Give Your Boring Backsplash A Unique Makeover With This Fun DIY

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Are you tired of looking at your boring backsplash? Maybe that subway tile seems dated, the grout is starting to look grungy, or you're just ready for a change. Major remodeling projects can get extremely expensive in kitchens, leaving you gulping at the rising price of cabinets, countertops, appliances, and fixtures. Before long, you may start wondering whether you really need a backsplash or if it's a cosmetic update that isn't worth the splurge. But if it's change you're really after, a bunch of copper pennies are all you'll need to complete a unique backsplash makeover.

Since pennies are no longer in production, and stores have stopped accepting them, you may find your loose change container overflowing with the small coppery coins. Covering an entire backsplash will require hundreds or even thousands of them. However, repurposing them with this fun DIY could save you a fortune, especially considering that even the basic white penny tile sells for nearly $5 per square foot.

You'll still need to purchase adhesive to complete this project. Crafters who've made a penny backsplash in their own homes have used mastic, superglue, and Gorilla Glue Construction Adhesive. Grout is also a must for filling in the crevices around your pennies. Most DIYers simply attached their coins directly to the wall. However, others added structural support using fiberglass flyscreen as a backing, or by encasing them in resin forms before installing the hardened result to the wall using Loctite.  

Even though this DIY can save you money on a backsplash, it can be time-consuming. For the best results, prep your walls by carefully removing existing tile, patching damaged areas, and sanding the drywall smooth. If you're already working with bare walls, scrub them thoroughly with a degreaser to encourage the best possible adhesion. The simplest method is to then apply a small amount of your adhesive to each penny, press it into place, and after they've all dried, finish with grout in the color of your choice. 

Although it's an optional step that can remove some of their natural patina, you may want to soak your pennies in a bucket filled with Zep Calcium Lime Rust Remover, which you can buy for under $5 from Amazon. This is a great approach if you prefer a high-shine backsplash with a uniform copper color. You may wish to combine some cleaned coins with others that have oxidized for more visual interest. Combining various penny tile colors is a subway tile backsplash alternative HGTV's David Bromastad loves because it allows homeowners to create totally one-of-a-kind designs.

Heads or tails, this unique DIY can be further customized by how you choose to set your pennies, either in parallel rows or a running bond similar to brick. The addition of other coins — from slightly-larger nickels to giant silver dollars — can also be incorporated to add focal points above a stove or sink. Lastly, the look can change entirely based on your grout color choice. To truly enhance the look, using copper metallic grouts available from specialty tile stores makes perfect "cents."