Houzz Contributor, Sam Ferris, revels the best low-maintenance finishes to choose when designing your kitchen, below.

If you want to cut down on the time it takes to keep your kitchen spick and span, you should take a closer look at your finishes. From flooring to hardware, the materials you select can tack on extra time to your clean-up routine. Wondering which options cut down on dusting, scrubbing and wiping? Here’s a list of easy-to-maintain finishes.

Flooring

• Ceramic & Porcelain

  Kitchens are both wet zones and high-traffic areas, so proper flooring material is key. Ceramic and porcelain tiles have moisture resistance that is superior to natural stone or wood (especially porcelain, which absorbs less than 0.5 percent of moisture when wet).

  They’re also highly resistant to scratching and staining. Unlike natural stone, you don’t have to seal ceramic or porcelain tiles. They also don’t require special cleaners and can handle almost any type of sanitising agent.

  Both ceramic and porcelain flooring comes in tiles and is also available in timber-look, concrete-look and other finishes.

• Vinyl

  Whether it’s planks or traditional sheets, vinyl is well-equipped to handle your kitchen’s worst. Unlike laminate and hardwood flooring, vinyl can handle moisture with relative ease. Its PVC veneer and backing protect against spills and leaks.

  It’s also tough to scratch and stain, and like tiles, clean-ups on vinyl flooring is quick and easy – water and a mop will remedy the majority of messes. No grout lines is a huge perk, too, and like porcelain and ceramic, vinyl flooring comes in a vast array of colours, patterns, concrete-look tiles and timber-look finishes.

Cabinetry

• Flat-Panel Doors

  Even if you’re not a fan of modern design, it’s worth considering flat-panel drawers and cupboards if your top priority is easy upkeep. The less door detail, the less dust and dirt will settle. Flat-panel cabinetry is also easier to wipe down because its surface doesn’t have recesses or raised grooves.

• Shaker Doors

  If flat-panel cabinet doors are just too minimal or if you’re not sure they match your kitchen’s style, Shaker door fronts are a good compromise. They add a touch of detail but are still relatively easy to clean.

Medium-Tone Stains

Dark paints and stains show dust particles and fingerprints. White cabinets don’t, but they show just about everything else. While medium-tone stains aren’t immune to wear and tear, they’ll show significantly less mess. They’re also easier to touch up than painted finishes.

Choose a timber species that features grains and grooves to help hide stains and scratches. Oak and many native timbers are smart options.

Engineered-Stone Benchtops

Engineered-stone products are tough cookies. This material isn’t foolproof, but it’s about as resistant to scratches and stains as benchtops get. You only need a soft cloth and warm water for post-meal clean-ups. If you have dried-on stains, engineered stone will hold up well to common cleaning products such as Windex. The things to avoid? Corrosive chemicals and setting hot pans directly on its surface.

Stainless Steel Appliances

This staple material isn’t without fault. Stainless steel sinks, for instance, can develop a chalky residue around the drain due to hard water. They can also scratch. But overall, they’re highly durable and fairly easy to clean. Black and white appliances can face the same maintenance concerns as light and dark cabinetry, whereas stainless steel hides most manner of kitchen messes.

Satin Paint for Walls & Cabinetry

What’s the best low-maintenance paint type for walls and cabinets? It’s a tricky question. In a vacuum, the answer is high-gloss and semi-gloss paints. But when it comes to painting walls and joinery, glossy paints can look too shiny and reflect too much light.

Therefore, paint with a satin finish might be your best bet for easy upkeep and design integrity. They’re not as shiny as high-gloss paints, are less porous than matt paints, but still very durable over time. Just be sure to hire an experienced painter – satin paints can show brush and roller marks more easily than other more matt types of paint.

Semi-Gloss Paint For Trims & Kickboards

Semi-gloss paint handles moisture, stains, bumps and bruises exceptionally well, so it’s an obvious choice for kitchens. Wall trims and baseboards are common applications for semi-gloss paint. You don’t have to worry about sacrificing aesthetics for maintenance.

Splashbacks

• Ceramic & Porcelain

  Like their flooring counterparts, ceramic and porcelain tiled splashbacks are virtually maintenance-free. Most options feature a protective glaze that resists stains and doesn’t require any sealing (there are exceptions, of course). These two non-porous materials excel at water resistance, too.

• Glass

  Though glass splashbacks are more likely to show grease and food splatters than ceramic and natural stone, they’re super easy to wipe down thanks to a smooth surface finish. You can also ditch grout lines altogether with solid-glass sheets or mirrored-glass splashbacks.

Window Coverings

• Vinyl Or Composite

  These include both window frames and shutters. They’re non-porous, scratch-resistant, perform well with moisture and can be cleaned with a variety of products. Avoid using timber products in wet zones, such as in a window frame or treatment above your sink. Wood can warp if left wet. It can also be tough to remove stains and requires special cleaners.

  Keep in mind that shutters might require more care than blinds, since they trap dirt and allergens inside your window and their decorative frames tend to collect dust. That said, shutters can be wiped down, while the fabric of blinds tends to absorb more grease and grit.

• Machine-Washable Fabric

  Fabric window treatments such as roller blinds and Roman blinds generally aren’t the best choice for kitchen windows. They’re susceptible to staining, especially lighter designs. Many options need to be dry cleaned, which makes it harder to treat stains.

  However, some curtains and fabrics are machine washable, so if you’re determined to incorporate a soft window treatment in the kitchen, choose curtains in a high-performance fabric. And always remember to check (and follow) the product’s cleaning recommendations.

Hardware

• Brushed Nickel

  This finish has what it takes to survive in a kitchen. It’s easy to clean and has a long-lasting finish. Its matt finish hides water spots and fingerprints well too. Unless you want to constantly scrub water spots, steer clear of similar options with shinier surfaces, such as chrome.

• Oil-Rubbed Bronze

  This classic hardware is also a low-maintenance finish that doesn’t take much upkeep, but you will see fingerprints due to its dark surface. This can add to the patina or, if you’d rather it didn’t, oil-rubbed bronze can easily be wiped clean.

Here at Hurst Homes we offer complete customised homes that can be as individual as the owner. We guide your through the entire process including your selections to ensure you create your dream home. Each client personally meets with our joiners to design and create functional spaces, with colours tailored to their individual style. Just another reason why we are considered Wagga’s best builder. With over 30 years in the industry as a Wagga Builder you can trust Hurst Homes with your dream home. For information on our upcoming custom Wagga house & land packages, contact us today on 0438 692 962 or fill out the contact us page on our website.

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