Nowadays, there are many options available in the marketplace when it comes to selecting materials that will be used as kitchen worktops. No matter what type of decor you may have in your kitchen, you can now find worktop materials to suit anything and everything. The latest technological advances have ensured that the extraction of natural stone such as marble, granite, limestone and quartzite is now possible to be carried out at reasonable prices. Also, in terms of man-made worktop products there has been a huge leap in terms of excellent products that look and feel just like natural stone but they further enhance its characteristics by offering materials that are non-porous as well as heat, scratch and stain-resistant.

When it comes to looks, dark kitchens with cabinets and other elements in deep colours are currently in trend and getting popular among households in the UK as well as the classic clean and modern lines of white kitchens, which make spaces, look bigger.

But rather than using a dark worktop material as well, households many times prefer to mix and match colour schemes by using worktop materials in lighter shades. This helps them brighten up the dark decor of the room in which the kitchen is situated. If you too, are aiming to achieve similar looks, these are 5 worktop materials that you can consider for your kitchen worktops in 2018 and beyond.

• Silestone Calacatta Gold

Calacatta marble is very popular all over the world for its royal appearance. It has been used for centuries in monuments, buildings and palaces. With Calacatta Gold, Silestone has combined the beauty of Calacatta marble from Italy, with the incredible benefits that good quality quartz stone offers. Silestone Calacatta Gold from the Eternal Collection of the brand made by leading stone manufacturer Cosentino features golden and grey veins on a pure white backdrop, making it a perfect pick for dark kitchens. Be it a traditional or a contemporary decor, this material would suit every design and architectural styles, and would further enhance the beauty and productivity of the kitchen.

• Dekton Aura

Dekton Aura is an ultracompact product made out of a mix of raw materials and natural minerals which too resembles the popular Calacatta marble but without the etching and staining issues that natural marble may present in kitchen worktop applications. The material has a white background with grey veins and is available in two different versions- Regular Aura and Book Matched Aura, allowing users to create infinite designs. The material is made from a combination of quartz, porcelain, glass which makes it highly resistant to scratches and temperature. It comes in an elegant Smooth Matte finish and slabs with dimensions of 3200×1440 mm which help in making large panels without the need of joints.

• Compac Unique Calacatta

Quartz is has been the most popular choice among households during the last 2 decades due to its durability, minimum maintenance requirements, scratch resistance and high impact resistance as well as the fact that there are very affordable colours to choose from. Compac Unique Calacatta can be a great choice for darker kitchens as the white, grey and golden build of the material adds the right amount of brightness to any environment. Unique Calacatta belongs to the Unique Collection from Compac, becoming a premium material that provides a luxurious finish to any property in which it is installed. Unique Calacatta by Compac comes in ‘Giant slab’ formats with dimensions 3360×1600 mm which compliments single large pieces such as kitchen islands in open-plan spaces.

The bright sheen on the polished surface enables Unique Calacatta quartz to effectively brighten up small spaces. Apart from the polished finish, it is also available in matte finish which also suits both traditional and industrial designs.

• Neolith Estatuario

Neolith is a leading manufacturer of sintered porcelain surfaces in the world. Born in 2009, The Size who produces Neolith has bases in over 50 countries and a range of 57 different and groundbreaking designs which have become extremely popular in the interior design arena. The material is superior to quartz stone in that it can be used both indoors and outdoors as it has a higher resistance to extreme temperatures and weather conditions.

Inspired by the popular Italian Estatuario marble, Neolith Estatuario has a white background with thick veins in grey throughout the surface. The award-winning surface is available in six veining variations with silk and polished finish options. The surface is UV resistant, scratch resistant, easy to clean, waterproof, and hygienic.

• Caesarstone White Attica Quartz

If you are looking for a bold option, White Attica Quartz from Caesarstone can be a great choice. The material is a part of the Supernatural range of quartz surfaces from the brand and is very popular for its elegant design in rustic and modern concepts. The material is highly resistant to chemical and mechanical damage and is also hygienic and very easy to clean. White Attica presents dark defined veins in a delicate white surface which provides beautiful contrast.

Worktops in lighter colours look great in darker kitchens as they balance out the decor and make it look unique and elegant.

If you are looking for the best worktop materials for your dark kitchen, these are our 5 top options for 2018.