SPLASH OUT ON YOUR SPLASHBACKS

Kitchen splashbacks are an opportunity to showcase a homeowner’s personality, yet the mainstream options available in most retail outlets can be rather uninspiring. Simply tile splashbacks have been used for generations, with designs that have altered from one decade to the next.

The 1960s saw an explosion of small patterned ceramic tiles in browns and beiges, followed by a more psychedelic approach in the seventies, in bright, acidic greens and oranges. The eighties witnessed a return to the more floral and country style inspired by Laura Ashley, with faux oak kitchen cupboards and curtains with tie-backs. The nineties and noughties started to get a bit more streamlined, but it is only in the last decade that there has been a much wider choice of kitchen splashback options available.

It is worth pointing out at this point that though there is no specific building regulation for what to use as splashbacks in a kitchen, in the area around the hob, it is advisable to use a product that is heat resistant and will not be damaged by the proximity of hot pans.

EXTENSIVE CHOICE OF CERAMIC TILES

As we enter 2023, there is no specific trend in ceramic tile, other than anything goes! For many, choosing a tile that evokes the spirit of a bygone age means that those highly patterned tiles of the sixties, seventies and eighties will never go out of fashion. Combined with modern design features, they can be brought back to life and enjoyed once again for the retro emotions they evoke.

If the retro look, though, is not your cup of tea, you can go Mediterranean with colours and patterns redolent of the entrance hall in a hillside villa. Alternatively, you can go with terracotta, bringing the warmth of Spain and Italy to your kitchen. A Moroccan design will see a flurry of contrasting tile patterns thrown together to create a look that somehow works, even though you know it shouldn’t!

Ceramic tiles will never go out of fashion for kitchens, but with multiple ranges of different designs, the only rule to follow today is – anything goes!

STEEL BUT NOT MAGNOLIA

It might be the main material used for manufacturing a tool, but steel is also a material growing in popularity as a splashback option in domestic kitchens.

As a material, steel is highly resistant to heat, so is ideal to fit behind the cooker hob. But it also gives a sleek and stylish finish to the overall kitchen design, so is popular, particularly with more modern kitchen designs.

Traditionally stainless steel has been used in commercial kitchens as it is easy to wipe down and keep clean, is extremely hardwearing, and promotes increased levels of cleanliness as as the smooth surfaces eliminate the risk of trapped bacteria.

TOUGHENED GLASS

Glass is one of the most versatile options for splashbacks, and there are several different options where glass can offer a stunning and perhaps surprising design element.

  • A sheet of frosted or coloured tempered glass is shatterproof, heat resistant, easy to clean, as well as an attractive alternative to use as a splashback.
  • A tinted mirror can incorporate some muted drama. Contextually it allows you to encourage more light into the room and can help to create light and space by reflecting back an opposite window.
  • Glass window used as a splashback – this is a truly unique way in which you can incorporate the design of the kitchen splashback into the very infrastructure of your home. By integrating a flawless stretch of window with an outlook towards your garden as the actual splashback, you have the most unique and personal finishing flourish to your kitchen.
Ann Turner

Ann Turner, a skilled contractor with a degree in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University, has enriched our content as a freelancer since 2022. Her 15 years in home construction and renovation provide a practical perspective to her home improvement guides. Her approach is to merge functional design with aesthetic appeal. Her expertise includes everything from basic repairs to full-scale renovations. When she's not writing, Ann volunteers in community building projects and enjoys woodworking.

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