19 kitchen splashback ideas from stylish homes in New Zealand

The best kitchen splashback ideas invariably come from the best designed homes in the country which is exactly where your inspiration should start. As you'll see, the possibilities are as exciting as they are vast, including ideas that incorporate different materials, designs or techniques and sometimes a mix of all three.

A reflective glass splashback is an excellent choice to consider, especially for an open plan design like this stunning kitchen in Matakana. The reflection in this mirrored glass splashback by Image Glass is so clean and crisp that you almost miss that it's an illusion altogether. The effect on the kitchen is an exaggerated feeling of spaciousness that is inconspicuous and all the more clever because of it.

Related article: Where to place a mirror in a room — 9 tips for maximum impact

The kitchen can be a stressful environment at times, especially with the busy lives that most of us lead. Establishing a relaxing mood and atmosphere can be of real benefit and including elements of nature in your kitchen splashback design makes the space feel so much more welcoming. Expertly done in this wonderful kitchen in Kumeu, it's a great way to make everyone feel at ease.

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Porcelain stone is a fantastic choice of material for a kitchen splashback due to its durability, longevity, heat resistance and low maintenance (to name just a few benefits). It also has an undeniably sophisticated and elegant appearance, seen here at the Furze House kitchen with a porcelain splashback by Granite Workshop. The graceful veining matched on the kitchen island gives it a very cohesive and contemporary look that oozes style and class.

Top professional kitchens all around the world are workspaces of metal finishes and a sure-fire way to show you're a cook who means business is to opt for a metallic kitchen splashback. This stylish Remuera kitchen features a sublime metal coated glass splashback by Image Glass. Complemented with warm LED lighting and fresh herbs, it works wonderfully well as a modern kitchen.

Related article: Stunning black and white kitchens from stylish homes in New Zealand

Street art has become a hugely popular attraction in many cities in New Zealand (and across the world for that matter). It's also starting to find its place in the home as wall art in our bedrooms and living spaces. However, there are very few instances of it used in this way by Metro Performance Glass making it one of the more unique kitchen splashback ideas you'll see. So bold, vivid and brimming with colour, it turns the kitchen splashback into a feature wall making it a great focal point for the space.

Exposed brick is probably not the best kitchen splashback idea in the world due to its porous nature that traps grease and the rigorous cleaning that's required to maintain it. However, the look of exposed brick carries a lot of rustic charm which makes a printed glass version of it a tempting alternative. This kitchen renovation in Wellington did exactly that with a printed brick splashback that really leaps out at you. It makes the kitchen that much more intriguing, beckoning you into the space.

Mosaic splashback tiles can create a mesmerising look in a kitchen with a wide range of styling and design possibilities to explore. The homeowners of this beautiful house in Castor Bay used stylish Calacatta Hexagon Wall Tiles across an entire kitchen wall to dazzling effect. With the tile's individual cascading shades of grey, it has a very organic feel that creates a calming mood for the space.

Related article: How to choose kitchen wall tiles that look great and last

Customised printed glass is a fantastic option for a kitchen splashback because it offers so much versatility in terms of aesthetics and design with the opportunity to create just about anything you want. Food motifs are a clever on-theme choice to consider, realised exquisitely here with this smoking chilli splashback by Image Glass. In this minimalist-styled space, it has an incredible impact visually and by way of ambience too, bringing the kitchen to life with energy and vigour.

Sometimes you don't need to reinvent the wheel to achieve success in design and the same is true with splashback ideas. The classic subway tile, perhaps the most popular type of wall tile on the market, makes a great choice for a kitchen splashback, as seen in this stunning kitchen renovation in Devonport. Instantly familiar with its recognisable style, the Tint tiles are also subtly complemented by dark grey grouting that matches the stainless steel benchtop before it.

If you're having trouble deciding between tiles or a metallic splashback then consider aluminium tiles for the best of both worlds. With aluminium tiles like the Aluminium Hex 40 Series Wall Tiles seen in this luxurious new build home, you can get the professional look and lustre of aluminium in the classic form of the tile. It's unique, captivating and luxurious — a great bunch of traits to have for your kitchen splashback.

For a multi-functional option, one of the most interesting and trending kitchen splashback ideas is to go for a chalkboard. This Parkland's Kitchen Project shows how stylish this choice can be with its full-length magnetic chalkboard splashback. Not only does it provide a handy surface to write notes for shopping lists, recipes and more but it also gives the kitchen industrial vibes — perfect for those looking to create a contemporary aesthetic.

Another nice kitchen splashback idea is to pick a contrasting colour to create a bit of pop in your kitchen space. This can be done in a neutral kitchen and colourful kitchens too for those who know their way around a colour wheel. This kitchen project by Image Glass executes the latter technique perfectly with a blue marbled glass splashback complementing a colour scheme of reddish brown walls and cabinetry. It's bold and dynamic, achieving a great look for this modern kitchen.

Related article: The best interior paint colours to consider for 2024

Splashback tiles feature heavily in this list because they are incredibly versatile with so many different options available in New Zealand. This superb kitchen in St Heliers used square patterned tiles as their splashback matching the form of the metal framed shelving installed upon it. The faint gold-painted grid pattern of the tiles accentuates this connection further taking the kitchen design to the next level.

Not all kitchen splashback ideas are about choices to do with types, materials and aesthetics. Some are about incorporating other elements into your design when the opportunity presents itself. This Pauanui kitchen is a fantastic example of this with its splashback designed with an upper niche from which to hang beautiful hanging plants. The use of natural stone creates an exquisite contrast to play off making for a refreshing and modern kitchen space.

A popular approach for many modern kitchens is to match the material choice of the kitchen splashback with the kitchen island, especially in an open plan space. The benefit of this, as seen in this 1970's kitchen renovation in Auckland, is that you can create a bold, cohesive and dynamic look. Using a dramatic finish, like the exquisite marble in this kitchen, makes it even more compelling to the wider living space as a whole.

Yet another fantastic option for splashback tiles are those with a 3-dimensional element to them. A great example of this is seen with the geometric white tiles used in this 1980's family home in Christchurch. With the extractor fan light switched on, the glossy tiles catch its glow nicely, casting shadows that give the space texture and depth. It's an easy way to create visual interest with little effort at all.

For nature lovers, the opportunity to include some wildlife imagery in your kitchen splashback might be one that brings a lot of positive energy into the space. This is particularly true if you live in an area of wilderness or a coastal setting, which is the case of this wonderful kitchen in the Whakaipo Valley. With a kitchen splashback featuring deer in a familiar landscape, the kitchen space has an intimate and strong connection with the home's surroundings making it feel at one with the natural environment.

For those who have a different sort of connection to the landscape, a topographical map of the local area might be an interesting alternative. This cosy timber-clad home in Ohakune chose to feature a map of the region in its splashback by Metro Performance Glass. Given the importance of maps in this extremely mountainous and challenging part of the country, the significance of this is particularly strong representing humility and respect to the terrain in and around the home.

Despite covering at length the many versatile ways tiles can be used, we've got one more to add to the list. Tile arrangement, which itself offers an endless variety of layouts that can be expressed as kitchen splashbacks. This lovely kitchen in St Mary's Bay selected a diagonal tile layout, creating a nice visual focal point in the corner of this long space. With one's gaze drawn, it amplifies the spaciousness of this kitchen and provides a contemporary aesthetic within the 100 year old structure of the home.

As you can see there are some amazing kitchen splashback ideas from across the country that have made the most of this traditionally functional kitchen wall covering. From printed glass splashbacks to completely tiled kitchen walls, you'll find something that you can fully adopt or tweak in a creative way that's never been done before.

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