Shopping for a kitchen splashback means first making sense of the different materials available, among which you will come across two primary materials used in the manufacture of kitchen splashbacks:

• Toughened glass splashbacks
• Acrylic (or plastic) splashbacks

To a degree, choosing between the two is as much about personal preference as anything else. They can both look fantastic, they both provide robust protection for the surface beneath and they can both be customised in a variety of ways.

But when it comes to the gold standard of kitchen splashbacks, one of the two is considered superior to the other. While a toughened glass splashback may cost more, it is a small price to pay for what you get in return.
With this in mind, here are the four biggest advantages of toughened glass splashbacks, over comparable acrylic and plastic installations:

Clean and Hygienic

The surface of a glass splashback is completely impervious to grease, grime, bacteria and water. It is a non-porous surface that cannot be penetrated by anything that comes into contact with. This means that not only does a glass splashback repel everything from germs to bacteria to viruses, but that it can also be cleaned hygienically using almost any household cleaning product. A quick wipe on occasion is all it takes to keep a glass splashback sanitary, while at the same time keeping visible dirt and stains at bay.

Heat and Impact Resistant

By its nature, a splashback is designed to withstand fairly heavy treatment. This is particularly true for splashbacks positioned behind cookers or worktops, where high temperatures and frequent knocks are the norm. While an acrylic splashback can offer a good deal of protection, the protective properties of a glass splashback are far superior. Toughened glass can withstand temperatures of up to 400° C, while withstanding surprisingly heavy hits from both blunt and sharp objects.

Cost-Effectiveness

Thanks to its durability, a toughened glass splashback can have an indefinite lifespan. With just the bare minimum care and attention, it is perfectly possible for a glass splashback to last the lifetime of the kitchen. There is little to nothing that can compromise the integrity or performance of a glass splashback, which could provide decades of protection for your walls and surfaces. All of which adds up to unbeatable value for money, as a quality glass splashback is the kind of thing you only have to buy once.

Unbeatable Aesthetic Appeal

The visual appeal of a quality glass splashback is second to none. The beauty of a bespoke splashback lies in the limitless scope of customisation and personalisation. A toughened glass surface is naturally beautiful, reflecting light back into the kitchen to create a more spacious and airy feel. Splashbacks can be crafted in any shape and size acquired, and finished in almost any colour, design or pattern imaginable; a great way to bring life and light into any kitchen without resorting to major renovations.

There has never been more choice of kitchen splashbacks available to UK consumers as there is right now. In the past it was simply stainless steel or wall tiles but now there are a multitude of options available. Choosing the right splashback for your kitchen should be easy then right? You would certainly think so but the problem is sifting through all the options to find the right type of splashback for your kitchen.

Coloured Glass Kitchen Splashbacks

As with tiles, glass kitchen splashbacks are available in any colour you can imagine. Made from toughened glass in made to order or "stock sizes", they can be used behind any kitchen hob and heat resistant so they will not break. Toughened glass splashbacks are even suitable for use behind gas hobs, range cookers and AGAs. One main feature of a coloured glass kitchen splashback is that they are incredibly easy to fit yourself, just add some blobs of adhesive or silicone to the rear colour coated side and fix to your wall. If you have ordered the right size ok you should have one fitted in a few minutes, as simple a DIY task as you can imagine.

The other main feature of a coloured glass kitchen splashback is that it is very easy to find one to compliment your kitchen colour scheme, as they can literally be made in ANY colour.

Printed Glass Kitchen Splashbacks

Technology has came a long way in the last 10 years in the glass and printing industry and one huge advancement is the arrival of large format flatbed printers. Flatbed printers allow us to digitally print directly onto the glass itself using UV ink. In the past, printed kitchen splashbacks were made by adhering a piece of printed vinyl to the rear of the glass. Unfortunately kitchen splashbacks made this way (vinyl backed) had a very limited lifespan as the vinyl itself would degrade and the adhsive used to atttach them to the wall also tended to affect them (if shopping on other websites or ebay it is worth checking as many cheaper printed kitchen splashbacks still use this method). Things have moved on though as mentioned and printing directly onto the glass itself means this is no longer a concern, the print will not degrade and as we use UV ink it will not fade.

Digital printing designs onto glass opens up an unlimited choice of designs and patterns but if you want a personalised glass splashback that is an option too. Once again, too much choice is not always a good thing when it comes to choosing the perfect design for your kitchen but it does mean that no matter what colour scheme your kitchen has you can always find the right design for your kitchen splashback.

Mirrored Kitchen Splashbacks

Glass Mirrored Kitchen Splashbacks are probably on the higher end of the range but a product that will definitely add value to your home. As the name suggests they are mirrors but for kitchen hobs they are (usually) made from toughened glass, unlike a normal mirror. As standard they are available in three mirror colours- standard silver mirror, bronze mirror and grey tinted mirror. Silver will go in the vast majority of kitchens as they mostly just reflect what is already in your kitchen. Grey and Bronze tinted mirror splashbacks are a little darker than silver and tinted/coloured but they will each further compliment the right kitchen (for example in a grey kitchen a grey tinted mirror is the perfect compliment and natural wood and white gloss kitchens may be better suited to bronze).

As with all of our glass kitchen splashbacks they are made from toughened glass and can be made to order so they are well suited for use behind a hob and they can be ordered to fit perfectly.

Antique mirror splashbacks may also now be made from toughened glass, we have found that many people do not want a simple reflection but something a little more to make more of a feature of their splashback.

Acrylic Kitchen Splashbacks

Glass and acrylic kitchen splashbacks are mostly made the same way, specialised paint is applied to the rear of the clear substrate, glass or acrylic, to add colour. Acrylic kitchen splashbacks can also be made to order to perfectly fit the space. The main differences between coloured glass and acrylic kitchen splashbacks are below.

Acrylic splashbacks are much softer than toughened glass, so they can be easily scratched - but scratches can be fairly easily polished out again if they do occur.

Acrylic splashbacks are only heat resistant to around 80C, so we would not recommend you use them behind your hob.

Other than the two differences above, although they are quite important differences, they look identical to a glass kitchen splashback. Due to the lack of heat resistance we would probably only recommend them for behind sinks and in bathrooms, where they are ideal.

Stainless Steel Kitchen Splashbacks

Stainless steel is a very practical product for a kitchen splashback, but not very aesthetically pleasing. The main reason they are used, mostly in commercial kitchens, is because they are biologically neutral so therefore antibacterial and easy to clean (although many of our customers would argue this point).

Stainless steel can be cut to any size so can be made to fit your kitchen but only available in the one colour. Stainless steel is highly temperature resistant so can be used behind any heat source so no problem behind any type of kitchen hob. The main drawback with a stainless steel splashback is that it only comes in one colour so not so easy to match your kitchen decor but if you have a stainless steel hob then it will be a perfect match. Stainless steel is probably more of a functional product which you would view more of as an appliance but certainly a great option if you need a functional and affordable solution.

Kitchen Wall Tiles

There is no doubt that kitchen wall tiles can look beautiful, especially when first installed. Kitchen tiles have been around for centuries and there are countless high street retailers offering them so you are not spoilt for choice and it should be very easy to find a tile to match your kitchen. Also very heat resistant so once again they can be used behind all types of kitchen hob. The main drawback with kitchen tiles is of course tile grout which is prone to staining and not very hygenic so they do need a lot more cleaning and maintenance than other kitchen splashback options. Not every kitchen will suit the modern look of a glass or acrylic splashback so tiling your kitchen wall is by no means a thing of the past and will forever be a popular choice in the kitchen.

Summary

When choosing a kitchen splashback the main thing is to choose one that matches your kitchen colour scheme. All the above options are suitable for use in a kitchen but keep in mind the heat resistant properties and of course how much time you wish to spend cleaning and maintaing them.

Ask 100 people to describe their dream kitchen splashbacks and you will probably get 100 different answers. Truth is, there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ when it comes to choosing colours and finishes.

It depends entirely on what you want to get out of your splashback, in terms of its design and practicality.

Of course, getting to grips with the options available can seem daunting at first, nevertheless, it is relatively easy to narrow things down to a shortlist of contenders.

With this in mind, here are four approaches to choosing an attractive and functional splashback for your kitchen:

Choose A Complementary Colour

Many (if not most) buyers choose to go with a splashback in a complementary colour. This means opting for a colour that blends in seamlessly with your existing décor. It doesn’t necessarily mean picking a splashback that is the same colour as the rest of your kitchen, but something that fits in beautifully with its surroundings. Perhaps consider the colours and finishes of the other features and fixtures in your kitchen, choosing one of these for the colour of your splashback.

Make It into A Feature

This is basically the exact opposite approach, where you deliberately choose a colour that stands out boldly and prominently. This can be a great way of bringing a pop of colour into your kitchen, creating an eye-catching feature and focus point. If you are planning on making a feature of your splashback, experiment with as many bold (and even brash) colour choices as you like.

Consider A Mirrored Finish

Mirrored splashbacks can look the part in a wide variety of kitchens. Reflective surfaces are particularly effective when introduced to smaller interior spaces, creating a feeling of space and light. It is also worth remembering that a mirrored splashback can be tinted in almost any shade. This is an option well worth considering, if you are looking to brighten up your kitchen and make the space feel larger than it actually is.

Simply Choose Your Favourite

Last but not least, the easiest approach of all is to simply forget all of the above entirely. Rather than complicating things with various considerations regarding contrast and cohesion, why not just choose a splashback you love the most? The important point to remember is that if it works for you, that really is all that matters. Never base your decisions on current, past or future trends – base them entirely on your own personal preferences.

At DIY Splashbacks, we would be delighted to provide you with an obligation-free consultation to help you choose your perfect kitchen splashback. Call or e-mail our customer support team and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Antique Mirror Splashbacks

One continuing trend for interiors and specifically kitchens in 2020 is Antique Mirror.

Synonoumous with the beautiful work of Humprey Munson Kitchens who were among the first to introduce them in to kitchens in the UK, Antique Mirror Splashbacks are now an afforable option to add luxury and elegance in to any kitchen design. 

Is mirror safe in a kitchen?

Ordinarily, it isn't as straight forward as buying a piece of mirror, or popping one out of a frame and sticking it behind your hob. For safety reasons this isn't possible, as mirrors are not normally manufactured in toughened glass. This means that if they are knocked, or exposed to extremes of heat they will shatter.

DIY Splashbacks tinted and antique mirror splashbacks are manufactured in-house from toughened safety glass, meaning home owners can have no concerns over their safety in the kitchen. Using state of the art techniques, each one of our mirror splashbacks is made-to-order by the DIY Splashbacks team. We take the quality and safety of our products very seriously! Our splashbacks are both heat resistant and shatter resistant! 

Made to Measure

All of our glass splashback products are made-to-measure, meaning you can have a glass splashback that fits perfectly in to your space. This stunning kitchen above combines two of 2020's biggest trends, Graphite Grey, and Antique Mirror. This elegant look is sure to withstand the test of time.

Not limited to classic kitchens!

At DIY Splashbacks, we encourage you to defy convention and exercise your creativity! So although Antique Mirror is typically paired with classic kitchens, we love to see these in other spaces.

This stunning contemporary kitchen below uses an Antique Mirror Splashback to contrast with an otherwise minimalist room. This savy homeowner opted for laminate up-stands on the perimeter of their kitchen, and simply fitted a splashback behind the hob. This is a clever, budget friendly way to achieve an elegant look, without the cost of a fully fitted splashback. 

Tell me more!

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Click here to explore our range of Mirror Splashbacks : Discover More

Mirror Mirror on the wall

At DIY Splashbacks, we're passionate about staying ahead of trends- bringing you quality and innovation at afforable prices.

Our team have been developing a new range of products due to launch during 2019. We're working on some unique, highly bespoke mirror products to add to our portfolio.

Let's start with this stunning Moroccan Tiles Antique Mirror Glass Splashback.

As with all of our glass splashbacks, this is made from toughened glass so can be used behind any hob, including gas.

The tile pattern is a recreation of some of the most popular moroccan tile designs, all in grey scale, with a highly reflective mirror finish.

The splashback pictured here is a bespoke size but we can manufacture and deliver in any size up to a maximum size of 1.5 metres by 2.5 metres.

Our splashbacks can also be cut to fit around (behind) electrical sockets and we can even recommend installers across the UK who can fully measure and fit our products for you.

For more information on this exciting new product, you can visit the product page or email us.