How to Pair Kitchen Splashbacks and Benchtops With Ease
Choosing benchtops and splashbacks that work together is not easy. Here's how to find your perfect match in the kitchen
Which do you select first – kitchen benchtop or splashback? How do you coordinate colours? Is it ok to mix patterns? The seemingly unlimited splashback and benchtop choices can feel overwhelming…
I’ve had homeowners approach me after weeks or months of looking at and collecting samples of materials that they love separately but just don’t love together. Some settle on a combination that looks good together, but they don’t actually like either material on its own.
Here are 10 examples of stunning and successful benchtop and splashback combinations to help you plan your own mix of kitchen finishes, along with tips to ease your selection process.
Find a kitchen designer in your area
I’ve had homeowners approach me after weeks or months of looking at and collecting samples of materials that they love separately but just don’t love together. Some settle on a combination that looks good together, but they don’t actually like either material on its own.
Here are 10 examples of stunning and successful benchtop and splashback combinations to help you plan your own mix of kitchen finishes, along with tips to ease your selection process.
Find a kitchen designer in your area
Once you’ve homed in on your benchtop of choice (congratulations!), you have immediately narrowed the field of options for the splashback. Trust me, this makes your life easier.
Now, you don’t necessarily need to exactly match the colour or pattern of your benchtop to that of your splashback, especially if you go for an unusual hue or a benchtop material with a lot of movement in it. In these cases, a simple and neutral-hued splashback is a good choice, so that the benchtop takes centrestage and does not fight with the splashback for attention.
Shown: Orange quartz benchtop; Tessera mosaic blend splashback
Now, you don’t necessarily need to exactly match the colour or pattern of your benchtop to that of your splashback, especially if you go for an unusual hue or a benchtop material with a lot of movement in it. In these cases, a simple and neutral-hued splashback is a good choice, so that the benchtop takes centrestage and does not fight with the splashback for attention.
Shown: Orange quartz benchtop; Tessera mosaic blend splashback
If you want to go bold with both your benchtop and splashback, bring a sample of your chosen benchtop material with you as you shop for splashback tile. You will be able to instantly limit your splashback options to those that work with your benchtop material. If you are struggling with finding the right splashback material to work with your benchtop selection, consider hiring a pro, even if it’s for just a few hours, to help you nail the selections. Or enlist the help of a colour- or design-savvy friend.
Shown: Green quartz benchtop (get the look with Silestone); mosaic glass tile splashback
Shown: Green quartz benchtop (get the look with Silestone); mosaic glass tile splashback
Approach 2: Select the splashback first
Of course, if you happen to find a splashback you absolutely love before you’ve even looked at benchtops, I say go for it. Making this selection will absolutely help you narrow down the options for the benchtop. If you go for a statement-making splashback such as the one here, find a quiet, subtler benchtop material so it doesn’t fight with the splashback.
Find inspiration with these stunning splashback designs
Shown: Stone benchtop; mosaic glass tile splashback
Of course, if you happen to find a splashback you absolutely love before you’ve even looked at benchtops, I say go for it. Making this selection will absolutely help you narrow down the options for the benchtop. If you go for a statement-making splashback such as the one here, find a quiet, subtler benchtop material so it doesn’t fight with the splashback.
Find inspiration with these stunning splashback designs
Shown: Stone benchtop; mosaic glass tile splashback
I prefer that either the benchtop or the splashback be the star of the show, with the other material playing a supporting role. This stunning splashback has lots of colour and movement and, in my opinion, should not have to compete with an equally attention-grabbing benchtop.
Shown: Caesarstone benchtop; glass mosaic splashback
Shown: Caesarstone benchtop; glass mosaic splashback
That’s not to say you shouldn’t consider a mix of colours and patterns for both your benchtop and splashback. But if both of your materials feature multiple hues and have different patterns, aggregates or movement, stick to one overriding colour palette for both materials. This will give the materials a nice cohesiveness, so they don’t fight with each other.
Shown: Granite benchtop; stained-glass mosaic tile splashback
Shown: Granite benchtop; stained-glass mosaic tile splashback
Approach 3: Use the same material for both benchtop and splashback
Love your benchtop selection and want to keep this process simple? Consider running your countertop material up onto the wall as the splashback. This is an especially smart option if you are required to purchase entire slabs of your chosen benchtop material and you happen to have enough material leftover to use as the splashback.
Shown: Get the look with a stone benchtop and splashback
Love your benchtop selection and want to keep this process simple? Consider running your countertop material up onto the wall as the splashback. This is an especially smart option if you are required to purchase entire slabs of your chosen benchtop material and you happen to have enough material leftover to use as the splashback.
Shown: Get the look with a stone benchtop and splashback
You can also use the same or similar countertop material for your splashback but break it up by selecting a tile format for your splashback rather than a slab. This can be a more budget-friendly option than purchasing extra slabs to create a splashback.
Shown: Get the look with a Carrara marble counter or, for a more durable option, check out Misty Carrera from Caesarstone; Carrara marble subway tile backsplash
Shown: Get the look with a Carrara marble counter or, for a more durable option, check out Misty Carrera from Caesarstone; Carrara marble subway tile backsplash
Another cost-effective approach is to run your benchtop material 10 to 15 centimetres up the wall as a short splashback. It will give you a nice finished edge where the benchtop meets the wall, and it will also provide protection to the part of the wall most likely to get wet or dirty. Just be sure to check your local building code requirements regarding the height of your chosen material on the wall area above the range or cooktop.
Shown: Granite benchtop; colbalt-blue subway tile splashback
Shown: Granite benchtop; colbalt-blue subway tile splashback
Approach 4: Hire an expert
Some homeowners just have a difficult time visualising their finished kitchen, which is why material selection can prove so challenging. And all too often, you are asked to make too many decisions in too short a time period. If you know you are prone to analysis paralysis, do yourself a favour and give yourself enough time to weigh up your options, but with a firm deadline to make the decision. Engage the assistance of a friend whose taste you admire, or hire a design professional to help guide you or bless your selections.
Shown: Grey and white granite benchtop; oversized ceramic tile splashback
View our photo gallery of beautiful kitchens for more inspiration
WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU…
Love your benchtop and splashback combination? Please post a photo in the comments section below and share the details.
Some homeowners just have a difficult time visualising their finished kitchen, which is why material selection can prove so challenging. And all too often, you are asked to make too many decisions in too short a time period. If you know you are prone to analysis paralysis, do yourself a favour and give yourself enough time to weigh up your options, but with a firm deadline to make the decision. Engage the assistance of a friend whose taste you admire, or hire a design professional to help guide you or bless your selections.
Shown: Grey and white granite benchtop; oversized ceramic tile splashback
View our photo gallery of beautiful kitchens for more inspiration
WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU…
Love your benchtop and splashback combination? Please post a photo in the comments section below and share the details.
If you feel overwhelmed by the benchtop and splashback options, try focusing on benchtop selection first. Your benchtop is the workhorse in your kitchen and can constitute a good chunk of your budget, so you’ll want to get it right. Your budget and the way you use your kitchen will narrow things down. Plus, there are generally fewer colour and pattern options for benchtop materials, whereas splashback options are practically unlimited. Benchtops will also be installed before the splashback, so you definitely need to decide on them first if construction has already begun.
Check out our guide to finding your perfect kitchen benchtop here
Shown: Soapstone and butcher’s block benchtop; linear glass tile mosaic splashback