The Affordable Tile Backsplash Alternative That Adds A Boho Touch To Kitchens

Tile backsplash can be a stunning addition to a kitchen, adding depth and color while creating a focal point for visual appeal. It's also an expensive undertaking, requiring tools, time, and expertise. Backsplash tile prices can be over $100 per square foot, depending on the material. That's not including the tools necessary like a tile saw, grout, mortar, etc. If you're not DIYing it, the cost of professional installation can be expensive as well. However, there is an alternative that will give you all the pizazz of tile without the headache — joint compound.

Joint compound is often confused with spackle but the two are different. It's commonly referred to as "mud" or "drywall compound" and is used in drywall applications such as taping and filling in nail holes in drywall. It's made of gypsum dust and has a toothpaste-like texture that smooths out on walls. But this versatile medium has found its way into homes in new and interesting ways as a tile backsplash alternative.

For this DIY kitchen backsplash, you can purchase dry compound and mix it yourself to get your desired texture, but for this purpose it's perfectly fine to get it pre-mixed and save yourself the potential mess. You'll also want to purchase a trowel so you're not forced to apply the joint compound with something that might not help you achieve the right look.

Applying the joint compound to the walls is pretty straightforward — make sure the area you're working on is clean. Then, using your trowel, scoop up some compound and slap it onto the wall where you want to create texture. Next, use the backside of the trowel to smooth the material out and down into a point to form the leaf-like shapes. It may take a few tries to get it right, which is fine because you can wipe the compound off the wall using warm water and a cloth. Once you've finished creating your boho backsplash, let it dry for 24 hours before painting or attaching anything to the wall.

If using a trowel doesn't get the desired effect or it's too bulky to get in the tight spaces of your kitchen backsplash, try using a spoon. Spoons are a great way to properly create those smaller swoops at the base of the wall. Trowels are meant to create smooth surfaces, so if you want to add more texture to your boho design, consider using a toothbrush to lightly brush over it or dab the surface with a sponge to achieve the desired effect.

Add depth to your boho design using various shades of white paint. A creamy ivory delicately painted into the creases will make the design come alive on a bone white canvas by enhancing the shadows. Paint behind the outline of the design in a deeper cornsilk white to give it more of a 3D effect, making it pop off the parchment white wall. Using detailed art paint brushes is also a great way to nail the intricacies and make this statement tile backsplash alternative turn everyone's heads.