backsplash aren't that difficult.

you'll want a good tile blade for cutting any tile. if using glass, you'll need a special blade that's meant for glass or else the tiles will chip. you can also use painters tape on the surface and cut from the back of the tile to lessen little chips.

mosaics are always more difficult. something like these hex tiles on mesh sheets will need spacers. the weight of the sheet tends to close off the joints.

you could use larger, single hex tiles, but it still requires spacers.

subways are the easiest, but you still need to do a dry layout to avoid sliver cuts. Sliver cuts on the corners and edges are a no-no. adjust your layout so everything is symmetrical

this is a beautifully done corner see the middle tile and how it 'wraps' around to the other wall? perfectly done. whenever you do corners, you have to pretend it's all flat and then someone folds the paper. that's how it should look when finished.

get proper bullnose edging tiles

the last thing you want is something like this debacle.

bad blade. notice the chipping on the edge tiles. (spring for the best blade)

see the sliver cuts at the very top? adjust your layout or get a diff tile. you don't want that.

crooked vertical joints?

the tiny cuts on the edge?

and the lazy edging by using the tiles in a vertical run. if you tile doesn't have a bullnose, use a pencil liner or a Schluter Jolly edge

(and use a laser level to make sure your course is straight)

Easiest tiles are 4 1/4 x 4 1/4, 6" square or 3 x 6 ceramic tiles with integral spacing (meaning the tile has lugs or a bevel to space tiles). They cut easily with a wet saw. I bought the cheapest wet saw you can buy and have done 5 amateur tile jobs with it, so buying may be an option. Layout is critical. Plan every cut before you start, even if you can't actually make the cut until you get to it. You don't want to be forced to try and cut an outlet into a 6x6 tile. Break up your work into small areas until you're confident.

I'm in the middle of doing our back splash at our lake house in 6x6 ceramic tiles. It is my first tiling job. It won't be perfect, but I'm pretty happy with the wall I've done so far. I'm using a manual tile cutter for most cuts, but the best thing I discovered was a little Ryobi cordless circular cutting tool that came with a tile cutting blade. It's great for cutting around corners and outlets. Just make sure you wear eye protection.

Consider buying a wet saw so you won’t be rushed. I found one at Lowes for around $60 but I haven’t tried it yet and I don’t think they have it anymore. You might be able to find something online with good reviews. The big one I got from Harbor Freight was great but the price went up $100. (I had to let it go when I moved.)

Wet saws are really easy to use once you get them set up. Mosaics are harder to cut straight. 3x6 and larger are easy. I didn’t try glass or porcelain yet. Ceramic and marble were a breeze, but marble has natural cracks so more tiles will break, especially if cut narrow. L-shaped cuts are possible with a few tries. U-shaped cuts might require a different technique and will probably be rough. You can get a tile nipper for tiny rough cuts that will be covered up.

My BF put up my glass tiles, he had a tile saw - can't imagine doing it without that. 3x12 glass tiles from Lowe's. I love them.