When choosing a kitchen it is important to look for something that will stand the test of time. A kitchen should last 10 – 15 years.

How is it that some kitchen material combinations work cohesively while others look like they have been thrown together on a whim? Choosing the right balance of colours and materials can be complicated.

A small kitchen does not allow a lot of opportunity or require an array of different materials, whereas large kitchens are often in need of breaking up one colour or material.

It’s often a good idea to start with the benchtop surface colour, as this can prove to be the most costly part of kitchen (depending on the material) and then choose the other surfaces and finishes to achieve your overall desired outcome.

What colours will stand the test of time?

As a general rule choose neutral, classic shades for materials, for benchtops, cupboard doors and the floor. If you do want to inject the latest fashion colour into your kitchen, pick a spot that can be changed relatively easily – such as replacing the splashback or painting a wall or introducing colours into accessories.

The next step is to choose combinations of materials for kitchens that work well and are less likely to date. Materials like Timber; Stone; Engineered Stone; Laminate and Solid Surface are popular choices for benchtops.

When choosing the kitchen design, less is more. Clutter will always date a kitchen. This means everything from busy, highly textured and patterned finishes – things like cabinet doors with ornate panels, heavily patterned benchtops and mosaic-tiled splashbacks.

On the flip side, the less clutter there is, the less you will be able to ‘date’ the kitchen. Trends in design look favourably on aesthetics that are based on clean lines and low fuss; these kitchen fashions are less likely to date and provide a living space that works for you year after year.

When it comes to purchasing a new benchtop for your home, the choice of material options can be daunting.

There are many different varieties of kitchen benchtops available on the market and each of these benchtops come in different colours, thicknesses, styles, and designs.

The question is: What benchtop material will suit the décor and style of your home?

Some individuals like the bright colours and fun patterns available in laminate benchtops while others prefer the natural colours of wood or a stone or engineered stone benchtop. Solid Surface benchtops can give you both colours and stone look finishes. The type of benchtop material desired will also impact the choice of the colour, depending on the range available.

The choice of benchtop material chosen should reflect the personality of the individual and décor of the home but most importantly, it should suit the lifestyle of person purchasing the benchtop.

Although impressive to view, busy people should stay away from high maintenance materials such as wood, tiles, stone, granite and Marble benchtops as they absorbs stains and require regular upkeep.

Busy people require low maintenance benchtop materials like engineered stone, Solid Surface, Stainless steel or Laminate.

If budget is a concern, Laminate is available in lots of different colours and is a good, practical and relatively inexpensive finish.

Solid Surface materials are moderately expensive; although, due to the high wear properties and reparability of the product, it is now being used in residential applications.

Engineered Stone comes in varied thicknesses and can give a stylish finish to a kitchen but it can be expensive to install and very expensive to repair (you will need to replace a whole section of the benchtop).

There are pro and cons of every benchtop material on the market so when choosing a material it is important to shop around assess your needs and examine all of the options available.