Thank you all for taking the time to reply to my question, all advice was greatly appreciated.
The table will mainly be used as a table to sandwich quilts on and also used as a cutting table but I will use a mat under it. I will also use it as a general sewing table.
I have already bought the material and my carpenter husband has made the top. My idea was the formica but husband insisted on the MDF..lol..who am i to argue when he spent all that time making it and it fits like a glove and i love it except for the colour!
Vinyl would have been a good idea but as i have already bought the material i think I will do what z suggested as her advice confirmed what we had been thinking of doing and it sounds like it will be durable. Thanks Z!