Kitchen bathroom splashbacks tile ideas

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A stylish splashback will add a modern feel to your kitchen, bathroom or laundry and can be made using a variety of materials – from chic glass to traditional tiles or stylish stainless steel. A splashback covers length of the kitchen benchtop, bathroom sink or laundry tub and it should protect the wall behind your work area, be waterproof, non-flammable and easy to clean. And last, but not least, a splashback should fit with the room’s aesthetics and reflect the homeowner’s personality.

Colour will date your splashback, so unless you’re prepared to update it regularly – choose wisely. Natural colours are leading the way, especially browns and greens as homeowners are looking to the future and resale value. A bright orange splashback will only appeal to a tiny portion of the market, whereas neutral colours appeal to a broader audience.

If your budget is tight but you want to go bright, use neutral colours and brighten the area with coloured accessories, such as coloured retro appliances in the kitchen or a variety of soaps in the bathroom and laundry.

If you have, or are planning to install a glass splashback, you are not alone. Glass is the leading trend in splashbacks. It looks great, comes in a myriad of colours and eliminates mould problems, as there are no crevices or joins for the fungus to grow, giving wet areas a clean hygienic finish. Glass splashbacks are generally a more expsensive option, so if you are on a tight budget this is probably not the best choice for you.

There are different types of glass used for splashbacks but it is vital that you request toughened glass for the entire splashback to prevent breakage. From measuring to the fit-out, installation takes about eight days. The glass is fixed to the wall with non-acidic silicone and double-sided tape (made to take the weight) and after it’s been fixed to the wall, the glass is sealed around the edge using silicone.

Tiles would have to be the most traditional medium used for splashbacks and are considered a mid level budget option.

Ceramic and mosaic tiles are usually the most popular option for splashbacks but other options such as cloured glass and porcelain are also avilalble. With an expansive range of colours and styles and easy to clean surface finding a tile that fits your decor and budget is easy.

Glass tiles are also popular and can range in price from cheaper products made in China but there are tiles are available in a variety of colours to suit your home.

Recycled glass tiles are a cheaper alternative and you know you are doing your bit for the environment.

Porcelain tiles are usually found on kitchen floors – not the splashbacks – as they are a larger, hard-wearing tile used for high traffic areas.

Stainless steel is a stylish hardy option that won’t discolour and is fairly easy to clean. Brushed stainless steel is the most popular finishs as it doesn’t show blemishes as easily as a reflective finish. The splashback is cut to a standard (average) size of 900mm or 1200mm with a height of 750mm (other sizes are available), which enables same day installation.

Acrylic splashbacks are versatile and hardy and are available in a wide range of different colours. Corian is a popular brand used for splashbacks and it can continue down from the splashback to become the benchtop. The seamlessness prevents joins, which eliminates a collection point for leftovers.

Laminate splashbacks are a cheap and versatile option. They come in a variety of finishes and looks to suit most decor from plain colours to marble look-alikes, which can match or contrast benchtops. Laminate is ideally suited to smooth flat walls, if walls are not super smooth, the laminate can be glued to board, than affixed to the wall with liquid nails. Laminate splashbacks can be bought from kitchen stores and are available for DIY or DFY (done for you) installation. You could expect to pay about $300 per sheet, which covers about seven meters of spashback 600mm high.

Is a fabulous product that has a great finish but is the most expensive product costing about $650/sq m. As many stone finishes are porous, it pays to be careful as it is prone to absorbing products, such as fat and oil splashes.