19 kitchen splashback ideas from stylish homes in New Zealand

13 August 2023

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If you're thinking about renovating your kitchen or are building one from scratch, one area that you'll want to consider carefully is the kitchen splashback. While every kitchen needs one, the design and stylistic potential is seldom realised. That is, aside from a few stand-out projects we've found throughout New Zealand.

1. Reflective glass for open living

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.

The mirrored splashback in this stunning kitchen in Matakana creates a wonderful illusion of space — Photography: Jamie Cobel

2. The comforts of nature

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.

Discover a stunning range of kitchen splashbacks on ArchiPro

Botanical patterns on this printed glass splashback creates welcoming vibes in this classy kitchen in Kumeu.

3. Porcelain stone for pure class

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.

This porcelain stone splashback looks great from inside and outside the incredible Furze House.

4. A professional approach with liquid metal

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.

The metal coated glass splashback in this Remuera kitchen is bold, robust and contemporary.

5. Street art where you least expect it

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.

Bringing street art into the home in a completely unique way.

6. The rustic charm of faux exposed brick

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.

A thoroughly convincing take on the brick splashback in this clever kitchen renovation.

7. Marvel at mesmerising mosaic tiles

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.

Mesmerising shades of grey on the kitchen wall of the inspiring Castor Bay Stream House.

8. Spicy styling with featured food

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.

Spicing it up with this smoking chilli splashback on printed glass.

9. The classic subway tile

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.

The classic subway tile splashback always delivered, clearly demonstrated here in this lovely kitchen of a Devonport home.

10. Aluminium tiles for the best of both worlds

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.

Mosaic tile form with the lustre of aluminium — the best of both worlds with this kitchen splashback of this luxury home.

11. A handy chalkboard 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.

A handy and stylish chalkboard splashback in the modern Parklands Kitchen.

12. Pop colours as a point of difference

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.

A great execution of colour featuring a blue splashback with copper marbling.

13. A squared look with patterned tiles

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.

Square patterned tiles take centre stage in this immaculate kitchen in St Heliers.

14. Incorporate natural features into your design

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 stunning use of a splashback niche using hanging plants in this kitchen in Pauanui.

15. Have your splashback match your kitchen island

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.

A 1970's kitchen renovation using a divine approach to its use of marble through kitchen island and splashback — Photography: Mark Scowen Photography

16. Add depth and dimension with 3D tiles

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.

Adding texture and depth with 3D tiles in this stylish kitchen in Christchurch — Photography: Kate Claridge Photography

17. Embrace the wonder of wildlife

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.

A stunning splashback that reflects its equally stunning surroundings in the Whakaipo Valley.

18. Map your way to success

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.

A splashback that features a map as a tribute to the region in this cosy home in Ohakune —Photography: Glyn Hubbard Photography

19. Be creative with your tile arrangement

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.

This unique splashback tile arrangement creates a focal point for the eye, enhancing the spaciousness of this exquisite kitchen in St Marys Bay.

Inspiring kitchen splashback ideas from across New Zealand

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.

Explore a wide range of stylish kitchen splashbacks on ArchiPro

Themes

Interiors Materiality Colour palette Contemporary New build Renovation Kitchen Tile Glass

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