There are many fantastic ways of incorporating marble in your home and specifically your kitchen. But one of the more subtle ways of using this natural stone in a low-key yet high-impact way is with a marble kitchen splashback.
Does marble work well for a splashback? What do you need to consider when choosing a marble splashback in your kitchen?
This article is here to cover all that and more.
Marble Splashbacks: The Perfect Choice for your Kitchen
Choosing marble as the material for your kitchen splashback brings both practical and effective functionality as well as style and a strong aesthetic appeal.
Marble stone has long been associated with regality, luxuriousness and sophistication. Since the ancient days, it has been effectively used to add a sense of opulence to flooring, walls, and – more recently – kitchen benchtops, fireplaces and more.
But the humble splashback offers an opportunity to really highlight the practical and fashionable advantages of marble stone.
Why Splashbacks Are Important
A kitchen splashback serves more than one function in the kitchen. Most obviously, it provides a ‘wall defense’ and protects the walls behind your cooking and washing areas. Kitchens are often hives of activity. To keep your wall from being exposed to splashes, stains and heat, the splashback acts as a protective shield. Without which, your walls would be damaged and dirtied by moisture, grease and heat. In some circumstances, this can lead to everything from mould growth and discolouration to degradation and damage.
Splashbacks are particularly critical behind the stove and sink, as those are the areas of the kitchen where spills and splatters are the most likely.
Another benefit of splashbacks is its hygienic contribution to the kitchen. Intentionally designed to be smooth, they are easy to keep clean and easy to keep free of bacteria build-up and offensive odours or stainage.
Of course, one further element of a splashback that is no less important to consider is the aesthetic appeal. Splashbacks are not just functional elements – they form an important piece of the design puzzle. Customising your splashback in terms of colour, pattern and material can help to bring the overall area to life and act as a visual focal point, much like a feature wall.
The contained nature of a splashback means you can both opt for a bold colour scheme or intricate design, without risking overwhelming the space, or simply add a complementary and neutral splashback that blends in with the rest of the kitchen.
Why Choose Marble For Your Kitchen Splashback
1. Marble is highly durable
Let’s start with the practical benefits of a marble kitchen splashback. Marble is renowned for not just its visual appeal, but its hardiness and durability. Properly sealed and regularly maintained, marble splashbacks offer high levels of stain resistance and mark resistance. So, even the busiest of kitchens can benefit from using marbles.
Marble stone, compared to some other types of stone and construction material, is relatively porous. While professional sealing goes a long way to counteract this, splashbacks experience minimal wear and tear from water and liquid due to the fact that they are a vertical installation. This means marble brings with it all the durability you need for the application and will maintain its beauty and functionality over the long term.
2. Marble is heat resistant
Marble stone was formed and is thus designed to withstand high temperatures. Many splashbacks are located near or behind the stovetop, where – of course – there is likely to be high exposure to heat.
Using marble splashbacks in your kitchen will give you the safe and reliable barrier against heat that you need.
3. Marble is easy to clean
This one is important! Marble is famous for its iconic beauty. But if you are worried about whether or not this brilliant aesthetic will degrade over time – don’t be! With simple, easy and regular maintenance of your marble kitchen splashback you can keep your stone looking fantastic for many years to come.
A daily wipe with a soft, warm and wet sponge (non-abrasive) and non-harsh chemical cleaners with low acidity is all you need to clean your marble effectively.
4. Marble increases your home’s value
Investing in using marble stone for your kitchen splashback is a win-win. You get to enjoy using this stunning material in your kitchen and it increases your home’s value. Between the value of the stone itself and its longevity (thanks to its high durability) as well as the enduring psychological appeal of marble, this natural stone often draws potential buyers if you are thinking of reselling and makes the home more attractive, and therefore higher value, in the real estate market.
5. Marble is gorgeous
We couldn’t leave this one off the list! With all the practical considerations said and done, the truth is that nothing stands up to the beauty and aesthetic appeal of marble. Synonymous with luxury and sophistication, there is a reason marble has been used in royal palaces and mansions for centuries.
The classic off-white and grey-veined marble offers a timeless elegance that won’t date your kitchen as interior design trends change over time. And, at the same time, marble stone comes in a surprisingly wide range of colours, patterns and styles, so that you can find the perfect slab to suit any aesthetic preference and kitchen design.
Whether your home is designed to feel minimalist and modern, or rustic and Earthy, there is a type and style of marble to suit your preferences. Moreover, marble splashbacks can also be finished in different ways. You can opt for a polished finish to achieve a sleek and shiny look, or a honed finish to achieve a more natural feel.
There is another important point to note here. Marble, like all natural stone, is quarried from the ground and not produced in a cookie-cutter factory. This means every single slab of marble is distinct and unlike any other in the world. If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind material that hits all the right function and fashion notes, a marble kitchen splashback is right for you!
