If you’re redesigning your kitchen, the kitchen countertops are an important focal point and practical part of the kitchen. When researching new kitchen countertops, natural stone is one of the best choices you could make for your home. Natural stone kitchen countertops are beautiful, long lasting, and can raise the value of your home.
When you invest in a natural stone kitchen countertop, you’re investing in the future value of your home, and its lasting aesthetic. Natural stones provide a luxurious look and are easy to clean.
Once you’ve decided to invest in a natural stone kitchen countertop, you must decide on which type of natural stone fits your household and needs properly. There are several options from the well-known granite and marble to the less commonly heard of soapstone and travertine. Each of these natural stones has benefits as your kitchen countertop, so be sure to understand each natural stone’s unique properties before deciding.
Granite Kitchen Countertops
Granite kitchen countertops can look great in both modern and classic houses. The style of granite kitchen countertops has an extravagant appeal. Granite is available in hundreds of styles and colors so you can find the perfect look of granite for your kitchen countertop.
When thinking about the kitchen countertop right for your home, you should also consider durability and cleanliness. Granite is both strong and easy to clean, which make for a great kitchen countertop. Granite kitchen countertops are non-porous so that liquids can wipe right off the surface, and durable enough to cut veggies or meats right on the surface.
Granite is a fantastic choice for a kitchen countertop!
Marble Kitchen Countertops
Marble kitchen countertops are unique and distinctive. As a natural stone, marble is easily recognizable. While marble can form in different colors when formed with limestone with few impurities marble is pearly white, the color you see with most marble kitchen countertops.
Marble is durable and long lasting, making it perfect for kitchen countertops. An added benefit of marble is that its surface remains cool, so your marble kitchen countertop would be heat resistant.
Marble is a beautiful natural stone that has long remained a status symbol for luxury. If you want a stone that is indistinguishable and shows off the beauty of your home, marble kitchen countertops are the best option for you.
Soapstone Kitchen Countertops
Soapstone is a metamorphic rock that used for kitchen countertops because of its unique look, feel, and durability. Soapstone’s high talc content gives it a powdery, milky look which keeps it from looking over the top or too luxurious, making soapstone kitchen countertops a viable alternative to the more traditional styles of granite or marble.
Soapstone kitchen countertops have a soft, powdery feel because of the talc, but as natural stone, they remain strong and durable. While not as durable as granite, soapstone is very non-porous, making staining much more difficult on a soapstone kitchen countertop, and cleaning extremely easy.
As a softer stone, you should not cut directly on soapstone kitchen countertops, which makes it less desirable than other more durable natural stones if you plan on prepping food on top of your countertop.
Soapstone is perfect as a kitchen countertop for a more rustic home not concerned about the luxurious look of other stones.
Soapstone, natural stone for kitchen countertops.
Travertine Kitchen Countertops
Travertine is a type of limestone formed under heat and pressure with a similar look to marble. Travertine makes for a beautiful and visually appealing kitchen countertop. The most significant appeal of travertine is how delicate and eye-catching it is as a natural stone. Travertine also reflects light well so it can brighten up your entire kitchen. Travertine kitchen countertops are elegant at a more favorable cost than granite or marble as well.
The downside of travertine kitchen countertops is that they are delicate, so you should avoid heat, and cutting, and are not recommended for kitchen countertops if you cook a lot. Travertine is also very porous, requiring you to seal your kitchen countertop regularly and wipe up any spills immediately to avoid stains.
Travertine, natural stone for kitchen countertops.
Which Natural Stone is Perfect for My Kitchen Counter Top?
To choose the perfect natural stone for your kitchen countertop, consider a few questions:
- Do I have a color and style in mind for my kitchen?
- Do I often cook and use my countertop as a cutting board?
- Do I care more about utility, style, or are both important?
- What is my price range for a natural stone kitchen countertop?
These questions can lead you to the ideal kitchen countertop. Whether you choose granite, marble, soapstone, travertine, or another natural stone, you can be sure you’ve invested in a beautiful focal point for your kitchen.