Things to Consider Before Choosing a Countertop

Your kitchen countertop is a big decor decision. But thanks to the wide variety available on the market, you can find one that best suits your preferences and needs.

Choosing a countertop might not seem complicated at first. After all, it’s just installing one more element in your kitchen. But that quickly changes when you realize that as an essential part of the kitchen, the right countertop has to possess certain characteristics to consistently serve for its many purposes.

You need to make a wise, informed choice so in our post today, we want to present you with several different things to keep in mind before you make your purchase.

First things first, go over your needs

The first step to finding the best countertop for your home is thinking about what you need it for. You might work, cook or even eat on top of your countertop. Considering its many uses, it should be very resistant and able to last a long time. These should be your two non-negotiable requirements.

Next, the second step is to think about your personal preferences and needs. For example, are you looking for something low-maintenance? Or maybe you prefer an option that can withstand heat?  Third, focus on design. Your countertop should match the surrounding elements in your kitchen.

Different materials

The material of a countertop is an important factor to take into consideration when browsing options. Choose a material you like but make sure it’s also the most convenient option for your kitchen habits. Check out some of the most popular countertops below:

Laminate

If you’re looking for an economical option that’s also resistant and practical, laminate is your solution. Laminate countertops are cheap, easy to clean and barely need any maintenance. This material also offers very impressive imitation wood or stone options. If you have children, laminate countertops have yet another strength – handprints barely show up on this material.

Granite

While laminate offers a great price, granite offers its own strengths; granite is durable and resistant to not only heat but scratches, impacts and stains as well. Similar to laminate options, granite doesn’t require much maintenance and cleaning is a breeze.

Solid wood

Solid wood countertops are quite different from the two materials above. Wood offers advantages such as:

• Smooth and warm to touch.
• Wood creates a beautiful setting for your kitchen.
• Completely natural and organic material.
• You can sand the wood every so often to extend its use.

However, the downsides are:

• It doesn’t resist humidity as well as the other options.
• It can’t fit into every kitchen decor.
• It requires more maintenance than other materials.
• Suffers from scratches, stains and time.

Other aspects to keep in mind

While the material of your countertop will play the biggest role in making your decision, you should also consider the following aspects as well:

• Height: countertops are normally 85 centimeters tall. But think about your height or the height of the person who will use them to ensure comfortable use.
• Width: countertops usually have a width of 2-3 centimeters.
• Edges: the edges are also an important factor to consider.