Striking Feature Panels Pop Up On Kitchen Benches
Transform a bland bench into a statement-making feature with these creative cladding ideas
While kitchen benches serve many practical purposes and are an essential element of any culinary zone, they are often quite simple in design and don’t do much to enhance the aesthetics of a cooking space. Rather than introducing an accent wall or splashback to revive their schemes, more and more Houzzers are dressing up their kitchen benches with striking feature panels. Take a look and see if one of these creative cladding options will suit your decorating style and kitchen space.
Mount a mirror
Add luxe appeal and space-enhancing style to your kitchen by affixing a mirror to the front or sides your bench. The sleek, high-shine surface will not only command attention and infuse the room with a glam, sophisticated air, but will also bounce light around the area and create the illusion of spaciousness.
For a dramatic, high-contrast look, opt for a thin mirror that stops short of the edges of your bench (like the one pictured here), as this will allow the polished surface to pop against the matt panel it’s mounted on.
Why architects and interior designers love using mirrors
Add luxe appeal and space-enhancing style to your kitchen by affixing a mirror to the front or sides your bench. The sleek, high-shine surface will not only command attention and infuse the room with a glam, sophisticated air, but will also bounce light around the area and create the illusion of spaciousness.
For a dramatic, high-contrast look, opt for a thin mirror that stops short of the edges of your bench (like the one pictured here), as this will allow the polished surface to pop against the matt panel it’s mounted on.
Why architects and interior designers love using mirrors
Make it work double time
I love everything about this cool and functional kitchen bench set-up. A grid-like arrangement of pegs runs across the length of the bench and not only adds visual interest to the scheme, but also doubles as floating storage for wine bottles, cookbooks and more. Elasticised rope or flexible rubber tubing has been wrapped around the pegs to ensure the items on display are stable and properly secured.
If you want to transform the front of your bench into a stylish storage space but aren’t sold on a set-up like the one above, stick with floating shelves or built-in cubby holes instead.
I love everything about this cool and functional kitchen bench set-up. A grid-like arrangement of pegs runs across the length of the bench and not only adds visual interest to the scheme, but also doubles as floating storage for wine bottles, cookbooks and more. Elasticised rope or flexible rubber tubing has been wrapped around the pegs to ensure the items on display are stable and properly secured.
If you want to transform the front of your bench into a stylish storage space but aren’t sold on a set-up like the one above, stick with floating shelves or built-in cubby holes instead.
Choose an eye-popping colour
Nothing makes a statement like a burst of bright, bold colour. When choosing an accent hue for your kitchen bench panels, choose a colour that you love and won’t date in your eyes, rather than an on-trend tone that doesn’t reflect you, and that you may tire of quickly.
Consider selecting a high-shine finish, such as two-pack polyurethane or coloured glass. Reflective surfaces will add another layer of visual interest and luxe appeal to your scheme.
Nothing makes a statement like a burst of bright, bold colour. When choosing an accent hue for your kitchen bench panels, choose a colour that you love and won’t date in your eyes, rather than an on-trend tone that doesn’t reflect you, and that you may tire of quickly.
Consider selecting a high-shine finish, such as two-pack polyurethane or coloured glass. Reflective surfaces will add another layer of visual interest and luxe appeal to your scheme.
If you’re colour crazy, you might like to try covering your bench in different coloured panels, rather than a single block hue. Tones from the same colour family always work brilliantly together, as do complementary hues that sit on opposite sides of the colour wheel (think blue and orange or yellow, or green and purple or pink).
If you’re not a fan of vibrant colour but still desire a dynamic look, try colour-blocking with neutrals instead. As you can see here, while white on grey is not the most lively of colour combos, the high-contrast scheme still packs a visual punch.
If you’re not a fan of vibrant colour but still desire a dynamic look, try colour-blocking with neutrals instead. As you can see here, while white on grey is not the most lively of colour combos, the high-contrast scheme still packs a visual punch.
Carve it up
Beautify your kitchen bench by decking it out in decorative carved panels that ooze eclectic charm and artistic flair. These panels are actually cupboard doors, but they would also work well positioned along the front of a kitchen island or peninsula. Rather than painting the wood, simply stain the timber or cover it in clear varnish to allow the elaborate pattern to shine.
Beautify your kitchen bench by decking it out in decorative carved panels that ooze eclectic charm and artistic flair. These panels are actually cupboard doors, but they would also work well positioned along the front of a kitchen island or peninsula. Rather than painting the wood, simply stain the timber or cover it in clear varnish to allow the elaborate pattern to shine.
Play with levels
Elevate the look of your kitchen bench by incorporating an upstand into its design. Decorate the raised panel in a contrasting material and colour to highlight the striking feature.
While adding an upstand will enhance the look of your kitchen bench, it will ramp up the functionality of the work zone, too, as it can double as a sink or cooktop splashback, or help hide small appliances from sight. You might also like to add a ledge to the upstand to transform it into a breakfast bar or servery.
Elevate the look of your kitchen bench by incorporating an upstand into its design. Decorate the raised panel in a contrasting material and colour to highlight the striking feature.
While adding an upstand will enhance the look of your kitchen bench, it will ramp up the functionality of the work zone, too, as it can double as a sink or cooktop splashback, or help hide small appliances from sight. You might also like to add a ledge to the upstand to transform it into a breakfast bar or servery.
Light it up
If you want a kitchen bench that really wows, choose a feature panel that lights up and shines, like the stunning backlit onyx slab that steals the spotlight in this contemporary culinary space. If onyx is a little out of your budget, choose another translucent material that’s a little more affordable, such as patterned or textured acrylic glass or natural quartz agate.
If you want a kitchen bench that really wows, choose a feature panel that lights up and shines, like the stunning backlit onyx slab that steals the spotlight in this contemporary culinary space. If onyx is a little out of your budget, choose another translucent material that’s a little more affordable, such as patterned or textured acrylic glass or natural quartz agate.
Alternatively, use colour-changing LED strip lights to make your bench the centrepiece of your kitchen. They’ll add character to your cooking zone and will help get the party started the next time your family or friends are over for dinner.
More ways to light up your kitchen with LEDS
More ways to light up your kitchen with LEDS
Opt for subtle yet striking tongue-and-groove panels
If you want to make your kitchen bench stand out but don’t want it to overpower the space, opt for tongue-and-groove panels. They’ll lift the look of your bench and add interest, traditional charm and understated style to your kitchen, but won’t hog the limelight. Paint the panels a different colour to your walls and kitchen cabinets for extra contrast and visual appeal.
If you want to make your kitchen bench stand out but don’t want it to overpower the space, opt for tongue-and-groove panels. They’ll lift the look of your bench and add interest, traditional charm and understated style to your kitchen, but won’t hog the limelight. Paint the panels a different colour to your walls and kitchen cabinets for extra contrast and visual appeal.
Get creative with timber
Rather than lining the facade of your bench with timber panels that are uniform in size and colour, think outside of the box and brainstorm ways you can use wood in a way that wows. One way to do just that is to use reclaimed timber in different shapes, sizes and colours to construct your bench.
Rather than running the timber straight across the bench from one side to the other, you might also like to arrange the planks in an eye-catching pattern (for example, a diagonal or herringbone layout) to take the striking and eclectic look to the next level.
How to incorporate timber into your kitchen
Rather than lining the facade of your bench with timber panels that are uniform in size and colour, think outside of the box and brainstorm ways you can use wood in a way that wows. One way to do just that is to use reclaimed timber in different shapes, sizes and colours to construct your bench.
Rather than running the timber straight across the bench from one side to the other, you might also like to arrange the planks in an eye-catching pattern (for example, a diagonal or herringbone layout) to take the striking and eclectic look to the next level.
How to incorporate timber into your kitchen
Another interesting way to use timber to revive a boring bench is to wrap a live edge wood slab around all or a portion of your island or peninsula. This kitchen proves just how spectacular it can look. Set the slab against a white or other high-contrast background to ensure it really shines.
See more of this kitchen
See more of this kitchen
Dress it up with a photo of bespoke graphic
A custom-printed panel that features one of your favourite photos or a graphic you’ve whipped up on Photoshop is a great way to add personality and punch. Install LED strip lights along the bottom of your benchtop overhang to shine a spotlight on the artistic feature panel and ensure it gets the attention it deserves.
Find a custom-print specialist in your area
A custom-printed panel that features one of your favourite photos or a graphic you’ve whipped up on Photoshop is a great way to add personality and punch. Install LED strip lights along the bottom of your benchtop overhang to shine a spotlight on the artistic feature panel and ensure it gets the attention it deserves.
Find a custom-print specialist in your area
Make a statement with metallics
Give your bench a razzle dazzle metallic treatment and it will go from blah to beautiful in the blink of an eye. Remember, though, that while high-shine metallic surfaces like this polished copper end panel ooze plenty of luxe appeal and stand-out style, they do require extra upkeep to ensure they remain pristine and fingerprint-free. If you desire a more low-maintenance feature panel, opt for a metallic surface with a brushed or matt finish instead.
12 rooms with dazzling metallic decor
Give your bench a razzle dazzle metallic treatment and it will go from blah to beautiful in the blink of an eye. Remember, though, that while high-shine metallic surfaces like this polished copper end panel ooze plenty of luxe appeal and stand-out style, they do require extra upkeep to ensure they remain pristine and fingerprint-free. If you desire a more low-maintenance feature panel, opt for a metallic surface with a brushed or matt finish instead.
12 rooms with dazzling metallic decor
You might also like to take design cues from this show-stopping stainless steel island and incorporate a faceted front into the design of your metal-clad bench. A gem-like island or peninsula will add a glam touch to any kitchen and will definitely leave a lasting impression.
Create a blank (chalkboard) canvas
There are loads of benefits to covering the panels of your kitchen bench in chalkboard paint. For example, the customisable surface stands at a kid-friendly height, so younger tots won’t miss out on the fun and can doodle away as they please (saving your walls and furniture in the process). The chalkboard panels will also allow family members to put their own stamp on the space, which will help inject the kitchen with personality. Plus, they’ll double as centrally located, no-excuse-if-you-miss-it message boards where you can leave notes and important reminders.
However, the best thing about this feature panel idea is that the DIY project won’t set you back much and can be completed in one weekend. Simply sand down and prep the surface with a coat of primer. Then, once it’s dry, cover the panels in a coat or two of chalkboard paint and – voila! – you’re done.
SHOW US
Does your kitchen bench boast statement-making feature panels? We’d love to see them! Post photos of your kitchen and share your creative cladding ideas in the Comments section.
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There are loads of benefits to covering the panels of your kitchen bench in chalkboard paint. For example, the customisable surface stands at a kid-friendly height, so younger tots won’t miss out on the fun and can doodle away as they please (saving your walls and furniture in the process). The chalkboard panels will also allow family members to put their own stamp on the space, which will help inject the kitchen with personality. Plus, they’ll double as centrally located, no-excuse-if-you-miss-it message boards where you can leave notes and important reminders.
However, the best thing about this feature panel idea is that the DIY project won’t set you back much and can be completed in one weekend. Simply sand down and prep the surface with a coat of primer. Then, once it’s dry, cover the panels in a coat or two of chalkboard paint and – voila! – you’re done.
SHOW US
Does your kitchen bench boast statement-making feature panels? We’d love to see them! Post photos of your kitchen and share your creative cladding ideas in the Comments section.
MORE
Key Measurements to Consider When Designing the Perfect Kitchen Island
Sociable Kitchen Islands Designed to Bring People Together
6 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Designing Your Kitchen Island
Take design cues from this contemporary kitchen and dress up the front of your island in an eye-catching pattern. Here, kaleidoscope-like patterned tiles in high-impact tones instantly transform an otherwise basic bench into a show-stopping feature and energise the look of the culinary space.
You might also consider covering the front of your bench in patterned wallpaper, geometric-shaped tiles or a laser cut screen, which will also do the job nicely.
Abstract artisan tiles: N.A.S. Designer Tiles