05 - The Kitchen Splashback as a Feature

Stop Treating the Splashback as an Afterthought

For years, the kitchen splashback has been treated primarily as something practical: a small area of wall designed to protect the surface behind the hob or sink. But increasingly, it is becoming one of the most considered parts of the kitchen.

A well-chosen wall tile can do far more than protect the wall. It can introduce colour, texture, movement and personality — often becoming the detail that brings the entire kitchen together.

This is particularly effective when the cabinetry itself is relatively restrained. Shaker doors in a soft neutral, for example, can take on an entirely different character when paired with a deep green glazed tile or a warm, irregularly finished ceramic. Equally, a simple cream kitchen can be given a more sophisticated backdrop through subtle tonal variation rather than bold colour.

The size of the splashback matters too. Rather than automatically stopping the tile at a conventional height, consider taking it from the worktop to the underside of the wall units, or even continuing the tile upwards where the architecture allows. Full-height tiled areas are increasingly being used to make the wall feel like one continuous design surface.

And the beauty of a tiled splashback is that you don't necessarily need a complicated pattern to make an impact. A beautifully glazed tile installed in a simple stacked layout can be more striking than an elaborate design.

Design thought: Your splashback isn't the gap between the worktop and the cupboards. It's an opportunity to define the kitchen.