For many people, the thought of stainless steel in the kitchen will conjure up images of commercial and restaurant kitchens. It’s a practical choice for large-scale catering operations, but does that mean that this hard-wearing, low maintenance material has no place in the home?
Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of stainless steel worktops and units, which along with a number of other metallic and industrial materials, have been a huge kitchen trend in the last few years.
Why choose stainless steel for your kitchen?
As you might expect from a material widely used in the catering world, stainless steel offers many advantages when used in the kitchen. Key benefits include:
Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of stainless steel worktops and units, which along with a number of other metallic and industrial materials, have been a huge kitchen trend in the last few years.
Why choose stainless steel for your kitchen?
As you might expect from a material widely used in the catering world, stainless steel offers many advantages when used in the kitchen. Key benefits include:
- Heat resistance. Clumsy cooks need never worry about burning or marking their worktops, as stainless steel is resistant to heat. This means you can pop a scalding hot pan down and no damage!
- Easy cleaning. Stainless steel only requires hot soapy water to be sparkling clean, but avoid steel wool and bleach as these can damage the surface. Plus, this material has no nooks, crannies or grain in which dirt and grime can hide, so it’s extremely hygienic.
- Easy maintenance. What will you need to do to maintain your stainless steel kitchen in 5 years’ time? Virtually nothing, as the material is heat, rust and fade resistant. You may need to oil the surface down to maintain the sheen, but there isn’t much else to do.
- A great contemporary look. When mixed with other materials and colour schemes, stainless steel can offer a really unique look that’s on trend but also very distinctive.
What’s more, when you choose stainless steel units along with worktops, you never need to worry about resurfacing or repainting them due to warping or damage. Cleaning is easy (although you may have to work hard on removing streaks and getting a nice shine) and installation is usually quite easy.
Possible drawbacks
If you’re not a fan of the industrial look, one of the biggest drawbacks of stainless steel is that it can look a little cold and clinical – especially if used alongside a white or overly plain colour scheme. Other potential disadvantages include:
Pairing stainless steel with natural materials such as wood, and purposefully clashing it with other colours, textures and materials, is the way to prevent it looking too cold and industrial. In fact, it’s the ideal way to create a completely unique and covetable space. Your kitchen won’t be an identikit version of someone else’s – it will have a distinctive style all of its own.
As always, fitting by an experienced professional is essential. Choose A&J Kitchens for reliable advice and a full kitchen fitting service.
Possible drawbacks
If you’re not a fan of the industrial look, one of the biggest drawbacks of stainless steel is that it can look a little cold and clinical – especially if used alongside a white or overly plain colour scheme. Other potential disadvantages include:
- Smudges and smears. While easy to clean, you may find it difficult to keep on top of smudges and marks caused by little sticky fingers. If you pride yourself on having a sparkling kitchen at all times, you might find yourself polishing a little too often.
- Noise. Dropping utensils or accidental collisions can result in reverberating crashes and clangs.
Pairing stainless steel with natural materials such as wood, and purposefully clashing it with other colours, textures and materials, is the way to prevent it looking too cold and industrial. In fact, it’s the ideal way to create a completely unique and covetable space. Your kitchen won’t be an identikit version of someone else’s – it will have a distinctive style all of its own.
As always, fitting by an experienced professional is essential. Choose A&J Kitchens for reliable advice and a full kitchen fitting service.
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