You have bought a new house and want to decorate it as you like. Your home kitchen is your main priority because you love to cook or just want it to look the best for the guests.
When shopping for kitchen countertop materials, the options available in the market can be pretty intimidating. But do you know it’s not only the appearance you should focus on?
You should also consider the material cost, durability, size, shape, maintenance, stain, and scratch-proof capacity.
Countertop selection is unique for individuals, but the most popular ones in many homes are quartz, granite, marble, soapstone, etc.
Although settling on a countertop material is your decision, we are here to make it easier for you. Here are the nine best countertop materials to make your kitchen feel lively and gorgeous.
Best Materials for Kitchen Countertops
We have selected the best materials for a gorgeous and ageless-looking kitchen. But we wanted to make the selection more convenient for you, so we also included the pros and cons of the materials. Let’s go through it!
1. Granite
Granite is a fan favorite of many homeowners. Its unique speckled look makes it an astounding natural stone countertop which gives any kitchen a luxurious look.
Granite is naturally a hard stone, making it highly durable and great for busy kitchens. It also has a high heat-resistant capacity and is scratch- and stain-proof. You don’t have to worry about any hard water stains on granite.
But granite also falls on the pricier side. Even if you don’t have an issue with the price, the maintenance cost of sealing the porous stone every year can become hectic.
Moreover, as it is a natural stone, not all granite slabs will be the same, making it hard to match.
2. Tiles
Tiles are a great way to have a unique-looking kitchen within an affordable budget. It will improve your kitchen by giving a 90’s vibe and a retro look.
Aside from the appearance, tiles have excellent heat resistance. No hot pans or pots will be able to damage it.
But tiles can break easily if not correctly installed. Moreover, you’ll have to re-grout your countertop regularly to keep it clean. Otherwise, it will just look dirty and distasteful to serve food.
3. Quartz
If you ask us, quartz is one of the best materials for renovating your home kitchen. They are highly durable, heat-resistant, scratch and stain-proof, and the maintenance is negligible as you don’t have to seal any pores.
Although it’s a simulated natural stone made of resins and quartz, they are the best for low-fuss cooking.
Engineered quartz can come in various designs, but the most popular is the marbling design which looks identical to marble. It’s also resistant to acids and harsh chemicals, making it a suitable choice for your kitchen countertop.
4. Butcher Block
Butcher blocks are great if you want to add warmth to your space. Its wooden appearance gives a rustic look and makes it great for use as kitchen countertops.
From the name, you can guess it’s perfect for chopping food directly on.
Straight-cut woods glued together makeup butcher blocks, so it naturally doesn’t have water- and heat-resistant capacity, although a superior finish will do the trick. Moreover, it needs occasional oiling to keep the natural rustic look.
5. Marble
Marble is a precious natural stone that has been the most desirable countertop material for ages. Its timeless look and unique vein patterns make it stand out.
Marble stones are expensive because they never have two similar patterns, and you’ll never see the same pattern in any house.
Although its luxurious appearance is worth the money, this natural stone is not very durable nor stain- and scratch-proof. This very porous natural stone needs regular sealing, cleaning, and maintenance to look beautiful for decades. If you are up for the high upkeep, get it.
6. Soapstone
Although soapstone is a soft natural stone, it overpowers this flaw with its other advantages. It has a range of gray tones with subtle veining effects and feels smooth and silky.
Its dense and non-porous structure makes it highly resistant to water, heat, bacteria, and chemical substances. Soapstones are still prone to scratches, but with the application of mineral oil, they will be good as new.
7. Concrete
Do you want your house, or a section of it, to have an industrial look? Say no more. Concrete will work great in this case. It is an unusual material but not the concrete slabs used for sidewalks. It’s a special concrete that can be customized. You can give it textures or even get it acid-stained for color.
Concrete slabs are durable but can stain easily. Moreover, you may notice some cracks because it is porous. But various new sealants can over this problem. If you talk about price, concrete is a very reasonable choice.
8. Laminates
Laminates are plastic-coated synthetics attached to a particle board. It isn’t considered premium, unlike the natural stone materials, but its recent popularity due to various colors and patterns has earned it a name in this list.
Laminates are the most budget-friendly countertop materials available in the market. They are easy to clean, and usually, no staining occurs. But it has downsides, such as visible seams and easily scratchable or unsustainable surface, which is impossible to repair.
9. Stainless Steel
Stainless steel countertops are a more modern, industrial counterpart of concrete. It is durable, literally stain-proof, and has high heat resistance.
Moreover, this is the most hygienic material for countertops because it prevents bacterial growth.
On the other hand, stainless steel countertops can quickly dull a knife, making it an unsuitable surface for chopping. In addition, the countertop will make a lot of noise. So, be very careful if you plan on sneaking into the kitchen to get a late-night snack.
Conclusion
If a kitchen is like the heart of the house, then the countertop is like the heart of the kitchen. Choosing the best materials to improve your kitchen countertop is a worthy investment.
In this article, we have introduced you to the best countertop materials, and now it’s up to you to decide what fits your family and home.