The countertop is usually the first thing people notice when they enter a kitchen or bathroom, so choosing the right countertops is very important. It helps to start out with color, which will usually help narrow down the choices of texture and material.
Colors
The color of a countertop determines the overall feel of a room. Certain colors have a calming effect, such as blues, grays and light greens. Brighter colors can be cheerful, such as yellows or oranges. Jewel tones and earth tones create a feeling of richness and warmth, such as plum, gold, turquoise, browns or darker greens.
Some colors are feminine and some are masculine, so it’s best to decide what type of feel the room should have and then choose an appropriate color. For instance, an airy, open, playful kitchen should use pastels or bright colors, whereas a rich, earthy gourmet kitchen might use colors like tobacco or forest green.
Styles
Countertops come in many styles, which can enhance or detract from the overall look of the space. Edges can be round, square, wavy, beveled, layered or asymmetrical and come with or without backsplashes and other such features.
Once the color has been chosen, the style should follow appropriately. For example, a light blue and beige country style kitchen would not look right using hard, squared off edges, nor would it look right using modern, asymmetrical style countertops. It would look better using a traditional style of countertop with a rounded edge and a backsplash.
Textures
The sky is the limit on countertop textures. Smooth and shiny, grainy, polished with flecks of mica, the list goes on. However, the texture of a countertop determines where the viewer’s eye goes in the room. As an example, the vein of color in a marble countertop may sweep the viewer’s eye toward a glass front cabinet above or sideways toward a set of French doors beyond the counter. A consistently flecked granite may draw the viewers eye to the appliances on the countertop. To get the best feel for texture, try to bring a sample into the space and look at it from a distance to figure out where the sight line is.
Materials
Materials for countertops are nearly endless nowadays, including modern glass and concrete countertops. Marble and granite are widely used natural materials, but quartz and soapstone have also been added to that list. Other synthetic materials include resin, acrylic and Corian. Wood and ceramic tile are also used for countertops. The variety is as wide as home owners’ taste. The color and the texture the home owner wishes to use will help determine what materials are available to suit those requirements.
Maintenance
Maintenance should be another factor in choosing countertops, since it costs both time and money in the long-term. Natural materials tend to be more porous and prone to stains but more heat resistant. Synthetic materials are practically impervious to stains but may discolor if a hot pan is set on them. Soapstone requires regular oiling and wood requires periodic refinishing, so home owners should be certain of the maintenance requirements of a countertop material before making a purchase.
Choosing the right color, style, texture and material for the space will help ensure that countertops enhance the look and feel of a room rather than detract from it, providing years of beauty and function.
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