In partnership withKILZ® Brand

Have You Considered This Budget-Friendly Option for Your Kitchen Renovation?

published Jun 16, 2020
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Credit: KILZ® Brand

When it comes to kitchen renovations, one of the hardest parts is staying within budget. The backsplash, particularly, can have a huge effect on the look of your kitchen — and on the price, as all that tile can add up fast. If you’re planning to renovate, or just thinking about it, here’s an idea for a budget-friendly, minimal backsplash you may not have considered: not having a backsplash at all. That is, allow the countertop material to wrap up the wall by a few inches, and then painting the wall above. It immediately cuts a big portion of your budget in materials and labor while giving you all the drama you envision when you think of a renovation.

There are a few things you need to know about using paint as a backsplash. Most important is to use the right primer and paint for the kitchen. KILZ® Brand makes a full line of primers that will treat whatever surfaces and stains you’re starting with and will deliver the best color from your chosen paint. KILZ® Mold & Mildew Primer is specially defined for high-humidity and moisture-prone rooms like the kitchen. It contains an EPA registered active ingredient that creates a mold and mildew-resistant primer film.

We asked Josh Wiener, a professional builder and the president of NYC contracting firm SilverLining, how to get this choice right…

AT: What advice would you give to someone who plans on just using paint for their backsplash? Is there a type of paint and primer they need to use?

JW: If you use paint for your backsplash, use an excellent primer that is moisture-resistant. Then use a cleanable paint. At the store, ask the salesperson to put some dirt on a sample and see how it cleans off. Or take a trial pot home, paint, get some pasta sauce on it, and try wiping it off. Some brands say “cleanable” but aren’t.

Don’t use paints with a matte sheen (like flat or eggshell paints). Use semi-gloss or above. Any glossy paint is easier to clean and harder to mark up.

Which brings us to the fun part: picking colors! We wanted to show you a few different ways the kitchen above could be transformed with color — and how the no-backsplash look can contribute to an elegant, minimal style. For a little advice on color, we turned to Architectural Color Consultant Amy Krane, founder of Amy Krane Color. Here’s what she had to say.

AW: The key features of this kitchen are the very warm tones of the wood floor and the brass hardware. The expanse of that red floor lends itself to a color palette utilizing complementary colors. Those colors which sit across one another on the color wheel serve to enhance one another when used together.

Credit: KILZ® Brand

Option 1

Red and green are a complementary pair, and this option uses green to almost neutralize the red tones of the floor. Here we mix a brighter, clearer, almost mint green for the cabinets with a more subdued gray with green undertones for the island’s base. Mint is 2020’s trending color, and mineral green hits this sweet spot with just enough gray in it to prevent it from feeling pastel. Light blue walls with a hint of pale gray in them coordinate with the greens in the palette. In this version, we tie the trim into the cabinet color.


Credit: KILZ® Brand

Option 2

Black is everywhere, from kitchens to home exteriors, and here we use it to anchor the island base. With it we use a lovely muted mid toned blue, which is a nod to the world’s favorite color. Cool gray walls coordinate with the blue of the cabinets.


Credit: KILZ® Brand

Option 3

Once again we employ greens to balance the red of the floor. The cabinets are a beautiful muted green-gray, and the island is a lovely dark sage. A cool white on the walls and trim allows them to step to the back of the color story, giving the cabinets front billing.