So you've decided you need a kitchen island - but what kind of surface to you want for your countertop? There's a wide range of options available, depending on your budget, and your selection will depend on what you plan to use the countertop for and whether you'll be installing a sink.

Granite Kitchen Island Countertop

These look great on your kitchen island and work well if you've installed a sink. Granite is durable, easy to keep clean and usually sealed to prevent liquids from seeping in and staining them. Granite island benches should last almost indefinitely, but should be cleaned each day with a mild cleaner and a sponge. Be sure to mop up spills immediately, even if your countertop has been sealed.

Stainless Steel Kitchen Island Countertop

Shiny, durable stainless steel adds a sleek and minimalist feel to a kitchen island. Again, this is a great option if you're going to have a sink installed. Stainless steel is resistant to heat, liquids and bad treatment. But it can be scratched and it's better to avoid cutting directly on to your stainless steel countertop - use a separate cutting board instead. 

Wooden Kitchen Island Countertop

A variety of timbers can be used on the surface of a kitchen island, and each one will have different properties, depending on how it's been treated. Also, if you're going to have a sink, you'll need to properly seal the area between the wood and the sink. Some wooden benches are appropriate for cutting directly on to, but it may be safer to have a separate cutting board to ensure you do not end up ruining your countertop. Wood is porous, so it's important to make sure any spills and liquids are mopped up quickly. It should be cleaned after each use.

Synthetic Kitchen Island Countertop

The budget option is a countertop made from cheap timber and covered with some kind of water-resistant synthetic material. There's a huge range of these available and some finishes are so good that it's difficult to tell them from the real thing. But in most cases you won't be able to cut directly on to these surfaces and hot items could easily burn a hole through them, so be careful.

Butcher's Block Countertop

This provides the best possible surface for cutting and requires only simple maintenance. Butcher's block countertops are porous, so they need to be treated properly and washed down after each use with a mild detergent. But this is an excellent choice for a countertop, adding character and practicality to your kitchen.