What do people go for as regards splashbacks these days

[Ha55leback]

Aware things have probably moved on.

Any tips when deciding?

We got a full patterned board rather than tiles, simply because I didn’t want to be cleaning sauce out of grout! It’s like a sort of MDF / plastic thing and then cut it to fit into the space and around sockets.
The solid board is nice as it’s quite sleek and super easy to clean. But I do think tiles look slightly nicer.

Thankyou. Was that just near the hob or everywhere?

I’m at that point too. I think the laminate is going to be too plain for mine.

Patterned glass is what I’m looking at. They come in panels for behind the hob. I’m looking at getting longer strips for behind the work surface too.

I had tiles with a glass panel over the top. This was excellent for cleaning.

So can you glass all the way round?

There’s a limit on length so you would divide length into equal panels. There would be a seam. I’m still working it out- it would be easier if the kitchen length was smaller.

I’m currently looking at a big piece behind the hob and strips to each side- but haven’t finished the measuring and maths!

I had patterned glass behind hob and hated it. It wasn't non-reflective and showed every tiny mark when the sun shone or the lights were on. Fortunately we'd only put it up temporarily so was easy to remove! We went for mini mosaics in blues and turquoise with a grey grout and it was then sealed with clear varnish. Very pleased with the twinkly look of it and easy to clean.

Gosh when did this get all so complicated?? I thought the worse bit was choosing the cupboards!😫 It’s the upstand and not having tiles that is complicating things for me.

I've got this and behind the hob too. I also didn't want to be cleaning the grout if anything got splashed on it. I have the panels all round the kitchen.

I inherited an early 80s kitchen when I bought this house and the grout was horrible. I vowed when I had the money to change the kitchen, I would not have tiles, I would have splashback boards. Haven't regretted it.

I'm planning to have the same in the bathroom when I get round to having that completely revamped, splashback panels not tiles.

We have got tiles (but our hob has a lift up lid that protects them). They have grey grout so it doesn't show dirt as much. We considered glass but our walls are a bit wonky (old house) and they need to be completely straight or you have to have lots of joins. At work we've got gloss MDF or whatever panels and they are always covered in watermarks so if I was going to do that I'd go for a matte finish

Good point about matte v gloss. I’m going to a kitchen shop tomorrow so will see if they have any advice.
I’ve had paint without a back or tiles, at least just a two inch one. There were two issues- limited choice of colour available in scrubbable- though of course you can colour match and get it mixed.

Also, some stuff is sort of sticky/3D and I found it needed an abrasive- I’d have been happier to scrub if it had been glass rather than paint work.

And tiles would definitely have dark grout- apart from anything else it looks so much better. I love iridescent mosaic tiles, which would be my first choice if I were going with tiles, and the dark grout definitely shows them off better.