The Splashback Handbook
A splashback can be glass, acrylic, ceramic, porcelain…even polished mirrors are used sometimes!
At the end of the day, this surface needs to protect your wall from whatever life may throw at it, be that grease spots, toothpaste smears or condensation. This mini handbook has advice on choosing the most effective material, as well as handy tips on interior design!
Narrowing Down The Splashback
Many people focus on splashbacks for their kitchen, but they’re a key part of bath and shower design too. In fact, anywhere that could get oily, wet or stained could do with a splashback, which is one reason why there’s so much variety!
Before quartz, glass or acrylic barriers became popular, porcelain was always the go-to material for a splashback. Practically, porcelain tiles are still the best option, as they’re cheaper, more versatile and heat resistant. Splashes and stains can be easily wiped away and condensation has no effect.
Ceramic tiles are very similar and, with a good glaze, they too can be used in wet areas. By contrast, glass sheets are very easy to get dirty, while acrylic tiles can’t be used near a source of heat – they run the risk of actually melting.
The Design Perspective
Many glass splashbacks look fairly similar – just a transparent square behind the stove. One of the pros of porcelain is the endless variety of sizes, colours, patterns and textures.
If you don’t know where to start with all this choice, consider the walls, floors and furniture already in your room. A good design rule is to pair the busy or the simple, so a patterned floor and bold cabinets might push you towards a quieter, more understated tile to inject a bit of calm, such as the lightly textured Peace Beige Concept Décor.
Conversely, some rooms are bland and lack a focal point. A strip of patterned tiling can make all the difference. For example, the Malvern Mix is a light purple tile with a simple motif. It adds an eye-catching pattern and a subtle colour, both of which would enliven a neutral colour scheme or quieten down a bold pink or purple room.
Some people like deep colours, but you may want to go for a monochrome look. In this case, consider a marble-effect tile like the Naos Blanco Mate. Dark, glossy kitchens are very much in style, but a white splashback like this pale marble helps to balance it out. On the other hand, a dark accent created with the Nero Marquina helps to define a white colour scheme.
A Bathroom Or Shower Splashback
We’re quite used to a big kitchen splashback, with tiles running from wall to wall. However, bathroom splashbacks can stay restricted to a small square behind the sink.
We would always advise a bigger splashback than you think you need. The question is, how much bigger?
One option is to tile the whole room in the same waterproof tiles. This can create a cohesive, organic design, especially when using large-format tiles with few grout lines. Our Neostone Cream Concept Décor makes for a peaceful environment, with all surfaces using the same light, harmonious design.
You could also try tiling just one wall, known as an accent. This is ideal for a shower splashback, behind the glass door. Large-format tiles work well here, but so do small, rectangular ones, as they can be arranged in attention-grabbing layouts, like herringbone.
Herringbone is a zig-zag design where every tile is arranged at right angles to another, and looks very dynamic over a bathtub. If the tiled area deliberately doesn’t reach the wall, it takes on the quality of a piece of art. You can even create your own design by integrating different colours of matching tiles, like Sage and Black Plaqueta. It’s an opportunity to let your creativity shine!
Explore Further
We’ve mentioned just a few of our favourite products, but you can explore more of our wall tiles on our website!
If you’d like some advice, come and talk to us in one of our Coventry, Rugby or Leamington showrooms. We also often have in-store-only offers that you can take advantage of!
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