#How to choose a kitchen bench

Once your kitchen layout's been established, it’s time to choose a suitable benchtop; one that fits in with the aesthetic of the design, but more importantly one that's functional, suitable for your purposes and which makes preparation in the kitchen easy. Bench tops are primarily places to work, so the importance of practicality can't be underplayed.

To choose the right bench you'll need to consider style, durability, maintenance and cost - among other things. Image by Caesarstone.

Benchtop materials

With so many styles to choose from, the task of choosing a benchtop can sometimes be overwhelming. There are several materials available to the Australian market. These include:

• High pressure laminate
• Natural stone
• Reconstituted stone / quartz
• Acrylic
• Solid timber
• Stainless steel
• Glass
• Polished concrete
• Tiled medium density fireboard

What should I look for in a benchtop?

So how do you know what best fits your purpose and what should you be looking out for? Any of these types of benchtops will normally perform well, but there are three main aspects that will usually help you to narrow down your choices. These are:

• Cost
• Style
• Level of maintenance required

Cost of materials and installation