How to Choose a Splashback For a Dark Blue Kitchen
You’re set on stylish inky blue for your cabinets, but which splashback to choose? These schemes will give you an idea
Amanda Pollard
23 October 2019
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
Dark-blue kitchen cabinets are not just elegant, they’re also versatile, as this on-trend colour will look good with a number of splashback options. Take a look at these schemes to see which finishes and materials could work well with your deep-toned units.
Be rough and ready
This textured wall of painted bricks is the ideal pairing beside the smooth surface on these deep blue cabinets. Everything contrasts here – the dark blue against the bright white, and the sleek joinery against the rough masonry.
The designer has used textured finishes elsewhere too, with reclaimed parquetry pieces and terrazzo on the benchtops. The dark blue units are elegantly understated alongside them.
Find a kitchen designer and renovator near you on Houzz for professional advice on choosing colour and material palettes
This textured wall of painted bricks is the ideal pairing beside the smooth surface on these deep blue cabinets. Everything contrasts here – the dark blue against the bright white, and the sleek joinery against the rough masonry.
The designer has used textured finishes elsewhere too, with reclaimed parquetry pieces and terrazzo on the benchtops. The dark blue units are elegantly understated alongside them.
Find a kitchen designer and renovator near you on Houzz for professional advice on choosing colour and material palettes
Make a vein attempt
If you’re after a more luxurious look, a marble splashback – or an engineered-stone look-alike – is a good option. The glossy white surfaces on the wall and benchtops provide an interesting contrast to the matt blue units.
The beauty of a marble design is its veining, however, and here it helps tie in the dark and light surfaces to give a harmonious balance to the overall look.
If you’re after a more luxurious look, a marble splashback – or an engineered-stone look-alike – is a good option. The glossy white surfaces on the wall and benchtops provide an interesting contrast to the matt blue units.
The beauty of a marble design is its veining, however, and here it helps tie in the dark and light surfaces to give a harmonious balance to the overall look.
Get into the groove
Embrace the deep tones of your dark-blue cabinetry by taking the shade right up the wall. Use tongue-and-groove panelling, as the designers have done here, and paint both the splashback and your cabinetry in the same colour.
The deep-blue surfaces in this space have been offset by the earthier tones of the copper sink and brass fittings, and broken up by the crisp-white benchtop.
10 Ways to Highlight Heritage Style in the Kitchen
Embrace the deep tones of your dark-blue cabinetry by taking the shade right up the wall. Use tongue-and-groove panelling, as the designers have done here, and paint both the splashback and your cabinetry in the same colour.
The deep-blue surfaces in this space have been offset by the earthier tones of the copper sink and brass fittings, and broken up by the crisp-white benchtop.
10 Ways to Highlight Heritage Style in the Kitchen
Take the subway
If you’d love to simply highlight the gorgeous deep tones of your dark-blue cabinets, it makes sense to opt for something low-key on the walls.
In this elegant space, the white walls have been very subtly punctuated by a splashback of white subway tiles. The understated backdrop helps showcase the elegant indigo tone in the base units.
If you’d love to simply highlight the gorgeous deep tones of your dark-blue cabinets, it makes sense to opt for something low-key on the walls.
In this elegant space, the white walls have been very subtly punctuated by a splashback of white subway tiles. The understated backdrop helps showcase the elegant indigo tone in the base units.
Go in at an angle
Fancy a twist on the classic subway tile? One solution is to lay simple white subway tiles in a herringbone design, as seen here. This tiling pattern is particularly effective combined with the contemporary materials and lines in this kitchen, as it helps add character and texture.
What’s interesting about this layout is that although the tiles are the same as in the previous image, the effect is reversed – the patterned splashback is the standout feature and the dark-blue units form a frame around them.
7 Ways to Ace Two-Tone Kitchen Cabinetry
Fancy a twist on the classic subway tile? One solution is to lay simple white subway tiles in a herringbone design, as seen here. This tiling pattern is particularly effective combined with the contemporary materials and lines in this kitchen, as it helps add character and texture.
What’s interesting about this layout is that although the tiles are the same as in the previous image, the effect is reversed – the patterned splashback is the standout feature and the dark-blue units form a frame around them.
7 Ways to Ace Two-Tone Kitchen Cabinetry
Play with pattern
Dark blue might be a bold colour choice, but it’s also elegantly unassuming – perfect for showing off a wall of patterned tiles.
Here, the attractive design on the splashback stands out in the space and the navy elements in the pattern pull in the blue tones of the cabinetry.
Dark blue might be a bold colour choice, but it’s also elegantly unassuming – perfect for showing off a wall of patterned tiles.
Here, the attractive design on the splashback stands out in the space and the navy elements in the pattern pull in the blue tones of the cabinetry.
Rest and reflect
If you’re concerned that dark cabinets might make your room feel cramped and dreary, here’s a solution. Fit a mirrored splashback to reflect the light and create a sense of space.
The tinted glass here is particularly effective, as a thin LED light has been fitted along the underside of the wall-mounted cabinetry to illuminate the space. The mirrored surface bounces the light around to create an added ambient glow.
Your turn
Have you chosen dark-blue cabinets for your kitchen? Tell us how you’ve complemented them in the Comments below, like this story, save your favourite images, and join the conversation.
More
Need more practical advice for your kitchen renovation? Enjoy these 19 Design Tricks to Maximise Space in a Small Kitchen
If you’re concerned that dark cabinets might make your room feel cramped and dreary, here’s a solution. Fit a mirrored splashback to reflect the light and create a sense of space.
The tinted glass here is particularly effective, as a thin LED light has been fitted along the underside of the wall-mounted cabinetry to illuminate the space. The mirrored surface bounces the light around to create an added ambient glow.
Your turn
Have you chosen dark-blue cabinets for your kitchen? Tell us how you’ve complemented them in the Comments below, like this story, save your favourite images, and join the conversation.
More
Need more practical advice for your kitchen renovation? Enjoy these 19 Design Tricks to Maximise Space in a Small Kitchen
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So nice
Nice use of pattern splashbacks to combine with the coloured panels
I'm seeing more and more dark blue kitchens and I really love them! 'Take the metro' and 'play with patterns' are two different extremes but both have their own charm.