Kitchen worktop styles and materials – a gallery to inspire you

Kitchen worktops can really transform the look of a kitchen, and there’s a seemingly endless choice of different styles and materials available.  We’ve put together a gallery of some of our favourite kitchen worktops, to help inform and inspire you…

How can different worktop styles and materials affect the look of a kitchen?

As well as their practical role, kitchen worktops play an important aesthetic and decorative role, adding character and setting the tone of the kitchen. Whether you’re looking for a traditional feel or a more contemporary vibe, your choice of worktop style and material can have a significant impact on how your kitchen looks and feels.

A butcher’s block worktop 

What are the most popular kitchen worktop materials?

Kitchen worktops are available in a range of different materials, from solid wood to quartz, and natural stone to concrete. Some of the most popular choices of kitchen worktop materials include:

• Solid wood - solid wood and butcher’s block worktops are naturally beautiful, and will add warmth and texture to a kitchen
• Quartz - quartz worktops are durable and versatile, and come in a variety of colours, styles and finishes 

• Natural stone - stone worktops such as marble, granite and limestone have a naturally luxurious quality and bring a high-end feel to a kitchen

• Corian - Corian and other solid surface worktops are made from a blend of resins, pigments and mineral particles, and they have a lovely lustre 

• Concrete - sleek and hard-wearing, concrete worktops come in a variety of colours and finishes, and add a modern feel to a kitchen

• Stainless steel - stainless steel worktops bring a smart industrial edge to a kitchen.

Kitchen worktops also come in a variety of different styles, from waterfall worktops to splashback worktops, and with the right kitchen worktop you can make a real style statement… 

Quartz worktops create a bright, airy feel in the Norfolk Vicarage kitchen

Kitchen worktops: a gallery of styles and materials

From country kitchen chic to Scandi-style minimalism, here are some examples of different kitchen worktop styles and materials from the Naked Kitchens portfolio to inspire you…

Solid oak worktops create a traditional farmhouse feel in the Raynham kitchen

Add warmth and character with a solid wood worktop

Wood is a naturally beautiful material, and it has a timelessness which means it works in any style of kitchen. From the lighter tones of ash and beech, though warmer cherry, iroko, maple and oak, to rich mahogany and walnut, a wooden worktop will add texture and character to a kitchen. In the Raynham kitchen, above, the solid oak worktops add warmth and create a homely traditional farmhouse feel.

Warm Iroko worktops balance the dark cabinets in the Oyster Catcher kitchen

Meanwhile, in the Oyster Catcher kitchen, above, the Iroko wooden worktop with its warm honey tones perfectly balances the deep, rich black of the cabinets and adds a sense of depth and elegance.

An oak end-grain butcher’s block worktop in the Cley kitchen

Create a country-style kitchen with a butcher’s block worktop

A butcher’s block worktop is a perfect choice for a country-style kitchen. The Cley kitchen, above, features a beautiful oak end-grain butcher’s block worktop, which is both practical and beautiful and adds texture and interest to the space.

Walnut worktops featuring butcher’s block ends in the Georgian Hall kitchen

Meanwhile, the Georgian Hall kitchen, above, features a sumptuous walnut island worktop with stunning butcher block ends. It’s a country kitchen look but with a wow factor.

Quartz worktops create a fresh modern look in the Dulwich kitchen

Choose a fresh modern look with a quartz worktop

Quartz is a hugely versatile material which comes in a range of different styles and finishes, and it’s a popular choice for contemporary kitchen worktops. The Dulwich kitchen, above, features a Shaker style design with a fresh contemporary twist, courtesy of the cabinets in soft green topped with beautiful marble effect quartz worktops, while the extended island 

worktop accommodates a row of under-counter seating. 

Black and white marble worktops in the Highgate kitchen

Go for luxury with a marble worktop

WIth its beautiful natural veining and luxurious, almost glowing quality, marble is a fabulous material for creating kitchen worktops. The Highgate kitchen, above, combines sleek white marble worktops with a show-stopping kitchen island worktop made from a single slab of dark marble, which together with the dark walnut cabinetry creates a smart, minimalist Japandi feel.

Concrete worktops create a clean minimalist vibe in the Glaven kitchen

Create a modern minimalist look with concrete worktops

Concrete is an extremely durable and versatile material, and it’s available in a range of different colours and textures. Concrete worktops have a smooth, contemporary look and add a distinctly modern edge to a kitchen. In the Glaven kitchen, above, brushed limed-grain oak and white cabinetry is combined with sleek Caesarstone worktops, creating a modern space with clean, minimalist lines. 

A waterfall worktop adds the wow factor in the Henley kitchen. Image: Amazing Productions.

Make a statement with a waterfall worktop

A waterfall worktop is where the kitchen worktop flows down over the edge of a kitchen cabinet, island or peninsula and cascades all the way to the floor. Waterfall worktops are a fabulous feature in a kitchen, offering a contemporary feel and adding a real wow factor. In the Henley kitchen, above, the kitchen island with its white marble waterfall worktop creates a stunning centrepiece.

A split-level waterfall worktop in the Southwold kitchen

Meanwhile, the Southwold kitchen, above, offers an unusual twist on the waterfall worktop. Here, the quartz worktop flows over the edge of the island and down into a breakfast bar, creating a striking focal point in this light, modern Scandi-inspired space. 

A splashback worktop adds drama in the Anmer kitchen

Add a touch of drama with a splashback worktop 

A splashback worktop is where the kitchen splashback flows down onto the worktops, creating a stunning visual effect. In the Anmer kitchen, above, the marbled splashback cascades seamlessly onto the worktop, creating a lovely contrast against the warm timber of the cabinet and shelving, and adding a real sense of drama.

View more examples of our bespoke worktops.

At Naked Kitchens, we can create beautiful bespoke kitchen worktops that are perfectly matched to your kitchen and your lifestyle. Get started on creating your dream kitchen.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best material for a kitchen worktop?

The best material for a kitchen worktop depends on a number of factors. If you’re a keen cook, it’s best to opt for a material that’s durable, stain resistant and low maintenance, such as quartz; while if you enjoy entertaining, a striking material such as marble or granite will create a great focal point.

Which style of kitchen worktop should I choose?

Kitchen worktops are available in a variety of different styles, and the most appropriate style of worktop for your kitchen will depend on the kind of look and feel you want to achieve. In a contemporary kitchen, waterfall and splashback worktops are a popular choice for adding the wow factor and making a style statement.