8 backsplash ideas

I’m trying to come up with ideas for the apartment backsplash. With a textured wall and tiny budget, my options are limited but here are some ideas I like.

The apartment kitchen certainly won’t look this fantastic, but a mirror backsplash could make the small one room first floor look larger. It may get a little smeary but it’s a lot easier to clean than textured walls.

mirror backsplash

{source – Paloma 81}

A painted pegboard (I’ve even come across metal pegboard material) would be a great option for additional storage in a small apartment!

pegboard backsplash

{source – Brett Bara}

Chalkboard would also be a fun option…

chalkboard backsplash

{source – Apartment Therapy}

Another easy option to bright up the space and add texture is to use beadboard {or even board and batten} as a backsplash…

beadboard blacksplash

{source – This Old House}

I love the shine and bling (see the before and after) that this faux tin backsplash adds to the space…

faux tin backsplash

{source – the Gold Jelly Bean}

I’m no stranger to paint + stencils and that combination would make for a beautiful backsplash. However with heavily textured walls, I’m not sure I’m up for that challenge. {Unless, like the chalkboard option, I install a thin piece of plyboard or similar material first.}

stenciled backsplash

{source – Cutting Edge Stencils}

Oh, isn’t this reclaimed wood backsplash gorgeous? Not practical for a rental property but I do LOVE it!

pallet backsplash

{source – CircaDee}

Tile is always an option. Not too difficult and depending on tile, it can be budget friendly. I’d just have to do some research on tiling over textured walls but where there’s a will, there’s a way and I’m positive it can be done. We love our marble subway tiles in our own kitchen.

marble subway tile backsplash

{source}

I’m still not sure if I’m going to do anything at all but what do you think of these?

Cottage Bedroom Before and After

Seaside Shelter blog

Dani from Seaside Shelter loves DIY and bargains. Our kind of girl! At Seaside Shelter (her blog), her objective is to share small ideas that will make a big impact on your living space. And she’s so good at it too! She recently finished a cottage bedroom makeover with an amazing reveal for only $335! Take a look:

bedroom before – boring, outdated.

bedroom before

Carpet was removed to reveal birch flooring which was refinished. Wow! Painted walls and trim really freshen up the space…

bedroom after

I love the green and navy accented with gold. Dani calls it “preppy cottage”. Perfect! There are a lot of DIY accents in this room. Pendant lights hang above painted nightstands to save on table space (great idea!) and the beautiful DIY upholstered headboard sports some gold nailhead trim…

DIY upholstered headboard with nailhead trim

Old nightstands get a new look with a coat of paint in a fun accent color…

green painted nightstand

And the stenciled wall adds interest and texture with a pretty pattern…

stenciled bedroom accent wall

Amazing budget with gorgeous results! See the cost breakdown, links to DIY details and more pictures at Seaside Shelter Preppy Cottage Bedroom Reveal.

Choosing tile for the apartment bathroom

We were recently asked if we’d like to participate in the Daltile Atmospheres Tile Collection campaign by The Home Depot. With an apartment renovation in progress, timing was perfect. We quickly replied with our acceptance and couldn’t wait to get started. Literally. We do have a tiling project in our plans at this very moment. The super tiny bathroom in the super tiny apartment we’re renovating is in desperate need of a new floor.

apartment bathroom before

Actually it’s in desperate need of a lot more! There’s a need to gut the entire bathroom and start from scratch but due to a very small budget and time constraints, we’ve narrowed the projects down to

  • tiling the floor and installing baseboard trim
  • painting
  • re-caulking
  • new lighting
  • new medicine cabinet or mirror
  • new vanity, sink and faucets
  • and of course, budget friendly decorating

The current flooring is a Pergo-type flooring which is not ideal for a bathroom. {duh} There are a few warped planks. Time to remove it and install something much more bathroom-friendly.

bathroom makeover before

{previous owner forgot their shampoo!}

We headed to The Home Depot: a one stop shop for all tiling needs, whether you’re an experienced DIYer (like Mr. DIY) or first time tiler (like me) to see what would work for this space. Here are a few options that we looked at…

Daltile Atmospheres Tile Collection

Daltile Atmospheres Tile Collection

We headed to aisle 13 and “ooh’d and ahhh’d like kids in a toy store” at the awesome displays. We jumped right in and laid out designs right out on the floor. I promise we personally didn’t open any boxes – other people must need to touch and see tile in real life too. The Atmospheres Tile Collection by Daltile offers a variety of styles, colors and sizes to create unique designs…perfect! Endless possibilities!

Sandy Beach – porcelain tile that has a slate look

Daltile Sandy Beach porcelain tile

Pacific Sand and Briton Bone – glazed ceramic tiles with a natural stone look. I really enjoyed using both of these to create designs. I love the pattern on the left!

Daltile Briton Bone and Pacific Sand

Daltile Designer White – a  glazed ceramic tile inspired by the look of marble

Daltile Designer White

A large pretty collection of accent tiles…

Daltile Atmospheres Tile Accents Collection

Stay tuned to see which tile in the Daltile Atmospheres Collection we choose, my meeting with a Home Depot tile specialist, how to tile a floor tutorial and {keeping my fingers crossed} an awesome bathroom transformation. Which one was your favorite? {I’ve chosen 2. One for the apartment bathroom and possibly one for my future laundry room makeover!} Affordable, stylish and easy to install, Daltile is my kind of product!

The Home Depot

 

Tips for Tiling: https://diyshowoff.com/2012/08/21/tips-for-tiling-a-floor/

How to Tile: https://diyshowoff.com/2012/09/17/how-to-tile-a-bathroom-floor/

The Home Depot partnered with bloggers {like me!} to participate in its Daltile program. As part of the program, I received compensation from The Home Depot in the form of a gift card to participate in this campaign promoting the new Atmospheres Tile Collection by Daltile. They did not twist my arm to participate nor did they tell me what to say about the products used for the Daltile Program. The Home Depot believes that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. The Home Depot’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.