DIYer Upcycles Broken Dishes Into A Dazzling Kitchen Backsplash

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Break a beloved dish? Don't fret — and don't throw away the pieces. You might have the beginnings of a magazine spread-worthy backsplash. More personalized, artful kitchens are super popular, and so are DIY decor projects; One TikToker has dreamed up a way to combine the two: turning her backsplash into a mosaic.

A statement backsplash is one of the best ways to infuse your kitchen with personality. That's why more people are thinking outside the box for unique backsplash ideas that feel cohesive with their kitchen motifs. Mosaic backsplashes are an evolving trend, and a DIY mosaic is the perfect way to put your own spin on the look.

TikTok user brook.ballard experienced a collectors worst nightmare when a kitchen shelf collapsed and her beloved dishes smashed. Instead of tossing the shards, she kept them all and turned a white wall into a masterpiece. This is a project that could span from an accent panel behind the stove to one whole wall; it's just a matter of how many dish pieces you have, along with your time and patience. Brook had so many pieces that she's doing an entire kitchen wall. Similarly to the DIYer who transformed old teacups into a gorgeous backsplash, Brook arranged her dish pieces in an abstract pattern, sticking them onto tile mortar on the wall. The result is a breathtaking mix of colors and patterns that harmoniously work together and make the kitchen incredibly special.

Hundreds of commenters applauded how TikTok-er Brook "turned lemons into lemonade" by creating her mosaic backsplash from her collection of dishes that had broken. One commenter called it "quite literally the most amazing way to deal with a tragedy." While this is a fantastic way to repurpose anything you love that's damaged, you can also start collecting cheap dishes at thrift stores and flea markets. To break the plates, place them in sealed bags, wear safety goggles, and smash them with a hammer. The amount of pieces you have or accumulate help determine the size of the backsplash project. If your heart is set on an entire wall, just keep collecting.

For especially sharp pieces, file them with sandpaper. You can sketch out a pattern first for your mosaic, or just place pieces based on what shapes naturally fit together. If you need to tailor pieces into certain shapes, use a tool like these Goldblatt tile nippers. You'll need a heavy-duty adhesive, like Custom Building Products pre-mixed ceramic tile mortar, to spread on the wall before sticking on your plate piece. Use mosaic grout to fill the gaps between the pieces, creating an even surface and snug fit for the plates. Finally, seal the group with epoxy to help it last for years despite the frequent temperature and moisture changes in the kitchen. While they require some patience, mosaic backsplashes are easy enough for even novice crafters, and this subtle backsplash trend can turn a plain kitchen into a striking one with this simple project.