Easy Splashback Ideas for Your Kitchen Renovation
A fresh splashback can change your whole kitchen. Tiles, glass, stainless, brick, and modern sintered stone each bring a clear look and feel. Sintered stone is popular with Australian designers for its clean style and low care. This guide gives you ten ideas and simple tips you can use now.
Looking for real life splashback ideas? Visit our Perth and Sydney showrooms.
Importance of Choosing the Right Splashback
The splashback protects walls and sets the tone of the room. Pick a surface that fits your layout and your daily use. Smooth, non porous options like glass and stainless are easy to wipe. Sintered stone delivers a solid slab look with high heat and scratch resistance and suits busy homes in Perth and Sydney alike.
Your splashback is also where you show style. Go bold with pattern or keep it calm with soft tones. The right choice ties your benchtops, cabinets, and lighting into one simple story.
To ensure you're keeping within budgets, speak with your designer or reach out to us here at Asetica and we can guide you in the right direction.
Material Options for Your Kitchen Splashback
1. Classic Subway Tiles
Simple and clean. Lay them in a stack, offset, or herringbone for a new feel. White with dark grout adds contrast. Colour tiles can lift a plain space.
2. Bold Geometric Patterns
Triangles, hex shapes, and 3D looks create strong lines. Keep cabinets simple so the pattern leads. Use one colour family to avoid clutter.
3. Luxurious Marble
Veined stone looks rich and timeless. If you want the marble look without the care, pick a marble look sintered stone slab. You get the same soft movement with easy cleaning and no sealing.
4. Rustic Brick
Brick brings texture and warmth. Seal it to reduce dust and make wipes faster. Pairs well with timber and matte black taps.
5. Sleek Stainless Steel
Tough, clean, and light bouncing. Great behind cooktops. For a similar seamless feel with more colour choice, try large format sintered stone in soft beige, cream, or concrete looks.
6. Artistic Mosaics
Small tiles, big impact. Use a simple repeat or a custom pattern. Expect more grout care. Keep the benchtop plain so the mosaic stands out.
7. Mirrored Splashbacks
Make small rooms feel bigger. Go clear, tinted, or antique. Clean with glass spray. Plan task lighting to avoid glare.
8. Colourful Glass Panels
One smooth sheet for a neat, modern look. Choose a solid colour or a soft print. Some clients now choose gloss finish sintered stone for a similar look with more heat and scratch resistance.
9. Warm Wood
Timber adds calm and nature. Use a clear coat to protect from steam and splashes. Balance with sintered stone benchtops for a mix of warm and modern.
10. Eclectic Patchwork Tiles
Mix patterns in one colour story. Keep nearby finishes simple. This is a good way to use leftover tiles and add soul to the space.
The Most Durable Option For Splashbacks
Sintered Porcelain
Sintered Porcelain is made by pressing natural minerals under heat and pressure. The result is dense and non porous. It resists stains, heat, and scratches and is stable in strong sun. It comes in marble looks, concrete looks, and soft neutrals. Large panels reduce grout lines and keep cleaning easy. No sealing needed.
One of the biggest benefits of using sintered porcelain is that there is no need to have a 200mm clearance behind a gas cooktop. This is due to sintered stone being rated up to 400c, which will resist all heat from gas burners.
It also means no need to make back bench changes if you are renovating or removing existing splashback materials.
For more sintered ideas, inspiration or to order your samples, take a look at our European sintered collection.
Colour Schemes and Splashback Patterns to Consider
Neutral tones: White, cream, grey, and black are calm and timeless. They suit most cabinets and floors.
Bold colours: Deep blue, soft green, or clay can create a focus point. Use with simple benchtops.
Patterns and texture: Herringbone, hex, and soft veining add depth. Sintered stone provides marble movement or concrete texture without heavy care.
Monochrome: Use light, mid, and dark shades of one colour for depth that stays calm.
Contrast: White tile with darker grout for clear lines. Bright splashback with neutral cabinets for pop.
How to Incorporate Splashbacks into Your Kitchen Design
- Coordinate with cabinets and benchtops: Match undertones. Warm with warm. Cool with cool.
- Choose height and coverage: Standard up to wall units or full height to the ceiling. Sintered stone slabs suit full height for a clean, grout free wall.
- Balance the elements: If the splashback is bold, keep tops and doors simple.
- Light it well: Add under cabinet lights to show texture and veining.
- Plan edges: Use neat trims or finished slab edges for a tidy line.
Maintenance Tips for Your Kitchen Splashback
- Daily wipes: Warm water and mild detergent handle most marks.
- Sealing: Natural stone and timber need sealing as advised. Sintered stone does not.
- Grout care: Clean with a soft brush. Use grout sealer to reduce stains.
- Heat and steam: Use good venting. Add a protector behind strong burners if needed.
- Check for damage: Fix chips or loose tiles early to stop larger repairs.
Budget Friendly Splashback Solutions
- Peel and stick tiles: Fast install and many looks.
- Painted wall: Use kitchen grade paint. Add a simple tile rail behind the cooktop if needed.
- Laminate sheets: Low cost and easy to clean with many patterns.
- Recycled materials: Salvaged timber or metal can add character.
- Offcuts: Ask for sintered stone offcuts for a premium look at a lower price.
DIY vs Professional Installation
DIY suits peel and stick, paint, and beadboard. Tiling needs care and the right tools. Large glass and sintered stone slabs need pro measure, safe handling, and correct fixing. This protects your warranty and gives a clean finish.
Quick FAQ
Is sintered stone safe behind a cooktop?
Yes. It is heat and stain resistant and requires no 200mm clearance behind a gas cooktop and only 50mm for induction.
Does sintered stone need sealing?
No. It is non porous and low care.
Will sun fade the splashback?
Sintered stone is UV stable, so it holds colour in bright rooms common in Australia.
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