If you’re ready for a welcome change in the heart of your home, but still wish to keep it as eco-friendly as possible, then check out these hip, classy, and quirky sustainable kitchen backsplash ideas.

Backsplashes have many benefits. You can dress up a drab kitchen, increase the value of your home, and even make the walls easier to clean. As you’ll learn from the examples below, backsplashes can be extremely creative and artistic, or as traditional and classic as you’d like.

Fortunately, you don’t have to sacrifice style for sustainability. In fact, even your grout and mortar can serve their purposes while also being non-toxic. Be sure to check out these non-toxic setting and finishing options here.

It’s totally understandable if you’ve grown tired of looking at that empty, spaghetti sauce-stained expanse under your cabinets, so maybe it’s time to get planning, get creative, and give one of these kitchen backsplash ideas a try!

1. Cork Dotz Brown Mosaic Tile

Get the look of organic tile while also using a material that’s good for the environment. This option is a great choice if you want something that’s renewable and recyclable. The trees from which cork is harvested never have to be cut down and they can live for hundreds of years. It’s also aesthetically pleasing and becomes waterproof once sealed. This cork tile requires some maintenance, like annual re-sealing, but in the end, we’d say this warm, inviting addition is worth it. Get it here.

2. CD Mosaic Backsplash

Remember these round slivers of house party goodness? That’s right, the compact disks you and your girls used to get down to can now play double duty as your kitchen’s backsplash. They have a surprising mother of pearl appearance and end up looking pretty rad. Check out the example here for some inspiration on how to create your own.

3. Recycled Clay Tile

With over 100 different colors, this recycled clay tile is sure to jive with even the most discerning decorating plan. Handmade in California, this beautiful tile is created with over 70 percent recycled content. According to the Fire Clay Tile website, their clay tile contains “post-consumer waste up-cycled from curbside-recycled glass bottles, waste porcelain from toilets and bathtubs, and other manufacturer’s pre-consumer waste, including granite dust and spent abrasives. They also re-use our own waste water and manufacturing scrap.” How’s that for commitment to sustainability?!

4. Penny Backsplash 

Ever lusted after penny tile? Well now you can have it…literally! If you’re the chick that opted for endurance sports and refuses to give up without a fight, then this is the project for you. Creating a kitchen backsplash from pennies isn’t for the fair of heart and will require some dedication in order to apply, oh say, 6,000 pennies to a wall. But fear not, because the outcome is absolutely stunning. Check out the finished results here. Glue them up one-by-one, or create professional mesh mosaic squares like in the tutorial here.

5. Reclaimed Wood Tile 

You can pick up reclaimed wood on your own from various places, like salvage yards, or old barns, but did you know that you can also purchase recycled wood tile that’s ready for install? Everitt & Schilling Tile specializes in fine wood wall tile that comes from either reclaimed barnboard or upcycled hardwood and are said to be finished with the highest quality, environmentally friendly finishes. Their product is easy to install, gorgeous, and comes in a variety of styles, patterns, and colors.

6. Mason Jar Mosaic 

If you love the coastal chic look and adore the idea of a sea glass-esque kitchen, then definitely check out this beautiful blue mason jar backsplash tutorial here. This is a simple, inexpensive, and striking way to dress up your coastal cottage kitchen.

7. Recycled CRT Tiles 

What do ginormous TVs and computer monitors have in common? They utilize CRTs, or cathode ray tubes, in order to display their pictures, and now that part is being turned into some really gorgeous and useful tile. Since recyclers have amassed 860 million pounds of CRT glass, this idea couldn’t have come at a better time. The result is a cool, opaque gray with bits of black and an almost ethereal finish that can be seen here.

8. Bottle Cap Backsplash 

Looking for something quirky and affordable? Then why not try a bottle cap backsplash. Collect them organically, or band your friends together and have them pitch in their old caps. Not a beer drinker? No worries. Get creative with soda instead. Check out this awesome bottle cap backsplash result here.

9. Recycled Glass Tile

Chances are you’ve heard of recycled glass backsplash tiles, but did you know that you can create stunning designer looks from pre- and post-consumer waste? Oceanside Glass Tile has a breathtaking array of options for your kitchen backsplash and they’re committed to sustainability and philanthropy. They often utilize silica, an abundant naturally occurring resource, scrap material that hasn’t yet been used by consumers, as well as waste that has.

10. Broken Plate Mosaic

Make use of those forgotten decorative plates from your local thrift store and you’ll have a beautiful backsplash for just a few dollars. Executed similarly to the Mason jar backsplash, this application is also simple and beautiful. For a kitchen that’s as unique as you, head over to the tutorial here.

Now that you have the lowdown on 10 of the most beautiful and sustainable kitchen backsplash ideas, we want to hear from you. Have a project to share? Feedback about our suggestions? Sound off on the EcoSalon Facebook page!

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Kitchen backsplash image via Shutterstock

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If you think it will cost a small fortune and the next two years of your life to remodel your kitchen – think again! Listed below we have several green and cheap kitchen remodel ideas that you can accomplish in a weekend.

So grab your paintbrush, roll up your sleeves, and let’s get to it!

1. Hardware Hijinks

With a little creativity and elbow grease, new hardware can be affordable and eco-friendly. For a quaint country look, try using bent spoons and forks from grandma’s old silverware collection to make some unique drawer and door pulls. If you’re into an industrial vintage look, then scour some local thrift shops for old faucet parts to create your very own cabinet knobs in a variety of colors. If you’re really tight on cash and you like the overall shape of your current knobs, then simply repaint the ones you have. Lightly sand each piece and then brush on your favorite VOC free paint – just remember to apply a clear coat.

2. Throw Rug Round-Up

Brighten up your space for a few bucks by picking up some new throw rugs in natural materials. If you’re feeling super crafty, then try making your own rag rug using the tutorial found here, or purchase plain sisal rugs and paint on a cool pattern.

3. Countertop Cure

If you’d prefer to purchase new, then look into Marmoleum for your next countertop. They aren’t as durable as natural stone, but are insanely affordable at around $3 a square foot. This eco-friendly composite top is comprised of linseed oil, wood flour, natural pigments, tree rosins, and limestone. It is also 100 percent non-toxic and doesn’t off-gas hazardous chemicals. If your laminate countertops are in otherwise good condition, then you can always opt to paint them with a low-VOC coating.

4. Savvy Storage Solutions

This is a great opportunity to repurpose what you already have, or use some upcycled materials to create some unique storage solutions. Try peg board and hooks in the kitchen for a cool storage and display wall for your pots and utensils. Use old dresser drawers or crates as wall-mounted shelves in which to store dishes, décor, spices, or other necessities. Add some cup hooks to the bottom to hang mugs, utensils, or pots and pans.

5. Re-Coated Cabinets

Thanks to the creation and accessibility of healthier, more durable paint, it is now possible to repaint your wood cabinets without having to spend an arm and a leg on major renovations. Try using the Advance line from Benjamin Moore. It’s considered low-VOC even after adding pigments and boasts a durable finish designed for repainting cabinets in kitchens and baths. Brush on the paint for a more rustic look, or rent an HVLP paint sprayer for a smooth factory finish.

6. Embellished Backsplash

If you’re not confident in your tile laying skills, then opt for backsplashes that can be created with eco-friendly paint. Try stenciling on a painted backsplash. Once dry, it will be easier to clean than tile and cheaper, too. Another fun alternative would be chalkboard paint – plus it doubles as a place to jot down reminders and your grocery list. For those of you who are a little handier in the do-it-yourself department, then a bottle cap, wine cork, or decoupage backsplash is always an option.

7. Incorporate an Island

If you have room for a kitchen island, or could use some extra modular countertop or storage space, then consider hitting up the thrift stores for a dresser or night stand that could double as a functional island. With a fresh coat of eco-friendly paint and a set of locking casters, you could have a new, affordable island in an afternoon’s time.

8. Lighten Up

Under cabinet lighting is all about the ambiance and can create instant appeal in nearly any kitchen. With the Pro Series 21 LED lighting kit, you can pop these under your cabinets and plug them in to the nearest outlet (usually this is a concealed outlet near the uppermost part of your cabinet – you may need a step ladder in order to investigate). For around $150 this lighting option is not only affordable, but it’s better for the environment, too. The low energy consumption and 10 year LED lifespan will ensure you are able to enjoy these for a very long time.

9. Curtain Capers

Dress up your windows with a repurposed set of curtains. Café rods and curtain clips are usually perfectly sized for the smaller windows most commonly found in kitchens, and you don’t need to have grommet holes or loops because the clips will grip nearly any fabric. Check your closet or second hand store because old scarves make beautiful and unique sheer curtains for tiny windows. If you’re fresh out of scarves, then try shortening a flat bed sheet, table cloth, or shower curtain instead.

10. Accentuate the Positive

If your cooking space needs a pick-me-up, then one of the simplest cheap kitchen remodel solutions is to refresh the walls. Go bold with a single hued accent wall, or stencil on a geometric pattern for more interest. Not ready for the commitment that paint can sometimes bring? Try a gallery wall of your favorite family photos, collection of plates, or hand-painted canvases.

Now that you’ve read our cheap kitchen remodel ideas, we are dying to know what you think! Share your thoughts and your DIY project photos on the EcoSalon Facebook page!

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Image of Kitchen via Shutterstock

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