The kitchen is the heart of your home. No longer just a place for cooking and washing up, it’s become one of the key entertainment areas. With all this activity, most people want their kitchen bench tops to look great, as well as be durable and easy to clean.

The bench top has become the focal point of any modern kitchen.

But choosing the bench top that works for you can be a daunting task with so much available today. When you have stone, laminate, granite, marble, steel, timber and concrete to choose from, it’s very challenging to choose the ideal bench top surface for your new kitchen.

Your decision often comes down to price, aesthetics and practicality, but wouldn’t it be good if you knew all the pros and cons of every surface so you can make a fully informed decision?

Here’s a quick helpful guide from Blueprint Interiors of the different types of bench tops available:

Laminate – This synthetic cost effective option is made up of several layers. It’s affordable, durable and versatile, coming in a variety of colours and styles that can emulate a particular natural look like timber or granite.

Granite & Marble – Go back to basics and back to nature with these classic surfaces that come in a highly polished or matt-honed finish. It’s visually spectacular, ultra smooth and cool on the fingers. 

Staron – This beautiful solid surface is a patented blend of acrylic and natural minerals. It’s nonporous and stain resistant and comes in many colours, both matt and gloss. It can also be welded together to form seamless joints.

Caesar Stone – This ever popular manmade stone is low maintenance, as well as stain and scratch resistant. It’s non-porous, waterproof, heat resistant and looks fantastic.

Stainless Steel – Great for that cutting-edge industrial look and feel, stainless steel is highly durable. However, you must maintain it regularly, as scratching can happen quite easily and smudging can show.