The kitchen is the heart of the home and can be modest, inviting, and have great appeal with the right customizations. It can be difficult to come across a stock kitchen design since your kitchen is one of the areas designed for your needs. This is because the kitchen has a particular aesthetic value that varies from individual to individual.
Every American home has made certain customizations to the kitchen to promote its look, design and overall feel. When talking about kitchen customizations, there are many areas where one can choose to make improvements by adding features such as countertops.
Kitchen countertops provide various customization options and play an integral role in promoting the design and overall appearance of the kitchen. Installing the right kitchen countertop can help increase the value of your home. However, choosing the right countertop material can be daunting as interior designers have stepped up their game and provided many options.
That said, here are some tips to help you choose the right material for your kitchen countertop.
Consult professionals
Each material plays a fundamental role in improving the operation and appearance of your kitchen. You can consult your interior designer to help you choose a material that allows customization and design of the countertop. You can also talk to a kitchen remodeler who will have it Kitchen estimating software to help figure out how much it will cost to install your preferred countertop.
Renovators will also advise you on the various materials available with their pros and cons. The renovators will listen to what you need and picture for your kitchen and offer suggestions. They will also assist in purchasing various materials and handle customizations. This way, you can get professional advice on how to get the most out of your kitchen design.
Budget
Each countertop material comes with different characteristics that cause variations in price. This is mainly due to the quality and luxury, and you should go through what each material has to offer. You may realize that quartz countertops are more expensive than granite or limestone surfaces. Marble can also be a bit expensive as it is a high-end stone with several color variations and is more luxurious.
Go through the available materials, determine what they have to offer, their downside, and check the price. Consult your kitchen remodeler to get an estimate for customizing and installing the countertop for each material, then plan your budget. Your budget should be realistic and ensure you have the finances to choose a quality countertop for your kitchen.
Maintenance
The kitchen can become very messy depending on the activities and traffic. Therefore, you will need to factor in routine cleaning and maintenance based on how much you use your kitchen. Check out the various countertop materials and how much maintenance each material requires. Determine how easy it is to clean various countertops and whether they need sealing.
Take the time to research the best way to clean each material and how much time it will take. You also need to determine which cleaning products work on each material and go for one with few requirements. Consider how you use your kitchen countertop and go for a material that requires easy maintenance and cleaning practices.
An appearance
Consider the design you want for your kitchen and look for a countertop that complements it. You can choose a natural look and choose natural stone countertops with various colors and patterns. Granite countertops they provide a large number of color and pattern options that stand out in traditional and contemporary kitchen designs.
Quartz countertops look sleeker and have a modern design that complements the modern architecture of the kitchen. You can also choose soapstone or butcher block countertops if you want that old and classic feel.
Durability
Several aspects will affect the durability of a countertop. Determine the resistance of the countertop material to scratches, heat and stains. Soapstone or limestone countertops scratch easily, while marble countertops are prone to chipping. If you use knives and other sharp objects often on your countertops, granite or quartz may be a good choice because of their resistance to scratching and chipping.
Countertop materials such as granite, quartz and aluminum offer heat resistance which means they are great for handling hot pots and pans. Check for materials that are stain resistant and have a seal that makes cleaning easier. Durability ensures that your countertop maintains the highest standards and quality.
Your kitchen countertop is an investment with an ROI based on the choices you make. Consider your preferences and choose a countertop material that meets the uses and needs of your kitchen.
