There are endless options for you to choose from when considering a new countertop purchase.
Color and pattern are important, however, every type of countertop has a wide array of colors and patterns to choose from so don't get too caught up here until you have identified what type of countertop will best suite your needs.
The first thing you need to do is determine what is most important to YOU.
Your lifestyle (i.
e.
how you use your kitchen) should play a role in your decision-making process.
Consider these questions when researching countertop products: 1.
How often do you use your kitchen? --Heavily used kitchens need heavy-duty countertops like Solid Surface (Corian), Granite, or Quartz 2.
Do you have children? --Let's face it, kids can be rough on a home.
A countertop that is repairable like Solid Surface can save a lot of money when damage occurs to your countertop.
Remember, NO COUNTERTOP IS BULLETPROOF, but some can be more easily repaired than others.
3.
Are you meticulous about cleaning? --Granite countertops are the most beautiful product for sure, but do require more care than Quartz or Solid Surface to keep them looking nice.
4.
Are you more of a "hard and shiny" or "soft and silky" kind of person? --Stone products like Granite and Quartz have a high-gloss finish but are also cold and hard.
Solid Surface, like Corian, traditionally have a matte or satin finish and feel warm and soft to the touch.
5.
Is a warranty important to you? --Product warranties are now an industry standard, even with Granite.
Sensa Granite by Cosentino offers a nice range of colors and also a 15 year warranty against stains WITHOUT SEALING.
All of the popular brands of Quartz and Solid Surface brands also carry warranties.
Some companies also offer Lifetime Warranties on some products.
Once you have a good handle on these considerations it will be much easier to select a product that fits your needs.
Then it's just a matter of selecting the right color.
This can be tricky.
You need to consider colors of your cabinets, floors, walls, and type of lighting.
If you don't have an interior designer to help, here are a couple nice resources: HGTV Article: http://www.
hgtv.
com/topics/kitchen-color/index.
html DuPont Room Designer: http://www2.
dupont.
com/Surfaces/en_US/assets/flash/gallery_colors/designer.
html?product=corian You should always take color samples home to see how they look in your kitchen environment.
Lighting and surround colors have a significant effect on the color of your countertop.
It's important to make sure that all of the colors "work" well together.
A reputable and experienced countertop company can help you with this process, and probably will not charge you to do so.
With a little research, thoughtful consideration, and a helping hand from a reputable professional the process of replacing your countertops can be easy and you'll be sure to love your new kitchen.
Color and pattern are important, however, every type of countertop has a wide array of colors and patterns to choose from so don't get too caught up here until you have identified what type of countertop will best suite your needs.
The first thing you need to do is determine what is most important to YOU.
Your lifestyle (i.
e.
how you use your kitchen) should play a role in your decision-making process.
Consider these questions when researching countertop products: 1.
How often do you use your kitchen? --Heavily used kitchens need heavy-duty countertops like Solid Surface (Corian), Granite, or Quartz 2.
Do you have children? --Let's face it, kids can be rough on a home.
A countertop that is repairable like Solid Surface can save a lot of money when damage occurs to your countertop.
Remember, NO COUNTERTOP IS BULLETPROOF, but some can be more easily repaired than others.
3.
Are you meticulous about cleaning? --Granite countertops are the most beautiful product for sure, but do require more care than Quartz or Solid Surface to keep them looking nice.
4.
Are you more of a "hard and shiny" or "soft and silky" kind of person? --Stone products like Granite and Quartz have a high-gloss finish but are also cold and hard.
Solid Surface, like Corian, traditionally have a matte or satin finish and feel warm and soft to the touch.
5.
Is a warranty important to you? --Product warranties are now an industry standard, even with Granite.
Sensa Granite by Cosentino offers a nice range of colors and also a 15 year warranty against stains WITHOUT SEALING.
All of the popular brands of Quartz and Solid Surface brands also carry warranties.
Some companies also offer Lifetime Warranties on some products.
Once you have a good handle on these considerations it will be much easier to select a product that fits your needs.
Then it's just a matter of selecting the right color.
This can be tricky.
You need to consider colors of your cabinets, floors, walls, and type of lighting.
If you don't have an interior designer to help, here are a couple nice resources: HGTV Article: http://www.
hgtv.
com/topics/kitchen-color/index.
html DuPont Room Designer: http://www2.
dupont.
com/Surfaces/en_US/assets/flash/gallery_colors/designer.
html?product=corian You should always take color samples home to see how they look in your kitchen environment.
Lighting and surround colors have a significant effect on the color of your countertop.
It's important to make sure that all of the colors "work" well together.
A reputable and experienced countertop company can help you with this process, and probably will not charge you to do so.
With a little research, thoughtful consideration, and a helping hand from a reputable professional the process of replacing your countertops can be easy and you'll be sure to love your new kitchen.