Choosing a tiled splashback

Glass splashbacks or natural benchtops – choosing kitchen materials is not only one of the trickiest decisions, it's also one of the most important. Many designers believe that when it comes to deciding where to spend your precious kitchen renovation budget, surfaces should be given priority.

"Not only are they the things you'll spend most time looking at, they're also what creates impact in your kitchen," says kitchen designer Jenny James.

Kitchen splashbacks

Kitchen tiles allow you to get creative in terms of colour schemes and patterns, but thanks to the grout, they can be quite difficult to keep clean.

Glass splashbacks are a cinch to clean and will instantly provide your kitchen with a fresh, modern look and, thanks to its reflective properties, can even make your space look bigger.

You'll need toughened glass and, to avoid the greenish tinge, opt for something called 'Starphire glass'.

Wall materials behind glass splashbacks

Being low in iron, it stays perfectly clear, so any colour you put behind it - be it paint or wallpaper - will stay true. If your kitchen can carry it, another option is stainless steel - it will provide an industrial, almost commercial, feel, but is durable and hard wearing.

Kitchen benchtop designs

There are a number of materials to choose from, each with its benefits and drawbacks. Stainless steel is a finish that has a retro feel about it these days. It gives an industrial look to a kitchen design and will withstand direct heat from pots and pans.

It can be moulded into a single piece, which means, no matter what shape you need, you can achieve a seamless finish. However, it also scratches easily and is relatively expensive.

Stone options for the kitchen

Another finish that is heat resistant is natural stone, which is timeless, stylish and gives an air of luxury to a kitchen design. However, it's expensive, porous (making it susceptible to stains) and can't be made without joins and seams.

Reconstituted stone is an alternative to natural stone. It can be moulded into a seamless finish, provides a clean, sleek look and is more durable than natural stone. But you can't put pots and pans directly onto its surface and, compared to other finishes, it's still relatively expensive.

Laminate benchtops

If you want to know what Jenny thinks is currently the hottest benchtop material, then take a look at laminate - it's fashionable and relatively inexpensive, but the best thing is the huge variety of finishes that are available.

In fact, there are around 900 finishes available. "Laminate is very popular at the moment, and for good reason," says Jenny. "You can re-create the look of timber and natural stone for a fraction of the price, and it's a very durable finish."

Contact a kitchen designer in your area to find out which benchtop surface would suit your kitchen: