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Kitchen splashback ideas – picking the perfect backsplash
From bubbling pasta sauce to sizzling bacon, your kitchen splashback is at the forefront of your cooking accomplishments (and the occasional disaster!).
It’s the first line of defence in protecting your walls from splashes and spills, but it’s more than just this. It’s an opportunity to be creative; a place to reinforce and complement your kitchen’s style, or even create an eye-catching focal point.
Picking the perfect splashback
Splashbacks come in a range of colours, materials, and patterns to suit every kitchen style, but before you dive into finding your favourite, consider what you want from your backsplash.
Do you want something practical that’s easy to clean or a bold, statement piece that creates a focal point for your kitchen? Consider whether you want an extended splashback that runs the length of your worktop or a shorter piece that sits behind your hob.
If it’s a gas hob, you’ll need something heat-resistant. Toughened glass is ideal for this, which is where we start our kitchen splashback ideas.
1. Glass splashbacks
Glass splashbacks are incredibly versatile. Heat-resistant and easy to clean, they are ideal for positioning behind a gas hob to protect your wall. Choose from clear glass to showcase your backboard or opt for a semi-transparent backsplash that subtly blends with the rest of your kitchen without breaking its flow.
2. Metro tiles in white
Glossy with a modern urban feel, metro tiles (inspired by New York’s subway) are dazzling in classic white. For a new take on the traditional brick layout, try arranging them in a vertical stack or a herringbone pattern to add visual appeal.
Just like metro tiles, white never goes out of fashion. Pair white tiles with a dark worktop and accessories for a contemporary feel.
3. Mediterranean-inspired
Our kitchens are filled with worldly inspiration, from the food we eat to the wine we drink – and now, our decor as well. Vibrant hues, intricate patterns, and a relaxed aesthetic characterise Mediterranean kitchen decor.
Choose from tile or tile-effect laminate with a blue patterned style, then pair it with wooden units and potted herbs in terracotta pots to create a traditional, rustic look.
4. Vertical tile arrangement
Try turning your splashback on its head with a vertical tile arrangement. Long, narrow tiles arranged top to tail have an elongating effect. The vertical alignment draws the eye upward, enhancing the perception of height and adding a modern touch. It's an easy way to create a striking visual impact.
5. Marble splashbacks
Create a sophisticated backdrop to your kitchen’s overall look and feel with a marble-effect splashback. The natural veining in marble gives it a unique character that sets it apart from other materials. Its cool, clean lines and smooth surface reflect light, making small spaces appear larger.
6. Mocha Mousse
Pantone’s Colour of the Year 2025, Mocha Mousse, is an elegant shade of soft brown – a reminder of fresh coffee and chocolate. Pair a Mocha-inspired shade, like this putty glass splashback, with light grey or wooden cabinets to create an inviting space.
Combine a biscuit-coloured glass splashback with matt black cabinets for a striking contrast that creates a bold look.
7. Expressive design
Bold patterns and textures have replaced minimalist decor in kitchen design. Statement splashbacks are rising in popularity, along with patterned flooring and textured cabinets.
This shift towards expressive design allows you to showcase your personality. Think of your backsplash as a place where you can add new colours or patterns to create another layer of visual interest, moving away from the stark simplicity of the past.
8. Warm metallics
Add warmth to your kitchen with a metallic-effect splashback in antique bronze or copper. The rich, golden tones of copper and brass evoke a visceral warmth, creating an inviting atmosphere that draws you in (not to mention that they coordinate perfectly with on-trend luxe kitchen accessories).
These warm metallics beautifully complement neutral kitchens by adding depth and texture, while also making a striking statement against black cabinets for a bold, dramatic effect.
9. Art-deco inspired
The resurgence of Art Deco has filtered through to kitchen design, earning a prominent place in interior designers’ style books. Characterised by repeating patterns, ornamental motifs and mirrored surfaces, Art Deco brings a sense of luxury.
Combine saturated colours, like emerald green or deep blue, with gold accessories and rich, dark wood for a 1920s-inspired feel. Add a statement splashback with a geometric design to tie the look together, enhancing the overall space.
10. Bringing the outdoors in
Nature-inspired elements create harmony in the kitchen, offsetting chaotic family dinners with the serenity of the outdoors. Materials like wood and stone are a key part of biophilic design, and they also make great splashback.
Wood-effect splashbacks combine the look of real wood with the performance of an alloy, offering easy cleaning, durability, and resistance to scratches and heat. Pair with earthy tones, stone worktops, and clay floor tiles.
Your frequently asked questions
Splashback and backsplash are interchangeable terms referring to the same thing. You might also see it referred to as a protective surface, installed behind the sink and hob to shield the walls from spills, stains, and heat.
An upstand is a strip of material that runs along the back of the worktop where it meets the wall. It acts as a finishing edge, but like a splashback, it also performs a protective function, stopping water from running down the wall.
Upstands are much shorter than splashbacks at just 4-6 inches (100-150mm). They are typically the same material as the worktop, whereas kitchen splashbacks are often different – usually glass, tile-effect, or laminate.
Oven splashbacks are typically around 1 metre wide and are designed to sit behind the hob, protecting the wall from the inevitable splashes that occur during cooking.
Extended splashbacks are longer, often running the full length of the wall (3 metres or more), creating an uninterrupted flow that reinforces the overall look.
Choose a glossy splashback in white or a lighter shade that will reflect light around the room, creating a bright, airy feel. Subway tiles in classic white, vertical stripes, and clear or frosted glass create the illusion of space. Mirrored surfaces also enhance light and create depth in smaller kitchens.
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