Granite and other stones, including engineered quartz, are very popular as materials for kitchen countertops, and for good reason. They are beautiful and durable, and they add considerable value to any home. However, it can be difficult choosing the right color to coordinate with the kitchen. Granite and engineered quartz, especially, come in a wide variety of color combinations that can make or break a kitchen. It often requires a designer’s eye that most homeowners simply do not have. Simply choosing a stone slab that looks great on a website does not mean it will go well with your kitchen. A mistake like that can cost thousands to replace unless you are willing to live with it for years. It is better to choose the right color for your kitchen the first time.
Bring samples
The best way to color coordinate your kitchen is to bring color swatches of the major elements of the room. This includes the cabinets, walls, and floor. If you don’t have physical swatches, take pictures of each one in both natural light and artificial light. You can use the photos to check if a certain stone slab you fancy will look good with what you already have. Dark cherry cabinets, for instance, goes well with beige, while white cabinets would look fantastic with black or dark gray stone countertops.
On the other hand, if you plan to remodel your whole kitchen, you may want to concentrate on coordinating the floor and stone countertops, and simply choose wall and cabinet colors that go with them. It is far easier to change your cabinet and wall color than replacing your floor or countertops if you make a mistake. An even better idea is to get your countertop and floor materials from the same supplier. That way, you will definitely get a good match. You might even a good discount!
Go to the showroom
This is one case when online shopping may not be a good idea. For one thing, the slab you choose may not look exactly how it appears on the website. You may not be able to see the fine details that could subtly change the texture and shades of the slab. For another, granite slabs go fast, so the one you took so much to choose may not even be available by the time you are ready to order it. Similar slabs may be available, but may not be exactly what you want or expect.
The best thing to do is to go to the stone warehouse and do your shopping there. Take your time in choosing granite slabs as each one is different, so you want to make sure you choose one that is enough for what you need. It would be a disaster to choose one and find out that it is the only one of its kind left, and you need three of them! If you want a uniform look, you might have better luck with engineered quartz. On the other hand, having a little variation in each of your countertops can lend a unique look to your kitchen.
If you only have a general idea of the color you want, ask the warehouse staff for subsets of what is available in that color, and look at each one closely and from afar. There can be significant variations in the overall look of a slab depending on its mineral composition.
Think about your lights
Aside from the natural color and composition of the stone slab, you also have to consider the kind of lighting you have (or plan to have) in your kitchen. The amount and quality of the light can affect the look of stone, especially granite. If your kitchen has lots of natural light, dark granite can really shine. Mahogany, black, and deep blue granite look almost alive in good lighting. If your kitchen has one window and the rest is cast in gloom, a lighter stone may give more cheer.
Consider your budget
You should realize that natural stone such as granite is not made to order. Some color combinations and textures are more common than others are, so they tend to be cheaper. Rare slabs and those that come from certain quarries abroad can be very expensive, even if they look very similar from locally sourced slabs. You can avoid spending more than you have to by telling the warehouse staff your budget so they will steer you to slabs you can afford. It is a waste of time looking at pricier ones if you can’t afford it. Sometimes a warehouse will have a clearance sale. Start with those for bargain basement prices. You might want to consider using two different stone colors if the ones on sale are not enough for what you need. You could use one for the main kitchen counter and another one for your kitchen island. Just make sure they still go well together. You might also consider granite tiles instead of slabs; those are perfectly fine to look at and they are cheaper to install, too.
Conclusion
The choice of stone countertops can make your kitchen look amazing if you do it right. Picking out the best stone color for your kitchen countertops does not have to be nerve-wracking, however. If you plan your moves right, you should be able to make the right decisions. Follow these guidelines and you will soon have perfect countertops for many years to come.