Gleaming polished stone slabs, artistic mosaics, and industrial finishes … in 2019, countertop material trends toward anything goes. When it comes to renovating or refinishing your home, the materials you choose are a direct reflection of your personal tastes and style, so it’s important to give a lot of thought to your finished product. Plus, refinishing your bathroom or kitchen can get expensive, so it’s best to know the facts before you buy. If you have an idea of how you want your home to look but need to glean a little inspiration, check out these popular countertop material choices and you’ll soon be on your way to a space that makes you feel right at home.
Granite
What’s so great about granite? Just about everything! This highly-sought-after kitchen and bathroom countertop material is a durable workhorse that’s perfect for every home. This natural stone product offers a textured, grainy finish in a wide variety of colors that pairs well with natural wood cabinets of every finish. It’s scratch-resistant and heat-resistant, meaning that’s it the perfect surface choice for busy families and budding cooks. They’re easy to clean, stain-resistant, and bacteria-resistant as well, meaning that this high-performing stone surface is totally worry-free. Like all other porous, natural stone materials, granite requires a little bit of extra TLC, but with the proper care (like regular sealing and proper cleaning), you’ll find that your countertop investment will last the life of your home.
Cement
It’s not just for sidewalks anymore! Surprisingly, cement countertops are one of the most high-end materials you can use to renovate your kitchen or bathroom and are gaining in popularity among interior designers and homeowners in-the-know. This simplistic material helps to create a cool, clean, and contemporary design that’s also super durable. Plus, cement countertops can be stamped, molded, and manipulated in a variety of ways to help you achieve a custom countertop look. Cement countertops are heavy by nature, so be sure to choose cabinetry that will sufficiently support the load. If you’re aiming for a Minimalist, Modern, Industrial, or Eclectic style home, then cement countertops could be the option for you.
Marble
The Grand Dame of all countertop surfaces has got to be gleaming white marble. Beloved by home renovation TV show hosts, marble is the tops in terms of beauty and perceived luxury for most homeowners. While you’ll be sure to find a return on your investment when you install marble in your kitchen or bathroom, marble countertops aren’t terribly durable and are more high-maintenance than most other options. Though marble can resist high heat, light-colored marble easily stains, and all marble can be easily scratched and chipped. Marble also has to be regularly sealed and cleaned with mild cleansers, otherwise acidic or abrasive chemicals can ruin the finish. Homeowners that really love marble are still indulging in this classic finish, though time will tell if other more durable countertop finishes will start to edge out this popular material.
Quartz
You’ve heard of quartz, but maybe you don’t know exactly what it is. It’s ground-up crystals, right? Well, kind of. Quartz countertops are a composite material, containing about 90% natural quartz stone and about 10% polymers and resins. This special blend helps to create a super durable surface that looks just as great as it’s natural stone sisters. Quartz is scratch-resistant and easy to care for and clean, and resists staining, making it the perfect option for bathrooms and kitchens. Plus, since quartz is an engineered material, it’s fabricated in a variety of colors, styles, and sizes. Due to its popularity, quartz countertops are available in many colors and patterns, and can also be molded to fit into unique shapes and sizes. And since it’s so durable, you won’t have to worry about your slabs becoming cracked, chipped or dented during installation. One of the only drawbacks to quartz countertops is that unlike natural stone, it isn’t heat-resistant and hot pans and curling irons will easily ruin the finish. So just keep a potholder nearby and you’re good! Quartz countertops are a great option for homeowners looking to add a Modern, Minimalist, Industrial, or even Futuristic look to their home, as slabs can be created in dramatic solid black, blue, or white slabs to match a funky aesthetic.
Butcher Block
Trends in home décor have also been leaning lately towards materials, fixtures, and motifs that offer a simplistic, almost rustic vibe. Fitting right into that timeless aesthetic is butcher block countertops. On-trend homeowners are looking to infuse their homes with a style that feels authentic and organic, and nothing feels more real and earthy than a giant block of wood on your countertop. Like high-end stone countertops, butcher block requires a fair amount of upkeep and sealing to keep looking its best. If you’re going for an overall Rustic, Farmhouse, Scandinavian or Minimalist style in your home, give butcher block countertops a try.
Tile
Once scoffed at for its difficulty to keep clean, tile countertops are quickly coming back into favor among homeowners. Thanks to updated styles of tile and new, artistic pattern laying methods, homeowners looking to add a unique touch to their kitchen or bathroom are grabbing for grout once again. A tile is an interesting option because it’s affordable, and also allows for creativity in a way that other countertop surfaces can’t. If you want to create a vintage kitchen look or have eclectic or Bohemian home décor, tile countertops could be the perfect option for you.
Decorative Laminate
It’s not your grandma’s kitchen counter. Laminate countertops have come a long way from the bland, cheap-looking versions we all knew years ago. Nowadays, there are a number of laminate countertops top choose from that beautifully mimic natural finishes, like wood, marble, or granite. Homeowners that are looking to refinish a kitchen or bathroom at minimal cost are reaching back towards this familiar material, and though it’s not a great choice for the long-term, house flippers and home renovators on a budget are making this material work out beautifully.