You’ve decided to renovate your kitchen. You’ve chosen new cabinets and appliances, but what about the countertops? While it’s exciting to picture different countertops in your kitchen design, making the right choice is essential as countertops can determine so much in your kitchen including style, atmosphere, usable space, durability, and functionality.
Choosing the perfect material for your working surfaces in the kitchen will ensure that it fits your design needs, budget, and lifestyle. Finding the right countertops doesn’t have to be confusing, so here are five top tips on how to choose the right countertop for your home:
Identify Your Kitchen Style and Design
Modern kitchen design has countless themes and styles for your kitchen that you can choose from, so identifying your preferred style or theme is essential before choosing the perfect countertop and can help guide your decision.
One way to get started is by looking at what you have in the rest of your home. If you have a rustic style, then it’s likely that you’ll want to choose a more natural-looking stone like granite or quartzite for your kitchen counters as well. If you have modern furnishings throughout the house, consider choosing a sleek countertop like laminate or quartz. These materials are more durable than natural stone and are easier to keep clean.
It’s also beneficial to take into consideration how your kitchen surfaces will fit into your lifestyle. If you have young kids, you may want to consider choosing a material that is more resistant to stains and scratches. Laminate countertops are excellent because they’re strong and durable, and you can quickly repair them if damage occurs. On the other hand, natural stone is more porous than other materials like granite or quartzite, so it’s harder to keep clean.
Go for Low Maintenance Surface
If you want to save time and money on cleaning, look for countertop options that will require minimal maintenance. Some countertops, like granite, are more porous than others and can easily stain if they’re not correctly cared for. If you want to ensure that your new countertops will be easy to clean and maintain, choose quartz or ceramic tile instead of granite.
Quartz or tile are largely non-porous and stain-resistant so that they won’t absorb liquids or stains from food preparation. Also, they are highly durable, lasting many years without showing signs of wear or tear.
Consider Your Work Triangle
A work triangle is an area you need to move around while cooking. It’s essential to have enough space in your work triangle so that you can move efficiently while preparing food and cleaning up afterward.
The work triangle consists of the area from the sink, stovetop, and refrigerator, encompassing the countertop surfaces used most often during meal preparation (and cleanup). The result should be an open area about four feet wide with plenty of elbow room for at least two people working side by side or one moving back and forth between appliances as needed.
If your kitchen has sufficient storage for dishes and pots but lacks counter space or cupboards, it may make sense to build on an adjacent wall rather than adding more cabinets above counters already used for prep work or eating meals. This will prevent unnecessary congestion in those areas where food preparation tools need easy access during meal prep time.
Consider the Color of Your Countertop
Countertops come in various colors; you can choose one that matches your kitchen cabinets or contrasts them. If you have white-painted kitchen cabinets, choose a rich color or a dark countertop that can serve as a feature color for your kitchen.
If you have cabinets with wood grain or other intricate details, consider choosing a countertop that highlights these features and adds some texture to your space. Consider using lighter-colored stone to brighten things up for an older home with dark wood cabinets.
Remember: Lighter countertops will make your kitchen appear more spacious and bright, while darker ones could make it seem smaller.
Don’t Forget the Backsplash
The backsplash is the area behind your countertop, often containing a mosaic of tile or other materials. Many homeowners choose to match their backsplash with their countertops, while others prefer to use contrasting colors or patterns.
If you’re going for a cohesive look in your kitchen, consider choosing the same material for both areas. If you’re going for a contrasting look, choose a backsplash that complements your countertop. For example, if you have dark wood cabinets and use concrete countertops in your kitchen, consider using a lighter-colored tile on the walls behind them.
For a modern look, consider using glass, metal, or other materials that you can polish to a high-gloss finish. If you’re going for an industrial look, consider using brick or stone tiles on the backsplash.
There are many options for backsplash too, and it can sometimes take some experimentation with samples to find the perfect countertop and backsplash combination. So if you’re unsure about what to choose, talk with a professional contractor who can help you pick the right colors and materials for your kitchen backsplash.
Reach the Top of Your Countertop Game
Choosing a new countertop can be a daunting task, but if you take the time to plan and consider all your options, you will get beautiful results. By considering how much counter space you have available, what material would best suit your needs, and what kind of maintenance level you’re looking for in terms of cleaning frequency, be sure that the result is something that will work for years to come.
If you’re thinking of remodeling your kitchen, Cross Kitchens can help. With our free estimate service, Cross Kitchens ensures that homeowners get expert advice and design regardless of budget constraints.
Our team of experts is ready to help you decide on the best countertop options for your kitchen. We will help you design a space that meets all of your needs and make sure that it’s customized to fit within your budget. Contact us today and see what we can do for you.
