For a rental, I’d leave it. Change the outlet to one close in color to the tile. Paint the room
In a nice creamy shade.

Agreed - for a rental, leave it. Tile is easier to clean than a painted backsplash. Painting the walls cream will help too.

You're right, it's not a good look at all. But if you can rent it out, leave it as is. If any prospective tenants don't want the apartment because of the tile, then maybe you need to reconsider.

This is a situation where I would try to rent it out first and if that's a problem paint the tile.

Sorry, but that tile gives me bad memories of my high school gym bathroom.
Everyone loves white subway tile and it's cheap. Use black grout so it doesn't get dirty with the renters.

Since you already did a backsplash with the counter top material I would remove the tiles and paint the wall. Especially for a rental.

It’s not great but if it’s a rental I would leave it. What you really need to do is get rid of the green paint. A nice creamy white will calm things down considerably. Also, the when your tenants clutter the counter up they won’t be able to see the backsplash anyway!

It looks like there is a plug on the floor for a stove next to that cabinet. I would remove the tile. I have painted backsplashes in my units, and it is hard enough to clean. Globs of grease that sit and age. That grout would be awful. If you don't want to remove it, I would think about how to mount clear plexiglass, or maybe stainless, in the vicinity of the stove. Not just directly behind, but at least a foot to each side. Renters do not clean like you do.

The counter already has a 4” backsplash. It’s not meant to be tiled above.

I’d replace it. The better the space looks to begin with, the better the renters will treat it. (Usually...lol) All the best on your project :)

I just wouldn't pay as much for an apartment with a backsplash like that, as I would for a kitchen that would nice to spend time in. And usually higher rent = higher class clientele.

Although obviously you have to factor in the shape of the rest of the apartment. No point having a fancy backsplash if you plan to leave the disgusting grease marks on the side of the cabinet, or have a yucky bathroom, or old carpet, etc.

you can leave it or remove it. A kitchen backsplash ,clashing or otherwise, won't interfere with a renters life while staying there. Any bathroom issue is more critical. get the caulk line in and proceed with finishing up [if it were mine].

I'm hoping those gross streaks are cleaned up before the stove is slid into that space. I'm guessing that's where the stove goes?

So sounds like the verdict is no backsplash? Any suggestions if I was to go with a backsplash? Pictures appreciated!

I just bought the house last month so yes, the gross streaks on the cabinet will go away. One step at a time!

White subway tiles with black grout will be the cheapest to install and the easiest to keep looking clean. Or you can just plan on repainting the wall between renters (you will have to degrease first).
Are you going to keep the countertop? I ask because if not, the "more correct" method would be to use a counter without the included backsplash.

What does it being rental have anything to do with it? I have rentals and no I don't buy the best products out there but certainly make them look as good or better then anything in the immediate area has.

There are so many low cost products that provide a higher priced look there is no excuse not to do it properly.

That counter top is $80. A penny round backsplash is $6sqft installed. You could even get nice stick on tiles.

What you have there has nothing to do with saving money and more with somepne who just doesn't care how it looks. Somebody has to live there and the majority of renters respect the property. If you show them you don't care they won't either.

Since it's a rental I would definitely leave the tile --it's a nicer look and more durable than a painted wall. I personally don't think a bad color scheme will repel potential renters. However, if you really want to address the colors, it seems like it might be cheaper (and easier) to replace the laminate countertop (which feels more of an aesthetic problem than the tile) with a more neutral/modern choice to help incorporate the tile. Then, for the new countertop I would leave off the 4" backsplash and continue the tile to the top of the counter. Also, I would paint the wall a soft white cause that green wall is not helping ;)

Hope this helps and appreciate a property owner who puts in the time and energy to create a well thought out space!

maybe take a new direction and get the mica counter recovered or replace it with a more appealing color. The tile goes well with the dark cabinets it's the counter in my opinion that is off. Those counters are not too pricey and there will be much less expense and mess.

I was a renter for a long time. I would not rent this space if that kitchen was what I would get. But it also depends on the market and where this is, so there's that. I would go for a large format tile on the wall to minimize grout lines. Epoxy grout is remarkably stain-resistant if I recall correctly. That stainless steel backsplash would be cool but I wonder about dings.

You need something bright and white. The kitchen looks small and any dark colors in a small space will only make it look more enclosed. I would even paint the cupboards a lighter color along with a backsplash like this > https://www.houzz.com/products/12x12-white-mother-of-pearl-and-stone-glass-tile-full-sheet-prvw-vr~36092175

...but honestly nothing matches in that space, everything looks like a different color. Try to match your colors better and lighten up the room :)

The tile might not be so bad if it had a more subtle grout color that matched the tiles instead of a contrasting color that highlights all the squares. Could you change the grout more cost effectively?

If the drywall / backer is ruined on removing the tile, consider beadboard unless that is too farmhouse / country for you. The cabinet style with the shelves already have me thinking in that direction.

If its a rental and youre keeping the formica. Id leave it and repaint to match look good w tile

Change the counter. Go with a solid in a neutral that works (not sure with this pic what that would be cream, off white or white). Paint the wall also to go with the counter.

The counter looks new - is it? If it is staying, don’t use tile above the 4”. It never looks right.

Isn't this your second post on the subject? It is great that you are investing in property, but it seems that you aren't good at design. In the future I would suggest that you spend some money with an Interior Designer and come up with a design plan or at least have someone else look over your choices. It will save you time and money in the long run.

I just bought the house last month so yes, the gross streaks on the cabinet will go away. One step at a time!

Shouldn't cleaning be the first step, Jared? It’s difficult (not to mention unpleasant) to give design advice looking at a photo of a filthy space.

@crispa I’m usually pretty good at design but I’m trying to remodel a kitchen on a budget so do you think hiring an interior designer is in the picture? I’m a 23 year old recent college grad, not a 45 year old with a 6 figure job.

And @Sammy, do you typically deep clean a space before you have a contractor come in and remodel? If so, you’re wasting your time.

Did you degrease your cabinets before painting? If you didn't degrease, you just need to stop and go buy cabinets (gently used off of Craigslist for a few hundred bucks), because that paint won't make it through the first year.

Are the cabinets being painted? I didn’t pick up on that.

So you started another thread on the same topic. No way in the world would I live in a rental with a kitchen like this. On both threads, folks are telling you pretty much the same thing. Please do what is right for the renter!

You already have a backsplash. Adding tile is like wearing suspenders with a belt. Don't recreate that fashion faux pas in your rental.

Maybe I'm crazy, but, IMO, I'd leave the tile, because all those small tiles will be a P>I>T>A to take down & replace the counter top with a lighter, creamier laminate that'll match the tiles better, it'll cost about the same. Then, like others have said, paint the wall a nice creamy taupe shade to pull it together. Are you keeping the cabinet color? I can't tell if it's black or dark brown, but again IMO, it's not the tile, but the counter color with the tile & the cabinet color being so dark that's the problem, it's all fighting with each other.

I agree with what others have said. The backsplash is not going to be your most cost-effective option here. I figure you could find the lightest shade in the backsplash and paint the cabinets that color, OR replace the countertops with something lighter and creamier. Painting the walls is a given. If you are set on replacing the backsplash, white subway tile is your best bet, with white or a pale taupy grout.

Here'a the OP's other thread:

[Thread called "countertop-nightmare!"[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/countertop-nightmare-dsvw-vd~5370204?n=20)

I would definitely eliminate the tile backsplash and just use a kitchen and bath paint that's scrubbable. As already stated, you have a 4" backsplash that's part of the laminate countertop and the countertop and flooring coordinate well. The color of the backsplash is off. If you want to protect the area behind the stove, add a piece of stainless steel behind the stove only. For $2-$3 bucks each, you can update the hardware to a nice brushed nickel as well. Just because it's a rental doesn't mean it doesn't need to be appealing. A higher quality remodel attracts a higher quality renter.

leave the tile since it's already up there and change that green wall to a gold. what color appliances are you using? black I hope