5 Ideas of How to Make Best Use Out of Your Worktop Offcuts

Last Updated on July 10, 2023

Are you thinking for a new kitchen make-over? Then before you finalise your design and place an order for your kitchen worktops, please consider the benefits of ordering larger pieces of worktops.

Why ordering more than required worktop is beneficial?

Well, first of all as kitchen worktops, cabinetries and appliances tend to be generally purchased from different suppliers, having a longer and wider worktop protects householders from a last minute change in designs. Households will be able to make a last minute change in plans, without having the need again for a new wooden worktop.

A simple example is when you are getting a beautiful oak breakfast bar worktop and realize that if you have had your breakfast bar 5 centimeter longer you could have had a much more comfortable experience when having your meal on it. But households should always beware of the unsupported worktop overhangs, as they should not be more than 200-250mm in size. For larger overhangs, we strongly recommend customers opting for concealed t-bar steel reinforcement support, routed on the bottom part of the worktop. Such steel support will provide the ever needed additional stability and will prevent any unwanted cuppings and twistings as a result of the large unsupported area. Customers can opt for t-bar steel reinforcement on custom worktop builder page. Even though such customization will make your worktop renovation project slightly more expensive, the benefits of having such reinforcement far outweighs its relative inexpensive nature.

Besides, purchasing a longer blank can be more forgiving as it can accommodate for some minor cutting mistakes. Households should always cross check if the measurements are correct before they actually cut the worktop.

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Check out our Oak worktops

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What are the benefits of having kitchen worktop offcuts then?

• Relative inexpensive, as their price tag is already covered from the kitchen renovation project
• The valuable additions, made out of the offcut, can have a matching style with the rest of the kitchen
• Can be sold either as offcut or as a finished product (i.e. coffee table)
• DIY project

What about the finishing of the offcuts?

If you want to have a matching finish to your existing kitchen worktop, then you may use the same oil or we can cut to size, edge profile and oil your offcut it for you, if you are sure of your final dimensions. However, in case you are looking for a stained finish or you would like to get a different sheen level – then you may use different products. We recommend using Osmo products as they are easy to use and are available in wide range of colors and sheen levels from raw (natural), matt, satin to gloss.

House of Worktops provides 30 days of free carpenter support to any of his customers where customers may get a valuable advice and ideas about their DIY projects. If the householders are going to cut down the offcuts themselves, they have to be careful and the offcut has to be well clamped and supported. Black marks may appear after cutting due to circular saw blades not being sharp enough. In this case, homeowners should not be disappointed as those black marks can easily get sanded out or they can be left as they are as such marks may even add a positive touch to a coffee table.

What can you make out of your worktop offcuts?

Chopping board made out of offcut may be very useful

A worktop offcut can be converted to a chopping board of your desired size. If your worktop offcut is large enough it may be cut down to several chopping boards, with each used in different parts of the kitchen for chopping different products. One thing is for sure, the chopping boards will have a high-end look, which can last for long time if they are oiled on regularly basis. Please beware that chopping boards are only advised to be treated with food safe natural oils.

Quality coffee table made for less

Coffee table with a matching finish to the existing oak worktop would be a lovely addition. The outcome will be simple but extremely beautiful with a high-quality look. If the offcut is large enough, then the legs can be made out of wood. Otherwise, metal legs can be purchased online and the offcut just need to be screwed to the metal legs.

Please beware to avoid any unwanted cracking, worktop offcuts have to be pre-drill with pilot drills and the length of the screw should be at least 5mm shorter than the thickness of the offcuts. However, if you are on tight budget or you would like to fully make use of your offcuts and you do not want the legs to have the same wood finish as your table top – then staining the legs in a different colour would be an inexpensive solution.

Dining table and a desk made from worktop offcuts – built to last

If you are having a worktop offcut – large enough, it can be used for as table top or a desk top. You can either change the tops with your existing offcut or purchase a pair of legs and use it as another tabletop or desk.

If you would like to use it as a dining table top on your existing dining table legs, but you are unsure if you can achieve the same matching color as your old dining table legs – then a good idea would be to paint your existing table legs in different color and then change your old dining table top with a new one. Alternatively you can purchase metal legs and create a new table out of the offcut.

Alternatively, a corner desktop would be a great idea, provided that the offcut is large enough and the homeowners do not want to spend money on new desktop table legs. The L shaped corner desk top will needed to be supported from wood batons – securely anchored to the wall – running on both sides below the tabletop. But with rectangular shape offcuts, a wall installation is only possible if the unsupported side side is supported with an additional perpendicular offcut, and ideally this offcut to be connected to the baton running along the wall with another piece of wood.

However, householders may seek professional carpenter advice to check if they are unsure if the walls will be able to carry and support the worktop.

There is always a space for a nice solid oak floating shelf made out of offcuts

Converting worktop offcuts to a beautiful solid wood shelves, would be a great opportunity to store your loved books, kitchen ingredients and many other valuable items, whilst saving ample of space and blending perfectly with the décor of your homes. Converting the offcuts into shelves is also a pretty easy and straightforward thing. Shelves may be used with a visible support brackets or with invisible brackets, for a more sleek and seamless look.

Again, a professional advice may be required, if households are unsure of the weight bearing capacity of the walls.

The worktop offcut can be a perfect gift for your loved ones

If your kitchen is full of wooden chopping boards and you have recently changed your coffee or dining table and you do not need another one – then the worktop offcut can be the perfect gift for your loved ones. Wood is a natural material that radiates positive energy and gives a homey feeling, and unlike other gifts, if in good hands – its look only gets better in time. A nice small coffee table or a nice dining table top would be an unforgettable gift as it will certainly take a centerpiece role in any home environments and will definitely not be placed automatically in a storage or attic room. Apart from the positive energy, solid wood products are also pleasing to touch and will also help to tackle the stress out from the ever intensive life of your loved ones.

All in all, in every home there is always a place for a valuable addition, made out of worktop offcuts. They are valuable, not because of their price tag, but because the finished offcut is a result of homeowners’ imagination and their true hard work. Your loved ones deserve a gift that has a special meaning to you. Given all the things that we have discussed, the benefits of being able to produce something out of your worktop off cuts, far outweighs the benefits of purchasing additional surface.