Worktops are the most used fixture in one of the hardest working areas in our homes, so choosing the right surface for your kitchen is important. With so many options available, from stone-effect quartz to marble-inspired ceramic, picking the best option can take time.
Here, we look at five essential things to consider when choosing a kitchen worktop, to make that decision-making a little simpler.
1 Durability
If you use your kitchen frequently, whether for food prep, dining or socialising, the worktops must be durable. You don’t want to be worrying about chipping or staining the surface but will want to use the surface for a variety of tasks that require a certain level of toughness. A combination of natural and engineered materials CRL Quartz worktops have a durability that is superior to that of natural stone. So, whether you’re chopping veg, washing up or serving dinner your worktops will be up to the task, with no high level of maintenance required.
2 Looks
As practical as your kitchen worktops are, as a highly visible fixture it’s also important to base your purchase on what they look like. When choosing a quartz, composite, or ceramic surface you don’t need to compromise on either style or function. The Ceralsio and Inalco MDi collections, for example, are inspired by nature and available in a large range of finishes with something to suit all tastes. From dramatic, bold marble-effect patterns to calming stone-inspired hues, your worktop can make just the right impression.
3 Heat, scratch, and stain resistance
All that chopping, serving, and washing means your kitchen worktops need to show a high level of resistance to lots of different impact points. Not only must the surface by resistant to general wear and tear which comes as standard in a busy family kitchen, it also needs to be unaltered by heat, scratches, and stains. MDi, for example, is so highly scratch resistant that food can be cut directly on top of the surface without it being damaged. All three of our surface collections are also stain, heat and impact resistant and non-porous. So, they don’t need to be sealed or treated in any way prior to use.
4 Matching splashbacks
Co-ordinating the worktop and splashback creates a stylishly streamlined impression in the modern kitchen. Being able to remove splashes of cooking oil quickly and easily, is a must though, and the material used should be steam and heat resistant too. This is what makes options such as Ceralsio in a 12mm thickness so popular, as it can be used seamlessly from worktop to splashback and have all the practical benefits needed too.
5 Feature walls
Match your worktops to your walls for a real style statement with an on-trend feature wall. Again, slim profile surfaces work well here and choosing a large slab surface rather than individual tiles means less in the way of grout lines, for a seamless finish where the beauty of the material can be really shown off.
A bonus tip – With Ceralsio and MDi you can continue the theme outdoors – they’re UV resistant, weather proof materials that are perfect for patios and terraces, for your dream inside-outside kitchen.