Kitchen Splashbacks for Holiday Cooking Season

The festive season brings big meals, full kitchens and plenty of family and friends gathered around the cooking space. With roasting, frying, baking and prepping happening all at once, your kitchen splashback becomes one of the hardest-working surfaces in the room. Choosing the right splashback can make a huge difference to how easy your kitchen is to clean, how well it handles heat, and how polished your space feels during the holidays.

Whether you’re refreshing your kitchen before Christmas or simply want something that can handle the extra cooking, this guide will walk you through easy clean splashbacks, heat-resistant options and styling ideas that suit a busy holiday cooking kitchen design.

Explore BDW’s full range of kitchen splashbacks.

Quick guide: easy-clean, heat-resistant kitchen splashbacks

If you only read one section, make it this:

• Choose non-porous surfaces for easy cleaning: glass, acrylic panels, laminate sheeting, porcelain or stainless steel.
• Use toughened glass, porcelain or stainless for a heat resistant splashback behind the cooktop.
• Minimise grout lines – the fewer the joints, the quicker the wipe-down.
• Match colour and finish to your cabinets and benchtops for a cohesive festive look.

What to look for in a kitchen splashback for holiday cooking

Heat resistance around your cooktop

Holiday cooking means long hours of high heat: simmering sauces, frying, roasting and pan-searing. Your splashback needs to safely withstand this heat over time.

Best heat-resistant materials include:

• Toughened glass
• Porcelain or ceramic panels
• Stainless steel
• Some stone-look engineered panels

These materials remain stable under high heat and won’t warp, melt or discolour behind gas or induction cooktops.

Easy-clean surfaces for splatters and spills

The holidays often mean non-stop cooking – gravy one hour, frying oil the next, then tomato splatter from pasta night. Easy clean splashbacks make these moments stress-free.

Look for surfaces that are:

• Completely smooth
• Non-porous
• Resistant to staining
• Quick to wipe with a damp cloth

Glass and acrylic offer a glossy, smooth finish that wipes clean in seconds. Porcelain panels are also highly resistant to staining and can tackle stubborn splatters with minimal effort.

Durability under heavy use

Your splashback doesn’t just need to survive heat and splatter – it has to handle scrubbing, steam, moisture, stacked pots leaning against it and day-to-day knocks.

Durable splashback choices include:

• Toughened glass
• Porcelain
• Stainless steel
• Polymer and acrylic sheeting (in non-cooktop zones)

If your holiday entertaining includes lots of multi-course meals or shared cooking with guests, prioritise materials that can take a beating without showing wear.

Popular kitchen splashback options for the festive season

These are the most practical and visually appealing choices for holiday-heavy cooking.

Glass splashbacks – sleek, reflective and heat tolerant

Glass splashbacks remain one of the top choices for modern kitchens – they’re easy to clean, offer high heat resistance and instantly elevate your cooking space.

Why they’re great for holidays:

• Quick wipe-down after splatters
• No grout lines
• Works with all cooking styles
• Available in clear, coloured or printed designs

A glossy glass panel behind the cooktop helps your kitchen look polished, even on the busiest cooking days.

Acrylic and polymer panels – budget-friendly and low maintenance

Acrylic splashbacks work beautifully for non-cooktop zones. They offer a smooth, shiny surface but require careful placement since they’re not suitable directly behind high-heat gas burners.

Benefits:

• Affordable and DIY-friendly
• Lightweight
• Easy to clean
• Available in many colours

Perfect for renters, investment properties or fast pre-Christmas upgrades.

Porcelain and ceramic options – classic strength and high heat resistance

Porcelain panels and ceramic tiles offer excellent durability and long-term heat performance. Porcelain in particular can handle high temperatures and heavy cleaning.

Pros:

• Heat resistant
• Scratch and stain resistant
• Timeless styles (stone-look, subway tiles, terrazzo patterns)

If you choose tiles, select larger format options or minimal grout to keep cleaning simple.

Stainless steel – the commercial kitchen favourite

If you cook seriously – or simply love the industrial look – stainless steel is a brilliant choice.

Strengths:

• Ultra heat resistant
• Very easy to clean
• Hygienic and long-lasting

Stainless steel instantly elevates the space with a professional, restaurant-style aesthetic that suits busy holiday entertainers.

Matching your splashback with cabinets and holiday kitchen design

A cohesive look makes your kitchen feel more stylish and intentional – especially during the festive season when guests gather in the kitchen.

Coordinate colours and finishes

Your splashback should complement your cabinets, not compete with them. Consider:

• White or neutral glass panels for minimalist cabinetry
• Stone-look porcelain paired with matte finish cabinets
• Stainless steel to complement sleek handleless cabinets
• Warm neutrals to soften timber-look or Shaker-style kitchens

If you’re updating cabinetry, explore BDW’s range.

Create a focal point behind the cooktop

A feature splashback behind the cooktop can lift the entire room. Popular festive-season choices include:

• Printed glass panels
• Patterned porcelain sheets
• Metallic or tinted splashbacks
• Stone-look textures for a luxe feel

This helps your kitchen feel “holiday ready” and gives guests a stylish backdrop when you’re prepping food.

Balance style with practical cleaning

It’s tempting to choose something bold, but during the holiday rush, you’ll want something that looks good and wipes clean quickly. Prioritise smooth finishes and low-maintenance materials, especially in the heaviest cooking zones.

Splashback care and cleaning tips for festive cooking

Daily wipe-down routine

During the holidays, quick clean-ups prevent stubborn stains later.

1. Allow the splashback to cool.
2. Wipe with a soft cloth or microfibre towel.
3. Use mild detergent or glass cleaner.
4. Avoid abrasive sponges that may scratch surfaces.

Dealing with stubborn splatters

For baked-on oil, gravy or sauce:

• Let the surface soak with warm soapy water.
• Use a non-abrasive cream cleanser for tiles or stainless.
• Avoid harsh chemicals on acrylic or polymer panels.

Consistency is key – regular wipe-downs prevent long-term staining.

Protecting your splashback from heat damage

A heat resistant splashback is essential behind a cooktop, especially gas.

• Maintain the recommended clearance from burners.
• Choose toughened glass or porcelain for direct heat zones.
• Avoid pressing hot pans or trays against the splashback.
• For acrylic or laminate panels, install a stainless insert behind the cooktop.

FAQs: Kitchen splashbacks for holiday cooking

What is the best kitchen splashback for heavy cooking?

For frequent or high-heat cooking, materials like toughened glass, porcelain panels and stainless steel perform best. They handle heat well, resist staining and make clean-up easier, especially during the busy holiday season when cooking sessions tend to run back-to-back.

Which splashback is easiest to clean?

Smooth, non-porous surfaces – such as glass, porcelain or acrylic panels – are the simplest to maintain. They wipe clean in seconds with mild detergent, making them ideal for kitchens that see a mix of frying, roasting and everyday splatters.

Do kitchen splashbacks need to be heat resistant?

Only the area directly behind your cooktop requires strong heat resistance. Toughened glass, stainless steel or porcelain are the safest options for this zone. The rest of the kitchen can use lower-heat materials like acrylic or laminate panels.

Can I use acrylic panels behind a gas cooktop?

Acrylic should not be placed directly behind a gas burner because it cannot withstand open-flame heat. If you love the look of acrylic elsewhere, you can pair it with a stainless steel or toughened glass insert behind the cooktop to protect the heat zone.

How do I match my splashback to my kitchen cabinets?

Start by choosing colours and finishes that complement your cabinet profile. Soft neutrals pair well with white or timber cabinets, while deeper tones or metallic finishes look great with modern matte cabinetry. Matching the undertone of benchtops also helps everything feel cohesive.

How often should a splashback be cleaned during holiday cooking?

During intense cooking periods, a daily wipe-down is enough to keep surfaces clear and prevent stains. For stubborn splatters, allow the surface to cool and use a non-abrasive cleaner suited to the material to protect the finish and prolong its lifespan.

Conclusion

Your kitchen splashback does more than protect your walls – it keeps your cooking space cleaner, safer and more stylish during the chaotic holiday season. From easy clean splashbacks to highly heat resistant splashback materials, choosing the right option ensures your kitchen performs beautifully under festive pressure.

Explore BDW’s full range of kitchen splashbacks today and get your home holiday-ready.