Kitchen countertops offer more than just looks. Kitchen countertops are practical surfaces that reflect your cooking and entertaining style as much as your design preferences. When renovating your kitchen, choosing a countertop may seem like a small decision compared to details like cabinetry and appliances. But countertops can infuse your space with serious style and make cleaning and maintenance a breeze. Use the kitchen countertop ideas below to help you choose the best option for your kitchen.
Classic countertops and colorful cabinets
Jay Wilde
This sleek gray-and-white marble countertop is gorgeous on its own, yet simple enough to let the teal green cabinetry and gleaming gold hardware take center stage. The countertop has a little extra personality thanks to the decorative ogee edge.
butcher block kitchen countertops
Kim Cornelison
Butcher block is more durable and easier to maintain than premium materials like marble, so if you do a lot of food prep and put your counters through the roof, install wood planks throughout your kitchen. Pair it with a white beadboard backsplash and mint-colored cabinets for a bright, fun space.
Soapstone Kitchen Countertop Ideas
John Bessler
Subtly veined black soapstone countertops add an accent to this all-white, sunny kitchen, while also lending a contemporary feel to an otherwise rustic room. Functionally, the dense material helps prevent damage from hot dishes, spills, and splatters.
Farmhouse Style Marble Countertops
Lisa Romeline
This gorgeous kitchen is truly farmhouse-style: vertical shiplap walls, weathered wood floors, and Shaker cabinets with brass cup hardware provide the perfect backdrop for the island's rustic butcher block and two sets of polished stone counters in the rest of the room.
Mix matte and glossy
Werner Straube
If you can't decide on a countertop material, combine both. Stick to a similar color palette, like the combination shown here. Shiny stainless steel contrasts perfectly with flat leathered granite. Stainless steel is antibacterial, and leathered granite repels liquids, so before you install it, decide where you plan on preparing food or bartending.
modest kitchen counter
Jason Donnelly
Your kitchen's color scheme may not be bold, but it may have eye-catching details like horizontal wood-grain island siding, a geometric marble backsplash, or an oversized angled range hood. Sticking to sleek countertops made of white quartz with subtle gray veining is one way to let all the eye-catching elements shine.
granite kitchen countertop ideas
Mari Azima
Virtually any type of countertop would pair beautifully with the deep blue hue that envelopes this kitchen, but this granite hue makes a gorgeous impact. The dominant gray tone complements the silver hardware on the cabinets and the two pendant lights over the island.
Waterfall Kitchen Countertops
Anne D. Schlechter
If you're looking for a contemporary look or want to add some drama to your kitchen, consider a waterfall style. Whether you add it to the end of your base cabinets or just your island, it will give your space a streamlined look. But think carefully about the materials you choose; they can be difficult to maintain, especially if you have active kids or pets who can easily bump into vertical pieces.
Matching countertops and backsplash
Photo by Nate Sheets
Matching kitchen countertops and backsplashes isn't necessarily a new idea. But combining white and gray marble with matte black cabinetry and brass accents makes a striking style statement. Keep in mind that marble countertops can be costly. Marble is one of the more expensive types and requires more maintenance than other countertops.
Laminate Kitchen Countertop Ideas
Carson Downing
Laminate countertops are one of the least expensive options on the market (if not the least expensive). Replacing your kitchen countertops is a relatively budget-friendly way to upgrade your space. If you're on a budget and have been overdue for replacing your countertops, aim for a simple surface. Bring along a few swipes of brightly colored paint to jazz up your cabinets.
Cottage style kitchen counter
Harris Kenger
This cottage-style kitchen is full of charming details, including the subtle yet impactful choice of integrating the countertop with an apron-front sink. The neutral-colored striped quartzite material is an ideal match for the whitewashed flagstone accent wall and exposed wood-beam ceiling.
Free materials
Julie Sufer
These floating shelves are made from white oak, while the stone countertop below is nearly the same color. Set atop white shiplap walls and shaker-style drawers, the two materials combine to create the coastal farmhouse kitchen of your dreams.
Countertops that combine form and function
Megan Byerly O'Brien
If you have room in your remodeling budget, consider quartzite countertops. Unlike factory-made quartz countertops, naturally mined quartzite is the real deal, and we can't guarantee that two installed slabs will look the same. Not only does organic stone look beautiful in any space, it requires minimal maintenance and provides a durable surface for food prep from morning until night.
black kitchen countertops
Katie Charlotte Photography
This space wows in every way. Extensive exposed brick walls, exposed natural wood ceiling beams, and organic décor are just a few of the details that will wow your dinner guests. Tying the entire kitchen together is a stunning soapstone kitchen island countertop that complements the stove backsplash.
Modern and minimalist kitchen counter
Max Kimby
Modern kitchens are known for their simple, pared-back look, and if that's your favorite decor style, make sure your countertops coordinate with the rest of the room. Here, clean quartz counters look perfect above the blonde-toned island and white cabinets.
Mix kitchen patterns
Victoria Pearson
Not only are the cobalt blue cabinets and arch detailing eye-catching, but this kitchen also incorporates some playful patterns: the herringbone backsplash, subtle geometric wallpaper and white-and-gray marble countertops combine all three perfectly.
Transitional Kitchen Countertops
Nancy Nolan
Coastal flair and industrial farmhouse aesthetics blend together in this kitchen for timeless transitional style. Metal accents from the range hood to the dome pendant lights lend a modern feel, while the penny mosaic floor and subway tile backsplash lend a vintage vibe. Throughout it all, honed marble countertops and robin's egg blue cabinets create an airy, beachy vibe.
Reclaimed Wood Kitchen Countertop Ideas
Stacey Zarin Goldberg
Opting for countertops made from salvaged wood allows you to fully embrace the aesthetic of a farmhouse kitchen. As with quartzite, you can be sure that the slab installed in your space will be unique. As long as the imperfect wood grain look and the need to periodically reseal your counters don't deter you, you can also feel good about having made a sustainable choice for your home.
Stone Kitchen Countertop Ideas
John Grannen
Even more traditional kitchens can make good use of mismatched countertops, especially if it suits your cooking habits. Here, a butcher-block counter where the sink is located makes chopping and rinsing a breeze and seamlessly integrates with the rest of this all-wood kitchen. On the other side of the sink, dark soapstone surrounds the stove, allowing it to withstand hot pots and pans and visually breaking up the consistent wood grain throughout the room.
colorful kitchen countertop ideas
Bree Williams
For those who favor eclectic decor, kitchen countertops are a fun and easy way to express your creativity. Start by choosing a glossy laminate countertop for your island in a vibrant color, like cherry red. If you later want to update the rest of your countertops to the same shade, make it a DIY project to re-laminate the surface.
