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If you spend any time scrolling through social media, you’d be forgiven for thinking every kitchen in Britain is fitted with quartz, porcelain or a seamless solid surface worktop. Yet, if you asked Lawcris Panel Products what they’re seeing day in, day out, you’d hear a different story. So why, in a market full of alternatives, does laminate continue to hold its ground? Lawcris decided to dive deeper…

It’s no longer just about budget

One of the biggest misconceptions we still hear is that laminate is simply the budget option. This isn’t really the case anymore. Modern manufacturing has transformed the laminate worktop category, with realistic stone, marble and wood-effect decors that are increasingly being chosen because customers genuinely like the design, not because they’re compromising.

Of course, affordability remains a major advantage, but today’s customers want products that look great, perform well and offer long-term value.

The rise of the utility room

One of the most interesting trends we’re seeing is how the role of the utility room is changing. Modern kitchen design is increasingly embracing a 75/25 philosophy, where the kitchen remains the social centrepiece of the home, while practical tasks take place elsewhere.

In fact, research shows upwards of 65% to 70% of homebuyers in the UK now list a utility room as a highly desired interior feature. Having a dedicated utility room can add approximately 5% to a property’s value.

As a result, many homeowners are investing in premium surfaces for the main kitchen while choosing laminate in the utility room. With today’s realistic decors, laminate can closely match or complement the main worktop without carrying the same price point into every room.

Why developers continue to choose laminate

Looking at our own sales data, large-scale residential developments remain one of the strongest markets for laminate worktops. Developers need products that can be supplied consistently, installed efficiently and still look good when a buyer walks through the door.

Laminate continues to be a popular choice for housebuilders, social housing providers and student accommodation projects, where durability, ease of maintenance and design consistency are essential.

Why ranges like Kronospan’s Finesse and Studio are hitting the mark

Customers are looking for products that fit the demands of the project. This is where the Finesse and Studio worktop collections find their place.

The Finesse collection reflects the growing demand for aspirational design without the premium price tag. With 66 decors, including an extensive range of marble-inspired designs, it offers the breadth of choice today’s customers are actively looking for. Available in both 3m and 4m lengths, plus postformed and square-edge profiles in 22mm and 38mm thicknesses, it offers the flexibility many retailers and manufacturers need.

The Studio collection serves a different purpose. With 24 carefully selected decors in thicknesses such as 22mm, 28mm and 38mm, it provides a streamlined and much more cost-effective solution for housebuilders, student accommodation providers and commercial developments. 

Available in both postformed and square-edge formats, it focuses on delivering the designs customers want most in practical sizes suited to high-volume projects, in a budget way.

Together, these collections reflect a wider trend we’re seeing throughout the industry: customers are increasingly choosing laminate worktops that balance design, practicality and project requirements rather than making decisions based on price alone.

Why laminate isn’t going anywhere

The laminate worktop product has evolved, customer expectations have evolved and the reasons people choose laminate have evolved too. Whether it’s a family kitchen, a carefully designed utility room, student accommodation or a large residential development, laminate continues to offer a combination of design flexibility, practicality and value that remains difficult to beat.

From what we’re seeing at Lawcris, that’s unlikely to change any time soon.

To find out more about Lawcris’s laminate worktop offering, visit www.lawcris.co.uk

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