What should a contemporary kitchen look like? Ideally, it’s supposed to be comfortable, multifunctional, and spacious. It must, however, be trendy.
Creating the ideal kitchen will take time, careful space planning, and creative design choices on the part of the homeowner. And today on our blog, we’ll look at one of the most important aspects of the modern kitchen: the worktop. Also included are the advantages of thin, solid laminate kitchen worktops.
What makes a kitchen worktop so important?
Whether you like it or not, the worktop will be the main focal point when you walk into the kitchen. Units, cabinets, sinks, and appliances provide the backdrop, but the worktop will still be the dominant feature of the design. This is especially true if additional lighting is installed above it. Furthermore, the cook spends most of his or her time at the worktop. In a sense, the kitchen’s heart is its worktop. So make a wise decision.
How to pick out a worktop
When picking a worktop for your kitchen, keep the following factors in mind:
- The interior design of your house. A solid oak worktop, for example, is ideal for a traditional aesthetic. On the other hand, worktops made of quartz or granite will complement a high-tech interior.
- Your family’s way of life and your personal habits. Of course, in a perfect world, no one ever forgets to use the hotplate, and dirty spoons, knives and spatulas go straight down the sink. But if you’re a bit less than ideal, you might need a worktop that’s resistant to stains and heat.
- Care concerns. Remember that most engineered materials require far less maintenance than natural ones. For quartz, for example, you solely require warm water and mild detergent. Marble and granite units, on the other hand, will require special care as the surface has to be sealed to avoid unwanted staining.
- Budget. Granite and quartz are the most costly countertops currently available. If you’re aiming for a good quality makeover at a relatively low-cost, then compact laminate worktops are worth considering.
Solid laminate (compact laminate) as the best worktop material
As previously stated, solid laminate worktops offer good value for money. However, these worktops have a number of significant advantages.
- Any interior can benefit from compact laminate worktops. Whether classic, loft, or modern is your style. A solid laminate worktop will look right at home in any of these settings.
- Except for glass, it can mimic almost any other material. So you can choose the finest texture, colour, and pattern to incorporate into your kitchen.
- Compact laminate is a long-lasting material. It can withstand high temperatures for short periods of time. Of course, you’ll still need a hotplate, but putting a hot mug on your laminate countertop is unlikely to damage it. A high-quality compact laminate has a relatively good scratch resistance and can withstand impact if you happen to drop something.
- The surface of the compact laminate is highly resistant to stains from juice, wine, cleaning materials and food colourings that can be easily removed.
- Solid laminate surfaces are simple to clean and maintain. If necessary, even mild abrasives can be used.
The better you understand these differences, the easier it will be to narrow down a surface that fits both your aesthetic goals and practical needs. Experts providing guidance always advise homeowners to look for professional countertop installation and slab selection when comparing finishes, edge details, and overall performance. This approach helps avoid costly mistakes and ensures the material chosen works well with the layout and daily use of the space. Taking time at this stage often leads to a result that feels cohesive and built to last.
Other compact laminate benefits
Compact laminate worktops have a few additional undeniable advantages.
Compact laminates are made from layers of Kraft paper that are hot-pressed and bonded together with special polymer resins. There is also a type of compact (solid) laminate that is made from melted melamine.
This technology enables the production of thin worktops. The typical thickness of a solid wood worktop is 38-40 mm. At the same time, the compact laminate is only 12 mm thick. This option is completely in line with current design trends and will appeal to those looking for a light and sleek solution.
Solid laminate worktops are also completely water resistant. As a result, you can:
- Instal an under-mount sink on the worktop,
- make drainage grooves in the worktop,
- hotrods can be installed if desired.
Furthermore, compact laminate worktops are available in various shapes and sizes and are simple to install.
As you can see, compact laminate worktops are the most cost-effective, practical, and affordable option available today. You can check out the range of compact laminate worktops in the House of Worktops and choose the unit that suits your home best.
