Is this the first time you are looking to buy kitchen countertops? You must be wondering how to buy them, right? To help you out, here is how to pick countertops for your kitchen:
Think about how you are going to use the countertops
What kind of a homeowner are you? This will significantly affect the type of countertops you go for. If you are a heavy cook and spend a lot of time in the kitchen, you should get tough, easy-to-maintain countertops such as quartz.
On the other hand, if you rarely cook or spend time in the kitchen, you can get away with high-end, luxurious countertops such as limestone, granite, or marble.
If you are in the middle homeowner, you can mix and match the countertops. For example, you can install the easy-to-maintain countertops on the kitchen island then place the other countertops in the adjacent counter spaces.
Your budget
This is another important factor that significantly determines your choice of countertops. Of course, you want to go with countertops that are within your budget.
Many homeowners don’t know the right amount they should set aside for countertops. If you are in such a predicament, a good rule of thumb is to never spend more than 15-30 percent of your budget on the countertops.
To avoid buying extraordinarily cheap and low-quality countertops, never go below 15% of your budget. At the same time, don’t spend more than 30% of your budget on kitchen countertops as you will be overdoing it.
The look you want to create
We all have different tastes that significantly affect the pick of countertops that we go for. Before you head to the countertops store, you need to think about how you want your countertops to look like.
What color do you want for your kitchen? What about the appliances? Which ones do you want? All of this will influence your choice.
To be on the safe side, you want to choose a kitchen countertop with a versatile color. This way, you don’t have to change the countertops every time you change the kitchen appliances and colors.
When it comes to the countertop material, choose a material with veins or splashes of color that will help you keep your options open.
The size of your kitchen
Some countertop colors will be unideal for your kitchen, so you will have to avoid them depending on the size of your kitchen. For example, if you have a small kitchen, you should avoid dark colors as they make your kitchen look too small.
In such an instance, you are better off with brighter colors that will make the kitchen look much bigger.
What countertops are available in the market?
Well, there are many types of countertops you can buy for your kitchen. They include:
Natural stone countertops
They have been around for a long time, and they are loved by many as they provide interesting veining and unique patterns. One of the most popular natural countertops is granite, and it comes in different colors ranging from pinks, reds, browns, greens, and blacks.
When you are buying natural countertops, you should note that not all are made equal. This calls for you to be cautious when making the purchase. As a rule of thumb, pay attention to the porosity and hardness rating of the stone.
Man-made quartz countertops.
Quartz countertops have recently risen in popularity majorly due to their durability and stain resistance. They also come in different designs, colors, and veining styles.
Paper composite countertops
Paper composite countertops are comprised of recycled paper and/or cardboard that is resin soaked and heat pressurized.
The beauty of composite countertops is they are environmentally friendly and easy to work with and customize.
Their major flaw is they have limited colors to choose from and are easily damaged by scratches and hot pans, as they aren’t heatproof.
Parting shot
It’s good, but buying the right countertop isn’t enough—you need to ensure that it’s properly installed.
So, regardless of whether you have settled on marble or granite countertops NC, you should take your time and find an expert that knows what they are doing.