The kitchen is one of the most important rooms of your home because this influences your lifestyle and encourages family gatherings, among many others. The kitchen is an evolving space—from being a place to cook and prepare meals, it’s now utilized as an area to talk with friends and family. It’ll be challenging for you and your family to enjoy your home if your kitchen is unappealing or not functional. Do you think your family can stay healthy if you don’t have a fully functioning kitchen? Where will you prepare meals if this is the case? Would you even have the courage to invite friends over if your kitchen looks like a mess? You can get rid of these problems by investing in the best countertops for your kitchen.
Why Are Countertops Important?
Kitchen countertops are essential for every kitchen. In fact, you’ll have a hard time doing anything in your kitchen if you don’t have any countertops.
One of the most obvious reasons why kitchen countertops are important is because they significantly influence the overall aesthetics of the space. The material and size of your countertop can make or break the ambiance of your kitchen. Research all the options, including custom countertops Denver if you live in that area, to make sure you choose the right surfaces for your kitchen.
Installing a countertop that doesn’t blend well with the other elements in the space can make your kitchen look and feel cluttered. Fortunately, this is something that you can easily avoid when you hire pros, such as Johnson Brothers, to help you out.
Aside from the aesthetics, countertops also make it very easy for you to carry out tasks usually done in the kitchen. With a kitchen countertop, you won’t have any problem chopping different ingredients, preparing meals, and dining with your friends and family.
5 Tips To Choose The Best Countertops For Your Kitchen
Kitchen countertops are useful, but before you can enjoy their benefits, you need to weigh the pros and cons of each of your options first. The market is saturated with countless materials for kitchen countertops, making it challenging for anyone to choose which one to pick. The process of choosing the best kitchen countertop can become tougher if this is your first time buying and install one.
To make the process of choosing easier, take note of the following tips for you to end up with the best countertops for your kitchen:
Assess How You’re Going To Use Your Countertop
Before you start looking at options, it’s best if you first determine how you’re going to use your countertop. This task should be on top of your to-do list because the information you can get from this phase will enable you to determine which material best suits your needs.
For example, if you’re planning to use your kitchen countertop for chopping different kinds of ingredients, consider looking at countertops with a butcher’s block. This material can withstand extreme chopping, and will not show any damages even after years of usage. If you’re going to use your countertop for baking, on the other hand, a kitchen countertop with a marble section might work best for you. This material will not stick to your dough, allowing you to assemble and bake pastries with much ease and convenience
Picking a countertop material that suits your daily use will ensure that you’ll be able to make the most out of your space, as well as get value from your money. You don’t want to spend a lot of money for a kitchen countertop only to see it damaged after a week because of excessive chopping.
Determine How Much Time And Effort You’re Willing To Spend For The Maintenance
Your kitchen countertop should be a long-term investment. You won’t be able to maximize the money you’ll spend on the purchase and installation of the countertop if it’ll only last for a couple of weeks or months. A poorly maintained countertop can ruin the appeal of your kitchen, as well as cause stress to the people who often use it.
For you to choose the best countertop for your kitchen, don’t forget to consider the maintenance of the material. As a homeowner, the countertop you choose should have maintenance requirements that suit your lifestyle. If you’re working in an office every day, don’t choose a countertop that requires daily cleaning.
Ideally, different materials used for kitchen countertops require the following maintenance:
- Porous materials, such as granite, limestone, and marble, will require sealing and oiling at least once a year.
- Quartz will only require a simple wipe down using a damp microfiber cloth.
- Butcher’s block is a very durable material but requires regular sealing to protect it from excessive damage.
Look At Your Available Space
Knowing your available space is an essential step when choosing a countertop for your kitchen. When you have an idea of how big or large your kitchen countertop should be, it’ll be easier for you to scout for suppliers and materials. This would allow you to determine and compare their respective costs (including installation expenses), helping you end up with the best deal that doesn’t compromise quality.
Ideally, you should inquire from at least three suppliers from your area. Although time-consuming, you should never skip this process when choosing the best countertop for your kitchen as this will prevent you from paying for unnecessary expenses.
Come Up With A Realistic Budget
When coming up with a budget for your kitchen countertop project, consider looking at a cheaper alternative to your ideal material. For example, if you’re in love with the appearance of marble, consider looking at quartz first before buying anything. Both are appealing, but quartz is cheaper than marble. This is a great tip to follow, especially if you’re installing kitchen countertops on a limited budget.
However, if you’re going to use your kitchen countertop daily and for longer periods, it might be best if you stretch your budget a little bit more so you can afford high-quality, durable materials. As long as maintained properly and regularly, this investment can last for years, allowing you to get your money’s worth.
Pick Materials That Fit The Color And Ambiance Of Your Home
Perhaps, your kitchen is spacious and visible upon entering your home, which is why you should be careful in picking the materials for your countertop. Picking a material that contrasts with the overall aesthetics of your abode will disconnect your kitchen from your space. To ensure this doesn’t happen, pay careful attention to the materials to be used for your kitchen countertops.
Generally, you can choose from the following materials for your kitchen countertops:
Granite
Granite possesses a natural beauty that no other material can match. Its vibrant color and visual movement work well for kitchens painted in white. Granite countertops can last up to 15 years, as long as sealed regularly. You can buy countertops in granite with leathered or high gloss finish.
Quartz
If you want your kitchen to give off a high-class ambiance, invest in countertops made from quartz. This material doesn’t require too much maintenance and is less susceptible to markings and staining. Just like granite, quartz requires regular oiling to ensure that it can stand the test of time. Kitchen countertops made from quartz always come with a glossy finish.
Marble
For a classic kitchen, marble should be the first on your list. This material is suitable for low-traffic kitchens and comes in a wide variety of colors. However, one of the biggest downsides of owning a kitchen countertop made from marble is its maintenance. Since this material is very prone to abrasion and staining, you need to exert a lot of effort into keeping it clean.
Solid Surface
If you’re looking for a material that feels warm to the touch and creates a modern matted look, opt to use a solid surface for your kitchen countertop. This is one of the most common materials used by homeowners for their kitchen countertops today because this is durable enough to withstand excessive chopping. Kitchen countertops made from solid surfaces also offer beautiful aesthetics and suit any type of kitchen theme.
Choose Carefully
The countertops you’ll install for your kitchen will require a lot of money from your pocket, which is why you should be careful when making decisions for the said project. The market is saturated with countless materials that can be used for kitchen countertops but never fall into the trap of picking the first one you come across. Doing so will only put your money down the drain as it could mean ending up with the wrong material and spending more on repairs.
Moreover, aesthetics shouldn’t be your sole consideration when choosing a kitchen countertop material. Make sure that it’s also functional, and that you can handle the maintenance it requires for it to last for many years.
If you’re planning to install brand new countertops or replace old ones, use this article as your guide when deciding on the best countertop for your kitchen. Keeping these factors in mind will make it very easy for you to narrow down your options and end up with the perfect one!
