Kitchen Countertops: What You Need to Know About This Years Trends
The kitchen is often a central hub of the home. Not only does food bring people together, but it contains a lot of vital appliances for every day necessities. Because of its usefulness and popularity, there’s no doubt that you will want your kitchen countertops looking nice.
It can be tricky trying to figure out what counter top works best for your needs and style of kitchen. It can be quite an investment to redo any home surface so you will want to make sure that you are getting quality products and know what styles are trending. This guide will brief you on some 2016 kitchen counter trends that can point you in the right direction when settling on material, color, style, and design.
Natural Stone Counters
Soapstone & Slate: Easy to maintain and manage, soapstone and slate provide a low-hassle option for any kitchen counter. Both are beautiful but you will have less color variation in these natural stone compared to some others. They are very durable and good for homeowners looking for a long-term investment.
Granite: Granite is one of the hardest natural stone there is, meaning that it will be almost impossible to scratch or seriously damage any counter tops made from this reliable material. This is great for a kitchen, where knives, heavy pots, and other hazards make reoccurring performances. Granite used to be reserved for high-end kitchens only, but this isn’t the case anymore. Even though this natural stone is becoming more popular and accessible, it is still one of the more pricey options available.
Marble: Known for its elegance, marble looks great with any kitchen style or theme. It’s especially popular for those who love to bake or work with any kind of dough, due to its smooth and polished surface. It tends to scratch and stain, though, especially compared to granite.
Man-Made Stones
Quartz: Quartz occupies approximately 93% of the particles in any man-made, chemically engineered stone. This is most likely because of how durable it is, as it is resistant to most scratches and stains. This means that it is very low maintenance, which is great for any busy household. Here are some quartz-stone brands that have been popping up a lot lately and that we carry in-stock, check our our showroom to view samples.
Caesarstone: Caesarstone comes in many colors, which is great for any budding designer. It offers variety in edge profiling and edging selection. This customizability is part of what makes it so appealing.
Silestone: Silestone has even more color variations that Caesarstone. It is also the most durable option of most man-made stones. It is also resistant to stains and spills. It may not look as natural as granite, but it has many bold styles to choose from.
Butcher Block and Wood
Classic Wood: Even in modern kitchens, wood elements are being added to give designs that “homey,” country-living feel. Warm wood tones are welcoming and comfortable in both modern and transitional kitchens.
Butcher’s Block: These countertops are great—you guessed it—for chopping and cutting! It works well with other designs and materials, making it a flexible and sensible addition to any home. Also, if you scratch or damage it in any way it is easy enough to fix by lightly sanding it and polishing it with mineral oil.
Upscale Laminate
With its low cost and upgraded look, this material is still making an appearance in many kitchens. Laminate has been modernized and now looks fresh and polished—all for a lower price than alternatives.
Because of its diversity in color and style, you can use laminate to mimic more luxurious countertops. Laminate can be very low maintenance when it comes to cleaning and daily upkeep but will burn and scratch quite easily.
Concrete
Concrete may bring to mind a very “industrial” feel but it can actually be modeled to look just like natural stones. They can be customer-designed so homeowners will have more flexibility. The upside is that they come fully polished and smoothed, so they will look great right off the bat. The downside is that they require regular sealing and cracking may be a concern in the future.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel took the appliance world by storm with its updated, sleek designs. And now it’s come to countertops, as well! Stainless steel is durable and can withstand almost anything. It also doesn’t collect or keep bad bacteria, which is important in kitchen spaces, especially.
Stainless steel works well with hot pots and pans, unflinching under heat. It also stays nice and cool in the summertime. It looks great in contemporary settings and the reflective nature of the surface will often make your kitchen look bigger than it actually is.
Tile and Backsplash
Tile can actually be used as a kitchen countertop and is dynamic enough that any homeowner or design can really having a blast picking out colors and styles. Mosaics and recycles or hand-painted tiles add a beautiful, artistic touch to any kitchen—of course, chipping is always a concern.
Because the DIY potential is huge for tile, this can often be done on a very limited budget. Before you settle on a tile design, make sure you have the time to clean the grout between the tiles quite regularly in order to avoid stains and mildew.
Up-and-Coming Trends
• Thinner countertops are in; avoid thicker ones where possible
• Go crazy with textures—they are very popular right now
• An open floor plan is the most popular option for kitchen designs right now
• Adding a second sink for convenience is a growing trend; great for families
• Transitional kitchen allow easy flow to and from other areas of the house; be sure to include an island with this kitchen design
• Neutrals are a big hit right now (grays, blacks, and whites); white kitchens are still by far the most popular
• Try an eye-catching color for your range hood, a creative backsplash, interesting hardware, painted cabinets; include popular textures and materials
Finale
These options not only outline what kitchen trend are hot in 2016 but they are, for the most part, very reasonably priced, as well. Remodeling your kitchen can be a big job, requiring a lot of planning and dedication. These tips will help point you in the right direction as you get ready to undertake this exciting commitment!