How a New Benchtop Can Elevate Your Kitchen Design
One of the easiest ways to refresh a kitchen is to give it a facelift – and given your benchtops span most of the kitchen’s footprint, replacing this material can have a big impact on the look and feel of your space.
Whether your laminate has started to chip, your stainless steel counters have collected scratches that you can’t polish out, or you just want a new colour palette, why not elevate your kitchen benchtop design this year?
We’ve compiled a few of the ways that resurfacing your benchtops can make you feel like you’ve got a whole new kitchen.
It can create a contemporary look
Design trends in recent years have veered away from the thick, slab-style benchtops and instead embraced a thinner profile to create a clean and contemporary look.
A great way to achieve this is by opting for porcelain in your kitchen benchtop design. Offering a thinner surface without compromising on quality and functionality, porcelain is a versatile surface:
- Easy to clean as the surface is non-porous
- Heat resistant, well suited for areas adjacent to your cooking zone
- Available in a variety of textures, finishes and colours
It can evoke a traditional design style
Switching up your benchtop material and giving your cabinetry a fresh coat of paint is an easy way to put a heritage twist on a more modern kitchen. Even if you opt for a similar material, replacing an old, worn or damaged bench will add both visual and functional appeal to your space.
One of the most popular choices for a traditional space is a timber benchtop. Synonymous with warmth, texture and character, timber is as versatile as it is practical.
Available in a wide range of colours with varying degrees of grain, no two timber benchtops look quite the same. Lighter tones, like ash, oak and birch, pair well with white cabinetry in a shaker-style profile for a Hamptons-esque kitchen; evoke a style closer to home with Australian woods like jarrah or red cedar.
Our updated Design Trends eBook covers everything you need to know about kitchen materials, covering everything from benches to flooring choices and everything in between! Download your copy now.
It can put an industrial spin on your space
If you get a lot of use out of your kitchen and consider yourself something of a foodie, you may be interested in a stainless steel benchtop. Stainless steel is hygienic, hard-wearing and heat-resistant, making it a natural match for use in kitchen benchtop design.
Pair your stainless steel benchtop with other modern fixtures and fittings, such as matte tapware and handleless cabinets.
Another thing we love about this material is how easily you can integrate splashbacks and sinks into stainless steel benches. Not only does this minimise any space for germs and bacteria to hang around, but it can also be cost-effective as you don’t need to order multiple different materials for your space.
Instead, spend a bit more on a thick-cut stainless steel bench – this means you can have it polished every 5-10 years, minimising unsightly scratches and dents while saving on updates and renovations over that time.
It can be achieved on a budget
A laminate bench can do wonders for your existing kitchen design and help you keep your overall renovation cost low in comparison to a more expensive material like marble.
Laminate is a budget-friendly option that still gives you the look of a high-end surface, and as long as you take care of it over the years, it should last you at least a decade.
A laminate benchtop can fit in with most kitchen design styles, and can even be printed with high-quality marble and stone aesthetics to achieve your dream kitchen benchtop design without the price tag.
Unlike porcelain or stainless steel, laminate surfaces are not heat-resistant, so you’ll need to be mindful of this, particularly around cooking areas.
You’ll also want to invest in a quality installation service, as the joins in laminate cabinetry can be susceptible to water damage if not sealed correctly.
Whether you simply want to update your kitchen or want to create a whole new look for your space, changing your benchtop material is one of the most effective ways to achieve that new kitchen feeling.
Visit one of our showrooms to learn more about these benchtop options and a host of others, and let our experienced team help you to choose the best material for your home.
