Space kitchens, Guide to Kitchen Worktops

Starting around £20 a square metre, laminates are easy to cut and install and come in a tremendous variety of colours and textures. Modern laminate surfaces are often made incorporating a real photograph of the surface they are mimicking, such as granite, slate, wood or even pebbles, so can look very realistic without the expenditure of using the real thing

Genuine terra cotta or quarry tiles are among the toughest surfaces you'll ever find in any home, which also makes them a popular choice for floors. They are almost impossible to break or chip, will take a phenomenal amount of heat and are not too cold to the touch - another benefit in flooring. But watch out; many textured or artificial antiquated tiles may look real but actually be ordinary ceramic tiles, and nowhere near as resilient. As a flooring material, they may also be more slippery when wet.

All tiles provide a versatile surface - and glazed tiles help to add to the sense of space and light. However, the grout between them will discolour with repeated staining and its absorbency may make it difficult to keep clean and germ free.

Hardwood kitchen surfaces can not only add style and lustre to your home - with proper care, they can actually develop more character as they age. They can also be matched to hardwood floors and, like any wood, can add a natural feel to the mood of a room. It does however need more care, such as regular oiling - especially in the first two years - and can scorch in contact with heat. And watch out: some cheaper varieties may be prone to warping.