How to Create an Impact With Your Kitchen Benchtop

The benchtop is a huge element of any kitchen and often one that takes a fair amount of time to decide upon. There are a wide range of materials and finishes to choose from that can create an impact for your kitchen. While it’s easy to focus on the colour, texture or finish of the benchtop itself, it’s important to consider how it will play off your kitchen walls and floors to ensure a cohesive look.

Natural Stone

There’s nothing quite like the visual impact of a beautiful piece of natural stone on your Kitchen Benchtop. It adds a luxurious feel and can really make your benchtop the hero of the room. Natural stone can also have variations in colour and pattern between slabs which adds to its beauty and is a great option for those looking for a more unique benchtop design. However, as a natural product it is more prone to staining and needs to be sealed regularly.

Laminate

Laminate has become a favourite amongst those wanting a durable, affordable and visually appealing benchtop material. Recent advances in the laminate market have made it possible to produce a vast array of colours and finishes that are suitable for any kitchen style. Laminate is non-porous and so is easy to keep clean, while it’s also heat and stain resistant.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is a hardwearing material that tends to be more popular in industrial or ultra-modern kitchen designs. It is hygienic although it will show scuffs and marks over heavy use and can be moulded into curved benchtops and seamless sinks. It can also be shaped into a variety of shapes and lengths with no joins.

Quartz

A quartz benchtop can be a great alternative to granite if you’re after the same high-end aesthetic for a smaller budget. Engineered quartz is available in a vast array of colours and patterns and is stain, scratch and crack resistant. It’s also a heat-resistant material which makes it a good choice for areas of the kitchen that are likely to get hotter than others.

Solid Surface

Acrylic/solid surface is another hardwearing and versatile kitchen benchtop material that can be thermoformed into a wide range of shapes and sizes with no joins. It can also be fabricated around a range of kitchen appliances, making it an ideal choice for those wanting to avoid visible joins. It is a non-porous material that is easily repaired if chipped or scratched, although it is more susceptible to heat damage than other options.

Timber benchtops can provide a warm and classic element to any kitchen. There are a number of timber species to choose from including american or Tasmanian oak, spotted gum and jarrah. Timber can be stained to a range of colours and is highly durable, although it does require regular oiling or polyurethane sealing to protect it from damage. It’s also important to consider the natural wear and tear of timber and allow for some dents or scratches.