How can a splashback improve your kitchen design?

Glass kitchen splashbacks are fast becoming the material of choice over tiles and stainless steel when it comes to protecting your kitchen walls and it's easy to see why. Glass tiled kitchens have no grouting, they're easy to clean and most importantly, they're DIY friendly. Here at DIY Splashbacks we have been specialists in the field since 2009 and ship across the UK and Ireland, providing our customers high quality, heat-resitant splashbacks to suit any kitchen design, behind any hob.

"I'm not sure if I want a colour or a design!"

We pride ourselves on offering a variety of designs on our splashbacks, from timeless shades of cream and grey to bold decorative patterns - there really is something for everyone. For those with a plain colour in mind, we offer painted splashbacks that can be matched as close as possible to a specific paint, fabric or even objects. 

* Unfortunately we cannot ever guarantee a 100% match due to a difference in materials but we try our hardest to match to a reference.

If you're looking for something bold as a focal point of your kitchen then we ofference patterned glass and textured glass splashbacks. One of our most popular styles of printed glass splashbacks is those from our faux tile effect collection - get that medditerranean feel without the need for grouting, labour and expense. Our glass is cheap to purchase and as you place it from the comfort of your own home with our very straight forward application guide, you can do it at your pace and when the time is right for you.

Picture: Waves Splashback

For those out there with an artistic eye, we have recently opened up our marketplace, this is a platform which allows creatives to upload their art to be sold as a splashback. We had previously worked with three artists over the course of five years to produce designer splashbacks that proved to be a big hit - now our designer selection has widened and there is a variety of fabric arts to traditional painting, photography, abstract and everything in between. 

"I can't find what I want!"

Do you have something in mind and you can't find quite what you're looking for? We can also do custom splashbacks. We will happily take any image over a suitable file size and quality of at least 4mb, or any image off Shutterstock and put it onto a splashback for you. This allows you to fully personalised a splashback for your kitchen. In the past we've done holiday pictures, pictures of pets, family and more. Personalised splashbacks are a one of a kind statement in the heart of your familys home.

What's the finish on your glass?

Our glass comes in a standard highly reflective gloss finish which elevates a room by reflecting light from windows and fixings to create the illusion of a bigger space.

However we also offer frosted and brushed glass. Frosted glass, or brushed glass is an almost opaque finish that we can offer on our all of our splashbacks it's cloudy in appearance and provides a beautiful matte finish to a kitchen. This type of finish is well suited for darker colours and clear glass as it has a higher iron content than our standard gloss, which can lead to a green tinge in lighter colours, including patterns and designs. 

"But my DIY skills aren't up to scratch and it's a big area!"

One of the most common questions we get is "How big can you make your glass, do you cut to size?" The simple answer is yes, to both. We have standard stock sizes but we also offer fully bespoke, made-to-measure splashbacks. We have the glass cut to size based on the measurements provided and can also do complex shaping such as around plug sockets and curved cooker hoods. For larger pieces pieces requiring cut-outs, we offer a measure and fit service. We measure the area you're looking to cover, we are able to give you a price based on the measurements and then we fit the splashback for you. Our measure and fit service is fairly priced and depends on your location and the size of the job. 

Whatever the space, the dream and the idea, we will be here to help you achieve it.

How hygienic are glass splashbacks, and are they easier to clean than tiles?

Glass splashbacks have many wonderful properties, however one of the biggest benefits of opting for glass over tiles  is their easy-clean qualities...

1. Far fewer pieces than tiles -

No matter what size of tile you opt for, there are generally many many tiles on each wall. Glass Splashbacks are available up to 2.4m in length, meaning it's possible to clad entire walls with one or two pieces in total. 

Image Source: www.cosmopolithome.com

2. Fewer pieces means fewer joins and no grout to clean! -

If your wall is larger than 2.4m, you might need a second panel of glass. However, glass splashbacks are simply butted together (see below) and sealed with silicone. This is much easier to clean and maintain than messy tile grout. Glass splashbacks also butt on to worktops and shower trays (also check out our coloured acrylic bathroom and shower panels)- with another fine amount of silicone to seal. If tiling, this area is usually grouted. Over time the grout cracks or errodes leaving an opportunity for water penetration.

3. Glass Splashbacks are entirely flat-

Unlike tiles which can be uneven or even textured, glass splashbacks are as flat as is physically possible. This means there is no opportunity for dirt, mould and germs to build up on the surface, making glass splashbacks a more hygienic option.

4. Splashbacks are as non-pourous as possible-

Glass splashbacks are entirely flat, but even though they are machine made, they still have very tiny pores. Ceramic tiles are pourous (some more than others, such as natural stone) and therefore they can be like sponges for grime. 

There are no statistics for how fewer pores glass has compared to tiles, however you only have to touch your windows and mirrors to compare. Glass is as smooth and resistant to dirt as physically possible.

Image Source: www.opticalcoatings.com

To further mitigate against germs and dirt, we offer an EasyClean Coating with our glass splashbacks. This is essentially a glass scotchguard. Our EasyClean Coating can be added to your order during the quotation process.

The coating is applied to the surface of the glass and essentially seals the tiny pores- ensuring germs and grime cannot penetrate at all.

Effectively water would bead and run straight off the glass (see above).

5. In a world of germs and diseases like coronavirus, wipeable surfaces protect against infection!-

For all the benefits above, glass splashbacks are the best and most hygienic option for kitchen walls. Wipeable in seconds, your kitchen and bathroom will be as sterile as possible.

As we launch our new LUXE Glass Splashbacks Collection, we explore some of the ways to create a LUXE look in your kitchen. 

Subtle Metal Touches

Metal never goes out of date, however we think some of the recent trends to hit the high street went a bit too far! The Copper Pandemic saw an explosion of copper on to literally everything from handles (we love) to matching bins and kitchen roll holders (not so much love for these). 

However metal is always welcome in Interior Design as it adds depth, and is a perfect way to ground a scheme. The above kitchen by Mark Wilkinson uses a subtle hint of copper through the cabinet handles and lighting. It's just enough copper to make it interesting! We do offer a range of luxe glass splashbacks that will also perfectly suit these luxe kitchens.

This kitchen uses brass as the secondary colour in the scheme. Rather than being religated to the sidelines, the brass wall cabinets stand out as a feature- this is balanced by the marine blue colour of the other cabinets, so it somehow remains elegant (when it would ordinarily be too much!).

We're used to seeing metal in kitchen design via handles and hardware, however this is also an easy way to keep up with trends. Opting for a colour that's currently in vogue is easy with handles, as they can be changed relatively inexpensively when you tire of them. The above brass 'knurled' handles are huge for 2020, but their subtle texture means they will remain fashionable for years to come. 

We're huge fans of Karndean & Amtico flooring. If you haven't heard of them, it's definitely worthwhile looking them up when you are selecting the flooring for your new kitchen. They are effectively vinyl planks that look like wood, meaning you can have a wood-look floor in your kitchen without the concerns over leaks and dents! One of the beautiful things about this type of flooring is that you can add accessories such as metal strips in to the design. The above image sourced on Pinterest shows a brass trim on a limed-oak effect floor in a hall. This could just as easily be a kitchen, and the trim could wrap around an island beautifully adding the subtlest hint of metal. Worried about splashes from cooking on a kitchen island? Our kitchen island splashbacks may be the solution.

Lighting is another key way to add luxury, and also incorporate metals in to a design. These striking feature lights add impact above the kitchen's island.

Groupings of three small to medium lights work well over islands and peninsulas, however size is important. If a pendant is large, it is sometimes better to opt for two pendants and review the spacing.

Pantone Colour Of The Year

For over two decades, Pantone’s Color of the Year has influenced product development and across fashion and homeware, well as product packaging and graphic design.

The Pantone Color of the Year involves trend analysis. To arrive at the selection each year, Pantone’s color experts at the Pantone Color Institute comb the world looking for new color influences.

This can include the entertainment industry and films in production, traveling art collections and new artists, fashion, all areas of design, popular travel destinations, as well as new lifestyles, playstyles, and socio-economic conditions. Influences may also stem from new technologies, materials, textures, and effects that impact color, relevant social media platforms and even upcoming sporting events that capture worldwide attention.

Trending

As mentioned above, The Pantone Power House is so influential in Interior Design, that you'll often find their recommended colours trickling down in to High Street schemes & products but this year's shade has been growing in popularity since 2017.

Although not a direct match, Farrow & Ball probably started the Inky Blue trend in the UK at the beginning with Drawing Room Blue (shown above). Still a very popular colour today.

Kitchen Design

Next to embrace the blue trend were UK Kitchen Designers. Blue has become increasingly popular as a feature island colour, and for the brave- an entire kitchen. 

Although gorgeously trendy, do you love it enough to commit to an entire kitchen?

Glass & Acrylic Splashbacks

Slightly less of a commitment, many clients opt for a blue glass splashback. Opting for blue as an accent colour is an easy way to embrace a trend, without the expense of re-painting your kitchen in a few years should you tire of it. 

Future Proofing

Glass Splashbacks are afforable, and easy to fit / remove. Our splashbacks are manufactured from toughened safety glass meaning they can be removed in one piece. Depending on the amount of adhesive you used originally, most walls are usually in great shape afterwards. This gives clients the opportunity to change their splashbacks as often as they like- without the expense of re-plastering or drafting in a tiler!

However, let's not get ahead of ourselves! We're confident that kitchen design will include blue for many years to come. 

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!

If you are interest in a similar look, why not get an instant quote today?

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.

Acrylic Splashbacks

When new kitchen worktops are installed it can be nice, especially with stone and quartz, to continue this around your kitchen with matching upstands and cooker splashback.

A nice high gloss complimentary finishing touch can be coloured acrylic splashbacks. The reflective, glass effect, finish can really lift the kitchen and add more light and colour to areas that are usually overlooked (and hard to clean).

Take it to the top

The below example makes a feature out of areas above, under and around the kitchen cupboards and we are sure you will agree brings a real pop to the kitchen colour palette.

Blue acrylic splashbacks surrounding the kitchen wall units

Blue acrylic splashbacks under wall units and around windows

Easy Installation

This kitchen looks so much more vibrant with this extra colour added and the problem areas to keep clean are now much easier to maintain. Our acrylic splashbacks are very easily cut using HSS drill and jigsaw bits (do not use normal power tool bits, HSS bits have many more, smaller, teeth and will not cause any problems). Using our cutting service we can cut the panels to the correct heights and widths for you leaving you to simply cut around sockets using conventional power tools. You can of course also ask your kitchen fitter  to do this, it's just as easy as cutting a laminate worktop!

Perfect in Bathrooms too!

Acrylic is not only suitable for most areas in the kitchen but you can also use it in the bathroom to create seamless coloured, easy to clean walls. Shower panels without the need for grout are a must as you minimise the number of areas where moisture sits therefore less areas where mould can grow. Add our easy clean coating and your shower or bathroom walls will be incredibly low maintenance as the water will run off just as it does with self cleaning glass windows.

Get an instant quotation

You can check prices and preview thousands of colours on our acrylic splashbacks page here.

How to fit an Acrylic Splashback

Acrylic Splashbacks are incredibly easy to fit, you are essentially sticking a lighweight panel to a wall using silicone. 

It's easy in just a few steps...

1. To measure the height, measure from the top of the area to be covered to the bottom and subtract 2-4mm for expansion

2. For the width use the same method (where panels meet each other do not allow any room for expansion at this edge).

3. Cut the panel to the desired height and width using a suitable power tool with the correct bit (HSS bits for a jigsaw for example).

 Should you need to drill the acrylic again mark the location of the hole required and drill using an HSS drill bit.

4. Lay the board painted or printed side up carefully protecting the front so it does not get scratched

5. Apply our Neutral Cure Silicone to the rear painted side of the panel. It is low modulus, so for really uneven walls you can use more in any shallow areas and it will be asily compressed.

6. Press the panel to the wall until these is zero bounce

7. Seal the edges with the same neutral cure silcione to prevent water ingress and extend the product lifespan

Photo of a typical amount of adesive applied, use more if the wall is uneven

Are Acrylic Splashbacks Heat Resistant?

Unlike Glass Splashbacks, Acrylic Splashbacks can start to melt and deform at 80C and are liquid at 160C so they are not very heat resistant. There are options though...

Induction Hobs

Acrylic Splashbacks can be used behind an induction hob, hot pots and pans should not come into contact with an acrylic splashback.

As all the heat is applied to pots and pans on induction hobs via a magnet there is very little heat loss- so they are highly efficient and the surrounding area has little excess heat. As long as there is not direct contact with a heated pot or pan (at the above temperatures) acrylic splashbacks are perfectly suitable behind an induction hob. For all other hob types we would recommend glass splashbacks (clear, coloured or digitally printed)

Mix glass and acrylic splashbacks

As our glass splashbacks are made from low iron glass and the acrylic is high grade clear perspex, there is minimal colour distortion from either material.

This allows you to use both glass and acrylic panels on your kitchen wall- a glass splashback behind the hob (heat source) and should you wish to keep costs down by cutting the acrylic on site yourself, acrylic splashbacks for the remaining walls, creating a fully fitted look.

The high gloss finish of our glass splashbacks and the high gloss finish of our glass effect acrylic panels mean they are indistinguishable when side by side.

Glass and Acrylic splashbacks can be mixed and matched!

What is an upstand?

In kitchen terms, an upstand is a small strip of kitchen worktop, glass or acrylic usually 100-150mm in height that fits in the rear wall edge of your kitchen worktop.

Historically these were made from 18mm laminate or stone and used to hide any gaps between the kitchen worktop and the wall behind (walls are rarely completely flat).

More recently though they are available to compliment glass and acrylic splashbacks (see below)

As you can see, using the same colour of glass upstand as the glass splashback has really added a feature to this minimalist white gloss kitchen.

The above is something you can very easily measure and fit yourself for a few hunder pounds and allows you to introduce stronger colours to your kitchen pallette without overdoing it. 

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