9 Cool Countertop Designs For Your Kitchen

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Yes, many homeowners and kitchen design experts hate laminate. But hear us out. High definition laminate can be a great design option for your kitchen countertops.

Used mostly in place of real granite, laminate countertops provide the aesthetic of marble and granite, for the price of cheap plastic. Well, with high definition laminate, nothing about the final design will look tacky.

High definition laminate does a great job of mimicking the visual chaos and patterns of real granite. Thus, it better replicates natural granite compared to 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 to 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.

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If you have the dime to spend on something unique and long-lasting, then stainless steel countertops might be your best choice. These countertops have seen a steady rise over the last 10 years, making way into most contemporary kitchens.

Stainless steel countertops are inspired by restaurants. They intend to mimic the kitchen quality of most high-end restaurants, combined with the durability these kitchen countertops have 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, which skyrockets the price even further the more experimental you get with your design.

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Instead of metal, you can opt for a more earthy material that is concrete. Concrete countertops are also very popular in not only 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.

The great thing about this design is that it adds great detail to the kitchen. You can see it in the subtle patterns made on the surface of the concrete that blends 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. You can thus explore an infinite range of design options, ranging from size, thickness, to even color.

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Speaking of color, contrasting color countertops are a fast-growing theme in modern kitchen design circles. Contrasting color countertops use lively colors to bring life and boldness into modern kitchens.

In most cases, colors such as lime green, yellow, and orange are commonly used. In case you use bright orange for the cabinetry, for instance, you can use white for the countertops to create the 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, thus the place where you’ll get the most contrast.

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Patterned countertops have also been a trending design topic in not only modern kitchens but also traditional kitchens that have a significant touch of contemporary to them.

Patterned countertops are great especially for a modern kitchen because they add interest. This makes them blend nicely with the minimalist cabinetry and overall kitchen layout that gives a final waterfall effect to the design.

Patterned countertops are especially gorgeous on the kitchen island. Given the kitchen island serves as the architectural focal point, the waterfall effect gets 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 the patterns in dark gray or even black.

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If the concrete countertops didn’t look very interesting to you, then the thick slab countertops might tickle your fancy. 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 make them very suitable for a contemporary kitchen. The added thickness also creates a stately, anchored look that draws attention to not only the countertops but also the cabinetry.

With this design, however, you have to adjust cabinet heights to make up for the increased height thanks to the thicker countertops.

As far as colors are concerned, most thick slab countertops look great in patterned white, with the cabinetry featuring dark-toned wood with silver pulls.

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If you are going for a rustic kitchen, then 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. Besides, this design not only fits a rustic kitchen but also a traditional, minimalist, contemporary, or modern kitchen.

How?

Wooden countertops can be styled into various designs. You can go for a butcher block countertop, a wooden tile option, or a chevron clad countertop. Plus, you have the option of choosing the stain on the wood, and 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 have to seal it properly to ensure it serves you long enough.

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If you hate the idea of having to seal wood to make it long-lasting, but you’re in search of a natural design option for your countertops, then stone countertops might be your next best choice.

These countertops are not only durable but also provide the option of highlighting the design with inner lights and dashing patterns. Plus, stone countertops come in a variety of designs, so you’ll not be hard-pressed getting the right type for your kitchen.

For instance, you can get stone countertops in either matching or contrasting colors to your kitchen. Plus, you can have the flexibility of choosing a different stone for the countertops Vis a Vis the kitchen island.

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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.

Commonly used in kitchen cabinets, MDF is a very affordable type of fiberboard that can also make stunning kitchen countertops.

But why use it in the first place?

With MDF, you can still explore a flurry of design options for your kitchen countertops. On top of that, MDF is also water-resistant, which means it’s less prone to rot compared to natural wood which will need some treatment.

Plus, you can easily color the MDF to any matching or contrasting color you want for your countertops. For instance, you can have both the cabinetry and countertop in cobalt blue, for a unified kitchen design.