Your Kitchen's Trendy Tile Backsplash Comes With A Huge Disadvantage

The beautifully imperfect zellige tile is one of those eye-catching backsplash design trends that seems to be sticking around year after year. Since it became the hottest tile design back in 2019, homeowners have been gravitating towards these handmade Moroccan ceramics, and they don't seem to be stopping anytime soon. Since zellige tile can morph into its own custom look and blend in with most timeless styles, some might even argue that the trend is becoming a classic. But like a lot of trends that are hyped up by designers, bloggers, and influencers alike, there is a huge disadvantage to this type of tile backsplash, and that's the price tag that comes with it.

Zellige tile is an ancient Moroccan art form, dating back to the 10th century, that requires each tile to be individually handmade — a process that causes no two tiles to be the same. This is exactly what gives them their reputation for that imperfect charm homeowners love. But at what cost? Genuine handmade zellige tile will set you back anywhere from $18 to $28 per square foot of tile. When you consider that the average kitchen needs about 20 to 40 square feet of tile for backsplash coverage, that adds up to anywhere from $360 to $1,120 for materials alone. Even though you can find mass-produced replicas at a much cheaper price, it is difficult to compare those versions to the real thing, and the cost of acquiring the tile is only part of the expense.

Because of the individual nature of each tile, installing zellige tile is incredibly tricky — which is why it is highly recommended you don't go the DIY route on this project. Each piece of tile is unique, and handmade ceramics come with imperfections, so finding the best way to lay them out by size and thickness can be challenging. This also adds to difficulty with leveling the tiles correctly. Zellige tile will not line up in a perfect grid like traditional tiles will — which can quickly lead to a messy, amateur-style job if you don't know what you are doing.

In addition, you need to arrange tiles that have no uniformity in color, so creating a design pattern that looks cohesive takes time. This is why most designers and homeowners recommend that if you are willing to splurge on zellige tile at all, it is best to let a professional handle the installation. However, that kind of customized and intricate tiling job is exactly the type of project that contractors hike up prices for. You could end up spending around $100 an hour on a zellige installation, tacking on an additional $500 a day in labor costs to what you already spent on materials. Of course, this depends on the size of your kitchen's backsplash and the overall scope of the project.

While cost can be the main inhibitor to this backsplash trend, causing some homeowners to consider some affordable alternatives that still make a statement, there are some additional challenges to think about before deciding it is worth the splurge. One thing you might not be able to tell just by looking at photos is that zellige tile is quite a bit thicker than other types of ceramic tile, and while that adds to its durability, the thickness can cause additional installation difficulties. This is especially true around any areas with plumbing, faucets, or other fixtures — like the sink area — that need to align with the tile. While you can find zellige tile in various thicknesses, even the thinnest options are still thicker than other tiles.

Another minor, but still important issue, is that the lack of uniformity creates an uneven surface that leaves crevices that can be harder to clean. Those little imperfections cause protruding corners that do not lend well to a quick wipe down and can even cause your cleaning cloths to snag. While designers often need to remind homeowners that this is not the look for anyone looking for a neat, polished backsplash in their kitchen, it is good to note that what gives zellige its charm can also become a minor headache. If the downsides don't phase you and the price tag is in your budget, the textured artistic charm of these tiles doesn't seem to be going out of style anytime soon.