The countertop has long become an integral part of modern kitchen. It performs many functions - both in the cooking process, and decorative. Her choice must be taken seriously. After all, the incorrectly presented element of the interior will introduce disharmony in the overall design of the room. To understand which countertop to choose for the kitchen, you should consider all 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 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 worktop to choose for the kitchen. Such products can be laminated with chipboard, MDF, made of artificial or natural stone, wood or alternative materials (stainless steel, glass, ceramics).
Laminated countertops
A similar variety has a lot of positive qualities. To choose the right countertop in the kitchen, you must determine in what conditions it will have to be used.
Laminated countertops are made of MDF or particleboard coated with high quality film. Such a product is characterized by wear resistance, fire resistance, is not afraid of mechanical and chemical damage. There are many design options for such countertops.
To understand how to choose the countertop in the kitchen correctly, in the case of choosing the presented option, preference is given to dark varieties. This is due to the fact that indelible spots remain on the laminated countertop over time. On a dark surface, this will not be conspicuous.
The price of kitchen worktops from MDF will be slightly higher than from chipboard, which should be considered when choosing. A table top made of chipboard will cost about 1,500-2,000 rubles, from MDF - about 3,000-4,000 rubles.
This difference is associated with production technology. You should also pay attention to the qualities that were endowed with the product at creation. It is better if such a countertop was made using special water-repellent impregnation. This will allow the surface not to be afraid of moisture entering over the sides that are not covered with the laminate.
Fake diamond
For kitchens with curved facades, artificial stone worktops are most often used. Thanks 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 items tend to crumble more and apply only to straight countertops.
The advantage of the material presented is the absence of visible joints between the individual parts. The material presented to the touch is warm and smooth.
The disadvantage of this product is the 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 product from the agglomerate. 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 something between an artificial and natural stone. The advantage of the presented option is also the lack of 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 higher.
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.
Typically, granite is used for such products. It does not absorb moisture and has a high density. To determine which countertop is best for the kitchen, you should take into account the cost of the presented product. It is higher than all previous types of surfaces. The weight of the 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. Such material is easily scratched. Washing it will be quite problematic.
Wood countertops
When deciding which tabletop to choose for the kitchen, you should pay attention to natural wood. This material looks very good in a wide variety of interior styles. It is made from solid wood by special processing.
The advantages of this product are environmental friendliness and warmth of the material. It looks harmonious, creating a unique cosiness in the kitchen. The approximate cost of such countertops is from 4000 rubles. and higher.
The disadvantages of natural wood is the difficulty of care, as well as the loss of aesthetic qualities. Under the influence of temperatures, sunlight, detergents, wood loses its color, may dry out or darken in the washing area. Many housewives prefer more hardy types of surfaces.
User reviews
Among the comments of people who have chosen various surface options, one can find diverse opinions. According to reviews, everyone has their own ideas about choosing the best countertops for the kitchen.
Laminated MDF, particleboard, many describe as fairly durable products. However, it must be borne in mind that they should be exploited wisely. When deciding which countertop is best for the kitchen, the feedback from the owners of the material presented 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 on it, cut products on the coating. The adhesive with which the laminate is attached to the base can 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 have the ability to grind the surface presented, talk about a fairly good aesthetic qualities of the material. There are opinions that such a countertop can crack with a significant blow. Therefore, you should carefully treat this product.
Artificial stone of famous manufacturers, confirmed by years of their conscientious work, many users mark as a worthy option for countertops. When heated due to a change in the structure of the material, such a countertop may change color.
Homemade worktops
A special place among the presented options is occupied by a home-made countertop for the kitchen. Which one to choose? Feedback and ideas from users of such products provide a wide field for the manifestation of creative imagination.
Homemade worktops can be made of glass or ceramic tiles. Glass is a fairly wear-resistant, brittle material. It very easily remains scratches and chips that can no longer be restored. However, a similar 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 wide variety of options. From broken pieces of tile to large, solid elements. It all depends on the imagination. With the help of grout, seams of a similar countertop are made. Such material will be wear-resistant, fireproof. However, he will require a careful attitude to himself 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.
Worktop 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 tabletop to choose for a bright kitchen, dark, color and two-tone, should be studied carefully.
The main rule when choosing a countertop is its combination with other interior elements (furniture facades, an apron, etc.). She should not look superfluous.
When choosing a countertop for a bright kitchen, you should prefer cold shades, for example, gray or black. If the kitchen is decorated in beige tones, the color of the countertops should be chosen as a tree or dark chocolate. This will make the facades more appetizing, creamy shade.
It is believed that to solve the question of what color of the countertops to choose for a beige kitchen, there is no better option than a dark wooden texture. Identical, close colors of such a countertop ennoble the general appearance of such a headset.
For a white kitchen, the neutral color of the kitchen worktop should be preferred. It may resemble wood or stone in texture. The main thing is to correlate all the elements among themselves in a single harmony. Dark wood will overwhelm the white kitchen. 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 a countertop to choose for a white kitchen, they determine the general idea of the image. If you want to maintain weightlessness, the femininity of such an interior, a color scheme with a worktop made of light wood or stone will be ideal.
Worktop for dark kitchen
For a kitchen of brown, black color, do not pick up a countertop in dark shades. This will make the interior grim. If the hostess of the kitchen still likes this combination, you should choose a light apron and pay great attention to lighting and details of the design of the room. Otherwise, everything will merge into a blurry spot.
Black kitchen furniture can be supplemented with a tabletop under light wood or natural stone. In the first case, the room will become more comfortable, and in the second - more respectable.
When deciding what color of the countertops to choose for a brown kitchen, you should pay attention to white, cream or wood elements. Dark tones are better not to use in such tandems.
The countertop in such a kitchen may be something in between the color of the top and bottom of the headset. If the hanging cabinets are creamy and the cabinets have a shade of dark wood, the surface of the color of coffee with milk will bring harmony.
Countertop colored kitchen
Most often, headsets of bright, colorful tones are combined with tops of wood, beige, white shades. In rare cases, black wall mounted cabinets are used. When choosing a countertop for similar kitchen furniture, its saturation should be taken into account.
The type of shade of the facades 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. The hinged shelves should be in bright colors. This combination will give the room elegance and tenderness. The combination of colored facades with dark shades of the surface will add brutality to the kitchen and create the effect of rudeness.
With warm colors , you should also carefully choose an element of the interior, such as a kitchen worktop. Which one to choose? The color of the facades will tell you the right 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 in a single harmonious image. People in a similar room will be quite comfortable.
Countertop two-tone kitchen
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 kitchen decorated in black and white.
Such an interior provides ample opportunities for creativity. The kitchen will look stylish and original. The choice of countertops depends on which color of the two was chosen as the main one.
When deciding which countertop to choose for a white kitchen, combined 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 chosen 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 may be black and the top 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 countertop should be contrasted with the bottom of the furniture facades. In very rare cases, it is combined with lower cabinets.
Also, the tabletop can act as a transitional color between a light top and a dark bottom of the headset.
After reviewing the many options for interior decoration, you can decide which countertop to choose for the kitchen. There is a wide selection of materials from which the presented product is made, as well as color varieties of decor. Each chooses the option that is most suitable for the price-quality ratio. However, the choice of color should be approached strictly in accordance with existing rules and recommendations of experts in the design of the kitchen. Adhering to these tips, you can independently choose the right interior of 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.