How to Choose the Perfect Kitchen Benchtop Design
Whether you’re designing a new kitchen, renovating an existing kitchen or just looking to give your kitchen a mini makeover, undoubtedly, one of the most prominent design elements of a kitchen is the kitchen benchtop.
Choosing a kitchen benchtop is often a starting point for many kitchen designers. This is because the type of benchtop and the design of the benchtop can shape the rest of the kitchens’ design. Therefore, choosing the right kitchen benchtop is a significant decision.
Ross’s Discount Home Centre specialises in kitchens in Perth, and it would be remiss for me not to provide tips on how to choose the perfect kitchen benchtop design to pair with your Ross’s Discount Home Centre kitchen or existing kitchen. So continue reading as I share with you some valuable tips that will help you make the right decision when it comes to choosing your kitchen benchtop.
Choose a benchtop Material
The first step in deciding on a kitchen benchtop design is to choose a benchtop material. Your choice of material will determine what, if any, designs are available.
The most common benchtop materials are engineered stone, such as the Silestone® range we offer, or laminate benchtops, like those in our laminate range.
Each material provides a variety of design choices – the most significant difference lies in the appearance and price. Engineered stone undoubtedly offers a more luxurious look. It is also much more expensive than laminate. The difference in price is often the deciding factor between the two materials.
Other materials to consider include timber, stainless steel and marble. However, they offer very little if any design variety.
Choose the benchtop Design
Assuming you have chosen either an engineered stone or laminate benchtop, you now have to choose the design, and this is where it gets tricky. There are many things to take into consideration and many different design styles to choose from – plain or patterned, surreal or replica, natural or colourful?
The decision is made easier by looking at overall kitchen design and not just the benchtop design. Your kitchen’s design style and cabinet selection will also play a significate role.
If you have dark cupboards, I recommend a lighter benchtop. And, if you have light cabinets, a dark benchtop makes a nice contrast. However, there are instances when it works to pair dark with dark and light with light also.
Minimalistic, Hamptons, cottage and modern kitchens often pair white cabinets with a white or light benchtop design. Alternatively, it isn’t at all uncommon to see contemporary, industrial and monochromatic kitchens to pair dark cabinets with a black or dark benchtop design.
My point is, study the style you want to achieve and get ideas from images in magazines and the internet. There is no right or wrong choice, but obviously, some benchtop designs are more suited to particular colour pallets and design styles than others. Decide if you want a light or dark benchtop and then narrow down the design options till you find the one you like most.
Conclusion
A kitchen benchtop plays a significant role in the overall design of a kitchen. Therefore, care must be taken when choosing a benchtop to ensure it conveys the right design style or complements your existing design style.
Tips to consider when choosing a kitchen benchtop include selecting the material first, then look at the overall kitchen design, your cabinet selection and the design style you want to achieve. Follow these tips, and you will have the perfect kitchen benchtop design.
For quality kitchen benchtops in Perth, check out our range here at Ross’s Discount Home Centre. We have affordable stone benchtops and cheap laminate benchtops to choose from, so you’re sure to find one that is perfect for your needs and budget.