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Blog posts of '2022' 'November'

How to Liven Up a Room with a Splashback

Kitchen and bathroom splashback design has come a long way over the years.  At one time, splashbacks were installed for the sole purpose of protecting surfaces from stains and damage. They were available in a broad range of materials, but practicality always took precedence over presentation.

Today, high-end glass splashbacks deliver the best of both worlds. They can be customised in a limitless range of shapes, sizes, colours and designs, with the added bonus of being exceptionally durable and long-lasting.

If anything, you are more likely to find yourself spoilt for choice than struggling for appropriate options to choose from.

One option is to select a splashback that blends in seamlessly with its surroundings; a look that can be equally attractive in classical and contemporary kitchens alike and is fairly easy to achieve.

But if your goal is to breathe life into a kitchen or bathroom with a splashback, it’s worth getting a little more creative.

With this in mind, here are five simple yet effective ways a bathroom or kitchen can be livened up with a toughened glass splashback:

1. Light it up

One popular option with glass splashbacks is to accompany the panel with a series of LEDs. An illuminated glass splashback can be particularly striking and is a fairly simple project to go about. LED strip lights are easy to install and can be just the thing for enhancing the visual appeal of a glass splashback. Along with performing an important practical function, your illuminated splashback instantly becomes the primary point of focus for the entire space.

2. Accent Colours

This is where you effectively go for the opposite of a splashback that fades in almost invisibly with its surroundings. If the rest of your kitchen is decorated in fairly neutral tones or has a monochromatic colour scheme, adding a beautiful burst of colour to the whole thing could be quite transformative. Glass splashbacks can be customised to feature any colour and hue you can think of, so there’s plenty of scope for creativity. It is also possible to combine numerous colours into the same splashback if you are feeling particularly innovative.

3. Mirror Effect

Another surprisingly simple way to transform the look and feel of any kitchen or bathroom is to install a mirror-effect splashback. Doing so brings an instant touch of sophistication into the space, while at the same time bringing it to life with a beautiful (yet subtle) visual accent. Mirrored splashbacks look great in their own right, but also offer the benefit of creating a lighter and brighter interior.  This can be most effective of all in compact kitchens, or those that lack an abundance of natural light.

4. Metallic Finishes

The same can also be said for splashbacks with a metallic-effect finish, which never fail to bring a sense of luxury and elegance into the home. The full range of metallic-effect splashback designs available is huge – everything from dull matte finishes to super-shiny polished metals; modern alloys, classic copper, rich bronze – all without the high price of a real metal splashback and with the unrivalled durability and versatility of a toughened-glass panel.

5. Bespoke Designs

A high-end splashback gives you the opportunity to boost the visual appeal of your kitchen or bathroom. But if you are looking to transform your interiors with something truly unique, why not opt for a bespoke splashback? With bespoke splashback design, you can customise all aspects of your splashback to suit your exact tastes and preferences. There is even the option of submitting your own images to be printed on your splashback, resulting in a genuine one-of-a-kind finish.

Glass Splashbacks Vs. Quartz Stone Splashbacks: Which is Better?

Splashbacks have graced homes and businesses for generations, playing an important role in protecting surfaces from stains, splatters and damage. Today, the market for kitchen splashbacks is larger and more diverse than it has ever been.

In terms of material choices, colours, designs and configurations, your splashback can be anything you want it to be.

Even so, there are two materials used in the manufacture of splashbacks that remain more popular than most others. One of which is toughened glass, while the other is classic quartz.

Take a look at either of these splashback types and there’s no denying their instant visual appeal. But assuming you only plan on bringing one of the two into your home, which is best?

Is there a clear winner between glass and quartz splashbacks, or is it purely a judgment call?

Let’s take a look at the benefits and features of both in a little more detail:

Classic Quartz Splashbacks

Natural quartz is renowned for its exceptional strength and durability. It is an extremely tough and hard-wearing stone that can stand up to even the toughest punishment and still look completely flawless.

Quartz is naturally heat-resistant, making it great for use in kitchens and more challenging environments. It also has a non-porous surface that is stain-resistant and will not allow germs and bacteria to accumulate. The potential lifespan of quartz is indefinite and no ongoing maintenance is required after a stone splashback has been installed.

Another huge point of appeal with quartz is its fantastic appearance – most natural stone finishes are timeless in their elegance and sophistication. In addition, each and every piece of quartz is unique in its appearance, so you’re guaranteed a one-of-a-kind addition to your home.

On the downside, a quartz splashback will naturally be somewhat on the heavy side and could therefore be a little more difficult than a comparable splashback to install. Also, Quartz splashbacks can be comparatively expensive, given how the material itself carries a much higher price than most similar splashback materials.

Glass Splashbacks

Meanwhile, toughened-glass splashbacks bring many of the same benefits to the table. Toughened glass is put through a manufacturing and finishing process that results in an exceptionally durable and robust material. It can stand up to all types of everyday knocks and abrasions in the kitchen and can also withstand temperatures as high as 300° C.

This basically means that anywhere you would be thinking about installing a quartz splashback, you could also fit a toughened-glass panel.

Like quartz, toughened glass has a non-porous surface that is easy to clean and prevents the accumulation of germs and bacteria. Absolutely no ongoing maintenance is required, other than the occasional wipe to keep it clean. Glass splashbacks also have the potential to offer an indefinite lifespan and can be easier to install than quartz panels as they are not as heavy.

Unsurprisingly, a glass splashback will also cost you significantly less than a comparable quartz splashback.

...and the Winner is?

Choosing between the two is largely a judgment call.

With a toughened-glass splashback, you can choose a panel with a finish that looks 100% identical to natural quartz, complete with a much lower price tag and a panel that is easy to install. Not to mention, much greater flexibility in terms of the shape, size, and finish of the splashback you choose.

Elsewhere, some would argue that the sophistication and prestige of a real quartz splashback make it a better choice.

Hence, it is a case of whether you prioritise practicality and value for money over prestige. A glass splashback can bring your kitchen the same benefits as a quartz splashback at a significantly lower price, and is therefore the more cost-effective of the two options by far.