How to lighten a dark faux rock backsplash?

HI Donna! Hope this gives you some help!

https://www.hometalk.com/diy/kitchen-dining/q-how-to-brighten-kitchen-with-a-dark-stone-backsplash-33804879

https://www.dukemanorfarm.com/2013/08/painting-kitchen-backsplashand-loving-it.html

If you have leftover back splash pieces, try some lighter paints on them, and see if you like the look. I suggest this because we had used brick on the front of a duplex and some idiot had painted some of them a Kelly green, so we painted over them with a brick red. From a distance or up close, you wouldn't know.

Paint. White wash, solid color, sponge painted.

Are you sure its the backsplash thats the problem and not the colour of your cabinets?

I'd put under the counter lights focused to wash the stone with light. If you paint the back splash, it'll be harder to clean and the paint will eventually wear off for a bigger mess.

Another thought...if the backsplash has been there for some time it may be greasy from cooking, impossible to remove from that surface. Paint might not stick.

Use $10 LED light bars under the cabinets as task lighting on each cabinet and it should really help show off the textures and shadow lines of rock.

Which ever way you go, you’ll need to scrub it good with a product like TSP to remove all grease. Instead of paint I would look into a stain product which will absorb into the stone and not peel like paint.

Place a mirror under your cabinet and see if it will reflect light. just a thought.

also you could paint under your cabinets a white or very light color to help reflect light.

You might want to clean it really good and then "whitewash" it. It will give it that old world look. It will be lighter, but will be translucent. Whitewash does not peal. Once you have it finished, look for a sealer to put on this.

Here is a good link showing various levels of coverage.

https://www.google.com/search?q=whitewash+brick&rlz=1C1GGRV_enUS751US751&oq=whitewash+brick&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.6343j1j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

My suggestion would be to first consider solutions that are easily remedied if they don’t work out like additional lighting; above and below the cabinets, ceiling light , painting the kitchen, lighter colored accessories, window coverings, etc.

With the cabinets, countertops and backsplash you have, it’s a beautiful, rich and warm kitchen, so depending on the location of windows, ceiling height, etc. having the brightest kitchen may be difficult without a major renovation.

I don't see a good solution for keeping it since you say it is hard to clean now. You should remove it and get something that compliments the color of the cabinets and countertop.

I have 2 suggestions: 1. Run some string LED lights just under the rim of your cabinets. They usually look like a rope. If they're TOO bright while cooking or cleaning, place one little strip of electrical tape the same color as the cabinets on the outside (part that's facing you when mounted) & it'll blend in without being an eye-sore. 2. Take a 2-inch paint brush. Dip just the tips of the bristles into some cream or tan colored craft paint. Walmart has them under a dollar for 2 oz bottles. 2 ounces goes farther than you might think this way. Take a left-over piece of brick to practice on. DRY BRUSH the front of the brick & see if you like how it turns out. If you like the result, do the whole thing in Dry Brush. This will not brighten your kitchen as lighting will tho. Hope this helps. :)

How about the rope led lighting? Also, could your cabinets also contribute to the darkness? Could they have grease or dirt on them that could make the whole kitchen appear darker? Murphy's Oil Soap is really good for this.