Expert Guide on Choosing a Kitchen Countertop

We know that the decision of choosing the countertop for your new kitchen can be overwhelming, due to the sheer number of options available on the market. That’s why Cosentino has prepared a complete guide to help you choose the perfect countertop.

The choice of countertop is very important when it comes to your kitchen’s design, as it is a place where we spend a lot of time. The countertop is a place where we take our ingredients out for our meals, where we chop, peel, knead… But it is also a place where we eat, talk, work on our laptop, or help our kids with their homework.

That is why when choosing our countertop we cannot just think esthetically, we need to think about other important technical features of the material such as scratch and shock resistance, hygiene, safety, the warranty, how easy it is to maintain, heat resistance… 

We suggest you take a look at our guide to see the simple way to choose the perfect countertop for your kitchen:

1. Define your lifestyle

You first need to ask yourself a series of questions about your lifestyle before choosing your kitchen or countertop: how much do you cook on a day-to-day basis? How many people do you usually cook for? How many people live in your home? What else do you use the kitchen for apart from cooking? Would you like a professional standard kitchen? Do you want an indoor or outdoor kitchen?…

The answers to all these questions will tell you what your needs are from a countertop and from a kitchen.

For example, the needs of a family of four who cook a lot and need a large enough space to work and prepare meals at the same time are different to those of a young couple who are not home much and who only cook on the weekends.

2.Design and style

Types of countertops by material

Marble: this is a popular material that adds an elegant style to any kitchen, however, its initial beauty can soon fade. It is a highly porous material and is not very heat resistant, so is not really recommended to be used on a countertop.

Granite: this is highly durable and has great shock and heat resistance. It is generally very easy to maintain and has stunning natural beauty. Its biggest drawback is that it cannot be cleaned with chemical products, as these can damage the stone, nor is it very stain resistant due to its porosity. Granite is usually treated with temporary stain-resistant products, and this must be repeated throughout the life cycle of your countertop, except in the case of Sensa by Cosentino, whose exclusive stain-resistant treatment comes with a 15 year warranty.

Hybrid and ultra-compact surfaces: these surfaces, such as Silestone and Dekton, are made from a mixture of premium minerals and materials which are compacted down in an industrial process to create materials with even better features than natural stone, in terms of resistance and design possibilities.

Wood: this gives a natural and warm look to a kitchen, but it must undergo a waterproofing treatment to be able to resist dampness. It is highly sensitive to scratches and shocks and requires a lot of maintenance to keep it looking good. It is also not recommended for areas where a lot of kitchen work is often done.

Acrylic: this allows you to play around with shapes, it has no joints and can be used to completely customize your kitchen. However, it is easily scratched and is not very resistant to heat or stains.

Stainless steel: this adds an industrial and professional look to any kitchen, it is highly resistant to heat and has very little porosity, meaning it is very hygienic and does not stain. The downside is that it easily scratches and can also be prone to damage from impacts if not reinforced with wood, it can also make a kitchen feel very cold.

Types of Silestone / Dekton / Sensa countertops for your kitchen.

Silestone is Cosentino’s start product when it comes to countertops. It is the most advanced and sustainable surface on the market thanks to Hybriq®, our in-house technology that has enabled us to create a new mix of high performance premium minerals and recycled materials, with the same quality standards as traditional Silestone, and all as part of a production process completely powered by renewable energy and reused water. It is perfect for indoor kitchen countertops due to its high resistance to shocks, scratches, and stains, as well as its easy maintenance. However, it is not recommended for outdoor use and direct contact with hot objects must be avoided.

Dekton: this innovative product, also from Cosentino, is a high performance ultracompact surface made from highly durable minerals. Its main features include its high resistance to scratches, stains, and extreme temperatures. It is also resistant to shocks, abrasions, changes in temperature, and does not absorb water. It is ideal for those surfaces that are subject to constant use, such as countertops. It can be used in both indoor and outdoor kitchens and is a material that you can chop on, hit, and place hot objects on. It is also a sustainable material, as it is the only surface of its kind on the market that has a Carbon Neutral certificate for its entire life cycle. 

Sensa: this is the Cosentino family of natural granite and quartzite surfaces, it comes with an exclusive anti-stain treatment called SenGuard, with a 15 year warranty. This treatment allows you to enjoy the benefits of natural stone without worrying about stains, as this treatment is only applied once and will protect your countertop throughout its life cycle.

Sensa has the same benefits of granite or quartzite, including their durability, natural beauty, and shock and heat resistance.

How to choose the height of your kitchen countertop

There is a standard height for counter heights, which is 36 inches, although the height can be adapted based on the physical features of the people who use the kitchen, because it is not the same being over six feet tall than being under five feet tall.

For somebody of average height, between five feet and five eight, the height should be between 34 to 36 inches.
For a tall person, who is over six two, we recommend having a height of 37 to 39 inches.
For those people in a wheelchair, the ideal height would be between 30 to 32 inches.

The height of other kitchen features must also be considered such as the washer or dishwasher, especially if we want to place these beneath the countertop.

How to choose the right color

Based on the color of the other kitchen fittings and the decor in the rest of the house, there is a wide choice of Colours to choose from for our countertop.

• Clear tones: these create light, cleanliness, and a feeling of tidiness and order.
• Dark tones: these add elegance and distinction, provided that they are used correctly in combination with clearer tones. 
• Gray tones: these create an urban, industrial and refined look. They can also be mixed with clear and dark tones, as well as wood.
• Cream tones: these are more neutral and natural tones that offer warmth. In smaller sized kitchens they help to create a sense of space.
• Bright colors: for those brave enough, these can make your kitchen truly unique and add a sense of cheer and vitality to the space.

Material finishes and textures

With Cosentino’s surfaces, we can choose from a series of finishes depending on the style we are looking for.

Silestone has Polished, Suede, and Volcano finishes.

• Polished: shiny, smooth surface, with a continuous, intense, and consistent color.
• Suede: a matte appearance that conveys a unique experience to the touch with beauty and fineness.
• Volcano: a rustic and rough texture that is also attractive, soft and pleasant to the touch.

In Dekton we have the Utra Matte, Utra Texture, XGloss, Velvet, and the non-slip Grip+ finishes.

• Ultra Matte a smooth surface with no shine, with a visual appearance that coveys infinite purity.
• Ultra Texture: a unique surface to touch, it feels incredibly realistic as if you were in direct contact with nature and its textures. 
• XGloss: its sheen and clarity are its main features, adding a sense of hyperrealism, uniformity, and intensity to each color.
• Velvet: Dekton's latest finish. A soft and velvety texture which creates an indescribable experience for all your senses.
• GRIP+: our non-slip finish, suitable for wet areas such as the bathroom and outdoors.

In the case of Dekton, the finishes themselves cannot be chosen, but rather every color comes in a specific texture.

In the case of Sensa we can choose between Caresse, Leather and Polished.

• Polished: a shiny surface that plays with reflections.
• Caresse: an exclusive satin texture, with volume.
• Leather: matte, with a soft and very pleasant finish.

How to choose the cut for your countertop

We also have several options for the finishes of your countertop.

Straight: this is the simplest and most commonly used finish. It is a straight edge and is not rounded off.

Miter joint: this is a skirted finish which can measure an inch or so. This finish uses different thicknesses to create a visual effect that the countertop has a 3 inch skirt.

Rounded off: the countertop is rounded off to create a more rounded edge, usually used for granite countertops.

Beveled edges: this helps to soften the overall appearance of the countertop, with a slight 45° inclination on the edge.

How to choose our kitchen furniture layout and that of our countertop

• Linear kitchen: this is the most traditional, ideal for reduced spaces.
• Galley kitchens or double sided kitchens: these are ideal for rectangular spaces or those with a minimum width of 4 feet. 
• L-Shaped Kitchens: this is a trend seen with recent home renovations to combine the living room and kitchen.
• U-Shaped Kitchens: these are ideal for cooking as they have a practical layout.
• G-Shaped Kitchens or Breakfast Bar Kitchens: kitchens with breakfast bars or G-shaped kitchens help add storage space and also provide an area to eat and socialize while also separating two different spaces, such as the living room and kitchen.
• Island kitchens: these require a large amount of space but do add beauty and functionality to the space.
• Peninsula Kitchens: in this case there is a module against once wall, they are also good for large spaces and open plan homes where the kitchen and diner roll into one.

What about outdoor kitchens?

When it comes to outdoor kitchens it has to be Dekton, due to its low porosity and high resistance to extreme temperatures and UV rays, which all help to keep the structure, color, and features of your countertop intact.