Kitchen Countertop Design Trends for 2018

The kitchen is truly the heart of the home. And at the heart of the kitchen are the countertops.

It’s a good idea to always keep your kitchen looking its best. But even if you can’t afford a total overhaul, there are some easy, cheaper ways to keep your countertops looking updated and stylish. Here are some of 2018’s biggest countertop trends.

Texture or Polish?

Interior design is all about playing with various textures and mixing them up, so it makes sense that this trend would extend to countertops one day too. A honed finish is matte, meaning it has almost no shine. The surface should be smooth, but the overall sheen should be low. This type of finish is great for concealing flaws or scratches that would be obvious on a polished surface.

Leathered is another treatment that is kind of between honed and polished. It has a gentle sheen but is less glossy than a polished look, and feels different to the touch as well. It tends to look a bit more sophisticated than honed, and also has the benefit of concealing smudges and water spots.

Neutral Wins Out Over Bold Colors

There was a time with an accent wall with a bold color was the trend, but not anymore. Designers are leaning more toward soft, neutral tones when it comes to countertops. Instead of stark black, you’ll see white, beige, gray, or “greige”–gray plus beige. This trend toward neutral combined with the trend toward more natural lighting in kitchens really makes kitchens look bigger, brighter, and airier.

Quartz Is Still Trendy

Granite was leading the countertop game for years–it’s strong, long-lasting, and looks premium. But does have a pretty big disadvantage: it’s porous, which means it’s susceptible to staining and makes it hard to sanitize since it fosters the growth of bacteria. Granite can be sealed, but the sealant wears off over time, so it has to be resealed over and over again throughout its life.

Quartz, however, is non-porous, which makes it low-maintenance, resistant to staining, and one of the most hygienic countertops you can own. It’s also quite durable and comes in many colors, patterns, and finishes.

Veining and Patterns

It’s becoming more common for homeowners looking to inject some character into their counters. And with today’s technology, that’s become easier than ever. Quartz, for example, can be designed to look like a natural stone like marble or granite. This is done by creating realistic veins in the slabs.

Countertop designs with character are a great way to liven up your kitchen in a gentle way.

Concrete Countertops

As far as kitchen countertop trends go, concrete as a material is on the rise. One of the best things about it is that it’s highly customizable–you can add in just about whatever mix-ins you want: fossils, tile, recycled glass. It also tends to be more affordable than other options like granite or quartz, and with the right training, you can even make it look like one of the more expensive materials. The Ashby System teaches you how to make concrete countertops look like natural stone.

Visit Stonecrete Systems and buy the Ashby Countertop System today!