There’s no underestimating the power of kitchen countertops. Since they take up a good amount of space in your kitchen, they’re one of the first things you notice when you walk into the room. Also, countertops take a lot of daily wear, so you must pick the perfect ones, both in terms of aesthetics and practicality.
However, with the countertop market growing rapidly, there are plenty of options these days, making the selection process much harder. This is where research can help. While you won’t have to jump through hoops to decide on new kitchen cabinets and countertops, a little look-see into the basics can go a long way.
That’s not all. It might also help to learn about a few common kitchen countertop mistakes most new remodelers make. Here’s a list of seven such mishaps and how to bypass them.
1. Picking the Wrong Material
When you’re browsing through countertops, you’ll be presented with an overwhelming number of material choices. You might opt to go with what’s right in front of you to save time, but there are definite downsides to this.
Your kitchen countertop should complement your family’s needs to the tee. For example, if you love to share a glass of wine with your partner every evening, marble countertops aren’t going to cut it for you. This is simply because marble is susceptible to etching by anything acidic.
What’s the solution? Avoid making spur-of-the-moment decisions in the store. Make sure you understand everything about the countertop you have in mind. Also, think about how much elbow grease you’re willing to put in to maintain them.
Remember, there’s no definitive ‘perfect’ material out there. It all depends on your preferred style, work, and budget. Do your research in advance to ensure you’re going in the right direction.
2. Choosing Countertops in Isolation
Many homeowners feel tempted to head for what’s currently in vogue for countertops, even if it doesn’t fit their room’s overall vibe. That’s a bad idea.
Ideally, all the elements in your kitchen should build and play off of each other. Hence, if you’re choosing countertops without considering everything else in the room, you might just end up with a design that clashes with the rest of the space.
To avoid this, think about your kitchen as a whole instead of focusing on parts. Do you have a theme going on? Are you leaning towards a vintage décor or a modern, classy vibe? Keep these things in mind before you take your pick.
A good rule of thumb is to have one hero in the room. In case you have your heart set on a bold countertop, keep the backsplash, flooring, cabinets, and other elements simpler and quieter.
3. Skipping the Testing Process
If you decide to go for a stone-based countertop like marble, quartzite, or granite, we suggest you take a sample home and run some tests. Some materials are more prone to staining, scratching, and etching than others. The last thing you want is to spend thousands of dollars on a beautiful countertop only for it to stain the first time you cook a pasta sauce.
Once you select your stone, ask for a sample chunk and conduct some experiments to see how well it holds up. This way, you’ll be able to avoid any unsavory surprises down the line.
4. Glossing Over Budget
Let’s face it: you can’t wing a kitchen countertop budget. That’s the quickest way to run out of funds. You could even go the other way and end up underspending on your new countertops for kitchen cabinets. Keep an eye on your capital as you move through the project to stick to your price range.
Consider how much you can spend, the cost of each type of countertop, and how much it’ll cost to maintain them in the long run. Doing this in advance will help you make an informed decision.
5. Failing to Account for Functionality
We’ve said it before, we’ll say it again: countertops aren’t just a cosmetic design choice. They often double as a prep area, cooking station, and storage space, which is why they must be able to work just as hard as you do.
Before you pick your countertops, think about how active you are in the kitchen. Do you cook every day, or just once in a while? How many meals do you prepare in a day?
Here’s why this is important. Picking a high-maintenance countertop for a kitchen that sees a lot of activity can come back to bite you. You’ll probably fare better with a wipe-and-go option.
Again, it all comes down to what goes on in your kitchen, and exactly how elaborate of a cleaning routine you want.
6. Selecting the Wrong Edge Style
When you first start exploring your countertop options, you’ll probably be laser-focused on visuals. Sure, color and texture are important, but what about the edges?
Countertop edges can be a potential safety hazard if cut with a sharp edge. This is especially true for homes with children. Nothing’s worse than seeing your child hurt themselves on a sharpened countertop edge.
A great way to sidestep this issue is to choose countertops with smooth edges. Not only is it safer, but it doesn’t affect appearance either. What’s not to love about that?
7. Hiring the Wrong Contractors
Since your contractor will do much of the heavy lifting during the countertop installation process, it’s crucial to hire an experienced team who knows the ins and outs of the job. Even the sturdies kitchen cabinets and countertops can fall apart if installed incorrectly.
Replacing kitchen cabinets and countertops takes a good amount of skill. A seasoned kitchen remodeling contractor will do exactly what’s needed to make each part of the room sing. With their expertise and quality craftsmanship, you’ll know you’re in good hands.
Wrapping Up
Refurbishing your kitchen countertops does not have to be a hassle, provided you have all your bases covered. Now that you know what not to do, you should have no trouble installing brand-new countertops without a hitch. The more you know about countertops, the better prepared you’ll be to choose one that’s best suited to your space!
Ready to begin your kitchen countertop journey? The experts at OMG Kitchens are here to turn your visions into a reality. Besides helping you choose the right kitchen cabinets and countertops, we’ll also deliver and install them in time. For more information, feel free to reach out to us today!