Despite the temptation, don't use your favorite stones or colors for your backsplash. Consider your kitchen's style and architecture and find something that matches.
Choose a backsplash you can live with for a long time because it's difficult and expensive to alter every time the wind blows.
The kitchen backsplash should not use cement tiles or limestone, the main ingredient in cement, because they are too porous.
Highly reflective materials may not be the greatest backsplash, say designers. Every mark and smudge is visible, and they reflect all kitchen light, making them hard to clean.
Because of their short lifespan, all designers interviewed rejected Peel-and-Stick tiles. Gernert accepts Peel-and-Sticks for a quick patch or to try a color scheme before buying professional tiles.
Avoid white grout. Although it seems like a good choice, especially with white tiles, grout is hard to clean and discolors easily.
Humphreys and Champ favor linear, horizontal subway tiles, but there are others. Arrange simple tiles in a unique arrangement.