Rachel Simpson Featured in The Spruce on Backsplash Styles That Can Hurt Resale Value
Rachel Simpson, Senior Interior Designer at Revive Design and Renovation, was featured in The Spruce, sharing her perspective on backsplash choices that can make a kitchen feel dated or limit its appeal to future buyers.
A backsplash may take up less space than cabinets or countertops, but it can have a big impact on how a kitchen feels. Because it sits at eye level and often spans much of the room, an overly specific backsplash can quickly become one of the first things a potential buyer notices.
That was the focus of The Spruce article We Asked Designers for the Backsplash Styles That Tank Resale Value the Most—They Picked These 5. Rachel was featured throughout the story, explaining which backsplash choices can become difficult to work around and what homeowners can choose instead.
The article was also syndicated by AOL, giving Rachel’s design advice additional national exposure and another link back to Revive Design and Renovation.
When a Backsplash Becomes Too Personal
Personal style should absolutely have a place in a kitchen, but there is a difference between adding character and choosing a permanent finish that dominates the room. For homeowners who expect to sell in the future, Rachel recommends being especially careful with backsplash materials that are visually busy or closely tied to one design era.
Instead of relying on several colors to create interest, Rachel recommends starting with a classic ceramic tile in a matte, neutral tone. The installation itself can bring personality into the room. A herringbone or vertical stack pattern, for example, can give a simple material more dimension without overwhelming the rest of the kitchen.
Dark Stone Can Change the Feel of the Entire Kitchen
Full-height stone backsplashes can look beautiful, but the material choice matters. Extending a very dark or heavily veined countertop material up the wall can add a lot of visual weight, particularly in a kitchen that does not have abundant natural light.
Rachel noted that these heavier materials can make a kitchen feel smaller and more enclosed. Homeowners who like the continuous slab look can still achieve it with a lighter stone, such as Taj Mahal quartzite, or balance a stronger backsplash with lighter cabinetry.
Backsplash Styles Highlighted in the Article
Rethinking the Accent Behind the Range
Another design Rachel recommends approaching carefully is the decorative picture-frame tile accent behind the stove. These custom inserts can become very specific to one homeowner’s taste, which makes them harder for a future buyer to overlook.
A cleaner option is to continue the main backsplash material behind the range so the entire wall feels connected. For homeowners who still want a focal point, Rachel suggests using a scored slab inset in the same material or allowing the range hood itself to provide the statement.
Designing With Resale in Mind Without Losing Personality
Designing for resale does not mean every kitchen needs to be white, neutral, or identical. It means thinking carefully about where to make the biggest commitments. Cabinets, countertops, and backsplashes are more expensive and disruptive to replace than paint, lighting, hardware, or decor, so they benefit from choices that can work with more than one style.
A restrained backsplash also gives the rest of the kitchen more flexibility. Homeowners can change hardware, lighting, paint colors, bar stools, and accessories over time without needing to redesign the entire room around one permanent feature.
For Rachel and the Revive design team, the goal is not to eliminate personality. It is to make sure the major design decisions work together and continue to feel intentional years after the renovation is finished.
