The Ultimate Guide to Buying Kitchen Splashback Tiles

The Ultimate Guide to Buying Kitchen Splashback Tiles

The kitchen is my favourite room in a house, not because that’s where all the food is! But because it’s the one room where you can express and set the tone of the design style that will be carried out in the remainder of the house, and also because it’s the one room that can sell a house.

Given these two reasons, the kitchen is also the most important when it comes to design. One of the best ways to express a design style in kitchen design is through your choice of splashback tiles.

Choosing tiles for splashbacks in Perth is the most popular choice amongst our customers at Ross’s Discount Home Centre, and there are many reasons behind this.

According to this article published on domain.com.au, which looks at the available splashback options and their associated costs, tiles are by far the cheapest splashback option for $45 to $250 per square metre plus an estimated $400 installation cost. But this isn’t the only advantage of choosing tiles over other splashback materials.

If you’re researching splashbacks in Perth, continue reading this article as I explain why tiles make the perfect splashback choice. I’ll also give you some tips on choosing a tile for your splashback.

Why choose tiles for your splashback

Available in various sizes

The most convenient element in choosing tiles for a splashback is that they are available in various sizes and shapes. Unlike other materials, tiles can be laid without or very little cutting. And, if cutting is required, they are very easy to cut to size.

Extremely flexible

There is possibly no other splashback material that offers the same flexibility as tiles. They are available in such a large range of styles, textures, materials and designs that you will surely find a tile to suit your design tastes.

Incredibly affordable

One of the biggest drawcards in choosing tiles for splashbacks in Perth is that they are so inexpensive – especially if you purchase them from Ross’s Discount Home Centre. We have tiles that are ideal for use on splashbacks for as little as $3.00 per tile or $35 per square metre – this is even cheaper than the average cost published in the cited article above from domain.com.au.

Compared to other materials, tiles offer a substantial cost-saving. According to this article, a glass splashback can cost as much as $300 to $400 per square metre; hardboard splashbacks will set you back around $80 per square metre; expect to pay onwards of $120 per square metre for a tin panel splashback, a laminate splashback costs onwards of $230 per square metre and for an acrylic splashback, expect to pay at least $247 per square metre.

As you can see, for budget-conscious people, choosing tiles for their splashback is a no-brainer.

Offer a classic style

There is no more traditional splashback design than a tiled splashback. Tiles were the original material of choice and, to this day, still continue to provide a traditional design element that is unmatched. Just think about subway tiles. Subway tiles originated in the subways of New York City in 1903, and still today, they continue to be one of the most popular choices for splashbacks in Perth. If you’re considering using splashback tiles, I recommend you read my article, ‘4 Reasons Why Subway Tiles Are the Ultimate Kitchen Splashbacks Choice.’

Feature tiles are ideal

Surely, you know what a feature tile is, right? They are practically purposely made for splashbacks and are one of the most popular tile choices in adding a pop of colour or defining a style design in a kitchen.

Feature tiles are available in hundreds of different shapes, sizes, styles, and textures and can be made out of a variety of materials, including stone, ceramic, glass, stainless steel or a mixture of all. Take a look at our range of feature tiles as an example of just how eclectic their designs can be, and while you look, think about how they would look in your new kitchen design.

Granted, feature tiles are a much more expensive option than a standard tile or a subway tile, but as I said, they do define the style of a kitchen. You can keep your cabinets and benchtop design minimalistic by tiling your entire splashback with feature tiles. However, to reduce costs, you can choose to only install feature tiles on a certain area, such as behind your cooktop.

Now that I’ve given you ample reason why I believe tiles are the perfect splashback choice, I hope you have decided to use them for your kitchen. If so, and to help you choose the right tile for your splashback, continue reading…

How to Choose a Splashback Tile

Consider your design style

First and foremost, think of the design style you want to portray in not only your kitchen but throughout your home. As mentioned, the splashback will set the tone for the design of your kitchen, and your kitchen will set the tone for the design of your house. Therefore, are you looking for a contemporary design or a traditional design?

Your design style will narrow down the tile designs you should be looking at. For example, for a modern minimalist design, consider tending tiles such as those with geometric shapes. Consider planer designs and standard shapes like subway tiles for classic traditional design.

Consider your colour pallet

Do you have a colour pallet in mind, or will your splashback tile define your colour pallet? Remember that the colour of your tiles will need to complement all other kitchen elements, including the cabinets, benchtop and even flooring.

If your splashback becomes the feature of your kitchen’s design, consider bolder / brighter contrasting colours. If you prefer your splashback to just blend in with the rest of the kitchen’s design, consider lighter / softer colour tones or monotone colours.

Consider the tile size

This is one area that customers always overlook in the tile design. However, the size of the tile is also important. Smaller tiles are best suited for small areas, and larger tiles are best suited for larger areas.

Small tiles, such as mosaic tiles, require more grout and, therefore, more cleaning. They can also be more problematic to install. Large-format tiles, on the other hand, require less grout, making them easier to clean, and are relatively easy to install.

The design will probably trump the size of a tile in terms of selection; however, this is something worth considering.

Regardless of whether you choose small mosaics or large-format feature tiles, you’ll find a large selection of each in our online store. So, be sure to check it out before shopping for splashback tiles elsewhere in Perth.

Consider the tile material

I put the material last as customers generally fall in love with the design of a tile and care very little about the material, but like the tile’s size, it does need to be considered.

Ceramic and porcelain tiles are the most popular choice with our customers. However, glass and marble are also quite popular.

Ceramic tiles are the most affordable. However, they are porous and require more cleaning if not coated in a glaze. Porcelain tiles, on the other hand, are virtually non-porous and do not require a glaze, which makes them more expensive. Glass tiles are non-porous by nature and are a cheaper alternative to a glass splashback but can be as pricy as feature tiles. Like ceramic tiles, marble tiles are also porous and can soak up grease and stains if not regularly sealed.

Our article on the latest Kitchen Splashback Trends should help if you’re still undecided about your splashback tile.

Conclusion

With a kitchen being such an integral part of any home, its design is very important. It will set the tone for the entire house design and, if successful, can help sell a home.

A kitchen splashback plays an important role in the design of a kitchen, and tiles are the perfect splashback choice. This is because they are available in a range of sizes, are very flexible, extremely affordable, and offer a classic style. Should you choose a feature tile for your splashback, it will become the focal point of your kitchen.

If you looking for tiles suitable for splashbacks in Perth, then Ross’s Discount Home Centre is the only place you need to visit. We have hundreds of tiles to choose from to help define your design style. From mosaics to marble, porcelain to ceramic, you will find the exact tile you’re looking for in our extensive tile selection. Best of all, our tiles are all in stock and ready for immediate shipping. This means your splashback and kitchen can be completed in a jiffy!

Visit our online store now to view our tile range, or come into our massive warehouse in Guildford to see the range in person.