Your kitchen backsplash can be a standout feature piece, both functional and aesthetic. It’s a great way to display premium materials even if you’re working to a tight budget – for example, installing a complementary granite backsplash if you have to compromise on laminate countertops that just mimic the look of stone.

So, what is the best material for your backsplash if you want to make a statement? Both glass and a variety of natural stone types are popular kitchen backsplash materials. Let’s look at some of the pros and cons of each to help you decide.

Pros and cons of glass backsplash

There are lots of great style options when choosing a glass backsplash. You can choose from a range of colors and also have the choice of either glass tile or glass sheet. A glass sheet backsplash is a single piece of glass, which creates a nice and clean, uniform look. It can also be slightly easier to clean than tile due to it not having grout lines. However, glass is generally a very easy material to clean.

One advantage of a glass backsplash over stone backsplashes is that glass is a non-porous material, meaning it won’t need to be sealed in order to avoid stains from splashes of food. If you have a glass tile backsplash, then the grout between the tiles may need sealing to prevent stains.

Glass backsplashes of either kind can look great in contemporary kitchens in particular, and the reflective surface can create the feeling of a lighter and more spacious kitchen.

Pros and cons of natural stone backsplash

There are various types of natural stone you can choose from when opting for a stone backsplash, such as granite, marble, and travertine. Natural stone produces a completely unique end result as each slab of stone is different from the next in the small veining, hue, and pattern details. Similar to glass, you can choose between a slab or tiles for your natural stone backsplash.

As stone is slightly porous, you will need to have your backsplash sealed to prevent stains that can occur when cooking or if liquids are spilled nearby. But like glass, stone is an easy surface to keep clean once it is sealed. Natural stone produces a timeless look that can go well in any style of kitchen, from modern and minimalistic to more traditional and rustic kitchens. And if you’re installing granite countertops or other natural stone countertops, then a natural stone backsplash is the perfect complement to them.

If a granite backsplash or another type of natural stone backsplash is right for you, then contact Amanzi Granite to find out more about our quality stone plus our design and installation services, or visit our showroom in Kernersville to see the stone for yourself.