You might consider using a paintable wallpaper. It comes in beadboard, tin ceiling tile effects, and so on. Then you could have paint that's not just flat and not have to worry about bumping into stuff hanging there.

In had a painted backspalsh for 20 years and am going to have one again with the renno. I hung my magnetic knife bar, and small art tiles.

My backsplash is painted, by design. It looks finished to me. There are very few tile back splashes that I like. I remember too well the painstaking removal of the 1970's little mosaic tiles from my dil's house. It is not so easy to remove or Change back splashes. I would get bored with most of tile ones. I love modern and uncluttered.

We have a painted backsplash in our new kitchen, except behind the stove. I wanted all subway tile to the ceiling. Hubs is not a fan, so this was our compromise. We love how it turned out.