Adding a tile backsplash to your kitchen gives it a nice finished look, with a little decorative touch and added color. It's a cheap upgrade you can do yourself that provides a big impact and can bring life to an otherwise boring kitchen. Adding tile to your backsplash also makes cleaning up splatters a little easier than cleaning food off of your wall. There are a number of tile options to choose from for your backsplash. You can choose from ceramic, stone, glass and porcelain. You can also use peel and stick versions to make things easier if you choose. For traditional tile options, see below for instructions on how to install it in your kitchen.

Here's What You Need:

• Tile
• Adhesive mat
• Grout
• Mortar
• Measuring tape
• Screwdriver
• Tile cutter
• Sponges
• Putty knife
• Utility knife
• Water
• Painter's tape

Instructions:

1. To see how much tile and adhesive mat you'll need for the project, measure the length and width of the area you plan on covering. Purchase just a little bit more than you'll need just in case you cut tiles wrong or have broken pieces. Depending on the store where you purchased your tile, you can usually return what you don't use.
2. Next, prep the wall and area by removing everything from your countertop and covering it with a drop cloth or paper. Then take off all of your outlet covers using a screwdriver. Cover the outlets using painter's tape to keep mortar from getting on it.
3. Sand down your wall to scuff it up a bit, and then wipe it clean using a damp sponge.
4. Take the adhesive matting and stick it to the wall.
5. Start setting out your tile pieces in the pattern you choose.
6. Then mix the mortar according to the manufacturer's directions and apply it to the wall in a small one foot section.
7. Begin adding the tile to the wall in the pattern you chose. Use spacers between your pieces of tile if need be, and make any cuts using the tile cutter to score and then snap off the pieces of tile.
8. Continue working in this pattern until you have the entire backsplash on the wall.
9. Allow the mortar to dry for at least 24 hours.
10. Then remove the tile spacers and begin mixing the grout according to the manufacturer's directions. Apply the grout using a grout float, trying to keep as much grout off of your tile as possible. If any grout gets on the tile, it can be removed later with a sponge and grout remover.
11. Allow the grout to dry for at least 20 minutes and then smooth it out using your fingers or a damp sponge.

Installing a tile backsplash is fairly simple to do, but it does take time and patience to get it right. Since this tile is at eye level, even the smallest imperfections will be noticeable. Hire a professional tile installation company to have your backsplash installed for you if you aren't sure about taking on this project. For more information, contact a business such as Art Tile Co. Inc.