It’s a question I often ask myself when sat on a packed train, in a dentist’s waiting room, or in a supermarket: Wouldn’t the world be boring if we were all the same?
Unless you’re an identical twin, we are all completely unique, and as with anything in life, our own unique circumstances dictate how we live. This includes the property we live in, the look of our home and the amount we spend on things.
All of these things and more come into play when it comes to choosing your kitchen and selecting your kitchen work top. So, to help you narrow down your choices, we’ve come up with some recommendations based on your lifestyle, to give you a better idea of the sort of worktop you will need.
Kids or couple?
It may be the most clichéd of thoughts, but having kids changes everything. The way we see the world, the way our homes look and feel and how we spend our hard-earned cash.
If you are a parent with children living at home, one thing you will undoubtedly have come to realise is that your kids usually have less respect for the things in your home than you do! I remember, as a 16 year old, thinking my Mum and Dad’s kitchen worktop would make an ideal bottle opener, only to result in an unopened bottle and a deep gash in the precious work surface!
If you don’t have children, or perhaps you’re an empty-nester (a parent whose children have already left home), you can look after your kitchen as you see fit. So it’s more about appearance, aesthetics and ease, than it is about durability.
Kids: If you have children of any age living with you, we’d recommend the Wilsonart Luna Night High Definition kitchen worktop. It looks great, is highly durable to deal with all those sticky stains and spillages, and it won’t break the bank.
Couples: With no children to worry about, we’d recommend going a little upmarket (well, you’ve earnt it, after all!) with a wood work surface, like the Rustic Beech Solid Wood kitchen worktop.
Home-cooked food or takeaways?
Whilst there is a growing trend towards healthy kitchens, many of us simply don’t have precious time to spend cooking nutritious, home-cooked food. If you live in an urban environment and work long hours, it may be easier for you to pop to the local takeaway or live off microwave meals, rather than prepare food which you’ll end up eating at 9pm!
However, it may be that you are more than interested in preparing your own food. Slow cookers have become very fashionable, allowing you to prepare all your ingredients the night before, whilst it oh-so-slowly cooks throughout the day, leaving with you with a delicious, goodness-packed meal to tuck into upon your return. Or it may be that you are simply a budding gourmet or Great British Bake Off enthusiast, who likes nothing better than spending time in your kitchen cooking up a storm!
Home-cooked: You’ll be using your worktop all the time, so you need something that will easily stand up to a high volume of usage. We would recommend the Apollo Granite Steel Grey Rustica work top. It’s certainly not as cheap as some kitchen work tops, but it is worth investing more if you are going to use it so much.
Fast food: With very little use for your work top, other than serving as a place to unpack your Chinese or Indian takeaway, it’s probably not worth spending vast amounts, when it can look equally good at a lower price. Any of our quality laminate kitchen worktops will do the trick.
Glamour-puss or down-to-earth?
If your home is simply dripping in opulence, and you won’t be seen dead without taking at least 2 hours to get made up in the mornings, you’re probably a bit of a glamour-puss. Only the very finest is good enough for you, and you’re not afraid to run up a few credit card bills to ensure you have the very latest fashions.
On the other hand, maybe you’re the more sensible type? Rather than spending money on fancy frippery, are you happier buying something that is useful? Are you one of these people who would rather have a power drill for Christmas than the latest scent? If you’re more the down-to-earth type, it’s highly likely your kitchen will be much more functional too.
Glamour-puss: We’d recommend buying something to show off to the world, which demonstrates your great taste, like the Mistral Zircona Solid Surface worktop.
Down-to-earth: A simple laminate worktop, such as the Tandem Black Slate Satin kitchen worktop is highly functional, looks stylish and costs less than other options. You’ll save loads of money, which you’ll no doubt invest wisely in something else for your home.
Whatever your personality, at Worktop Hub you’ll find a kitchen worktop to suit your lifestyle.
