Kitchen Splashbacks
Discussion
I'm having a new kitchen fitted soon, and I haven't fully decided on what type of splashback I want.
My initial choice was a quartz worktop with a full-height quartz splashback (up to the bottom of the upper cabinets), which should give a premium feel, be easy to clean, and will never need painting when I come to decorate.
However most new kitchens I see with quartz worktops have an upstand of 100mm, or to the height of the window ledge. The rest of the wall between the upstand and the upper cabinets is then painted. This, to me, seems like it would be a pain in the arse to keep pristine and would need repainting (along with the headache that goes with it) every couple of years.
My neighbour has gone for something different and has a 100mm upstand but then has tiled the rest, which, to my eyes, just looks odd.
Glass seems like a popular option, but again, to me, glass attracts fingerprints and dust and needs to be cleaned constantly.
Am I missing something, as I feel that a full-size splashback is an unpopular/out of fashion choice?
Keen to hear what the PH experts have to say.
My initial choice was a quartz worktop with a full-height quartz splashback (up to the bottom of the upper cabinets), which should give a premium feel, be easy to clean, and will never need painting when I come to decorate.
However most new kitchens I see with quartz worktops have an upstand of 100mm, or to the height of the window ledge. The rest of the wall between the upstand and the upper cabinets is then painted. This, to me, seems like it would be a pain in the arse to keep pristine and would need repainting (along with the headache that goes with it) every couple of years.
My neighbour has gone for something different and has a 100mm upstand but then has tiled the rest, which, to my eyes, just looks odd.
Glass seems like a popular option, but again, to me, glass attracts fingerprints and dust and needs to be cleaned constantly.
Am I missing something, as I feel that a full-size splashback is an unpopular/out of fashion choice?
Keen to hear what the PH experts have to say.
We’ve got a full height quartz splash back (to underside of cupboards and extractor) and it looks good.
We also did the end of the peninsula unit floor to underside of worktop in the same. There are two stools there and this is seen as you enter the room, so I thought it would be robust, no kick marks.
Pricing varies hugely between suppliers for what appears to be the same thing. Some places price per sheet, adding the cost of cutting and hence you can end up paying for stuff you don’t use. Others know they will re sell the off cuts and price that in.
We used 30mm for the work tops and 20mm thick for the splash back and peninsula end.
Tiling would almost certainly be loads cheaper … but I’m happy with the choice.
We also did the end of the peninsula unit floor to underside of worktop in the same. There are two stools there and this is seen as you enter the room, so I thought it would be robust, no kick marks.
Pricing varies hugely between suppliers for what appears to be the same thing. Some places price per sheet, adding the cost of cutting and hence you can end up paying for stuff you don’t use. Others know they will re sell the off cuts and price that in.
We used 30mm for the work tops and 20mm thick for the splash back and peninsula end.
Tiling would almost certainly be loads cheaper … but I’m happy with the choice.
SkinnyPete said:
I'm having a new kitchen fitted soon, and I haven't fully decided on what type of splashback I want.
My initial choice was a quartz worktop with a full-height quartz splashback (up to the bottom of the upper cabinets), which should give a premium feel, be easy to clean, and will never need painting when I come to decorate.
However most new kitchens I see with quartz worktops have an upstand of 100mm, or to the height of the window ledge. The rest of the wall between the upstand and the upper cabinets is then painted. This, to me, seems like it would be a pain in the arse to keep pristine and would need repainting (along with the headache that goes with it) every couple of years.
My neighbour has gone for something different and has a 100mm upstand but then has tiled the rest, which, to my eyes, just looks odd.
Glass seems like a popular option, but again, to me, glass attracts fingerprints and dust and needs to be cleaned constantly.
Am I missing something, as I feel that a full-size splashback is an unpopular/out of fashion choice?
Keen to hear what the PH experts have to say.
We have upstands and whilst we were thinking of a suitable splashback, I painted the wall.My initial choice was a quartz worktop with a full-height quartz splashback (up to the bottom of the upper cabinets), which should give a premium feel, be easy to clean, and will never need painting when I come to decorate.
However most new kitchens I see with quartz worktops have an upstand of 100mm, or to the height of the window ledge. The rest of the wall between the upstand and the upper cabinets is then painted. This, to me, seems like it would be a pain in the arse to keep pristine and would need repainting (along with the headache that goes with it) every couple of years.
My neighbour has gone for something different and has a 100mm upstand but then has tiled the rest, which, to my eyes, just looks odd.
Glass seems like a popular option, but again, to me, glass attracts fingerprints and dust and needs to be cleaned constantly.
Am I missing something, as I feel that a full-size splashback is an unpopular/out of fashion choice?
Keen to hear what the PH experts have to say.
It was done with waterproof paint.
The problem we have is thaat me and the wife have opposing views on what should go there.
She wants a continueation of the work surface (white quartz with a vien running through it)
I wanted a vintage / smoked mirror or dull metal mosaic tiles.
To date (kitchen was refurb in 2021), no decision has been made. In the meantime, the painted wall has been fine and no hassle.....
I would think that it's very much down to personal choice and what matches best with the cabinetry and style of the room?
I've had glass splash backs in very modern London flats, all tiled in country cottages and tiled above the cooker. The current kitchen is just painted but there are no wall cabinets which makes it all easier and there will just be tiles or glass over the hob.
Using the working surface material on the wall would look very odd to me, like the bathrooms that use the same material on wall and floor.
I've had glass splash backs in very modern London flats, all tiled in country cottages and tiled above the cooker. The current kitchen is just painted but there are no wall cabinets which makes it all easier and there will just be tiles or glass over the hob.
Using the working surface material on the wall would look very odd to me, like the bathrooms that use the same material on wall and floor.
We have an upstand with painted walls that has been in for a few years and I think it’s needed to be wiped over twice in that time.
Admittedly behind the hob it goes up to the extractor but that’s it.
Unless you are throwing food around for some reason the splashbsck should stay clean?
Admittedly behind the hob it goes up to the extractor but that’s it.
Unless you are throwing food around for some reason the splashbsck should stay clean?
I've just done a kitchen with full height splash backs in the same material as the work surfaces, in this case Caesarstone.
Without doubt it's the most practical and hardwearing solution and when done well can look a million dollars.
To add interest perhaps choose a contrasting piece of stone for behind the cooker.
Without doubt it's the most practical and hardwearing solution and when done well can look a million dollars.
To add interest perhaps choose a contrasting piece of stone for behind the cooker.
We have glass splash backs and finger prints have never been a ‘thing’ as you don’t lean against them.
And they are a doodle to clean as it’s just one big flat surface.
Just make sure that the panel behind the cooker top is heat treated. Cowboy companies will try and save a few quid there.
And they are a doodle to clean as it’s just one big flat surface.
Just make sure that the panel behind the cooker top is heat treated. Cowboy companies will try and save a few quid there.
I went for mosaic tile upstands, around 6 inches high. Stainless steel in my last house, black glass in current one.
Relatively easy to keep clean. Dead simple to DIY to uneven walls.
The tiles are quite expensive at around £80 a square metre, but practically zero wastage.
I'll be doing the same thing above the bathroom vanity units. Around £40 for a 1.5 metre run in stainless 23mm mosaic. Resin/quartz/glass would be at least 3 times the price, and be a hassle to fit to the slightly bowed wall.
Relatively easy to keep clean. Dead simple to DIY to uneven walls.
The tiles are quite expensive at around £80 a square metre, but practically zero wastage.
I'll be doing the same thing above the bathroom vanity units. Around £40 for a 1.5 metre run in stainless 23mm mosaic. Resin/quartz/glass would be at least 3 times the price, and be a hassle to fit to the slightly bowed wall.
@OP IMO I don't think that anyone can help you too much without seeing what your kitchen will look like as it depends on many things, the colour of the worktops, the colour of the cabinets, the cabinet layout etc. as well as personal taste
Personally I think that the worktop upstands often look great but when we had our kitchen done a couple of years ago we decided it wouldn't work for us and decided to get a photo taken from our house turned into the splashback to inject both a personal touch and some colour into the room.
Cost wise it was pretty good, I think it came in at less than £150 and the colours mean it doesn't need constant cleaning but it's really easy to wipe down when needed.
Personally I think that the worktop upstands often look great but when we had our kitchen done a couple of years ago we decided it wouldn't work for us and decided to get a photo taken from our house turned into the splashback to inject both a personal touch and some colour into the room.
Cost wise it was pretty good, I think it came in at less than £150 and the colours mean it doesn't need constant cleaning but it's really easy to wipe down when needed.
SkinnyPete said:
Glass seems like a popular option, but again, to me, glass attracts fingerprints and dust and needs to be cleaned constantly.
I fitted custom-made glass splashbacks; they don't get fingerprints as I don't ever need to put my fingers on them. Some fat splatters behind the hob obviously but glass is easy to clean. I like them because it keeps the space looking more open.Another vote for a glass splashback here. Dead easy to clean and does allow for light to reflect if there are any darker areas in the kitchen. We went with glass rather than continuing the worktop (or whatever people call it) up the walls as we wanted to focus the eye on the horizontal surfaces rather than the vertical surfaces.
My parents went for small limestone tiles when they had their kitchen done and the tiles and the grouting proved to be a nightmare to keep clean.
My parents went for small limestone tiles when they had their kitchen done and the tiles and the grouting proved to be a nightmare to keep clean.
Depends on the kitchen layout, how it's framed by walls,cabinets, steels etc but in general I like quartz running up the wall full width (not just behind the cooker or sink). Tiles can also look very nice to add texture or interest. I wanted the worktop up the wall, partner didn't so we just painted it. To be honest it didn't get that dirty (behind the sink) and if you make up a touch up pen with the wall paint only takes a second to sort. After a while we decided to add some off white textured tiles for interest and ran them about 60cm up the wall before adding an oak shelf to frame them
Not a fan of the glass splashbacks apart from the antique glass ones which can look stylish if done right
Not a fan of the glass splashbacks apart from the antique glass ones which can look stylish if done right
Edited by SEDon on Tuesday 2nd July 10:02
It all greatly depends on stylistic preferences and the kitchen design/look.
I’ve had granite worktops with a small upstand, then just painted walls. Behind the oven/hob I overpainted the wall with a matt varnish which you couldn’t see but meant it could be wiped down easier.
I’ve also had traditional kitchens with painted bead and butt MDF above a small upstand, looked good. Also had a kitchen with a smoked & bubbled glass splash back inside a chimney breast holding an Aga, that looks really good.
Personally I think tiles in a kitchen are a bit passé now, especially if going right down to the worktop. The grout isn’t very practical in a couple of the zones.
I’m also not a huge fan personally of tall splash backs all the way to the underside of the cabinets, but that’s a personal thing and it wouldn’t work with the kitchens I tend to get - which have individual wall cabinets rather than long runs.
I’ve had granite worktops with a small upstand, then just painted walls. Behind the oven/hob I overpainted the wall with a matt varnish which you couldn’t see but meant it could be wiped down easier.
I’ve also had traditional kitchens with painted bead and butt MDF above a small upstand, looked good. Also had a kitchen with a smoked & bubbled glass splash back inside a chimney breast holding an Aga, that looks really good.
Personally I think tiles in a kitchen are a bit passé now, especially if going right down to the worktop. The grout isn’t very practical in a couple of the zones.
I’m also not a huge fan personally of tall splash backs all the way to the underside of the cabinets, but that’s a personal thing and it wouldn’t work with the kitchens I tend to get - which have individual wall cabinets rather than long runs.
If using tiles, and you are likely to get grease or food splashes, use epoxy grout.
Non-porous, so relatively easy to scrub clean.
I had tiled worktops in my first house - 40 years ago, so probably quite fashionable at the time. I used white epoxy grout.
I was very careless when making tea and coffee, got it everywhere on the worktop.
A quick scrub every few months with scouring powder and a nail brush, and it came up like new.
It was very messy to apply though, being impossible to wash off sponges/tools.
Non-porous, so relatively easy to scrub clean.
I had tiled worktops in my first house - 40 years ago, so probably quite fashionable at the time. I used white epoxy grout.
I was very careless when making tea and coffee, got it everywhere on the worktop.
A quick scrub every few months with scouring powder and a nail brush, and it came up like new.
It was very messy to apply though, being impossible to wash off sponges/tools.
Here's a couple of pics of ours. The kitchen is an old stable so an odd shape. We went for 100mm silestone to match the surface and then metro tiles. Fully tiled on one side and part tiled on the other. Works well and we like the look. Not perfect but the best compromise we could come up with. Still need to put some shelves up.
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