5 Things To Consider When Choosing A Natural Stone Countertop For Your Kitchen

Kitchen countertops are the most significant part of your kitchen. The kind of countertop you have will impact the aesthetics and functionality of your kitchen. When it comes to countertops, natural stone is a versatile and stylish option for your kitchen.

A professional will consider a general overview of all types of natural stones like travertine, onyx, quartzite, soapstone, slate, limestone, marble and granite etc. But a layman would focus on a guide to compare granite vs marble when thinking about buying a natural countertop for the kitchen.

Here are the top 5 factors we suggest you focus on before choosing a natural stone countertop for your kitchen. 

1. The Lifestyle Of Your Family 

Just like in the construction of a house the lifestyle of a family is important, the choice of the right countertop is also dependent on the family’s lifestyle. They way the kitchen is used, the frequency of cooking and cleaning on those countertops, if the kids are going to be eating or working on them and most importantly if you or your guests would ever be eating on them. These are just some of the things to consider according to the lifestyle of the family. It must be something that fulfills the purpose while looking beautiful to them. 

2. The Relationship Between Countertops, Cabinets, Backsplash & Flooring 

There are 4 most eye catching things in your kitchen: your cabinets , countertops, backsplash and the flooring. All of them must compliment each other and pull the whole kitchen together, if anyone is out of sync the appearance of your whole kitchen will go down. So before making a decision, bring samples to your kitchen, ask your designer to make a layout or put all the materials together and look at them in different light settings and from different angles to see if they work together or not.

Sometimes even mixing and matching certain colors and materials of countertops looks good. This will really help in maintaining the style of your kitchen and keep it trendy! 

3. The Best Finish For Your Kitchen

One thing that most homeowners struggle with is not knowing what kind of a finish they are looking for. There are a variety of finishes to choose from like matte, brushed, polished, leathered and honed.

Remember, that the type of finish will have a grave impact on the cleaning and working. If you are not much of a cleaner go for polished as most things will easily slide off of the extra smooth surface and it will always look new! If you prefer a more subtle look go for honed or brushed but they may require a little more effort in cleaning. So make your decision wisely.   

4. The Kind Of Care, Commitment And Maintenance It Requires 

Personally, this is the biggest factor while choosing the countertop for my kitchen. I always want to keep on top of my cleaning so I want to be well aware beforehand if something is manageable for me or not. The material you choose should be easily maintainable in the long term, know how frequently it has to be sealed.

For daily cleaning make sure the material is heat and stain resistant and non-porous. These kinds of stone will be easier to maintain, if you do prefer a stone that is high maintenance, just make sure to seal it from time to time and clean at least once a day depending on the usage. 

5. The Amount Of Money You’re Ready To Spend 

This should rightfully be the most important consideration while buying anything! Its understandable that you don’t remodel or even build your house every other day and you would be tempted to spend more than your budget but you should know that there will always be a good option for you in your budget if you choose the right contractor. That said, don’t depend on your contractor solely, do your own research and then decide what you want for your kitchen. Remember you have to go for a balance between functionality and aesthetic. 

We strongly suggest that you consider all of these factors before making this investment, we’re actually saving you from buyer’s remorse and regret in the long term. Although, if you’re as indecisive as me go for the stone that stands out the most, something that caught your eye at first instance. Good Luck on this fun ride!