How is your bench top?

Take an old laminate bench top and prepare with appropriate paint to get a good key then paint two coats of your colour choice, followed by 3-4 coats of polyurethane. The end result is robust enough to last years and will have cost you only your time and some paint. If you decide on a new bench top, consider the blank tops available from Mitre 10. There are three colours available, any one of which will suit most colour schemes. It is easy to take the next step into more expensive bench top material but always remember what your budget is and what you are ultimately trying to achieve.