Brilliant splashbacks for kitchens

Splashbacks for kitchens have become the cornerstone of the modern look at home, but there are endless choices for you, so which one should you choose? We caught up with expert David Hall to find out what would best suit your kitchen design.

Are patterned or designed splashbacks becoming more popular?

Definitely. I think the first big trend in this area was the coloured glass splashback and then people started to play around using wallpaper to create a unique effect. But an emerging trend is having a design or pattern custom made to suit your particular kitchen and tastes.

How is the pattern put onto the glass?

The design is printed up into a banner-sized piece of artwork – usually onto heavy-duty paper stock, but it can also be printed to an adhesive material – which is then applied to the low-iron, toughened glass by the glazier or splashback manufacturer prior to installation.

Can you change the design or pattern after installation if you don't like it?

No. Much like any glass splashback, or even tiled splashback, once it's installed, it's permanent. So you have to be fairly happy and confident with the design that you've chosen.

How can you ensure that?

It's a good idea to have a trial run. The biggest cost in the whole operation is likely to be the glass rather than the actual artwork, so if possible, pay for your designer to produce a trial version that you can stick up on the wall to get an idea of what the final product will look like.

What's your advice for choosing a design?

Different people will obviously like different things, but it's best to choose something that goes well with the style of your kitchen, that won't date too quickly and something that you can imagine yourself living with and looking at every day for the next 10 years.

What other considerations are there?

Think about what will live in front of the splashback – if you like to permanently have a few items out on the benchtop, how will that look in front of the design? Will it be too cluttered? It pays to think about how you'll actually use your kitchen before you make a final decision.

Contact a kitchen designer in your area to find out the kinds of splashbacks for kitchens that are available for your home: