- Where and for what are the countertops used?
- What should I consider when choosing countertops?
- Materials for the manufacture of worktops
- The choice of colors for the kitchen counter
The time has already passed when each cabinet in the kitchen had its own separate table-top. Modern technologies have made materials more durable, and experts have come up with such a convenient thing as a solid table top for all kitchen cabinets. However, now there is a logical question: how to choose a kitchen countertop for color, size, shape and other parameters? There can be a lot of variants with use of the most different modifications and styles. Let's consider some of the most interesting solutions.
to the contents ↑Where and for what are the countertops used?
This variant of the table top allows you to solve several tasks at once:
- The working surface is increased, which is important for the kitchen - the table becomes larger, while I occupy extra space.
- The adverse effect of moisture and other reagents at the joints of the product is minimized, which increases the service life.
- The opportunity to use new materials, such as glass and artificial stone.
Important! Liked the modern attribute began to be used also for the "island" and for dining tables. This was facilitated by a new technology for making countertops. Today it can be purchased separately from kitchen furniture, which makes it possible to choose the options that best meet specific needs and are suitable for kitchen design.
The worktop for the kitchen can emphasize, make the interior of the whole kitchen brighter, as well as organic, or - on the contrary, muffle the tone and even bring a discord into the overall harmony of the room. Moreover, the working surface of the table must necessarily meet a number of specific requirements, among which:
- Durability.
- Comfort in the care.
- Hygiene.
Another important nuance in the process of choosing a countertop will be its price. The quality and type of countertops in many ways depends on the cost of kitchen furniture. Here the first thing to do when choosing the color of the countertop for the kitchen is to determine the amount to buy it.
to the contents ↑What should I consider when choosing a countertop?
To determine which is better to choose a countertop, you need to consider all possible options. Then you should make a choice in accordance with their tastes, the overall design of the dwelling and financial capabilities.
Choosing a countertop, it is important to consider some aspects that affect the cost, quality of the product, as well as its compatibility with other elements of the kitchen:
- Shape, dimensions and thickness of the plate.
- The material from which the product is made and its quality.
- The color range of the product.
- Compatibility with the design of the room.
Materials for the worktop
Considering the presented options, it is necessary to pay attention to the material from which the table top is made. The price of the product from the same material, but different manufacturers or different quality will differ significantly:
- Ceramic tiles from foreign firms and domestic manufacturers have a difference, calculated by orders.
- Fibreboard and MDF, as a rule, differ because of the quality of the slabs, and the price of natural stone depends on its type.
Wood stoves
When choosing MDF and chipboard, you can get the most budget option:
- DSP provides a wide field for use in different styles, colors and shapes. This is achieved by laminating the surface. As a result, the surface becomes impermeable to moisture, easy to clean, and thanks to special films, it has a wide range of options: under a stone, under a tree, under a tile.
Important! The disadvantage of such working surfaces is their fear of cuts. If the moisture gets into them, the plate may swell.
- More reliable and environmentally friendly products are considered MDF, however, they are more expensive.
Important! Models from MDF, which are finished with natural veneer and are covered with laminate, can serve as a real decoration of the kitchen.
Wood
Today the wood array is often replaced with glued boards, which improves the quality of the product, however, it makes it less natural. When choosing the color of the kitchen countertop, remember that wooden products are quite poorly combined with red.
Plastic
Plastic surfaces that are chosen for the kitchen are very convenient in the care, though at the heart of it is the chipboard. Convenience and durability is achieved thanks to the coating of the chipboard with a plastic layer, which protects the plate from moisture.
Their advantage can be considered a huge selection of colors - from standard pastels, to very bright and unusual.
Ceramic tile
Ceramic tiles, purchased as a surface for the kitchen, is a convenient and simple way to choose a kitchen countertop for color and style. At the same time, it will be distinguished by its simplicity in care and reliability.
The price for such products will depend on the type and quality of the tiles. Applying different types, colors and shades, it becomes possible to create a wide range of countertops from strict styles to Country and Modern. Very nice looks model with red tiles.
Stainless steel
This material demonstrates many positive aspects, while it is quite expensive - the cost will depend not only on the thickness of the sheet but also on the specularity or opacity of the surface. Today, there are also possible variants of a corrugated surface and with chasing.
Important! Among its drawbacks can be called the spots from the fingers, which appear very quickly.
Glass
Choosing acrylic or glass, you can make the design of the kitchen in a modern style. Impact-resistant types of glass are expensive. Variants with chasing and drawing are possible - one of the popular types of glass tops today is a shockproof surface with a film glued on the bottom. Often the picture is on the film.
Important! Such a working surface is easy to clean and does not need special care, however, glass products are afraid of blows.
Artificial stone
This material is a more economical version of a natural analog. Make it under marble or granite. It is important to maintain the proportions to ensure that the product is strong and comfortable at the same time.
Artificial stone looks great in the design of the kitchen, which has good user qualities. Today it is considered one of the most popular. The table tops from this material deserve popularity in many respects because of the convenience and durability.
Natural stone
As a rule, granite, marble, sandstone or basalt is used for making countertops. It is important to remember that this material can be called eternal, which requires minimum care and is not subject to any vagaries of the kitchen.
Important! Choosing this kind of material should carefully consider the thickness of the countertop, because the stone is a heavy material, and a very thin sample can crack.
to the table of contents ↑Choosing a color for the countertop for the kitchen
To choose the color of the kitchen countertop, one should be guided by many nuances: this can be the color of the rest of the furniture in the kitchen, apron, floor, skirting or window sill. Let's look at all these points in more detail.
Under the kitchen set
The first thing that many people think of is to choose a countertop for the color of the kitchen set. However, this only seems to be the easiest way out:
- As a rule, the countertops are made of a different material than the facades, so the color palette can be completely different there, and the colors look different on different invoices in another way.
Important! This solution is available only to those who choose simple colors - white( impractical) and black( aesthetically controversial).
- With a countertop of the same color as the facade, the whole kitchen line can merge into one monochrome spot. And this means that it will be necessary to introduce some colored elements in other places, for example, to pick up multi-colored kitchen accessories or make a bright apron.
For the color of the lockers
A more elegant solution is a contrasting two-tone set and a table top that repeats one of the already available colors. However, in this case it makes sense to limit the white or black table top.
Important! In theory, you can try and shades of natural wood, but in practice it's very difficult to get a tone in tone.
Under the apron
Combining the apron with the countertop, in fact, it will be a simpler solution:
- Firstly - they can be made from the same material, which will help remove the problem of the selection of texture and color.
- Secondly - the apron and table top looks like one color spot in the center of the kitchen, which can significantly ease the further composite solution.
Under the wooden floor
Another simple move to choose a kitchen countertop in color - to combine the countertop with the floor. In the most budgetary version, you can choose a laminated chipboard for the countertop and laminate floor, and in more expensive - use the same array of wood.
Important! The downside of this solution is that the countertops made of natural wood are usually not varnished. They are oiled, plus they recommend regularly changing the coating. If it becomes a challenge for the countertop, then it will be a small tragedy in the scale of the floor covering. The floor will need to be varnished. As a consequence - it will be very difficult to achieve the same shade.
Under the stone floor
Another material( or rather, two), which can be used for the countertop, and for the floor - a stone: artificial or natural. Yes, this is not the cheapest equipment, but it looks solemn, noble.
Important! It should be remembered that such a stone union would be appropriate to look only in large rooms.
Under the window sill
Often it happens that the table top fits into the color and the general surroundings of the room, however, it needs some visual and architectural support. Gray stone looks restrained, noble, but heavy cold texture requires some kind of continuation.
Important! In this case, it will be an excellent idea to make a window sill of the same material, especially if the table top adjoins the window.
Under the skirting board
If you would like non-original colors and bright colors, then let it be. Glass, plastic or laminate worktop can be of absolutely any, even the most unusual shade.
To ensure that the bright floor does not look foreign in the kitchen, you can paint the top plinth of the kitchen set in the same color, or decorate the socle bar that covers the technical legs. Add a few accessories to the tone, and the ensemble is ready.
On the contrast of
Until now, we talked about options when the countertop is selected in the tone of an item for a headset. But you can rely on contrasting combinations. The most simple case is the contrast of white and black. With other contrasts, it is somewhat more difficult - here it makes sense to use a special color wheel. On its opposite sides are complementary colors that form the most expressive combinations: violet with yellow, green with red, orange with blue. Such a decisive approach will help to make your kitchen interesting, bright.
When choosing the color of the kitchen countertop, remember: no one obliges you to follow any canons. The color of the table top may not appear at all in any of the interior elements of the kitchen, but rather be its self-sufficient adornment. However, it's not bad when the rest of the furniture, as well as the finish, will be of the same neutral color.