Which countertop to choose for the kitchen?

The home of each individual reflects his or her essence, tastes, preferences and financial situation. Everyone strives to improve the house, make beautiful repairs, furnish it with furniture, so that when returning home, they feel cozy and comfortable. One of the most popular places in each house is the kitchen, where families gather for daily breakfasts and lunches, often meet guests and have tea parties.

Modern kitchen furniture is so diverse that choosing the best option for yourself, combining price and quality, is quite easy.

The tabletop is the working surface of dining tables, work tables and kitchen sinks, it can be made either separately, for each cabinet individually, or as a solid version, covering the entire lower set of kitchen furniture. The solid version, of course, is more convenient and practical to use, protects the side walls of the furniture most reliably, there are no joints of the working surface. It is much easier to clean and maintain. But how can an ordinary citizen, not informed about all the subtleties and nuances, choose a tabletop?

Types of countertops, their main characteristics

The furniture segment market offers a fairly impressive range of tabletop varieties, but the following options are considered the most popular.

• From chipboard – a new technology of chipboard processing by means of color lamination practically breathed new life into it, significantly expanding the scope of use of this material. As for countertops, this will probably be the best option for budget repairs. It is inexpensive, has an attractive appearance, however, it is very afraid of scratches, mechanical damage (moisture can penetrate). In addition, the color can fade, which significantly reduces the period of its attractiveness.

• Made of MDF - a worthy and high-quality option, unlike chipboard, a tabletop made of MDF is quite resistant to various mechanical impacts, to moisture. This material is recognized as environmentally friendly and easy to maintain.

• Made of natural solid wood - attractive in appearance, environmentally friendly, time is quite demanding and difficult to maintain. Traces of moisture, heat, impacts and cuts remain on the wood. At the same time, the tree can accumulate various bacteria that easily penetrate its pores.

• Agglomerate - this material is a subspecies of artificial stone made from marble, quartz or granite chips and adhesive. Such a countertop looks expensive, but the price is quite affordable. Agglomerate is resistant to various aggressive effects, moisture, heat and impacts.

• Granite is not just a durable material. Its resistance to any impacts except mechanical ones and its durability are amazing. It is not afraid of fire or water. Granite comes in a variety of colors, but the most common colors are red, green and black.

• Made of marble – this truly exquisite material can make you fall in love with it at first sight. Marble means luxury, wealth and the owner’s exquisite taste. The material is very demanding in care, does not tolerate mechanical damage (impacts) and is not heat-resistant, but copes well with moisture, and its color does not fade. This option is perfect for spacious, roomy kitchens.

• Made of ceramic tiles – such countertops are considered simple and convenient, moisture-resistant (except for joints), heat-resistant and impact-resistant. But the joints will absorb water, the cost of the tiles is high.

• Made from acrylic - it contains acrylic resin, color pigments and mineral chips, the material turns out to be amazingly attractive and easy to care for, but is afraid of impacts and heat.

• Stainless steel - steel countertops coated with galvanized steel can serve almost forever. There are many options for such products, it can have a mirror, matte and other types of surface. This material can be described in one word - wear-resistant, it is not afraid of absolutely anything. It may, of course, lose a little shine or gloss over time, but with proper care this will not happen.

How to decide on the color of the countertop?

If the kitchen is made in a certain design style, then it is necessary to adhere to it when choosing a countertop.

• The Provence and Country styles represent a rustic style that involves the use of everything natural and light.

• “Classic” – indicates the need for the presence of wood (or MDF) in dark, brown or beige tones in the kitchen interior.

• “Minimalism” is distinguished by the presence of calm tones, clear straight lines, and shine.

• “High-tech” implies the presence of a main color and another one that contrasts with it.

If you did not adhere to any design styles when decorating your kitchen, or used several, then when talking about color combinations when choosing countertops, you should proceed from the color of the kitchen set and its material.

As for the material of kitchen furniture, it must first of all withstand the weight of the work surface and be compatible with each other (wood - wood, MDF, stone, glass, etc.).Dark colors are best purchased from granite and other natural materials.

So which kitchen countertop is best?

If you can’t decide on the material for the countertop, you should choose it based on the following criteria:

• It should harmoniously “fit” into the kitchen interior;
• Provide reliable protection for the lower cabinets of the set;
• Be resistant to moisture, heat, mechanical damage, exposure to household chemicals and do not absorb odors;
• Does not contain any toxic substances;
• Simply clean off stains and dirt;
• Do not lose your attractive appearance.

Based on your financial situation and capabilities, you should naturally choose natural materials for the work surface, as they best meet the above criteria and are very durable.Taking into account the design or method of decorating the kitchen and the work surface itself, it is necessary to give preference to those types that will harmoniously fit into the overall interior, without standing out from it and without violating its integrity.

When choosing a kitchen countertop, it is worth noting that it can be of almost any shape and size, since it is almost always made to order. It is necessary to take high-quality measurements, specify the required thickness and color of the product. In order to imagine or, so to speak, “try on” a particular version of the countertop, you can buy a small piece of it and try it on your kitchen “live”. This is especially true for expensive materials, because paying for marble that simply will not look right in your interior is also not entirely pleasant and justified.

Popular Kitchen Countertop Designs

Among the incredible range and varieties of countertops, it can be quite difficult to decide on its order. Some models can be solid, some in pieces, and others can have the most complex geometric shapes and almost any color. There are simply no restrictions or limits to the design of countertops.

Wooden countertops: naturalness and eco-friendliness

Wooden countertops rightfully occupy high positions in popularity and frequency of their use. Since this material can be repaired, has many advantages and has the ability to restore its original appearance, it has earned its demand. Wood is beautiful and natural, and if you combine it with stone or other natural elements, you can transform your kitchen so much that you will want to spend time in it for hours. Although wood has some minor disadvantages, they are fully compensated by the advantages.

Laminated countertops: cheap and decorative

Of course, laminated work surfaces are tempting and beautiful, bright shiny tones catch the eye immediately. Due to its availability, it is used very often. It is advisable to follow this rule, giving preference to this material - the material of the kitchen set should also not be expensive, so that there is price and external harmony between them. If you do not have large financial capabilities, then this, quite a budget type will definitely suit you. Do not worry about the fact that it will quickly become unusable, it depends on how you use it and how you care for it.

MDF countertops: eco-friendly and beautiful

This option is quite affordable for everyone, although it is a little more expensive than chipboard, it is definitely more environmentally friendly and durable. MDF is in great demand, as it really has many positive qualities. The color palette allows you to choose almost any tone or color of the work surface to maximally transform your favorite kitchen, bring freshness and novelty to it.

Acrylic Kitchen Countertops: A Non-Standard Solution

Choosing acrylic as a work surface, especially if its shape is supposed to be non-standard, this will be the best option. Thanks to the production technology, acrylic can easily be given any shape and shade, and this is without any joints, seams and loss of strength. In addition, this surface is completely pore-free, which means that harmful pathogenic bacteria will definitely not be found there. It does not wear off, does not lose color and shine, in general, an excellent option for those who can afford it.

Agglomerate countertops: imitation of naturalness

Since the composition of this material consists of natural stone chips, its strength is almost the same. It is extremely durable, beautiful and wear-resistant. It looks rich, it is very difficult to distinguish it from real stone. Moreover, it is environmentally friendly, is not afraid of chemicals, thermal effects and moisture, does not lose color and appearance. Unlike natural stone, the cost of agglomerate is an order of magnitude lower, which significantly expands the range of its consumers.

Glass tabletops: originality and creativity

Glass itself is incredibly versatile, especially its impact-resistant models. Glass can be decorated with special stickers, painting and even various compositions of flowers, pebbles, shells and other decorative elements located both inside it and on the bottom side. Moreover, if there is no need to save money, you should order thick, impact-resistant glass (naturally taking into account the maximum permitted load on furniture), then it will look impressive and serve an incredibly long period.

The variety of tabletop types gives a chance for a flight of fantasy and satisfaction of the most creative and extraordinary ideas of both designers and ordinary citizens. It can be used to decorate not only lower kitchen cabinets, but also coffee tables, kitchen aprons, dining tables and even window sills. The scope of its application is so wide that it is limited, perhaps, only by people's imagination and needs.

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