How to Choose the Right Kitchen Worktop

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Choosing the right worktop is a key consideration early in the process of planning your kitchen. 

A natural focal point of your kitchen, worktops have a huge impact on the overall look. But they’re also a functional decision, as you interact with your worktops multiple times every day.

So before you buy, it’s important to ask yourself some crucial questions, such as, what kind of cook are you? Do you make everything from scratch, spreading ingredients across the worktops, rolling out dough, using hot and sharp tools, or prefer a more hands-off approach?

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Are you a kitchen entertainer, planning on hosting family and friends at the breakfast bar? Will your worktops have to withstand crafty hobbies, or be hygienic enough for a little one?

 The most important factor to think about with kitchen worktops, is what material the surface is made of. The most popular and common choices are natural materials (wood, stone), man-made composite (quartz, corian) and alternative materials such as laminate, stainless steel and dekton. Each material has its own characteristics and original properties.  We’re going to explain the pros and cons of some of our most commonly used worktops.

Natural Materials

Hard Wood

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Photo by Charles Deluvio

Wooden worktops, such as oak and beech, are perfect for both a contemporary and traditional kitchen look, providing warmth and texture to kitchens -  but they require some upkeep.

Pros:

  • Aesthetically beautiful, with a range of wood grains and colours

  • Cheaper than most other worktops other than laminate

  • Ages beautifully, although will show signs of wear too.

  • Timber is naturally antibacterial


Cons:

  • Requires regular maintenance to stay looking beautiful

  • Biannual oiling. 

  • Can become stained, scorched and scratched, although damage can be repaired or sanded out

 

Granite 

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Photo by Jessica Lewis

 A hard-wearing material, granite is excellent for well-loved and dynamic family kitchens. Their heat-resistance makes them highly durable. As a natural material, each surface is completely unique and many shades and patterns are available. 

Pros:

  • Tough material

  • Can be cheaper than composite materials

  • Aesthetically beautiful 

 Cons:

  • The upkeep required: as a porous material, it might require regular resealing, and it can stain 

  • If damaged, it can’t be easily repaired. 


Man-made Composites

Quartz

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 Quartz blends natural minerals with resin, creating a non-porous, durable surface. It reflects the complexity of natural stone - but with long-lasting quality. A fuss-free alternative to natural worksurfaces, Quartz is easy to clean and maintain - but can be costly. 

Pros: 

  • Durable

  • Antibacterial

  • Huge range of colour choice

Cons:

  • Can be expensive, though there is a wide range of pricing

  • Can discolour if hot pans are placed directly on the surface

 Corian

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Another man-made composite consisting of a combination of natural and synthetic materials, corian provides a seamless and glossy worktop which perfectly matches contemporary kitchen design and lifestyle.

Pro

  • Seamless and thus hygienic 

  • A malleable material which can be shaped.

  • Can be repaired, even if damage is quite severe

Cons:

  • Expensive

  • Will need to be refurbished every now and again to keep it looking at its best

 

Alternatives

Laminates 

 The most popular choice in the market, Laminate is both versatile and cost-effective. It’s made by bonding a ‘stiff sheet’ - which may mimic realistically other materials, such as wood and marble- on to a wooden particleboard core. It’s convincing - - but you get what you pay for. 

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Photo by Callum Hill

Pros:

  • Cheap

  • Easy to maintain and clean

  • Hard-wearing and heat-resistant

  • Can mimic any material

Cons:

  • Prone to peeling

  • Can burn, or  melt

  • Once scratched, it can become unhygienic

  • The interior is chipboard so easily damaged if water can enter


Stainless Steel 

 A popular choice in the commercial kitchen sector, stainless steel is also perfect for industrial-style and hard-wearing kitchens, due to its highly robust nature. 

 Pros 

  • Modern look

  • Robust and clean

  • Can be formed into any shape & combined with splashbacks

  • Waterproof 

Cons

  • Cold & Clinical

  • Scratches easily - although once it’s scratched enough, it looks good again!

  
Dekton

 A new material, Dekton is a blend of the materials used to create glass, porcelain and quartz worksurface. It’s highly resistant - from scratches to UV rays - but can be costly.

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Pros

  • Very difficult to stain and scratch

  • Highly heat resistant

  • Large choice of colours

Cons

  • Can chip or crack due to its hardness

  • Costly

  • Hard to repair

 

Which kitchen worktop should you go for?

Worktops can be a large investment - so it’s worth taking your time choosing and considering the benefits and drawbacks to your kitchen. Remember to consider not only the aesthetics, but what functionally suits your needs and lifestyle. The right worktop can transform the design and day-to-day life in your kitchen - with cool surfaces helping dough to set, antibacterial properties helping to keep the kids safe, or natural wood grains giving you the traditional warmth you always wanted in your kitchen.

Still unsure? Book a free 30 minute consultation with us to discuss the perfect worktop for you.

Kitchen TipsRuby Lee