Ask Joshua - How high can I go with a backsplash?

Hi Joshua,

I’m recently doing some minor renovations in my kitchen. I have an odd short wall that my oven is up against and there aren’t any upper cabinets on the wall. There isn’t a backsplash there, but I’d like to install one. I’m really not sure what height I should install it since normally you take it to the bottom of your cabinets….which I don’t have. Your help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Bret, Greensboro, NC

Modern kitchen. Image created using AI via Canva

Hi Bret,

Thank you for reaching out with your dilemma. You’re experiencing an issue that is more common than people realize. It can certainly look very awkward stopping a backsplash partially up a wall with nothing above it. You could potentially install some open shelves to fill in space and give a physical and visual divider to create a natural stop for the backsplash. The problem with that is you run the risk of steam or grease making a mess of whatever you put on those shelves.

My recommendation though is not to stop the backsplash; take it all the way to the ceiling! There’s nothing saying you can’t tile the entire wall. I’ve included a picture above that illustrates this perfectly. Now, a lot of people enjoy using bold colors, patterns, or intricate tiling in their backsplash, and it works in the smaller constrained space that a backsplash typically covers. An entire wall….it can work, but that’s entirely up to your personality and the rest of the kitchen design. Otherwise you can choose something more understated and neutral like this basic white subway, or perhaps with a little bit of pattern or color variation.

I hope this helps and good luck on the rest of your kitchen remodel!

Warmly,

Joshua

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