The countertop has long been an integral part of the modern kitchen. It performs many functions - both in the process of cooking and decorative. Her choice must be taken seriously. After all, an incorrectly selected presented element of the interior will bring disharmony to the overall design of the room. To understand which countertop to choose for the kitchen, you should consider all the existing options for textures, colors and materials. Expert advice will help you choose the right element of the room.
According to what the countertop for the kitchen is made of, they choose the most optimal option for the price. The cost directly depends on the type of material from which the product is made. There are many types of countertops. The main criteria for their selection are functionality, durability and aesthetic appearance.
Each material has its pros and cons. They should be studied before deciding which countertop to choose for the kitchen. Such products can be laminated sheets of chipboard, MDF, made of artificial or natural stone, wood or alternative materials (stainless steel, glass, ceramics).
Laminated countertops
This variety has a lot of positive qualities. To choose the right countertop for the kitchen, you should determine the conditions in which it will have to be used.
Laminated top is made from MDF or chipboard sheet covered with high quality film. Such a product is wear-resistant, fire-resistant, not afraid of mechanical and chemical damage. There are many design options for such a countertop.
To understand how to choose the right countertop for the kitchen, if you choose the presented option, preference is given to dark varieties. This is due to the fact that indelible stains remain on the laminated countertop over time. On a dark surface, it will not be obvious.
The price of MDF kitchen worktops will be slightly higher than those of chipboard, which should be considered when choosing. A chipboard table top will cost about 1500-2000 rubles, from MDF - about 3000-4000 rubles
This difference is related to production technology. You should also pay attention to the qualities that the product was endowed with during creation. It is better if such a countertop was produced using a special water-repellent impregnation. This will allow the surface not to be afraid of moisture getting behind the sides that are not covered with laminate.
Artificial stone
For kitchens with curved frontsmost often used countertops made of artificial stone. Due to the production technology at high temperatures, polymer materials can be bent.
There are several options for artificial stone products such as countertops for the kitchen. Which one to choose? The price will be higher for more plastic varieties of artificial stone. Cheap products crumble more and are only used for straight worktops.
The advantage of the presented material is the absence of visible joints between the individual parts. The material shown is warm and smooth to the touch.
The disadvantage of the presented product is its susceptibility to mechanical damage, as well as the inability to use it in the immediate vicinity of the stove.
Countertop made of agglomerate, natural stone
When deciding which kitchen worktop to choose, you should pay attention to the agglomerate product. They are made by mixing quartz or granite chips with polymeric materials and pigments. Such material does not absorb moisture and chemical elements. Its joints are almost completely invisible.
When deciding which countertop to choose for the kitchen, you should consider the presented option as a cross between artificial and natural stone. The advantage of the presented option is also non-susceptibility to mechanical stress, fire resistance.
The disadvantages of this option are considered to be the inability to produce sheets more than 3 m long. The material itself is cold to the touch. The cost of the product starts from 10 thousand rubles. and above.
When choosing the best countertop for the kitchen, you should pay attention to natural materials, such as stone. It will give the interior respectability and solidity.
Usually granite is used for such products. It does not absorb moisture and has a high density. To decide which countertop is better to choose for the kitchen, you should consider the cost of the presented product. It is higher than all previous types of surfaces. The weight of countertops made of natural stone is quite large. Therefore, the design of kitchen cabinets will have to be strengthened. The cost of such products starts from 20 thousand rubles.
It is not recommended to use marble for countertops. This material scratches easily. Washing it will be quite problematic.
Wooden countertops
When deciding which countertop to choose for the kitchen, you should also pay attention to natural wood. This material looks very good in a variety of interior styles. It is made from solid wood by special processing.
The advantages of such a product are environmental friendliness and warmth of the material. It harmoniously looks, creating a unique comfort in the kitchen. The approximate cost of such countertops is from 4000 rubles. and above.
The disadvantages of natural wood are the problematic care, as well as the loss of aesthetic qualities. Under the influence of temperatures, sunlight, detergents, the wood loses its shade, may dry out or darken inwashing area. Many housewives prefer more durable types of surfaces.
User reviews
Among the comments of people who have chosen different surface options, you can find a variety of opinions. According to reviews, everyone has their own ideas about choosing the best countertop for the kitchen.
Laminated MDF, chipboard, many characterize as quite durable products. However, it must be borne in mind that they should be exploited wisely. When deciding which countertop is better to choose for the kitchen, the feedback from the owners of the presented material should be taken into account. And they indicate that it is necessary to prevent prolonged exposure to moisture on the surface. Do not put hot food on it, cut food on the coating. The glue with which the laminate is attached to the base may melt when heated, and the coating will peel off from the chipboard.
Reviews about natural stone when choosing countertops for the kitchen were divided. There are complaints about poor wear resistance. However, users who are able to sand the presented surface speak of fairly good aesthetic qualities of the material. There are opinions that such a countertop can crack with a significant impact. Therefore, you should treat such a product with care.
Artificial stone of well-known manufacturers, confirmed by years of their conscientious work, is noted by many users as a worthy option for countertops. When heated, due to a change in the structure of the material, such a countertop maychange color.
Homemade countertops
A special place among the presented options is occupied by a homemade countertop for the kitchen. Which one to choose? Feedback and ideas from users of similar products provide a wide field for the manifestation of creative imagination.
Homemade countertops can be made of glass or ceramic tiles. Glass is a fairly wear-resistant, brittle material. It is very easy to leave scratches and chips that can no longer be restored. However, such a countertop will look original. A collage is made in a special frame of the appropriate size. These can be drawings, photographs, etc. They are covered with glass.
Ceramics are used in a variety of ways. From broken pieces of tiles to large, solid elements. Everything depends on fantasy. With the help of grout, the seams of a similar countertop are made. Such material will be wear-resistant, fireproof. However, he will require careful treatment and proper care.
The heterogeneity of such a surface is not suitable for every housewife. Therefore, with all the advantages of creative solutions in the design of kitchen worktops, the practicality of the material chosen for it should also be taken into account.
Countertop for bright kitchen
The choice of countertops for the kitchen is influenced not only by the type of material, but also by the color of the interior. Which countertop to choose for a light kitchen, dark, colored and two-tone, should be studied more carefully.
The main rule when choosing a countertop is its combination with othersinterior elements (furniture facades, apron, etc.). It should not look superfluous.
When choosing a worktop for a bright kitchen, you should give preference to cool shades, such as gray or black. If the kitchen set is decorated in beige tones, the color of the countertop should be chosen under wood or dark chocolate. This will make the fronts more appetizing, creamy.
It is believed that to decide what color to choose for the countertops for a beige kitchen, there is no better option than a dark-colored wooden texture. Identical, close colors of such a countertop will ennoble the overall appearance of such a headset.
For a white kitchen, the neutral color of the kitchen worktop should be preferred. It can resemble wood or stone in texture. The main thing is to correlate all the elements with each other in a single harmony. Dark wood tones will overwhelm a white kitchen unit. This will reduce the sophistication of such furniture. It is better if the tree is light shades. This will keep the visual lightness of the white kitchen.
When deciding what color to choose for a white kitchen countertop, determine the overall idea of the image. If you want to maintain the weightlessness, femininity of such an interior, a color scheme using light wood or stone countertops will be ideal.
Dark Kitchen Countertop
For a brown, black kitchen, you should not choose a countertop in dark shades. This will make the interior gloomy. If the hostess of the kitchen still likes this combination, you should pick up a light apron and pay great attention to lighting andinterior design details. Otherwise, everything will merge into a blur.
Black kitchen furniture can be complemented with light wood or natural stone worktops. In the first case, the room will become more comfortable, and in the second - more respectable.
When deciding what color to choose for a brown kitchen, you should pay attention to white, cream or wood elements. It is better not to use dark tones in such tandems.
The countertop in such a kitchen can be something in between the color of the top and bottom of the headset. If the wall cabinets are cream and the cabinets are a shade of dark wood, the coffee-au-lait surface will bring harmony.
Colored Kitchen Countertop
Most often, headsets of bright, colorful tones are combined with wood, beige, and white tops. In rare cases, black hinged cabinets are used. When choosing a countertop for similar kitchen furniture, its saturation should be taken into account.
The type of facade shade also matters. It can be cold or warm. The first type includes green, blue, pink and purple shades. In their combination, a white countertop will look perfect. Hinged shelves should be light colors. This combination will give the room elegance and tenderness. The combination of colored facades with dark surface shades will add brutality to the kitchen and create a rough effect.
With warm tones, you should also carefully select such an element of the interior as a countertop for the kitchen. Which one to choose? Front colorwill suggest the correct solution. Warm shades (orange, yellow, red) will go well with brown and cream countertops. Such an interior will look cozy and bright. All its components will merge into a single harmonious image. People in such a room will be quite comfortable.
Two-color kitchen countertop
Having considered the options for choosing countertops for a white kitchen, you should consider another classic design option. It has been quite popular for a long time and does not go out of fashion. This is a black and white kitchen.
This interior provides ample opportunities for creativity. The kitchen will look stylish and original. The choice of countertop depends on which color of these two was chosen as the main one.
When deciding which countertop to choose for a white kitchen paired with black accents, black should be preferred. This is a classic solution for this type of room design. If the main color of the room is black, then the white countertop will perfectly highlight the contrast of the whole image.
The combination of two colors may be present in the headset. For example, the bottom row of cabinets can be black and the top row white. In this case, the countertop should be selected under the upper tier of furniture. The surface will also be white.
In addition to the black and white version of the double color of the kitchen, other shades are also used. In any case, the tabletop should be in contrast with the bottom of the furniture fronts. In very rarecases, it is combined with lower cabinets.
Also, the tabletop can act as a transitional color between the light top and the dark bottom of the headset.
Familiarizing yourself with the many options for decorating the interior of the room, you can decide which countertop to choose for the kitchen. There is a wide choice of both materials from which the presented product is made, and color varieties of decor. Everyone chooses the option that best suits the price-quality ratio. However, the choice of color solution should be approached strictly in accordance with the existing rules and recommendations of kitchen design experts. By following these tips, you can independently choose the right interior for the room. Having shown imagination and taste, you can give the room a unique look. It will be very comfortable to be in such a kitchen.
