Splashback On Top Of Upstand - 5 Things to Consider

Thinking about adding a splashback on top of the upstand in your kitchen? Make sure to think about these five important factors, to get the best look and functionality from your space.

Emma Britton is the specialist for designer-made decorative glass splashbacks, with a wealth of experience designing and making splashbacks for homes across the UK. Suitable for kitchens both with and without upstands, as well as bathrooms, utilities, bootrooms and more, with an Emma Britton splashback you’ll get a beautiful finish, without compromise on practicality.

5 Things to Consider for a Splashback on Top of Upstand

Firstly, think about the height you’ve got available. Most upstands are 100mm tall. Do you have wall cupboards or shelves above? The standard cabinetry gap is 450mm to the worktop, so consider if you have enough room for a splashback as well as your upstand. This might dictate what material or decorative glass Splashback pattern you choose. 

What is your upstand made of? A practical consideration is to ensure your upstand has enough thickness for a splashback to sit on top of. Stainless steel upstands, for example, may be too thin to accommodate your chosen splashback material. 

Think about what you want practicality-wise, and what you want to achieve with the space you have available. Do you want a focal point splashback to make a feature of your cooker? Or do you want a full wall covering, that’s super practical and feels integrated into your kitchen? This is important to think about before you start looking at splashback patterns or styles. 

It’s also key to consider the positioning of plug sockets and other key services. Emma is happy to offer technical advice as part of  a free of charge splashback consultation.  

The fun part is choosing your Splashback design. Think about whether the material and colour of your upstand coordinates well with the splashback you like. It’s good to have some symmetry across the two so your kitchen feels cohesive. The projects below feature the same Emma Britton splashback with upstands, but achieve two very different looks. On the left, wooden upstands chime with the warm colours of this floral splashback to make a bold feature. Whereas on the right, these smoky marble upstands and modern cabinetry bring out the shadow effect for a more muted look of this practical artwork. 

Finally, if you’ve the pleasure of designing a new kitchen, think about where you need upstands. You may wish to have a gap in the upstands for a splashback, to make a real feature area. Continuing your upstands round the rest of the kitchen can then add a nice detail. However, there is truly no right or wrong way to combine upstands and splashbacks! Every kitchen is unique, so do think about what will work best for your lifestyle and the look you want to achieve.

Need Some Advice?

Contact Emma directly to chat all things splashbacks (and upstands!). All Emma’s glass splashbacks are handcrafted in the UK and always made-to-measure, so there’s lots of scope to customise a splashback to your space. 

Email: emma@emmabritton.net | Telephone: +44(0) 7565 300 065

Browse all Emma’s ready-to-go Splashback designs here, or read here about commissioning a bespoke splashback.