March 10, 2021

What is the Best Splashback Material for a Luxury Kitchen?

Expert Advice

A kitchen splashback is a finishing touch to a contemporary kitchen renovation that influences the space’s entire mood. Splashbacks are installed at eye level and naturally attract attention, so your splashback should complement the components of your new kitchen design to fit in seamlessly.

Not only do splashback materials hold great aesthetic value, but structurally has important characteristics. As the surface protects the wall beneath from the intense uses of the kitchen, shielding moisture, spills, splatters, steams, oil and grease from your kitchen walls.

With so many options available on the market, it can be overwhelming to choose a splashback that fits the homeowners’ style and is durable for the household’s unique uses. The following seven materials are the most popular types of contemporary kitchen splashbacks we use in our luxury kitchen renovations at Dan Kitchens. But don’t just take our word for it! Check out the Dan Kitchens’ Portfolio to see our high-quality splashback in a recent luxury kitchen design.

 

Tiled Splashback

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Tiles are considered the traditional splashback material, and for good reason! Tiles are one of the most cost-effective and versatile materials to use as a splashback, available in either porcelain or ceramic; tiles come in a multitude of sizes, shapes, colours, patterns and textures.

Modern kitchen splashback titles can be installed by a tiler as soon as your benchtop is in place, an excellent advantage over other splashbacks materials because for some, having their kitchen completed as quickly as possible and ready for use is important. In comparison to other splashback materials, tiles are comparatively cheap in most standard styles. But which are the best tiles for a kitchen splashback?

The larger the tile, the easier they are to clean, as grout can become challenging to keep clean if the tiles are small. For example, the grout between subway tiles is easily stained and darkens from cooking oils, particularly around the cooktop. A good sealant should be applied after installation but will need reapplying every few years.

In addition, another negative to a tiled splashback is the exposed corners, as usually the corners can be a little ugly as they are installed with rounded plastic or a metal strip on the edges. While this prevents clothes from catching on the corners, it can be an eyesore. If possible, to avoid this, opt for a tile range with speciality corner tiles that suit the edges, but such tiles are not very common. Check out the complete Cherrybrook new kitchen design for more renovation inspiration inside this beautiful modernist home.

 

Toughened Glass or Mirror Splashback

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Glass and mirror splashbacks exude a high-end, minimalist aesthetic that will match any other materials used in your contemporary kitchen design. The shiny finishes reflect light throughout a space and immediately make spaces feel larger and brighter. With an endless number of colours and custom printed designs available on request, the options are endless for glass or mirror splashbacks.

Mirrors and glass splashbacks have many beneficial properties, from easy cleaning to, durability and are relatively cheap compared to any of the stone and porcelain splashback products.

Although this type of splashback material has its negatives, as glass is usually supplied in sheets 3600 x 1500mm in size. So, for one large splashback, multiple pieces of glass sheets must be used, and the seams where the sheets meet are impossible to hide, which can be unsightly for some people.

Glass seams are also visible on the exposed corners, which, alike tiles, can be ugly. Finally, glass takes the longest to install in a new kitchen design, as the glass needs to be check-measured and fabricated after the benchtop is installed.

 

Porcelain Splashback

Porcelain is considered the next-generation stone material for new kitchen designs, it is constructed from high-density ceramic. It offers even more outstanding qualities than other manufactured stones, with greater durability, UV-resistance and easier cleaning.

Porcelain comes in a range of varieties, each with its own characteristics, abilities, styles and patterns, from Dekton, Infinity, Atlasplan and many more. Porcelain splashbacks make an impressive statement with a sleek finish.

If you’re looking for an extremely versatile and high quality material fit for both internal and external use for a seamless transition, a porcelain splash back won’t let you down. 

Stainless Steel Splashback

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Stainless steel is traditionally a commercial splashback material due to its outstanding durability and hygienic qualities. However, as of late, metallic finishes have become a popular choice in new kitchen designs, making stainless steel a perfect splashback material for an industrial style kitchen.

Stainless steel is an ideal cost-effective splashback material. Consider a warmer-toned metal like copper or brass to add a touch of warmth to your new kitchen design.

Often, stainless steel’s antimicrobial ability is overstated; still, this material is very resistant to staining and use under harsh chemicals. However, a stainless-steel splashback can be difficult to manufacture and install neatly when involving windowsills, upturns, or benchtop direction changes. Check out the complete Birchgrove Project with a contemporary kitchen, dining and living renovation.

 

Solid Surface Splashback

Solid surfaces like Corian, are another high-tech manufactured material that performs great under intense kitchen use and offers a stunning visual feature as a kitchen splashback.  Solid surfaces mostly comprise of resin, and has the added benefit of being able to weld pieces together, avoiding the ugly seams some other splashback materials have.

Among being extremely versatile, Corian splashbacks are easy to clean, offer antimicrobial properties, and are much more impact resistant to chips than other manufactured stones. Although, in its raw form, the resin is a softer material, so scratches can occur more readily than stone products – however, scratches can be buffed out from time to time by a qualified tradesperson.

 

Natural Stone Splashback

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A natural stone splashback is entirely unique, with no two pieces precisely alike, sure to make a big impression on your guests. With a wide variety of natural stones, your new kitchen design will have a special piece most likely imported from a unique location from around the world. Not to mention, natural stone has long been considered the most desired splashback material, due to its innate natural beauty. 

Natural stone slabs should always be inspected in person before purchasing due to their variance in surface finish, patterning and quality of the stone. Each stone piece is unpredictable, either being stain resistant – like many granites – or very porous – like most marbles which is used in this Cremorne Point Luxury Kitchen Apartment Renovation.

Unlike most stones, natural stone slabs come in no set standard size, so they are harder to design around than, say, a porcelain slabs. In addition, as there are more significant colour variances amongst natural stone slabs, a seam may be even more evident than other types of materials.

Nevertheless, granite, marble, and quartz have all become extremely favoured kitchen splashback materials in 2024, and it’s a result of both an increasing trend away from engineered stone as well as the innate quality of stone splashbacks. All varieties being extremely durable, simple to clean and offer a bespoke and modern visual appeal, perfect for a luxury look in any modern kitchen. So, if you’re stuck for kitchen splashback ideas for your new luxury kitchen, opting for a stone splashback is a simple and versatile choice that will add great resale to your home. 

Luxury Splashbacks & Luxury Kitchen Renovations from Dan Kitchens

No matter what luxury splashback you select for your new kitchen design, stay assured with Dan Kitchen’s highly experienced team, bespoke makers of beautiful and highly functional kitchens – whether you need a large contemporary kitchen renovation in Hornsby or a small contemporary kitchen renovation in Mosman.

Are you ready to get started? Why don’t you speak to the expert kitchen design team at Dan Kitchens and get the premium designer look you desire, as well as all of the functionality you expect from a high-end kitchen.

Dan Kitchens are highly experienced luxury kitchen designers and manufacturers, with an unrivalled reputation for expertly made kitchens and joinery in Sydney. Visit our luxury kitchen showroom to see how the finest craftsmanship, coupled with high-quality materials and finishes, can transform your kitchen into a luxury oasis. We offer a fully project managed service, from an initial concept and manufacturing, right through to installation. Call us today on (02) 9624 2344, discover how Dan Kitchens uses Danish principles to design impressive custom kitchens.