The kitchen will always be one of the most important and frequently used rooms in the home. Whether a house is old or new, customizing the kitchen to suit your personal tastes is at the top of the list of most household projects. An easy and effective touch can be the addition of a tile backsplash over the sink. A backsplash will protect the wall from water damage and provide an attractive focal point when working. One very popular style today is the retro look of a subway tile backsplash.
Subway tiles get their name from the common use of the 3 x 6 inch tiles in decorating the metropolitan underground and subways stations 
during the early twentieth century. Many stations in such cities as New York and London still bear the original tiles used in their construction.
Although the original subway tiles were ceramic, there are now a wide selection of materials to choose from in the same style, allowing for a tremendous amount of originality and variation in design and style. Subway tiles are now available in the original ceramic, glass, stone and metal. The choices in color and texture are astounding, as are the various sizes available.
Coordinating sets of subway tiles are also marketed, some with accent tiles in varying sizes to create eye-catching effects. There are also designer sets featuring arrangements of subway tile backsplash pictures in themes to match your kitchen decor, or available as custom designs through artisans who will create a unique motif for those who are willing to spend a bit more.
Renovating or personalizing a kitchen does not need to be a huge and costly prospect. A simple project such as adding subway tile backsplashes can give the room a fresh, new appearance without costing a fortune, and can add the perfect decorative touch to your room.
