If you’re remodeling your kitchen this year, chances are that you’re also planning on tackling both your cabinets and countertops at the same time. If that’s the case, you’ll want to pay attention to how the two most important features of your new kitchen interact.
In this article, we’ll review how you should go about pairing countertops and cabinets together in your new kitchen and what design aspects you will need to consider.
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Start by selecting your countertops
There’s a whole world of kitchen countertop options, so it makes sense to first nail down what you want here before moving on to finding matching cabinets. As we’ll discuss below, most homeowners choose to make their granite, quartz, or marble the star of their kitchen, with their cabinets play an important supporting role.
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In this video, an interior designer talks about the different types of countertops and the pros-and-cons of each.
Here’s what you need to know about the different types of countertops:
Granite Countertops
If you’ve ever watching a home remodeling TV show, you’re no doubt familiar with granite. For years, it’s been the go-to choice for kitchen remodels. The reasons are obvious: it’s incredibly beautiful, durable, and heat-resistant.
Whether it comes prefabricated or as a slab, granite is natural stone. As such, there’s only so many colors and styles available. Almost all granite features the beautiful, natural veining of stone. If that’s not your thing, you might want to consider quartz, instead.
Quartz Countertops
Available in a wide variety of colors and styles, the growing popularity of quartz can be attributed to its versatility as a countertop option. It’s no exaggeration to say that there’s a quartz countertop foreverykitchen out there. From an elegant, yet understated, white that allows the cabinets to pop to a rich, dark black quartz, you can find the right countertop for your project.
Just like granite, quartz is incredibly durable. There are some key differences and tradeoffs between the two, however. Quartz is more stain-proof, but isn’t quite as heat-resistant as granite.
If you’ve decided to go with quartz, you’ll just need to find the right quartz colors for your remodel.
Other types
Granite and quartz are by far the most popular options, but there are many other types of countertops, including stainless steel, butcher block, and marble. All of them have their own individual pros-and-cons, but share one commonality: if included in your kitchen remodel, they are generally better as accent pieces than the main countertop.
If you’re considering adding butcher block or stainless steel, be sure to talk to either your contractor or remodeling guide for advice on how to best incorporate either.
Choose one statement piece
Only one part of your kitchen should have the spotlight. In other words, either your cabinets or countertops should be the focal point of your kitchen—but not both.
If you opt for deep, dark cabinets, go for lighter-colored quartz or granite to provide a pleasing contrast. One popular combination is a dark gray or charcoal cabinet partnered with white quartz. However, you can also go in reverse: many homeowners pair a darker, smoky quartz or granite countertop with white or off-white cabinets.
When all else fails, talk to your realtor or—better yet—an interior decorator or kitchen design expert. Ask them about what they’ve seen, and what other homeowners have gone with when it comes to pairing together countertops and cabinets.
In most cases, there’s no need to re-invent the wheel for your kitchen. By reviewing what other remodels have used, you might just stumble upon a winning idea that you can emulate in your kitchen.
Think about your home’s future value
If you’re planning on staying in your home forever, you’re free to do whatever you want with your kitchen and truly make it your own. But, for the vast majority of homeowners, you need to at least consider the possibility that you may want or need to sell your home at some point and someone is going to have to love your kitchen just as much as you do.
What does this mean for your remodel? Well, for one, it means that you should adhere to common styles, colors, and materials. A coral red quartz might not be everyone’s proverbial cup of tea. Your kitchen doesn’t have to be boring or lack individual flair, but it does need to be mainstream enough to attract prospective buyers.
If you do want to add a personal touch, consider doing so through things like paint color, a tile backsplash, or countertop appliances. Your kitchen’s tile backsplash, in particular, is a great way to introduce color and style. These are easier to swap out down the road than having to repaint cabinets or replace countertops.
Be fashionable
Be fashionableSo, what constitutes “mainstream” when it comes to kitchen design? For one, monochromatic is in right now, and its simplicity and clean appeal isn’t likely to go away soon.
We mentioned pairing darker gray cabinets with white countertops, but we’ve also seen some homeowners going for an all-white minimalist approach, with white cabinets and white quartz. They then use accessories such as vases or kitchen appliances to draw the eye in and make the kitchen come to life.
Consider your home’s aesthetic
Of course, that particular monochromatic style should match the rest of your home. If your living room, dining room, and bedrooms all use a traditional country-style decor, you might not want to go for such a modern look unless you’re planning on remodeling those spaces as well. Instead, pair a red or brown wood-finished cabinet with natural stone.
Take the first steps of your remodeling journey
If you’re just starting to think about your kitchen remodel, we recommend bringing in an expert opinion early in the process. Talk to a local contractor or kitchen remodeling expert and pick their brain. Tell them about your vision for the kitchen so they can connect what you’re picturing to real-world materials and an overall design that makes sense.
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