How to Paint a Tile Backsplash

Hey friends! I am so happy that you’re here today! If you follow me on instagram you may have seen that last week I decided to take a big gamble and attempt to paint my backsplash! I’m happy to report that it turned out amazing! Maybe you hate your backsplash too? If so I am so excited to teach you how to paint a tile backsplash!

This is what I started with. A dated an dingy tile backsplash, that wasn’t horrible, but also didn’t fit my modern style.

I started this project the way every DIY seems to start, by cleaning with my favorite product ever, Melaleuca “Tough and Tender.

**This post contains affiliate links** Then I picked up a box of Rustoleum “Tub and Tile Refinishing Kit“. I had used it once before to refinish a tub and was pretty happy with the results. It only comes in two colors, but thankfully I wanted a white backsplash.

The way this paint works is that you mix part A with part B to activate it. It starts out really runny, but after mixing for about 5 minutes it thickened up. It’s still fairly drippy though so I recommend taping off your counters well. After taping everything I used a foam brush to edge the top and bottom.

It recommends keeping a wet edge, so after I’d foam brush a section I’d switch to my little foam roller and quickly roll that same section, working my way down the counters.

After two coats it had really good coverage and looked great! When I removed the tape I used a razor to scrape away a little bit of seepage beneath the tape. I also caulked the edge to give it a really clean look.

I can’t really decide if it looks like subway tile or painted brick, but whatever you want to call it I am SO much happier with my lighter and brighter kitchen! Eventually I’d love to replace the countertops and install a really beautiful backsplash. For now though, this $25 fix will have to hold me over!

After painting the backsplash I really loved how much brighter the kitchen was, so I also decided install a white beadboard side panel onto our pantry!Then the story sort of follows along the lines of, “If you give a mouse a cookie”. Next I decided to remove the cabinet that existed where I now have that gorgeous magnolia wreath. The the finishing touch was that I removed the glass front doors beneath the counters and replaced them with beadboard. I was able to use one $25 sheet for all three spots!

When we eventually replace the countertops we’ll do an overhang breakfast bar at the peninsula. I liked the idea of kids legs kicking the beadboard much more than glass front cabinets!

I love our kitchen so much more now that it has the white backsplash and white accents!

Just to show how much of an impact this made I decided to compare some side by sides!

This next “before” shot was before we replaced the Tuscan curvy handles. These modern Euro pulls are SO much better. 

This one shows a better shot of the cabinet and glass front doors that we removed. Even though the glass doors were pretty the cabinet was so shallow that it couldn’t hold much and just looked cluttered.

Here is one final before and after shot showing the panel we put on the pantry.

While I was shooting these I couldn’t help but take one shot of our backyard. It has been raining for days and everything just looks so fresh and green right now! I will admit that doing dishes with this view does make the job a bit better.Thank you so much for stopping by and reading this post! If you’ve got a backsplash that you hate, I’d definitely encourage you to paint it! At only $25 there isn’t much to lose, and you might love it as much as I do!