How to Pick the Perfect Splashback for your Kitchen

The design and style of your splashback can make or break the feel of your kitchen, so it’s important to make the right choice at the start of your makeover. The team at My Bathroom can always guide you though this process, but the final decision will always lie with you. With so many different options available on the market however, many home owners can be completely overwhelmed, simply not knowing where to start!

If this situation resonates with you, here are six easy tips that will help you to narrow down your options and make your final decision a breeze.

1. Select the benchtop

Your first step should be to select the material and design of the benchtop, because once you have the benchtop locked in, it will be a lot easier to select a splashback. Materials for your benchtop include marble, granite, concrete, stainless steel, laminate, timber and engineered stone. Your choice will depend on your tastes and your budget.

2. What’s your budget?

If you need anything custom made for your kitchen, then it’s going to be more expensive. This includes the splashback, because stainless steel, natural stone or glass will need to be cut to fit the space and so will be expensive, whilst tiles or acrylic usually come in at a lower price point. If you have your heart set on an expensive custom made glass splashback and you don’t have the budget, it might be best to save up more money, rather than settle for second best.

3. Decide on a suitable material

Glass splashbacks can give a very streamlined, minimalist feel to your kitchen, whilst tiles give a more traditional feel. You can also extend the benchtop material up the wall for about 30 or 40cm (the depth of a tile) for a clean and consistent look to your kitchen, a trend that is slowly increasing in many Aussie homes. Whatever you decide, you need to be 100% happy with your choice, because you will see it every day!

4. Pick the right colour

With the material and design of your benchtop preselected, you will already have narrowed down your options for the splashback. So if you want the benchtop to be the hero in your kitchen, then your splashback shouldn’t compete with it. On the other hand, if you have a more neutral benchtop, you are free to make a feature out of your splashback.

5. Consider maintenance

Most of us want to just wipe over the splashback without spending too much time on cleaning, so you need to choose the materials carefully. For example, if you decide on a tiled splashback, then be prepared to clean the grout regularly to prevent the growth of mould. Stainless steel and glass splashbacks don’t have a problem with grout, but they do collect fingerprints very quickly. Your choice depends on your style and budget, but don’t forget the maintenance!

6. Think outside the box

If you like living dangerously or bucking the trend, how about a pressed metal or a mirrored splashback? You can even install a row of windows instead of a splashback, which is a fabulous idea if your kitchen lacks natural light or you have an awesome view outside. Then there are coloured subway tiles, crackled ceramic tiles, glass tiles, marble, timber (reclaimed wood is popular) or even a chalk board for some added style and fun!