How to choose a kitchen countertop (44 photos) correctly

Choosing a kitchen countertop is one of the most important aspects of renovating your favorite room in your home. This article will detail all the advantages and disadvantages of headset cover materials. He will help you understand how to choose a countertop for your kitchen and what to base its color on.

Technical requirements for countertops

When thinking about which kitchen countertop to choose, it is important to understand what technical requirements it must meet. The life and quality of the coating directly depends on this.

Any countertop should be:

• Moisture resistant. The kitchen is a place with high humidity, which is why both the apron, the countertop, and the headset must be resistant to water droplets.
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• Resistant to high temperatures. The material needs to easily withstand temperature extremes.

• Easy care. To prevent cleaning from becoming hell for you, it's best to choose a countertop that is easy to clean with your own hands. It is even better that the surface withstands the effects of various detergents.
• With no joints. Ideally, the tabletop should be located over the headset with a solid canvas. This will avoid the accumulation of dirt at the joints, and, accordingly, simplify the cleaning process. If a solid countertop does not suit you for one reason or another (it is more difficult to repair it), choose those in which the minimum number of joints.
• Durable. It is necessary to buy an option that will be resistant to various mechanical damage and will serve the hostess for many years.
• Decorative. The worktop takes up a fairly large area of ​​the kitchen. Therefore, when considering which countertop is better for the kitchen, it is worth starting from the general interior of the room.

Types of countertops, their advantages and disadvantages

Countertops can be divided into several groups, but most often the division occurs according to the material from which they are made.

These are the main groups:

• Laminated chipboard;
• Artificial acrylic stone;
• Artificial stone with quartz filler;
• A natural stone;
• Wood of noble species.

As you can see, the range of materials for the kitchen is not exactly what you need, you need to consider all the groups in separately, identify their advantages and disadvantages, as well as determine the price, after which you can safely make the right choice.

Read more in the article. Kitchen countertops: the variety is impressive.

Laminated chipboard

With the advent of polymers, or rather, with the beginning of their widespread use in the production of finishing materials, much has changed for chipboard. They began to cover such countertops with a protective compound, which included plastic (see. additional article Plastic kitchen countertops - an economically and aesthetically beneficial solution)

Benefits: If you are concerned about the question of which countertop to choose for the kitchen in a low price segment, then the answer is to buy laminated chipboard. Low price is the main advantage of this material. In addition, it is available on the market in a wide range, is easy to install and is produced very quickly.

Disadvantages: If moisture gets on the surface, it can swell. Since the time of chipboard, it has lost its original color, and indeed it can hardly be called a durable material.

Fake diamond

When deciding which countertop to choose for the kitchen, it is definitely worth considering models made of artificial stone. The most popular are acrylics and agglomerates.

Acrylic stone

Acrylic stone is processed by high-temperature exposure, after which it acquires plasticity, due to which the elements of the material are easily glued without seams.

Benefits: There are many options for acrylic countertops, choosing a material with any color and design is not so difficult. Such models are easy to clean and have a very attractive appearance.

Disadvantages: The main disadvantages of acrylic include its high price, poor heat resistance and difficult installation.

Agglomerate

Produced from stone chips (up to 95% marble or quartz granite). The material is obtained thanks to vacuum pressing technology, which ensures its durability.

Benefits: Easy to care for, has a long-lasting and very effective color. The agglomerate has a shelf life of more than 10 years, it is not subject to high temperatures and the influence of acids.

Disadvantages: The range of the agglomerate is very limited, and besides, its price is not available to everyone.

Solid wood

Before choosing kitchen countertops, you should definitely pay attention to solid wood options. They look incredibly impressive, the truth is, and the attitude towards oneself requires appropriate.

The instructions for the care of the material recommend constantly treating the wood with special protective compounds, which are based on oils. In addition, wooden countertops cannot be wiped with a damp cloth, the entire cleaning process takes place "dry". And God forbid to use chemical detergents for cleaning.

Benefits: The main advantage of such a countertop is its exquisite and beautiful appearance. The material also lends itself to sanding.

Disadvantages: The tree is not resistant to shock and moisture. It has a weak indicator of thermal stability and is easily attacked by acids.

What rocks are countertops made of today? The most popular types are:

• Beech;
• Oak;
• Merbau;
• Wenge;
• Teak;
• And other durable and dense wood species.

A natural stone

The drawing of a natural stone is unique (the photos prove it), it is almost impossible to do something like this with your own hands. Mother Nature is truly a real artist who will not give away her secrets, so we will always be surprised and amazed at the natural beauty of the stone.

Granite is often chosen for the manufacture of countertops. It is less hygroscopic than other analogs, so it is not afraid of water.

Benefits: Possesses moisture resistance and excellent heat resistance. Easy to care for and does not lose its original color over the years.

Disadvantages: It is not particularly resistant to impacts, lends itself to acids. The choice of colors is very limited. The cost per square meter exceeds 200 USD.

Alternative options

If the above types do not suit you for some reason, then you can always find alternative options on the market. These include:

• Glass. In home kitchens, this material is rarely installed. The thing is that this element of kitchen furniture has a high price, low wear resistance and difficulty in maintenance. Scratches and chips appear on it very quickly, but glass looks very impressive in the kitchen interior. If you are not financially limited, then you can install glass. It just has to be changed every year.

• Stainless steel. You can use this type for a long time. Stainless steel is an unpretentious material, it is not afraid of humidity and temperature drops. It will never grow mold or mildew.

True, it is always difficult to choose a stainless steel for the existing interior. In addition, it requires constant surface polishing.

• Ceramic tile. Anyone who wants to have a creative design in the kitchen chooses just this way of finishing. If the kitchen is made in country style, then this finishing material will exactly fit into it. But do not forget that defects can quickly appear on the tiles, and the grout will lose its appearance in the joints between the tiles.

Choosing a color

Deciding on the material for the surface of the headset is still half the battle. You also need to understand how to choose the color of your kitchen countertop. There are several proven combinations:

• For white headset. A worktop with a neutral color and pattern, imitating wood or stone, is ideal for a white headset. It is better to choose a cold shade of stone; for wood, you can purchase a light version.

Another safe bet is a black countertop. Such a kitchen will look very sophisticated and elegant.

• For beige headset. It is better to complement such furniture with a coating in the color of chocolate or dark wood. You can choose a worktop with a color identical to the headset. This move will visually make the kitchen lighter and weightless.

• For black headset. It is best to avoid using a black finish and opt for a white countertop. You can also purchase material with imitation of light wood or gray stone.

• For gray headset. Complete this kitchen with a gray, white or black countertop.

• For a wooden headset. It is best to complement it with a white, dark or cream finish. You can also opt for a top with a woody color that differs from the tone of the headset by a couple of shades.

• For colored facades. For a headset in warm colors (orange, yellow, red, etc.), choose a cream or brown countertop. Gray or marble tops are combined with cool tones (blue, green, lilac, etc.). White coating is a safe bet anyway.

• For a two-tone headset. Choose a worktop that matches the color of the upper cabinets.

Here is such a small instruction will tell you how to choose a kitchen countertop by color.

Conclusion

After familiarizing yourself with the material, you know how to choose the right kitchen countertop based on its characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of materials. Now it will not be a problem for you to choose the color of the countertop for the headset either. And to consolidate the knowledge gained, be sure to check out the video in this article.

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