Kitchen countertops are one of the key design elements that can make or break your kitchen. They are one of the largest visible surfaces in your kitchen, save for the backsplash.
Thus, your choice of color and material not only makes the kitchen look great but also contributes significantly to its overall aesthetic and theme.
Today, most homeowners dream of marble kitchen countertops. These countertops look great and stand the test of time and the brutality of an experimental chef who’s never shy of running his or her kitchen to the max.
But what if you can’t afford marble, or the name and design are too cliché for you?
Well, there are a ton of options to explore.
Countertop Kitchen Design Ideas For Your Kitchen
Kitchen countertop designs are one of the most evolving kitchen design areas. Every day, different kitchen design experts and homeowners experiment with different materials and layouts that are bound to increase aesthetic value, uniqueness, and resale value if you ever want to sell your house.
So, which cool designs can you go for?
Yes, many homeowners and kitchen design experts hate laminate. But hear us out. High-definition laminate can be a great design option for kitchen countertops.
Used mostly in place of real granite, laminate countertops provide the aesthetic of marble and granite for the price of cheap plastic. With high-definition laminate, nothing about the final design will look tacky.
High-definition laminate does a great job mimicking real granite's visual chaos and patterns. Thus, it better replicates natural granite than other laminate options you’d get in the market, which use repetition patterns.
But there’s a downside.
In terms of uniqueness, high-definition laminate doesn’t score that well. Yes, it’s an improvement over the mostly lackluster laminate countertops, but most homebuyers and homeowners still have a prejudice against this material.
Thus, if you’re planning on selling your house after remodeling the kitchen, this countertop might affect the resale value.
2. Stainless Steel Countertops
If you have the money to spend on something unique and long-lasting, stainless steel countertops might be your best choice. They have steadily risen over the last 10 years and are now found in most contemporary kitchens.
Restaurants inspire stainless steel countertops. They intend to mimic the kitchen quality of most high-end restaurants and the durability of these countertops compared to other popular options in the market.
And that durability comes at a hefty price.
Stainless steel countertops are some of the most expensive in the market. This material is also very hard to fabricate, skyrocketing the price even further the more experimental you get with your design.
3. Concrete Countertops
Instead of metal, you can opt for a more earthy concrete material. Concrete countertops are also very popular in contemporary but also traditional and transitional kitchens.
These countertops are made by pouring thick, non-porous concrete on the kitchen surface. Final finishing is done on the surface to make it smooth, shiny, and usable in the kitchen.
This design adds great detail to the kitchen. You can see it in the subtle patterns made on the surface of the concrete, which blend well with a dark-toned kitchen with dark floor tiling.
But that’s not the best part.
Concrete countertops allow you to be fully experimental, meaning that they adapt to your kitchen rather than your kitchen adapting to them. Thus, you can explore an infinite range of design options, from size and thickness to even color.
4. Contrasting Countertops
Speaking of color, contrasting color countertops are a fast-growing theme in modern kitchen design circles. These countertops use lively colors to bring life and boldness to modern kitchens.
In most cases, lime green, yellow, and orange are commonly used colors. If you use bright orange for the cabinetry, for instance, you can use white for the countertops to create a contrast that makes both colors stand out.
You can even go for bolder colors, such as black, to get as much contrast as you desire between the colors.
The trick here is to focus on the cabinetry. This is the closest design element to the countertops, so it's where you’ll get the most contrast.
5. Patterned Countertops
Patterned countertops have also been a trending design topic in both modern and traditional kitchens with a contemporary touch.
Patterned countertops are great, especially for a modern kitchen, because they add interest. They blend nicely with the minimalist cabinetry and overall kitchen layout, giving the design a final waterfall effect.
Patterned countertops are especially gorgeous on the kitchen island. Since the island serves as the architectural focal point, the waterfall effect is even more pronounced with the striped stone and textures.
Trying a two-tone color scheme can make this design stand out even more. For instance, you can have the cabinetry in dark wood, contrasting with the ash-gray countertop and gray backsplash, with dark gray or black patterns.
6. Thick Slab Countertops
The thick slab countertops might tickle your fancy if the concrete countertops don’t look interesting. Instead of the normal 2” thickness common for many countertops, thick slab countertops can go as thick as 5”.
These countertops also feature nice patterns that suit a contemporary kitchen. The added thickness creates a stately, anchored look that draws attention to the countertops and cabinetry.
With this design, however, you must adjust the cabinet heights to compensate for the increased height caused by the thicker countertops.
Regarding colors, most thick slab countertops look great in patterned white, with the cabinetry featuring dark-toned wood with silver pulls.
7. Wooden Countertops
Wooden Countertops
If you are going for a rustic kitchen, wooden countertops are most likely your best choice. These countertops blend in perfectly with a rustic-themed kitchen while still providing a flurry of design options to explore.
Wood adds texture, boldness, and warmth to your kitchen design. This design fits a rustic kitchen as well as a traditional, minimalist, contemporary, or modern kitchen.
How?
Wooden countertops can be styled into various designs. You can choose a butcher block countertop, a wooden tile option, or a chevron-clad countertop. Plus, you can choose the stain on the wood, thus adding the degree of detail you want on the countertops.
But there’s a downside to this countertop design. Wood is prone to rot. Thus, you must seal it properly to ensure it serves you long enough.
8. Stone Countertops
If you hate the idea of having to seal wood to make it long-lasting but are in search of a natural design option for your countertops, stone countertops might be your next best choice.
These durable countertops also allow you to highlight the design with inner lights and dashing patterns. Plus, stone countertops come in a variety of designs, so you’ll not have trouble finding the right type for your kitchen.
For instance, you can get stone countertops that match or contrast colors in your kitchen. Plus, you can choose a different stone for the countertops Vis a Vis the kitchen island.
Yes, most of the options provided so far are not cheap. However, save for the high-definition laminate, which other countertop design option can you explore that won’t break the bank?
MDF.
MDF is a very affordable type of fiberboard commonly used in kitchen cabinets. It can also make stunning kitchen countertops.
But why use it in the first place?
You can still explore a flurry of design options with MDF for your kitchen countertops. MDF is also water-resistant, meaning it’s less prone to rot than natural wood, which will need some treatment.
Plus, you can easily color the MDF to match or contrast any color for your countertops. For example, you can have the cabinetry and countertop in cobalt blue for a unified kitchen design.
