What is the best kitchen countertop? Types and characteristics, design, photo in the interior

How to choose a kitchen countertop?

In order for the product to serve for a long time and look attractive, it is better to take into account several points at once:

• The cost, which consists of the size, shape and type of product.
• Compatibility with other elements of the kitchen: facades, apron, dining group. You can read more about choosing good color schemes. in this article.
• Coating care rules. The surface must withstand the effects of various detergents.
• Features of the material used in the manufacture of countertops.

More details about chipboard countertops are described in this video:

An overview of products from other popular materials can be found here:

Types and characteristics of kitchen countertops

Most often, the separation occurs according to the material that is used in production. Let's consider the features of various types of countertops and identify their advantages and disadvantages.

Chipboard / Chipboard

This material is most common in the economy segment of kitchen furniture. Due to the postforming technology (coating the chipboard with paper-laminated plastic using pressure and high temperature), such a kitchen countertop acquires wear resistance and impact resistance.

The photo shows a budget but stylish kitchen with a built-in sink and stove in the countertop.

MDF

Products made from this material differ from chipboard only in the base: the board consists of denser and finer wood chips, and it is also laminated with plastic under high pressure.

Acrylic

Also called artificial or bulk stone. The table top consists of white clay and binding materials: acrylic and polymer resins.Usually it is made to order, because it is a cast plate without joints, which can be given any shape: straight, angular or non-standard rounded.

The photo shows an unusual kitchen with a polished radius countertop made of bulk stone.

Quartz

A product made of quartz agglomerate can be called environmentally friendly, since it contains 96% natural quartz, and the remaining 4% are epoxy resins and dyes. The finished slab can have any shape and color.

In the photo there is a kitchen with a long quartz countertop located along the window.

Granite

The basis of the product is natural granite: a luxury option for connoisseurs of the classics.

Travertine

It is a natural finishing stone with properties reminiscent of limestone and marble. Monolithic travertine kitchen worktop looks beautiful and soundly, featuring a wide variety of textures and colors.

Wooden

Connoisseurs of natural wood can choose a solid wood countertop for the kitchen. In its production, high-strength species are used: walnut, oak, ash, bamboo. A furniture board will become a budget option: since wooden lamellas are glued together and pressed, the moisture resistance and wear resistance of such a material is higher. An original solution for the kitchen is a slab product - a longitudinal wooden saw cut with raw edges.

Tile

The decorative ceramic tile worktop looks original and attracts attention. Small tiles (10x10 cm) or mosaics are usually used for decoration. Traditionally, a dark grout is used for the joints: dirt is less noticeable on it.

Marble

The countertop made of natural marble looks more aristocratic and refined than granite, but it has several significant disadvantages:

In the photo there is a marble countertop, which is favorably emphasized by the set of emerald color and fittings with a golden patina.

Metal

Stainless steel is widely used as a work surface in food service establishments. Its use in the home kitchen is due, rather, to the style preferences of the owner, rather than practicality.

In the photo there is a kitchen with a metal worktop that fits perfectly into the high-tech high-tech style, echoing with chrome elements, built-in lighting and a mirrored apron.

Plastic

A plastic countertop is an inexpensive analogue of an artificial stone.

Concrete

The kitchen countertop made of interior concrete is gaining its popularity due to the practicality of the material: it combines the positive characteristics of natural stone and low cost. Moreover, if desired, the slab can be made independently by decorating it with decorative splashes: multi-colored pigment, broken glass, beads, coins.

Glass

An eye-catching transparent tempered glass worktop will decorate your kitchen interior and fit into any setting. In modern design, this material is in demand due to a variety of processing technologies: toning, imitation of stone or metal, photo printing. Another good design option is to install plexiglass on top of a wood countertop.

Tips for choosing the size of the countertop: length, width, thickness, height from the floor

Before calculating the amount of material, it is necessary to draw up a competent drawing taking into account the dimensions of the kitchen.

• The length of the product directly depends on the desired project and the area of ​​the room: whether it will be a straight tabletop along the wall, corner, turning into a bar counter, or even semicircular. Its sizes vary from 60 cm to 6 m.
• The standard width of the stove, which will fit into both a spacious and a narrow kitchen, is 60 cm, but housewives note that a working surface with a width of 90 cm wins in convenience.In exceptional cases, its dimensions can reach 140 cm.
• The most demanded product thickness: 28 and 36 mm. But there are also thin kitchen worktops made of ceramic, stone or frosted glass with a thickness of only 20 mm, as well as solid slabs up to 56 mm.
• At what height to place the work surface depends on the growth of the household, but there are general recommendations: the table top is convenient if it is located at belt level or slightly lower, and a distance of 45 to 60 cm should remain between it and the wall cabinet.

Kitchen countertops design

Consider a few more original and practical ideas that designers offer.

Few people think of making a kitchen countertop thin: we are used to seeing it solid and reliable. But a minimalistic product, despite the fact that it looks original, stylish and does not "put pressure" on the pedestals, has the same practical properties as a thick table top.

In the photo there is a minimalist kitchen with an ultra-thin work surface made of natural stone.

For lovers of natural materials, a thermal tree is suitable: a product obtained as a result of heat treatment of wood. Due to prolonged exposure to high temperatures on the workpiece, the internal resins and fibers of the wood are compressed, which leads to an increase in wear resistance and strength.

In the photo there is a kitchen with a corner worktop made of thermowood.

A worktop made of custom-made acrylic can combine a kitchen set into a single composition: the worktop will echo with an island, a bar counter or even a dining table.

In the photo there is a curly tabletop that creates a stylish monochrome composition.

Photo of kitchen countertops in the interior

Sometimes the kitchen countertop becomes the centerpiece of the interior. This is especially true of expensive unique materials, the sophistication of which I want to emphasize. To draw attention to the work surface, you can use:

• contrasting furniture;
• materials with opposite properties (for example, metal and wood);
• spot lighting.

The photo shows an original onyx tabletop with contrasting lemon-colored chairs.

Sometimes the countertop does not even need to be additionally highlighted - it becomes the highlight of the kitchen in itself due to its unique color, shape or composition:

In the photo there is a product made of artificial stone under malachite.

Countertop options in various styles

The countertop is an element that helps to maintain the chosen style direction, since it takes up a lot of space in the kitchen.

• A white glossy acrylic slab will help soften the rough loft and maintain the emphasis on space and light.
• Ceramic-tiled cabinets will perfectly fit into a cozy kitchen decorated in country style.
• The Scandinavian style is characterized by an abundance of light colors and a love for natural materials, so a wooden or granite countertop is a frequent visitor here.

• The classics, gravitating towards luxury, are distinguished by extremely expensive materials, which means that quartz, marble and granite are ideal for decorating the workspace in the kitchen.
• In a sophisticated - and at the same time home - provence, tile or wood countertops will come in handy.

Photo gallery

The countertop is the main workspace in the kitchen, so it is so important to choose a product that will meet both the owner's requirements and his financial capabilities.