Perfect Kitchen: How to Choose a Countertop?

In previous posts, Nadezhda Kuzina explained how to plan a kitchen and what flooring to choose. In this article, we cover everything about choosing a countertop.

Nadezhda Kuzina is an interior designer and decorator

Artificial Stone

Artificial stone does not stain or deform. These are the most practical countertops for the kitchen — easy to maintain and with unlimited service life.

Natural Stone

It looks luxurious in the first week. However, if you didn’t account for the porosity of the stone and didn't treat it with a special protective compound right after installation, any liquid will leave stains that are impossible to remove.

The maximum you can do is polish the entire countertop again, removing the top layer of stone, but that is not a cheap pleasure. Among natural stones, granite is the most practical.

Laminated Particle Board

The most budget-friendly option. A notable advantage — such surfaces feel warmer and more pleasant to the touch than stone or metal.

Choose imported options with fine-grained patterns. Do not buy countertops with a marble-like pattern in cheap home improvement stores: low-quality printing on the surface significantly diminishes the overall appearance of the kitchen.

Wooden

These countertops require careful maintenance — they don’t like moisture. However, over time, they beautifully darken. Wooden countertops suit the loft and Provence styles.

Metal

They are great for kitchens in hi-tech or loft styles. They are very resistant to damage and will serve you for a long time.

However, any stains or drops are clearly visible and even finger marks can remain. But if you are very careful and strive for complete sterility in the kitchen, a metal countertop is definitely right for you.

Tempered Glass

Tempered glass is a rather expensive and exotic material. Fully glass countertops for kitchens are rarely made — usually, it’s about small decorative inserts. Glass is hard to keep clean and is also known for low durability.

Ceramic Tile

It perfectly suits the countryside interior style. However, gaps between tiles are very vulnerable as they quickly get dirty, so choose epoxy grout — it won’t crumble during cleaning. Additionally, chips can appear on the tiles due to mechanical impact.

Read also:

• Designing a Kitchen-Living Room: 7 Bright Ideas
  
• 14 New Life Hacks for Your Kitchen
  
• How to Decorate a Small Kitchen: 5 Examples