Kitchen backsplashes are where kitchen planning and interior design come together in perfect harmony. They’re a functional wall covering as much as a statement piece and often one of the first elements that you notice when walking into a kitchen.
It’s easy to underestimate the humble backsplash. While there are sound practical reasons to protect your kitchen walls, it’s also a vertical surface that can be used to style your kitchen to the max. The latest trends include copper, gold and antiqued mirror surfaces, while artwork can be installed behind glass. Black and grey stone backsplashes are the ideal counterpart to chalky white or pale grey kitchen units. Mosaics and bold patterns can make a real statement in the kitchen.
Installing a backsplash in your kitchen can make a real difference to the look and feel of the home. I spoke to kitchen design specialist Halcyon Interiors to find out the main advantages.
Protect the wall against kitchen grime and water damage
Whether you install a backsplash behind the hob or the sink, its main function is to provide a functional barrier against dirt, grime and water damage to the wall behind. A painted or wallpapered wall is likely to get dirty very quickly. Within a few weeks of cooking spills and food splatters or water splashing against the wall, it will start to look unsightly and unhygienic regardless of your cleaning efforts.
Covering the wall with a backsplash is an easy and convenient way to catch food and liquids that would otherwise end up on the wall. Protecting your walls against water damage is particularly important in the kitchen since continual exposure to water behind the kitchen sink can cause mould and mildew to build up over time. In serious cases, the wall itself may become structurally compromised.
Cleaning is a quick and easy job
Having installed a backsplash in your kitchen, you’ll find that cleaning grime and food debris is much easier and quicker, meaning you can spend more time enjoying your kitchen. There’s a virtually unlimited choice of gorgeous backsplash designs and materials that will all do the job beautifully, including ceramic tiles or glass tiles, and backsplash made from sheets of stainless steel, or colored glass.
These stylish surfaces are not only easy to install, they’re water and stain resistant, making them easy to look after. All it takes is a wipe over with a damp cloth or sponge to quickly get rid of cooking stains, food debris or water splashes.
Kitchen stains are easy to deal with
Stain protection is key, which is why backsplash surfaces such as ceramic or porcelain tiles, glass, acrylics and stainless steel are made from hard, non-porous materials that prevent kitchen grime, food debris and water droplets from penetrating. Cleaning is merely a matter of wiping the surface to restore both kitchen hygiene and visual appeal.
Be careful when choosing natural stone tiles – they may look fantastic and are highly durable but they’re porous. In order to make them suitable as a backsplash, stone must be sealed on an annual basis to avoid permanent staining.
A stylish addition to your kitchen design scheme
In addition to having a very practical part to play in your kitchen, a well chosen backsplash will add extra style and decoration to your kitchen space. While you can, of course, paint your kitchen walls any color you like, installing a standout backsplash will make a real style statement, giving your kitchen that wow effect.
Be guided by your creativity and imagination to find a solution that complements your existing kitchen beautifully. Contemporary kitchens will look fantastic with a vibrant, colored glass backsplash that injects definition and character to a minimalist scheme without overpowering the space. Traditional kitchens can look wonderful with a backsplash made from ceramic or porcelain tiles to add warmth and homeliness. Or why not channel industrial chic with a brushed stainless steel backsplash?
Whichever style you opt for, backsplashes are easy to install and offer huge potential for customizing your kitchen wall treatment exactly to your requirements and to perfectly complement your kitchen style.
