Brick Backsplash in the Kitchen

One of the most popular kitchen design trends right now is the installation of a brick backsplash in the kitchen. Brick is timeless, functional, and visually charming. It’s also very easy to clean, despite popular belief. Brick makes the perfect backsplash for a kitchen.

An Easy Design Choice

When I remodeled our farmhouse seven years ago, I was faced with all kinds of interior design decisions. Some of the decisions were easier to make than others. 

One of the easiest decisions to make at the time was installing brick in the kitchen. From the moment I saw a kitchen with a brick backsplash, I knew the warm, inviting, rustic look was what I wanted in our farmhouse kitchen. 

The Number One Interior Design Rule: Follow Your Heart

While at the showroom of the tile supplier with the contractor and salesperson, they repeatedly tried to talk me out of the decision to install brick as the backsplash in the kitchen. I sat and listened to all their arguments against using brick in the kitchen, but I was not deterred. Their strongest argument against the design idea was their assumption that it was going to be hard to keep clean. 

What they didn’t realize was that there was no talking me out of this design decision. My mind was made up, we were going to have a brick backsplash in the kitchen, period. Literally, there was nothing they could say in opposition to the brick that could change my mind. Nothing. Therefore, I selected my beautiful thin brick for the kitchen backsplash, ordered it, and had it installed.

Now, seven years later, I could not be happier that I followed my heart. I LOVE the beautiful brick backsplash in the kitchen. As a matter of fact, I love it so much that if given the option to design another kitchen, although I may change other things, one thing I would not change is installing brick again. 

Brick Backsplash in the Kitchen

There are so many reasons to love a brick backsplash in the kitchen. Here are just a few reasons why I love it.

One of  a Kind Look

Brick creates a unique look to the kitchen because no two bricks are the same. They are different colors, shapes, sizes, and textures. Brick also creates a sense of warmth that, in my opinion, no other tile can, especially when it comes to a kitchen backsplash. Even the grout variation used between bricks can change the look and feel of brick in design making it more unique.

Sustainability

Brick is made from some of the earth’s most abundant and natural materials. With its long lifecycle, energy efficiency, minimal waste, and many recycling options, brick is one of the greenest choices you can make when designing your home. 

Fire Protection

The primary ingredient in brick is clay which is fired to around two thousand degrees Fahrenheit. This is why brick is classified as a noncombustible material. According to The Brick Industry Association, “Both the National Institute of Standards and Technology and BIA conducted separate fire tests that conclusively demonstrate that nothing outperforms good old-fashioned brick in a one-hour fire test.”

With the amount of cooking that happens in a kitchen, it seems to me that installing brick there is extremely sensible.

Easy to Clean

Yup! I said it. Brick is easy to clean even when it’s installed as a kitchen backsplash. In over six years, I have yet to have had a mess on the brick that I was unable to clean off. Not only that, but I don’t even need a special cleaner. Dawn dish soap, warm water, and a rag (or sponge) have always done the trick. Also, keep in mind, I cook several times throughout each day.

Brick Backsplash in the Kitchen is Timeless

I will leave you with this final thought… The reasons above lend themselves to why brick is naturally the perfect interior finish design choice. However, there is also a major reason why you find brick in not only historic homes but in modern homes too, it’s timeless.

Brick never goes out of style. It may change its appearance through different processes like “German schmear” or paint, but you rarely see brick removed altogether. In fact, you often see quite the opposite in interior design. Finding a hidden brick wall during a renovation is often like finding gold and every effort is made to highlight it.

If this post hasn’t convinced you to follow your heart and design your kitchen with a beautiful brick backsplash, I encourage you to check out The Brick Industry Association website. They share a ton of valuable information about brick that can help with your decision-making process. 

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