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Does a Bathroom Vanity Need a Backsplash?
May
My bathroom vanity came with a 4-inch backsplash that matches the granite countertop. I wondered if I even need that backsplash or if it would be okay to get rid of it since it’s not too thrilling to look at.
Unless you have a pedestal sink that doesn’t rest against the wall, you do need a backsplash for your bathroom vanity. The reason is practical: a bathroom backsplash protects the wall behind the sink from rot, mold and mildew. Beyond that, a backsplash can provide a lot of design appeal.
Let’s start with the practical reasons for a vanity backsplash and then look at how it can be used to enhance your bathroom aesthetic.
Bathroom Vanity Without a Backsplash
Think of your bathroom vanity without a backsplash as a person outside in a rainstorm without an umbrella. After all, the wall behind your sink most likely is splattered again and again. There’s face washing, tooth brushing, and handwashing among other wet bathroom activities.
Warp and Rot
If your vanity has no backsplash to protect it, the drywall will collect moisture. That may sound harmless, but it’s not. In fact, you probably won’t realize until it’s too late that the drywall has warped or rotted.
Mold and Mildew
Worse, the drywall can develop a hidden mold or mildew issue. In this case, the mold will grow undetected and can spread without your knowledge to other areas of the home. Not only is bathroom mold a health hazard, but it also can cause significant financial damage when you need to remediate the problem.
Your Vanity Backsplash: An Ounce of Prevention
As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. For much more about how to prevent bathroom mold and get rid of it if you already have a problem, read Bathroom Mold: A Battle Plan to Destroy It. A bathroom vanity backsplash is part of this important plan.
Bathroom Vanity Backsplash Height
A bathroom vanity backsplash should extend a minimum of 4 inches from the countertop along the width of the vanity. This will protect the most vulnerable areas of the wall behind your bathroom sink or sinks. However, the height of your faucets can make a higher backsplash necessary.
4-Inch Backsplashes are Standard
The 4-inch backsplash comes with many vanities. And many showrooms will assume this is what you want to be included with your vanity purchase. That said, you may want to specify if you have other plans.
For example, you may plan to use another backsplash material than one that matches your countertop, or you might purchase a faucet that’s higher than 4 inches. In these cases, let your showroom know that you don’t need the vanity backsplash that comes with the vanity. (See if you can use that to negotiate down the price a bit.)
8-inch Backsplashes Look Custom
If your faucet spout is higher than 4 inches, then you’ll need a backsplash to match the faucet height. Roman and Waterfall faucets, for example, can add a regal and spa-like design element to any bathroom. (Find the ideal type of bathtub faucet for your bathroom here.)
These faucet types, though, are higher than 4 inches, and may extend 8 inches from the vanity countertop. So for these kind of faucets, you would want an 8-inch high vanity backsplash at a minimum.
However, even if you are using a standard-height bathroom faucet and a 4-inch tall backsplash could work, you still might not want that.
Why? Because extending the backsplash even just a few inches beyond the standard backsplash height can give a higher-end, more customized feel to your bathroom design.
Countertop-to-Ceiling Bathroom Backsplash
Consider extending the backsplash from the countertop all the way to the ceiling. Though you’re quite unlikely to need such a high backsplash behind a bathroom sink for practical purposes, the extension can not only add elegance to your space, but also it can create a rich layered feeling to the bathroom.
Floor-to-Ceiling Bathroom Backsplash
Many bathroom designers consider a floor-to-ceiling backsplash or wrap-around tiling the ultimate for creating a sleek, spa-like bathroom vibe. Bathroom designer Kathleen Finley says, “It’s always my preference to tile floor to ceiling if possible, as it conveys the ultimate in luxury.”
Does my bathroom vanity need a backsplash?
Unless you have a pedestal sink that doesn't rest against the wall, you do need a backsplash for your bathroom vanity. The reason is practical: a bathroom backsplash protects the wall behind the sink from rot, mold and mildew. Beyond that, a backsplash can provide a lot of design appeal.
Is it OK to not have a backsplash in a bathroom?
In bathrooms, a backsplash is still recommended, though it is possible to do without a backsplash in some situations. If you have a sink counter that does not butt up against the wall (a pedestal sink, for example), your need for a backsplash is only aesthetic.
