In addition to being hardworking and multifunctional, countertops also define the aesthetic of a kitchen. Unfortunately, the stylish surfaces take up a lot of space: Industry guidelines recommend 150 linear inches, while some designers recommend three separate counters, each at least four feet long.
15 Stunning Ideas for Your Kitchen Countertop
If you’re considering a renovation, you may have already researched popular materials, from affordable laminate to posh granite and marble, as well as more unusual options, like concrete. In addition, we’ve got new materials to explore, edge profiles, and unique design concepts, so check out these ideas to help you choose the perfect cooktop.
Materials mélange:
Why settle on just one countertop material when there are so many to choose from? With the right design, wood, stainless steel, and even marble can all work together with good design. Keep other elements, like cabinet hardware and flooring, quiet, so they don’t interfere with the countertops.
Get an edge:
Countertop edge profiles are a subtle detail, but they make a powerful impact. Squared and eased edges are generally seen as sleek and clean, rounded edges, like bullnose, are softer and casual, and ogees (S-shaped) are more traditional. But that’s just the beginning of the possibilities.
Consider a raised marine edge on stainless steel or custom countertops in Orlando if you want a sleek yet not stark look. Inspires French Baroque architecture with two sheer vertical faces joined with a smooth curve and lent a rustic feel to a rough-hewn chiseled edge.
Matte matters:
Even though highly polished stone may always have a certain appeal, countertop trends are trending toward matte finishes. A honed finish is smooth to the touch and has little to no shine, which can hide scratches and flaws but may also make stains more noticeable on marble countertops.
A leather finish on granite highlights the stone’s natural colors and contours with just a hint of gloss. The finish is achieved with a diamond-tipped brush, and the texture ranges from rough to smooth.
The integrated sink:
Often made from the same material as the countertop, integrated sinks are a one-piece unit. They can be found in various materials, including marble, granite, quartz, stainless steel, solid surface, and concrete. With an integrated sink, you can customize it to whatever size, depth, shape, and detail you like, and the look of an integrated sink lends cohesion to any kitchen. Additionally, it is possible to sweep crumbs effortlessly into the bowl for easy kitchen cleanup since there are no cracks or seams where a conventional sink meets the countertop, unlike a traditional sink.
Concrete cool:
A poured concrete surface is one of the most customizable surfaces available—the color, the stain, the texture, and even the shape can all be customized. To DIY, you’ll make a mold out of melamine particleboard (measure your current countertop dimensions for the mold) and support it with a frame of 2x4s (concrete is heavy, after all). Then, when dry, add your unique stamp, mix, pour, and sand the finished product.
Tier it up!
In addition to its many functions, a kitchen island can be enhanced with a multilevel countertop. A 42-inch island is the industry standard for islands, but you may choose a bi-level island with a lower surface for chair seating or a 36-inch food prep station on one side with a higher level for stool seating on the other. Add a smaller, more elevated surface if you wish to serve or display items.
Save on stone:
A budget too tight for a solid slab of stone may still allow for a genuine granite or marble countertop. As much of the cost is in the installation, you may save up to a third by doing your tile work. Stone tile is easily cut with a tile saw with a diamond blade.
Using large 12×12-inch tiles simplifies the project (less cutting, less grouting) and yields fewer seams, so it looks like a solid slab. Next, install stone pieces around the edge, or choose a wood species complementing the stone to create an advantage.
Painted improvements:
If new countertops aren’t in the immediate future, you can get impressive makeover results with paint and a few other simple supplies. Two shades of color, clear glitter, poly-acrylic (instead of polyurethane, to avoid yellowing), and a pour-on sealant are the secret ingredients for transforming tired laminate into a glossy new look.
Planet-friendly options:
Whether you are planning to redo your kitchen or save the planet, consider choosing an eco-friendly countertop, such as PaperStone, which is made of recycled post-consumer paper, non-petroleum resin, and natural pigments. In addition, PaperStone was designed for skate parks, so you know it is durable, food-safe, moisture-proof, bacteria-resistant, and has a warm, smooth feel and looks just like soapstone.
Recycled glass surfaces manufactured by GEOS are also environmentally friendly, made with post-consumer and industrial glass and proprietary binder. In addition to performing similarly to engineered stone, this non-porous surface does not require sealing, will not stain, and has a colorful, fun appearance flecked with gems throughout.
Waterfall wows:
Like its namesake in nature, a waterfall countertop frames lower cabinets or island sides gracefully over the edge to the floor.
Granite, marble, and quartz are popular materials for this extended (and expensive!) edge treatment. Still, ambitious DIYers can create a waterfall effect with concrete: Use particleboard to frame existing cabinets (make sure to include a sinkhole), fill the seams with wood filler, and According to this tutorial, apply concrete to the surface like peanut butter on toast, send it to your desired smoothness, and seal it with polyurethane.
Chic new shapes:
You can have square corners on a kitchen island. Curvy contours are both welcoming and unique. Consider a horseshoe shape with seating along the outside or a freeform shape that creates a sense of openness in an open area.
Glass act:
There are numerous shapes, thicknesses, textures, edges, and colors for solid glass countertops. They are heat-resistant, mold-resistant, stain-resistant, and scratch-resistant. They’re easy to maintain and can support a lot of weight, but if you drop a heavy or sharp object, you may suffer irreparable damage.
Lively look:
Nothing beats a live edge for rustic drama—a piece of lumber with a bark side. To avoid cracking the wood, these slabs are air-dried for years, then milled carefully so that the tree’s natural contours remain after the bark is removed. You can choose from various wood species to add an organic look to your kitchen with a live edge, including maple, hickory, walnut, and cherry.
Salvage savvy:
These three oak doors were salvaged from previous renovations or picked up at a swap meet for a song; these DIYers transformed their old laminate countertops into kitchen countertops. They used their old laminate countertops as templates. For the edge, oak veneers were ironed on and then sanded.
Can-do copper:
Any other material can’t match copper’s warmth, patina, and old-world beauty. In addition, copper has natural anti-bacterial properties, so it is ideal for a kitchen counter. Of course, it is expensive, but DIYers can save big by tackling the project with expert help or other homeowners’ help. How about making a countertop with your pennies if that’s not challenging enough?
