How to Pair Kitchen Benchtops and Splashbacks

If you’re embarking on a kitchen renovation or creating a brand new kitchen, you might find yourself debating the best way to pair kitchen benchtops and splashbacks.

Do you start with the kitchen benchtop? Or should you choose the splashback first? What’s the best way to coordinate the colours? Is it best to mix and match patterns or should you go with a contrasting approach? What sort of look and feel would complement the interiors of your home?

The good news is that there are no fixed rules on how to pair kitchen benchtops and splashbacks. It all comes down to personal preference and individual taste.

Should Your Splashback Match Your Benchtop?

The answer depends on what kind of look you’re aiming to achieve. There are three general approaches to styling your kitchen benchtops and splashbacks:

Matching

If you prefer a seamless look for your kitchen, choose identical or similar materials for both your benchtops and splashbacks. This will create a delightful continuous flow for a smooth and elegant aesthetic.

You can create texture and variation by using the same material in a tile format for the splashback instead of a uniform slab. For a cost-effective and low-maintenance splashback option, a glass splashback that mimics tiles or brickwork will give you the best of both worlds: the visual effect minus the grout lines!

Contrasting

An equally stunning style approach is to create visual contrast between your kitchen benchtop and the splashback. This allows you to showcase a unique splashback design that doubles as a feature wall or statement piece. Make sure to factor in your general kitchen interiors and colour palette for a cohesive look.

You can choose a bold design or colour for the splashback paired with a neutral, soothing kitchen benchtop material or the other way around, which would make the benchtop the star and the splashback the supporting element.

Coordinating

Third but not least, you could coordinate a specific pattern or design with a mix of colours, or feature different patterns in a specific colour. A good example would be a light grey granite benchtop paired with a soft blue granite-like glass splashback design, or an off-white marble kitchen benchtop paired with a marble splashback in a similar light shade in subway tiles (or a glass-printed faux marble subway tile splashback).

How to Pair Kitchen Benchtops and Splashbacks: Where Do You Start?

#1 Pick the Benchtop First

If it doesn’t make any difference to you, picking the benchtop first might simplify matters. Benchtops have fewer options for colour, materials, and designs compared to splashbacks, which come with practically unlimited options these days.

You will also need to install the benchtops first, so it makes sense to start here. If you decide on a unique benchtop material with vibrant colours and a lot of movement, you should pair it with a subtle and neutral splashback so the two aren’t fighting for attention.

Alternatively, you could opt to match your splashback with your chosen benchtop. Bring along a sample of the benchtop material when you shop for your splashback so you can compare them side by side to ensure the best match.

#2 Pick the Splashback First

As mentioned earlier, there are no fixed rules for how best to pair your kitchen benchtops and splashbacks. If you stumble upon a splashback design that has your name written all over it, go with your gut.

If it’s a vibrant design that takes centre stage, balance it with a laidback, understated benchtop that doesn’t compete with the splashback. That said, if you wish to go for a multi-hued and patterned splashback and benchtop combo, stick to a common colour palette for both so there’s a cohesive look to them.

#3 Use the Same (or Similar-Looking) Material for Both Benchtop and Splashback

On the other hand, you could consider using the same or similar material for both the benchtop and splashback for a fluid look. Thanks to advanced UV glass printing technology, you can recreate almost any kind of look on glass splashbacks such as faux wood, brick, marble, tiles or any other texture.

It’s a cost-effective splashback solution to match your beautiful stone benchtop, whether it’s granite, soapstone, marble or a different kind of stone material. The cherry on top: a glass splashback takes minimal effort to clean and is incredibly durable!

What Colour Splashback Goes With Black Benchtops?

Black is the classic choice for benchtops as it’s easy to match and provides an elegant contrast with your other kitchen appliances.

If you want to make a statement, go for a vivid colour for your splashback such as red or yellow. Prefer a classy look? You can’t go wrong with pairing white subway tiles and black benchtops. You could also create texture with a black granite backsplash that stands out against your sleek black benchtops.

The options are endless!

Feeling Overwhelmed and Need Professional Guidance?

If the idea of choosing between so many options feels daunting, you could seek professional assistance from a kitchen designer or interior decorator. They will be able to provide expert recommendations catered to your individual style and needs.

You don’t have to do it all on your own! Even one of our glass experts can provide guidance and direction should you need it.

Looking for the Right Splashback to Pair With Your Kitchen Benchtops?

If you’ve picked your kitchen benchtop but can’t find the right splashback to go with it, we’re happy to steer you in the right direction.

We’re DecoGlaze: Australia’s quality glass splashbacks provider. We specialise in high quality, beautifully handcrafted kitchen splashbacks, made-to-measure with accuracy and care.

Choose from our wide range of coloured glass splashbacks, mirrored splashbacks, and stunning custom-designed splashbacks. Better yet, book a free consult with one of our glass experts and we’ll recommend the best options for you.

For your peace of mind, our DecoGlaze glass products include a written guarantee of up to 10 years. All flat and metallic colours including the designer range come with a 10-year warranty. Mirror-finish glass products include a 7-year written guarantee, while the digitally printed DecoDesigns range is covered by a 5-year written guarantee.