Your kitchen splashback does two important jobs. It protects the wall behind your cooktop and sink from heat, moisture, and cooking splatter. It’s also one of the most visible design elements in the room.
Get it right, and it ties the whole kitchen together. Get it wrong, and it’s one of the first things you’ll want to replace. So here’s what to think through before you decide.
How Much Wall Does It Need to Cover?
Most splashbacks run from the benchtop to the underside of the overhead cabinetry. The zone behind the cooktop usually gets the most attention. However, many homeowners extend the splashback across the full run of wall space for a more cohesive look.
A full-width splashback works particularly well in open-plan kitchens. It reads as one continuous element rather than an isolated feature. In smaller kitchens, the same approach can also make the room feel larger.
Tile Splashbacks
Tiles are the most popular choice in Australian kitchens. They’re durable, easy to clean, and available in a wide range of shapes, sizes, and finishes. Subway tiles remain a firm favourite. However, larger format tiles and textured options are also gaining ground in contemporary designs.
Grout colour is worth deciding early. Light grout shows staining over time. Dark grout, on the other hand, can fade with repeated cleaning. Rectified tiles with tight, minimal grout lines offer a practical solution. They look cleaner and are noticeably easier to maintain day to day.
Glass Splashbacks
Glass splashbacks offer a seamless, sleek alternative to tile. Manufacturers cut and colour them to order. As a result, you can match almost any shade in your kitchen scheme.
A key advantage of glass is the absence of grout. One smooth surface is far easier to wipe down after cooking. That said, glass does show fingerprints and smears more readily than tile. It’s worth thinking about how much ongoing cleaning suits your household before you commit.
Stone and Engineered Stone
Many homeowners who choose a stone benchtop also extend the material up the wall as a splashback. This creates a cohesive result. It works particularly well when the stone features strong veining or pattern.
Engineered stone is a practical option here. It’s more consistent in appearance than natural stone. It’s also simpler to cut around powerpoints and switches. However, engineered stone is not safe to use directly behind a gas flame. You’ll need a different material in the cooktop recess for those kitchens.
The Kitchen and Bathroom Designers Institute recommends selecting splashback materials alongside your benchtop early in the design process, so both elements work together from the start.
Laminate Splashbacks
Laminate is a cost-effective alternative, particularly where budget is a key consideration. Suppliers like Polytec and Laminex produce splashback-specific products in a wide range of colours and finishes. Some closely replicate the look of stone or timber, and do it convincingly.
Laminate doesn’t handle direct heat as well as tile or glass. So it’s not the right choice immediately behind a gas cooktop. For the rest of the wall space, though, it’s a practical and attractive option that suits many kitchen styles.
Matching Your Splashback to the Kitchen
A splashback doesn’t need to match every other element in the room. However, it should sit comfortably alongside them. Consider the cabinet colour, the benchtop material, and the hardware finish together before making your decision.
A neutral splashback gives you flexibility to change other elements later. A bolder choice, like coloured glass or a patterned tile, can read as a strong feature. But it requires more commitment to the surrounding palette, so think carefully before going bold.
Talk to the Team at Designer Living Kitchens
Choosing a splashback works best when you consider it alongside the rest of the kitchen design. Our designers help clients plan all the elements together from the start, so the result feels considered rather than pieced together.
Designer Living Kitchens designs and builds custom kitchens from six showrooms across the Central Coast, Gold Coast, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, and surrounding regions. We also design custom laundries and bathroom vanities.
Call us on (02) 5525 0800 for an obligation-free consultation. You’re also welcome to visit your nearest showroom to see materials in person.
