Kitchen Countertops Ideas & Photos - Granite, Quartz, Laminate

"What do most people use for kitchen countertops these days?" That's a common question we hear from homeowners who are inundated with kitchen countertop ideas on HGTV and in magazines. Despite the dizzying array of material choices, granite countertops are still far and away the most popular choice.

This luxury kitchen features a warm color scheme, a large island with seating for three, and beautiful Seafoam Green granite countertops.

Countertop Materials: Homeowners have an abundance of kitchen countertop materials to choose from in two essential categories: Natural and engineered surfaces.

1. Natural countertops include granite, marble, limestone, travertine, slate, wood, soapstone, onyx, and any other sufficiently hard material found "as is" in nature and cut into slabs or tiles.
2. Engineered surfaces include any countertop that is heavily processed or "man made" from raw materials. These include engineered quartz (which is ground-up quartz mixed with resin), plastic laminate (like Formica ), solid surface acrylic (like Corian ), ceramic tile, stainless steel, copper, glass, concrete, terrazzo, and even recycled paper.

Inside some of these categories are thousands of sub-choices that can boggle the mind. But there is no need to be intimidated.

Back to Reality: If the plethora of kitchen countertop options is overwhelming to you, stop right here. While it's interesting to know what is available, the majority of my clients chose to stick with tried and true granite countertops, which are available in hundreds of colors. Engineered quartz is also a great everyday choice (see popular kitchen countertops below). If you're curious about exotic options, we honor your exploring spirit and are happy to provide some inspiration.

Mixing and matching kitchen countertops is one way to be adventurous without committing the entire kitchen to one material. For example, some people choose to put a different granite color on the island in order to set it off visually from the rest of the kitchen, while others may want a kitchen desk with a carbonized bamboo countertop. Talented cooks may wish to cordon off a section of their countertop with a block of marble for rolling dough and a butcher block countertop for chopping food.

Practical Issues: Keep in mind that some alternative surfaces are less durable than granite countertops and may show wear rather quickly. Caring for your counters will be a consideration, as will food safety and stain resistance. Also in regards to safety, one method I employ when designing a kitchen is to round off or angle hard corners in the countertop. This can be a "hip saver" for adults, and "head saver" for children zipping around the kitchen. Ask your cabinetmaker for clipped corners in high-traffic areas, which will allow the countertop to be angled as well.

Further Help: Browse this page and the related links for more kitchen countertop ideas, advice, and photos for your design inspiration.

Homeowners often ask which kitchen countertops are the most popular. Based on my own experience in the kitchen and bath industry, here are the top choices for kitchen countertops:

Polished Granite

Man-Made Quartz

#1 - Granite: Today's most popular countertop material is granite. Quarried from all over the world, granite is very hard and heat resistant. There are thousands of granite colors to match a variety of color schemes. [more ]

#2 - Quartz: Engineered quartz kitchen countertops are an excellent choice for those who want a durable surface with a consistent appearance. The leading manufacturers include Caesarstone, Cambria, Silestone, and Zodiaq.

#3 - Laminate: For small homes and rental properties, plastic laminate countertops are an affordable choice. Countertop laminate can look like wood, metal, and granite. The top brands include Wilsonart and Formica.

#4 - Solid Surface: Corian is the most well-known manufacturer of solid surface / acrylic countertops in the world. Unlike laminate (a thin layer of hard plastic), Corian is a 1/2" slab of acrylic that can be shaped like granite.

#5 - Tile: While the popularity of tile kitchen countertops has dropped in recent decades, designers sometimes use tile surfaces for dramatic effect in certain areas, such as on an island or wet bar, or in period kitchens.

#6 - Other Products: Alternative countertop materials include concrete, glass, limestone, marble, onyx, recycled paper, semi-precious stone, slate, soapstone, stainless steel, Terrazzo, travertine, and wood.

В» Compare Your Options: Before finalizing your countertop materials, it's important to understand the differences in terms of durability, appearance, and cost.