It is vital to remember that kitchens are the center and heart of household activities. We are talking about places where we spend too much time, which is important to remember. Therefore, it is not a surprise that finding a proper countertop is a specific endeavor that requires prior research.
Of course, you can find a wide array of solutions available on the market with various price tags, but the choice should fit the household’s lifestyle, overall design, plan layouts and present the aesthetics that will meet your needs and enjoyment. By checking here, you will learn everything about different types of countertops you can find on the market.
Nowadays, the most popular countertop material is marble, while others are also prominent such as butcher block and concrete styles. You can find honed granite, soapstone, and slate, which have been used for years, while quartz will offer you a luxurious perspective and specific heat resistance, durability, and sturdiness.
Therefore, it is challenging to determine the best course of action. In the upcoming article, you will learn more about how to find the best countertop for your kitchen.
1.Aesthetics Are Essential
Before choosing the counters, it is important to imagine the idea of the best-looking kitchen you wish to have. Choosing a countertop can be much more straightforward if you decide to focus on what you do not like and what you wish to have. Before searching for the best option, you should consider the style you decided to reach and achieve.
Although some countertops will provide you with a contemporary appearance and perspective, some of them are more traditional, which is vital to remember. When you choose unconventional solutions and materials, you will achieve a modern aesthetic.
Still, the material is the most important factor that will affect the overall appearance you wish to get. As mentioned above, marble is vital for elegance, while granite will provide you with a natural and more personal feel due to specific patterns.
2.Material Should Be Compatible with Your Lifestyle
Everything depends on your overall lifestyle, but some people and their interior designs are more suited for specific countertops compared with others. For instance, you can get a white granite option, but that may not be the best solution if you have a busy home with frequent accidents and spills.
Therefore, you should determine the best course of action when choosing a specific material, because most of them are prone to chipping, scratches, and cracks. That way, you can determine the resilience of a material based on the regular activities you perform each day.
You should remember that granite is a perfect and appealing material that can withstand hot pans and knives. On the other hand, laminate surfaces can easily burn and scratch. Laminate is also challenging to repair due to the complex board structure.
When it comes to soapstone, they are becoming highly popular, but they cannot withstand knife scratches compared with regular stones. They are also rough, meaning they can easily scratch glassware. Corian is appealing, heat resistant, and simple to shape into curves and angles.
3.Maintenance
One of the most important factors when deciding the material for kitchen countertops is the maintenance and upkeep frequency. Specific surfaces require more maintenance than others, depending on the material features. Watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDrcI9wGJKk to learn how to choose a countertop.
Granite countertops require frequent sealing to ensure an amazing appearance. At the same time, after specific damage, they are expensive to repair, which is vital to remember. You can also choose alternative materials such as solid surfaces, laminate, and non-porous quarts that do not require maintenance as others.
One of the best solutions for low upkeep is quartz, especially since it is simple to clean compared with other options that are susceptible to staining. Stainless steel solutions are perfect for commercial environments because they will offer you a modern vibe and stain resistance. Concrete options are highly durable but come with a minimalistic style.
Butcher-block requires oiling and sanding to remove knife marks and stains, while you should find ways to protect it from water damage altogether. Remember that kitchens should be bacteria-free and clean, meaning the countertops without grooves are essential because they can be a perfect harbor for microbes and dirt.
It is vital to get a solid surface countertop and choose a specific material that will help you prevent stains, knife scratches, and grooves as time goes by.
4.Layout
As mentioned above, kitchens should unite the entire household since they should be the center of it. Therefore, you should consider the entire interior design and layout when choosing the aesthetics of your kitchen altogether.
The best way to ensure a smooth flow throughout the area is by ensuring you get the perfect elements of the open-concept house. For instance, the design you choose for a kitchen should match with other rooms and areas. That way, the property will look much better when it features compatible color schemes and finishes.
Even if you do not own an open-concept household, you can connect the kitchen with the living area, which will provide you with peace of mind. Therefore, selecting countertops will help you ensure finding the right color scheme that will meet your preferences.
5.Budget
You should consider the budget before choosing a countertop, especially if you do not own it. Some of them are expensive, but you can find ways to fit the budget with specific solutions. For instance, granite is perfect for durability, heat resistance, and strength, but you must spare more money for it.
Although it is effective and durable, meaning you do not have to replace it in a while, you may not have an initial investment for it. The most expensive kitchen countertops are granite and natural stone, while concrete comes at a reasonable price. The cheapest options are laminate and Corian, depending on your preferences.
6.Sink Mounting
Another important consideration is to determine the sink mounting configuration, which can be either an over- or under-mounted solution. Under-mounted sinks require that their edge lip is below the countertop, meaning you will get a continuous flow, making cleaning and maintenance simple.
Granite, concrete, quartz, and marble are perfect for under-mounted sinks. However, over-mounted sinks are common and known as drop-in because installation requires dropping them into the countertop. Therefore, the edges will extend over, which is vital to remember.
