Should You Choose Marble or Wooden Benchtops for Your Kitchen?
Posted on: 31 July 2017
Having the kitchen refitted seems to be permanently at the top of every household's to-do list. As such an important room in the home, having a new and fresh-looking kitchen can feel like it has invigorated the whole house, setting the tone for the rest of the rooms. Whether that's overstating things or your kitchen really does feel like the heart of your home, you may well be thinking about giving it an overhaul. But what kind of benchtops would you plump for? The two most popular options these days are marble and wood, and both have advantages and disadvantages.
Marble
Marble is a timeless and stylish material with an expensive look and a wide variety of colours. Whether you're looking for matte or glossy marble, you're in good company, as many homeowners today seek to buy marble countertops or a polished stone alternative. That alternative is especially popular because one of the unfortunate disadvantages of real marble is its expense. Having your entire kitchen fitted out with real marble could seriously break the bank. Equally, the look isn't for everyone; the high-gloss options are especially love-hate, and may or may not suit the look of your kitchen. Installed in the right place, however, both real marble and polished stone can open up a room to look bigger and lighter. They're also extremely durable and easy to clean, so it's not just the aesthetic. They're functional, too!
Wood
Wood can be found in a whole range of shades. Perhaps you don't have as many options as you would with marble but it is possible to stain a natural wood into a more exciting colour, if you like. It can be difficult to price wood benchtops, because the cost entirely depends on the type of wood you'd like to choose. More expensive woods could put you on par with real marble, but if you choose something more widely available, then wood is the far more affordable option of the two. It's not only the cost, either; wood counters give a rustic and natural look that can jive with most homes and their aesthetics. Wood's key disadvantage is that it's not as durable as other surfaces. They can stain, and they can be cut. However, if you're careful, your surfaces will last you as long as you need them to, and of course, minor mishaps can be repaired.
In the end, the choice will come down to your budget and your preferences. Both wood and marble are stylish and modern in the right setting, and can be updated or made more traditional depending on their surroundings. Just make sure you choose something that's ready to withstand the kind of action your benchtops will be seeing! That way, there'll be no heartache when a young child irreversibly tips food colouring over your brand-new, expensive counters.
Share