Best Backsplash For Gray Cabinets
If you have a backsplash that doesn’t go well with your kitchen cabinets, you risk your kitchen looking gaudy and garish.
And if you don’t have one at all, any water, grease and other liquids can damage the wall, and require way too much maintenance.
The solution of course is to fit your kitchen out with a stylish yet practical backsplash that will make your kitchen look and feel great.
In this article, I’ll be reviewing 5 of the best backsplashes on the market for use with gray cabinets. These reviews are honest and built on actual experience.
Then, I’m going to top that off with a handy buying guide that will walk you through what to consider when shopping for a backsplash for your kitchen, followed by another handy section where I answer all your most frequently asked on the subject.
And without further ado, let’s get straight to it!
In a hurry? Check out our number one pick!
Yipscazo Stainless Steel Peel And Stick Tile Backsplash
These simple yet stylish backsplash sheets can instantly boost the aesthetics of your kitchen, giving it an understated yet sophisticated metallic look.
The sheet’s feature lots of both square and rectangular “tiles”, and The brush grain of the squares runs in a different direction to that of the rectangles, which creates an effective pattern that lends it more variation, interest and sophistication.
It’s composed of 4 layers. The back is the self-adhesive layer, then there’s aluminum foil, and then a 3 mm thick composite flat panel before the top.
Better yet, the outer layer is made with real brushed aluminum foil. This not only looks smart, but also makes it easy to clean and maintain.
You can simply wipe down any splashes and oil stains, and have it looking just as good as the day it arrived.
These sheets are resistant to both moisture from your sink and heat from your stove, so you can safely place the sheets anywhere in your kitchen.
The sheets are available in packs of 1, 5 and 10, and each sheet measures 12 by 12 inches.
And this is great because it means that if you need to buy just over one 10-pack’s worth, you don’t have to buy another 10 pack to finish the job, just a few smaller packs.
There’s also a silver and black version that would go well against gray cabinets, or a silver and beige that would look quite striking next to gray cabinets.
It’s been selling incredibly well on Amazon, where there has been well over 9,00 customer ratings, and has an average customer rating of 4 and a half stars out of 5.
Amazon occasionally has deals on these particular backsplash sheets, simply click on check price to see if there happens to be a deal on now.
My personal experience: I found the sheets were easy to both cut and install, and it looked great behind my stove.
I found the installation instructions on the product page very handy because it was my first time installing a backsplash myself.
Pros
- Simple yet sophisticated elegant design
- Metallic appearance compliments gray cabinets
- Resistant to both moisture and heat - put them anywhere
- Easy to maintain, simply wipe down splashes and oil
- Available in packs of different sizes for convenience
Cons
- The adhesive can be incredibly sticky, so be very careful when you stick it to the wall
- Some customers received less stick batches and had to use vinyl adhesive
Also Available To Buy At
Tic Tac Tiles Polito Grigio Peel And Stick Backsplash
No matter what shade of gray your kitchen cabinets are, this backsplash is sure to coordinate with it, since the individual “tile” shapes are in 4 different shades of gray, including an off-white, a dark gray, a mid-gray, and a marbled gray.
And although the tile shapes are different heights and lengths, it all goes great together, giving you a uniformed design but with plenty of interest and variation.
If you’re not keen on the version with 4 shades of gray, there’s also a version which features only pale gray marble tile shapes, which is perfect if your intention is to lift the brightness of the room and open it out.
And they have other great properties beside the smart aesthetic. They’re heat-resistant, and resistant to moisture and humidity, so you can even put it by a stove or kettle, and it won’t get damaged from evaporation and steam.
They’re also easy to clean too, all you need is a little soap and water. And it’s durable and scratch resistant to boot.
Each sheet measures 12 by 12 inches, and it comes in packs of 5 or 10, which means that if you need 13, you don’t have to buy 20. Convenient.
There are some handy installation tips on the product page.
It has proved very popular on Amazon where there has been over 900 individual customer ratings, resulting in an average customer rating of 4 and a half stars out of 5.
These sheets are also great value, with a low overall cost per square foot.
My personal experience: I found that these sheets were easy to cut, and super easy to apply.
It was a great way to update our kitchen, made it look amazing, and we received many compliments.
Pros
- 4 shades compliment any shade of gray cabinet
- They’re resistant to heat, moisture and humidity
- Easy to maintain and clean with soap & water
- You don’t need to worry about any scratches
- Low overall cost per square foot - great value
Cons
- Not suitable for heavily textured walls
Also Available To Buy At
HomeyMosaic Aluminum Surface Peel And Stick Tile Backsplash
I just love the geometric design on these backsplash sheets! Not only do you get a stunning metallic finish, but the design really adds some interest to the backsplash. It really draws the eye and makes a statement.
Each sheet is square and features 4 squares along each side, and each of these smaller squares have triangles lining the edges, with a little diamond-shaped glass design in each center.
In addition to the silver, it’s also available in a few other colors that would compliment gray cabinets, including black and silver, laser silver, silver and black geometric meteor, and dark silver and black geometric meteor.
It has other great properties besides its appearance. For example, it won’t scratch, deform, fade, or turn yellow.
And, thanks to its real brushed aluminum outer layer, it’s entirely waterproof and heat-resistant.
It is also easy to clean. The backsplash protects the wall from oil and splashes, and any stains on the backsplash can simply be wiped away.
Each sheet measures 11.8 by 11.8 inches, and they’re available in packs of 5 or 10.
There are lots of handy hints and tips for installation on the product page.
It has proved very popular on Amazon, where over a thousand have been sold and rated.
What’s more, the average customer rating still comes out at an impressive 4 and a half stars out of 5.
Amazon occasionally has deals on these particular backsplash sheets, simply click on check price to see if there happens to be a deal on now.
My personal experience: I loved how this backsplash looked in my kitchen next to my gray cabinets, it really brightened up the room. Installation went as expected.
Pros
- Very high-end look for a very reasonable price
- Brightens up the kitchen next to gray cabinets
- It won’t scratch, deform, fade, or turn yellow
- It’s both waterproof and heat-resistant
- Easy to clean, simply wipe down stains
Cons
- The adhesive can be incredibly sticky, so be very careful when you stick it to the wall
Also Available To Buy At
HomeyMosaic 3D Peel And Stick Tile Backsplash
Now, not only do these backsplash sheets look incredibly modern to give your kitchen an update, but they also have a distressed look to them, too, which looks so much more arty and interesting than just some plain old one-color tiles.
Each square of the sheet is a tessellation of other squares, with 6 squares lined up against each edge.
Each of these smaller squares has its own design, composed of an abstract design featuring multiple shades of blue and gray and silver.
It’s also available in several other color options, and most of which would go well against gray kitchen cabinets.
Namely, the dark blue, the galaxy blue, and the retro blue which has some glorious hints of turquoise and teal in there. There’s also a retro bronze which looks very nice.
It has other great features besides its modern aesthetic. It’s durable with a strong load-bearing capacity, and it is resistant to both heat and moisture.
What’s more, it won’t discolor or peel once installed, and any stains that appear can simply be wiped away.
Each sheet measures 11.8 by 11.8 inches, and they’re available in packs of 5 or 10, which means you won’t have to go and buy 20 if you only need 13.
I was also pleased to learn that this backsplash is made from eco-friendly materials - good to know.
It’s proved popular on Amazon, where it has earned an average customer rating of 4 and a half stars out of 5.
Amazon occasionally has deals on these particular backsplash sheets, simply click on check price to see if there happens to be a deal on now.
But to be fair they’re good value for money even if you end up paying the full listing price.
My personal experience: I did like this backsplash in my kitchen, by my gray cabinets, but just not as much as some of the other ones I tried out. Installation went as expected.
Pros
- Incredibly modern yet stylish and distressed
- Color scheme works well against gray cabinets
- Very reasonable price per square foot of coverage
- Resistant to heat and moisture, perfect for kitchens
- It won’t discolor or peel or stain once installed
Cons
- Manufacturer warning - don’t expose to flames
Also Available To Buy At
Diflart Mirror Glass Mosaic Tile Crystal Diamond Backsplash
I bet you didn’t think you could get such a gorgeous backsplash for less than $10 per square foot! It is absolutely stunning, and looks really high end. It really glistens and shines.
You may think it’s a little expensive for peel and stick sheets, but I can assure you it’s much more reasonably priced than the really high-end models. And looks just as good, if not better.
Each sheet is 11.8 by 11.8 inches, and is made up of small real glass tiles of various degrees of frosting. It’s available in packs of 5 or 6.
And because it’s made of glass, it has some excellent properties.
Each sheet is resistant to high temperatures, is waterproof, and oilproof, and you don’t have to worry about the sheet deforming or changing color and fading.
It comes backed by excellent customer ratings and reviews, having earned a full 5 star average customer rating on Amazon, even after about 100 individual customer ratings. No wonder it’s classed as a bestseller!
My personal experience: Although it wasn’t as easy to install as peel and stick sheets, I still found it pretty easy to cut and install.
And the effect was simply stunning. But I think it would suit a bathroom better than a kitchen.
Pros
- Really glistens, sparkles and shines
- Resistant to high temperatures
- Waterproof, and oilproof
- No deforming or fading
- Not too expensive
Cons
- They are not peel and stick sheets
- Some people find the design over the top
- Packs come in a maximum of 6 sheets
- As it’s made with glass, it could chip
Also Available To Buy At
Buying Guide
As promised, here’s your buying guide. Let me walk you through the key points to consider when shopping for a backsplash for gray kitchen cabinets.
Color
The color of your backsplash does not have to be an exact match with your gray cabinets.
In fact, it would compliment the cabinets more if they were of a different shade of gray.
But you don’t have to stick with gray. You could go for a shimmering silver, or an alternative color to bring some brightness into the room.
Which color to go for comes down to personal taste. A bright yellow would really pop, whereas a silver color would look modern and sophisticated.
Design
A plain backsplash would look smooth and unfussy. But if you wanted the backsplash to look more decorative, or even to be a central feature of the kitchen, then a patterned design would be better.
Again, it all comes down to personal taste.
Tiles VS Peel And Stick
You can go for traditional tiles if you so wish. But bear in mind that this is more time-consuming to install, and that your tiles can easily get damaged.
That said, you don’t necessarily have to install them yourself if you can find a professional to do it for you.
A popular alternative to tiles is self-adhesive peel and stick sheets. They usually look just like tiles, and you don’t have to worry about them getting chipped or cracked.
For the purpose of this article, I concentrated mainly on peel and stick backsplashes.
Size
You must purchase enough backsplash to cover the entire area in question.
The best way to ensure that you do is to measure the area, and picture all the sheets in position.
It can be kinda tricky because backsplashes don’t all come in the same sizes.
You don’t have to get it dead on, however, and it’s always best to be left with a little wastage as opposed to not buying enough.
Waterproof / Heat-Resistant
Depending on where you want to put your backsplash, you may need it to be heat-resistant if it’s going behind a stove, or waterproof if you want it by a sink or kettle.
Easy To Clean
If there’s any room in the house that’s going to get dirty with food and juices splashing everywhere, it’s the kitchen.
But thankfully, most backsplashes are easy to simply wipe clean when you get something on them.
Value For Money
Peel and stick backsplashes can really vary in price, with the cheapest ones starting at about $25 for a pack of 10 sheets, while at the higher end they can cost over $100.
For this reason, I recommend that you check prices as you go along.
The key to assessing whether your backsplash is good value is to look at the price per square foot.
If you click the links provided to check prices, the price per square foot comes up on the Amazon product page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should A Backsplash Be Lighter Or Darker Than The Countertop?
To be honest, there is no right and wrong to this. The only advice I would give in this regard is to have at least one surface that’s bright, because you only really need one light surface to brighten up the room.
