as soapstone, sandstone, slate and travertine. This is a hard-wearing, strong, durable material that does not break or crack under extreme pressure. So, it can last for years. The beauty of natural stone is in its variations – no two slabs will look exactly the same. This means varying veins, swirls and shades will give your kitchen a unique identity. While cleaning, you need to be selective of the products you use. Natural stone can discolour when exposed to certain chemicals. Warm water or a special stone cleaner will usually do the trick.
Wondering how to find the right stone tiles for your home?
Natural stone is available in several varieties, such as soapstone, sandstone, slate and travertine. This is a hard-wearing, strong, durable material that does not break or crack under extreme pressure. So, it can last for years. The beauty of natural stone is in its variations – no two slabs will look exactly the same. This means varying veins, swirls and shades will give your kitchen a unique identity. While cleaning, you need to be selective of the products you use. Natural stone can discolour when exposed to certain chemicals. Warm water or a special stone cleaner will usually do the trick.
Wondering how to find the right stone tiles for your home?
Peel and stick
This is an easy, budget-friendly, quick and highly versatile choice for homeowners who might want a certain look but might not want to go through the whole grind of installing a brand-new backsplash surface from scratch. The peel-and-stick tiles mimic a large variety of designs, such as steel, glass, stone, ceramic and brick. They are far less difficult to install than traditional tiles, which require hours of time, labour and materials. Stick-on tiles are easy to clean; all they require is a quick wipe with a damp cloth. These also provide the flexibility of changing the look of the kitchen from year to year – all you need to do is peel off the old designs and stick on new ones.
Read more:
4 Best Materials for a Kitchen Backsplash
Tell us:
Which backsplash kitchen tile have you chosen and why? Tell us in Comments below.
This is an easy, budget-friendly, quick and highly versatile choice for homeowners who might want a certain look but might not want to go through the whole grind of installing a brand-new backsplash surface from scratch. The peel-and-stick tiles mimic a large variety of designs, such as steel, glass, stone, ceramic and brick. They are far less difficult to install than traditional tiles, which require hours of time, labour and materials. Stick-on tiles are easy to clean; all they require is a quick wipe with a damp cloth. These also provide the flexibility of changing the look of the kitchen from year to year – all you need to do is peel off the old designs and stick on new ones.
Read more:
4 Best Materials for a Kitchen Backsplash
Tell us:
Which backsplash kitchen tile have you chosen and why? Tell us in Comments below.
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These tiles made from clay are permanently hardened by heat and often have a decorative glaze. They come in different shapes – hexagonal, octagonal, round, square, or diamond – and can be glossy, glazed or unglazed. Ceramic tiles are also available in hand-painted varieties and are considerably more affordable than other tiles. In fact, one of the chief advantages of a ceramic tile backsplash is that it adds tremendous visual appeal and personality to a kitchen design, and gives the homeowner an opportunity to experiment with bold designs, patterns and colours. Ceramic tiles are easy to clean and maintain.
The cons of this type of tile are that the unglazed porous ones can collect dust and grime, and the grout lines in a ceramic backsplash can trap grease and dirt.
Find out more about the pros and cons of ceramic tiles