Kitchen splashback tiles: the complete NZ styling & selection guide

The kitchen splashback is the one surface in a home where most people are brave enough to take a design risk. And for good reason. It's contained, framed by cabinetry, lifted off the floor and made to be looked at.

Which is why getting it wrong is so visible, and getting it right turns a kitchen from a room you cook in into one you love spending time in.

This guide covers what a splashback needs to do, the looks worth considering, and the ranges our team keeps coming back to.

What a splashback actually needs to do

Before inspiration, function. A splashback sits behind the cooktop, where it deals with heat, grease, steam and constant wiping.

Heat. Porcelain is non-combustible and handles heat behind a cooktop without issue. If you're cooking on gas, check the required clearances with your gas fitter before you finalise the layout.

Stains and grease. Porcelain is non-porous, so grease sits on the surface and wipes off with a damp cloth. Natural stone needs sealing and more care in this spot.

Daily cleaning. The splashback gets wiped every day, so choose a surface that stays looking good after years of it. Matt and satin porcelain finishes are easy to live with.

With those boxes ticked, everything else is a design decision.

Marble-look porcelain, the timeless choice

Marble has never fallen out of favour on a splashback, and it won't. It's simply too beautiful and too closely tied to quality to date. What's changed is how Kiwis are using it: bigger, calmer and in porcelain, so it looks like stone without the upkeep.

Large format, the grout-free look

One of the strongest looks in NZ kitchens right now is a single run of large format porcelain from bench to rangehood, with one or two grout lines or none at all. It's effortless to clean and reads as completely resolved.

Lumiere in 1200x2800mm captures the luminous look of Italian Calacatta Oro marble, with elegant golden veining. Its larger satin-finish formats are made for splashbacks and statement walls, so the veining runs uninterrupted behind the cooktop. Choose Lumiere ft. White for a bright, gallery-like kitchen or Lumiere ft. Natural for something warmer.

Rainforest White in 750x1500mm is the calmer of the two. Inspired by the flowing veins of silver roots marble, it brings soft movement and a contemporary edge. It's also available in a larger format that suits splashbacks and feature walls, and pairs beautifully with pale timber or soft white cabinetry.

Why it works: One material, a few grout lines, and a kitchen that feels considered from every angle. Carry the same tile onto the bathroom walls and the whole home starts to feel connected.

Colour, the personality choice

The biggest shift in NZ splashbacks over the last few years is the move toward colour and character: surfaces that feel crafted rather than perfect.

Taipei Green is a Balinese-inspired porcelain with real tonal variation from tile to tile, giving a beautifully organic, resort-style feel. On a splashback, every tile catches the light a little differently. Pair it with warm timber cabinetry and brushed brass for a kitchen that feels relaxed but very deliberate. Green is consistently what Kiwis search for most on our website, and it's easy to see why.

Pattern, the statement choice

For the kitchen that wants to say something, a decorator tile is the answer.

Arabian ft. Riad is a Spanish-made porcelain decorator inspired by traditional Moroccan design, with intricate patterning and handcrafted appeal. On a splashback, the pattern does the work, so keep the rest of the kitchen quiet: plain cabinetry, a stone-look benchtop and simple hardware. The result looks bespoke, and stays warm and inviting rather than busy.

The design principles that decide success

Lead with the cabinetry, not the tile

The most common splashback mistake is choosing the tile before the cabinetry is confirmed. The splashback is a backdrop, so choose it in response to the cabinetry, benchtop and hardware.

• Warm timber cabinetry: the splashback can be bolder. Taipei Green or Arabian ft. Riad sit beautifully against natural timber.
• Painted cabinetry (white, sage, navy): the splashback carries more weight. Marble-look Lumiere or a pattern both work.
• Sleek, handleless cabinetry: a large format marble-look splashback in Rainforest White keeps the clean, surface-led feel without adding a competing element.

Think about the rangehood

The rangehood sets the top edge of your splashback. A chimney rangehood creates a natural vertical frame that suits tiles laid in a vertical stack. A flat, integrated rangehood gives you a wider canvas that suits large format panels or a pattern.

Grout is part of the design

The wrong grout can undo a beautiful tile. Keep large format marble-look tonal and near-invisible. Match a patterned decorator to its lightest tone so the pattern flows. See our grout colour guide for more.

The ranges we love for splashbacks right now

• Lumiere: Calacatta Oro-inspired marble-look porcelain with golden veining. For the kitchen that wants quiet luxury. View range →
• Rainforest White: Soft silver veining with a contemporary edge. Premium marble look, minimal maintenance. View range →
• Taipei Green: Tonal, organic, resort-style green. The splashback people remember. View →
• Arabian ft. Riad: Moroccan-inspired pattern with handcrafted appeal. For the kitchen with something to say. View range →

Ready to choose your splashback?

Visit one of our 35+ stores nationwide with your cabinetry colour, benchtop material and hardware finish. Our team will help you narrow the range down to the right splashback for your kitchen and talk you through installation.

Then take it home before you commit. A splashback looks different in your own kitchen light, against your own cabinetry, at full scale. Try 5 Samples for $15, delivered anywhere in NZ, and refunded when you place your full order.

Find a store → | Order samples →

Frequently asked questions

What tiles are best for a kitchen splashback in NZ?

Porcelain is the most practical choice: non-porous, heat resistant, easy to clean and available in the widest range of looks, from marble-look to colour and pattern.

What size tiles should I use for a kitchen splashback?

It depends on the look. Large format creates a clean, contemporary splashback with minimal grout lines. Smaller formats like decorators bring pattern and personality. Let the size of the kitchen and the cabinetry guide you.

Can I get a marble splashback without the maintenance?

Yes. Marble-look porcelain such as Lumiere and Rainforest White gives you the veining and depth of marble in a non-porous surface that doesn't need sealing.

Is a green splashback a good idea?

Green is one of the most searched colours on our website, and a tonal green like Taipei Green works beautifully with timber, white or brass. Choose a green with natural variation so it feels organic rather than flat.

Should I use a slab or individual tiles for my splashback?

Large panels give the cleanest, easiest-to-clean result with few or no grout lines. Individual tiles give you more options for pattern, colour and texture. It comes down to the look you want and how much cleaning you're happy to do.