Splashbacks are a functional alternative to traditional kitchen wall tiles. In most cases they are places where you would normally tile the walls behind your benchtops. So regardless if it's an acrylic or glass splashback, it will prevent water from destroying your walls.

Some current trends of kitchen splashbacks include; Glass window splashbacks, rustic timber, raw texture and single stone slab, yet ceramic and porcelain are atypically the most common choice of kitchen splashback. Many of the aforementioned spashback products are available from stores like Bunnings and Mitre 10, which are popular retailers Australia gets their tiles from, or more of the above trends mentioned can be found here.

There are several tile materials to choose from; glass, ceramic, porcelain, marble, granite and even metal. One big factor in deciding which of the best tile material to go for, is whether it is cheap or not. If you are on a budget, the best options include porcelain and ceramic. If you are able and willing to spend a bit more, you might want to consider more expensive options such as marble, granite, and glass.

The issue of style is not as important nowadays when choosing between various tile materials. Thanks to technology, alternatives to costly options like ceramic tiles, can even be designed to resemble marble or even a metal surface. This is beneficial when you want a specific look but at a cheaper price.

Depending on the colour and opacity of the splashback, this will vary in maintenance for the appearance or cleanliness of it. Similarly, the material will determine the colour, and with that being said, is fairly open to preference of the individual. Thanks to modern technology, almost any colour can be achieved depending on the material.

Again, depending on the splashback you choose, its maintenance may be different to let's say, acrylic or toughened glass. Both surface-level maintenance and replacements will vary.

Shape
If you prefer the look of a plain-tiled splashback without any pattern or bold colouring, you can still add some interest by playing around with shapes. Choosing a plain-coloured geometric tile is a great way to create a subtle feature, and are typically easier to lay/set in. This can be anywhere from diagonally, square-shaped or a hexagon tile to pentagonal. Just remember that shape will determine installation ease, or lack thereof.

Layout
If you love subway tiles but fancy adding a bit of a twist, lay them in a herringbone pattern. Use a grey or black grout instead of white to further accentuate the shape of the tiles and the pattern.

Cost

$35 and $250 per square metre depending on the type of tiles
$230 per square metre for laminate
$247 per square metre for acrylic
$300 to $350 per square metre for Metaline®
$330 per square metre for painted clear glass
$330 per square metre for satin finish stainless steel (3.0mm)
$390 per square meter for engineered stone
$420 per square metre for painted starfire glass

You can expect to pay anywhere from $300 to $800 for installation - depending on the complexity of your job and the number of cut-outs you splashback requires.

Cut-outs are mainly for powerpoints and will cost anywhere from $50 each or more depending on the material.

As you can see above, glass is one of the more expensive options, and higher maintenance overall. Be sure to research your desired material before finalising your decision.

Also be aware of a number of issues when buying kicthen splashback tiles such as style (herringbone), material (marble), size (large), style (modern), shape (square), pattern (textured), colour (white), grout (black grout), price (cheap) to ensure you get the best for your project.

But most importantly, this is not a DIY-friendly project, hire a professional to install your splashback.

So, the 19 best splashback ideas with accompanying images are:

1. Wood Panelled Splashback

Using a timber panelled splashback. Versatile in design, timber splashbacks compliment both light and dark cabinetry and bench tops.