Selecting the Right Countertop for Your Kitchen

Kitchens can be troublesome when it comes to remodeling and redecorating them. Regardless of whether you are working on a brand new kitchen or if you are upgrading an old one, you will definitely want to make the most out of your investment and that is perfectly OK and natural, especially if you take into consideration the fact that you will want to see your investment lasting for a long while.

Your kitchen countertops can be more important than you think. First of all, they can be very helpful in creating beautiful color contrasts and beautiful looks for a kitchen. But even more than that, they can be problematic because you will be “spending” a lot of time on them (and take this as literally as possible, considering the fact that they are the kitchen furnishing pieces on which you get ready most of your food). How is it that you should be choosing your perfect countertop thus? Read on and find out more.

Things to Take into Consideration when Purchasing a Kitchen Countertop

Aside from sizing, there will be at least a couple of other important things you should be taking into consideration when you want to buy a countertop. One of them is the material. Countertops nowadays come in a wide variety of materials and it is important to choose the right one both because it will contribute a lot to the general appearance of the kitchen and because it will determine the countertop’s lifetime.

Granite countertops make for the classiest and most stylish choice there is. Even if there may be cheaper imitations, the truth is that in most of the cases even an “untrained” eye can see that the countertop is not made out of actual granite (or that it is, for that matter).

Even more, granite lasts for decades when it is properly maintained. Sure, you will need to maintain it and you will need to make sure that everything you do will keep it young and fresh for a long time, but in the end, when the conclusion is to be drawn, granite still lasts much more than the other materials out there, which can wear and tear even when they are actually maintained properly.

If you do choose granite, always make sure to keep it clean. When something dirty drops on the countertop, blot it – do not wipe it or scratch it because it will spread to the entire surface of the countertop. Even more than that, you should know the fact that using special cleaning products for stone actually does help and that you should not have to refinish the granite for quite a long time if you will actually take care of it.

Other than granite, there are many other types of countertops. For instance, there are the ones made out of wood and which are covered with a thick plastic foil that usually is made to resemble granite in the way it looks. However, pay attention to this because it can be easily cut if you drop your knife on it.

Also, remember to take into consideration the color of your countertop as well because it can be very important. If you want to create a nice contrast, choose a countertop lighter in color than the flooring and/or than the cabinets because this will add a special light/shadow effect that is very nice.