A splashback protects walls from splashes, stains and moisture while providing an opportunity to add colour, texture and personality to your kitchen or laundry.
Tiles remain a popular option, and are an accessible D.I.Y. project even for beginners. But Bunnings Workshop community members have also created impressive splashbacks using paint, panels, cladding, glass, metal and brick facings.
Consider your budget, preferred appearance, ease of cleaning and the amount of work involved when choosing an approach. Always check that materials are suitable for their intended location, particularly in wet areas and around cooktops. Follow product instructions, appliance clearances and relevant building requirements.
Here are 10 ways to create a kitchen or laundry splashback for your home based on Bunnings Workshop community member projects.
1. Install classic wall tiles
Ceramic wall tiles are durable, easy to clean and available in a wide range of colours and shapes. Bunnings Workshop member @sean22 used white subway tiles in a brick pattern to brighten a kitchen with dark cabinetry, while @DanGreenwood tiled from the benchtop to the ceiling using warm, textured tiles and brown grout to complement new Tasmanian Oak shelves.
2. Use large-format tiles
Large-format tiles can create a streamlined appearance with fewer grout lines to clean. First-time tiler @prettyliving installed 600 x 300mm porcelain tiles to create a contemporary laundry splashback as part of a $500 makeover completed in less than a day.
3. Choose mosaic tiles on sheets
Mosaic sheets make it easier to install intricate designs featuring small tiles. @dp.isabela chose light greige Kit Kat mosaic tiles to keep a renovated laundry feeling bright while adding subtle texture. In another budget-friendly transformation, @frugalspacemakr installed penny-tile sheets and planned the height of the cabinets around two full sheets to minimise cutting and waste.
4. Paint existing tiles
Painting can modernise a sound but dated tiled splashback without the work and expense of removing it. @raceytrace filled unwanted holes, cleaned and sanded the tiles before applying undercoat and two top coats. Working with what she described as the “tiniest of budgets”, @Trish2 also transformed her kitchen splashback with paint after sanding the glossy tile surface.
5. Apply peel-and-stick tiles
Self-adhesive tiles can provide a quick cosmetic update without traditional tile adhesive or grout. @daniknight4 covered damaged laundry splashback tiles with peel-and-stick tiles while also painting the existing tub and replacing the taps. Check that your chosen product is suitable for wet areas and any nearby heat source before installation.
6. Fit a polymer or PVC panel
Lightweight panels provide a smooth, easy-clean surface without grout lines. @BBirdie installed a glossy Bellessi polymer splashback as part of a complete kitchen transformation for under $1500. In a laundry, @HomewithLeanne used antique-white PVC boards after patching and waterproofing the splashback area during a $1000 makeover.
7. Install a glass splashback
Glass provides a sleek, grout-free finish and can introduce a strong block of colour. For her kitchen renovation using Kaboodle cabinetry and VJ panels, @leanne-jwo installed plain black glass behind the cooktop for contrast and paired it with white waterproof panelling elsewhere. Glass splashbacks typically need accurate templating and suitable cut-outs before the glass is toughened.
8. Create a panelled look with cladding
Cladding can give a splashback the character of traditional wall panelling. Experienced renovators @homeinmelbourne installed James Hardie Axon cladding to complement Shaker-style kitchen cabinetry. The cladding was finished with gloss water-based enamel paint, capped with aluminium trim and sealed along the edges with wet-area silicone to create a wipe-clean surface.
9. Add a pressed-metal splashback
Pressed metal adds texture and can suit heritage, farmhouse and industrial interiors. @Sonia_B installed a black pressed-tin splashback as the statement feature in a character-filled laundry renovation, while @andredl used a pre-cut and folded pressed-copper splashback to complement an 1885 Victorian-era home.
10. Use brick facings
Brick facings can achieve the warmth and texture of exposed brick without building a full brick wall. In her farmhouse laundry renovation, @housetohome attached brick facings to blue board and grouted them with mortar to continue the rustic look of the adjoining mudroom. Check whether porous facings require sealing to make cleaning easier and protect them from moisture.
How to tile or paint a splashback
Learn how to install tiles with our step-by-step guide How to tile a splashback by experienced member @ProjectPete.
If your existing tiles are in good condition, check out the Bunnings guide How to paint a tiled splashback.
Need more help?
The Bunnings Workshop community can assist with choosing materials, preparing your wall and installing or refreshing a splashback. Hit the Ask a question button and tell us what you would like to achieve. We’re here to help.
