Are you planning to redesign or redesign your kitchen and would rather opt for inexpensive kitchen worktops? These tips will help you make the right choice!
When planning a new kitchen, you are probably wondering about the materials that make affordable kitchen worktops possible. After you have already chosen the wall color, the kitchen cabinets and the floor covering, it is now time for the most important surfaces in the kitchen area. However, these are usually among the most demanding long-term purchases, which requires special care when choosing a kitchen worktop. And since such an investment is by no means small, it would make sense to weigh up all the advantages and disadvantages of the various options. This way, you can avoid mistakes, protect your budget, and make the best possible decision for your home. Here are some of the most common options you can consider.
How do you choose cheap kitchen countertops without making the kitchen look cheap?
As you probably already know, kitchen remodeling can tooin small kitchen spacesbe one of the most labor-intensive and costly residential projects. But although kitchen renovation is an expensive pleasure, it is advisable to carry it out as qualitatively as possible so that it can pay off in the long run. Fortunately, today there is a huge selection of materials that can be both valuable and inexpensive. Whether you're planning on rebuilding or looking to make some improvements on a budget, this can contribute to a better end result and cost savings.
In addition to the countertops, kitchen appliances and kitchen furniture are also some of the most important elements of such a project. This can quickly break your budget, which is why it would be easier to look for some clever ideas for cheap kitchen countertops. Check out the following examples of such materials that can save you a certain amount of money. Below you will also find some advice on how to make your worktops look elegant inexpensively.
What to Consider When Choosing Countertop Materials?
Given the variety on the market, which materials should you choose so that they not only fit the kitchen visually, but are also durable, sustainable and user-friendly? To do this, you should first consider how you want to use cheap kitchen worktops. For example, are you a passionate cook or do you often have guests or a large family? Do you primarily use your kitchen area for cooking and do you prepare everything yourself or do you prefer quick meals? Do you have several kitchen tools or do you prefer to do the basic cooking tasks by hand? These are all important factors that you should consider before choosing the appropriate worktop.
With so many possible options, it can actually be challenging to choose the right one without going broke. In addition, a kitchen counter is not only used for preparing and serving, but sometimes also for eating. For this reason, it should be able to withstand regular and intensive cleaning. Additionally, these surfaces should make your cooking area even more attractive, which is why they must complement kitchen cabinets. Therefore, it is important to choose both practical and affordable kitchen worktops as well as visually appealing materials in relation to your lifestyle.
What frugal tricks can you use when buying?
When installing a solid surface kitchen countertop, the standard method is to create an edge about 3cm thick. However, the selected plate could be a little thicker. So in order to achieve the required size, you can have it cut to size by the manufacturer and then stick another piece of the material on the top. There is also usually a sheet of plywood on the edge behind this laminated piece. The labor involved in manufacturing, as well as the lamination and plywood paneling, can significantly increase the costs accordingly. In this regard, a cheaper and more stylish option is to use only single-layer material. Nowadays, given the ever-increasing prices, this is a modern and sustainable trend not only in Europe but also in the United States. This saves around 30% of the cost of a medium-sized kitchen.
So if you actually want to have a high-quality and long-lasting kitchen worktop, it should be made of durable material. It is also advisable to match them with the rest of the elements in the room and get a good price for them. Cheap quartz kitchen countertops are somewhat of a rarity, although they are a good choice. This material is therefore one of the highest quality and preferred variants. However, there are some colors that are in the lower price groups but do not compromise on quality. You should rather rely on proven brands in the industry, as they often offer a good price-performance ratio. The extremely cheap quartz products are usually made from leftover material after the manufacturing process.
What about granite if you want to buy cheap kitchen countertops?
If you absolutely want to choose granite but want to avoid high costs, you can also save by choosing a color. There are some colors of granite slabs that cost less than others. This is mainly due to the availability of these colors, although exotic granite, for example from the mountains in Brazil, is rarer and therefore much more expensive. A cheap yet high-quality option is to choose locally produced granite tiles. You can check with a local manufacturer for cheaper options, with inexpensive kitchen countertops available in brown and green.
Granite is a natural stone that is extremely strong and eye-catching at the same time. In addition, each granite kitchen countertop has a unique appearance and can withstand high temperatures, humidity, scratches and impacts. In addition, the natural material is easier to clean, although its disadvantage is that it is heavy and requires a very stable base for proper installation, which can increase costs even further. Therefore, if you have a limited budget, you can avoid this option by becoming more informed about the following alternatives.
Which 6 materials to choose instead of granite etc. for the kitchen worktop?
So that you can better orientate yourself among the huge selection, it would make sense to understand the advantages and disadvantages of different types of kitchen worktops. This will help you make the best choice for your kitchen and the examples listed below are some of the most preferred options that you could use to replace quartz or granite countertops. In addition to the price, the most important factor to consider when looking for the best possible kitchen worktop is of course the material. The most common options available to you are alternative products such as worktops made of MDF, laminate, wood or artificial composite materials. However, each of these has its own unique properties.
Cheap kitchen worktops made of laminate and MDF
These products consist of layers of plastic glued to a chipboard core. There is a huge selection of different styles and colors available to you. For those who cannot afford granite or quartz kitchen countertops, laminate would be a suitable choice. Here are some of the pros and cons of this option.
- Advantages: Laminated worktops can visually imitate natural wood very well, but at the same time they are much easier to clean and antibacterial. The material is therefore also available at very affordable prices. Laminate is also more resistant to high temperatures, dirt and stains. This is why many interior designers working on a minimal budget often turn to the material. Additionally, laminate flooring can be found in different designs and textures, making it easier to find the right pattern and color. However, this is where the positive aspects of this option end.
- Disadvantages: The disadvantages of laminate are that it is more susceptible to damage from sharp objects and unfortunately the scratches cannot be repaired. Due to its structure of materials glued together, laminate can also quickly deform and form bubbles. It's also not worth repairing such damage as it will eat up all the savings you originally benefited from.
Of course, there are also expensive versions of laminate that are of higher quality, but these are still cheaper than granite etc. The main reason for this is that such cheap kitchen worktops are made of thin laminate panels that are glued to medium-density fiberboard (MDF). This makes them cheaper, although you only have to pay more for the thin top and side layers. Hardware stores also offer prefabricated options because it is difficult to laminate the panels yourself. The reason for this is that it makes it difficult to create the rolled edges on MDF boards like the laminated versions.
Solid wood as a reliable and affordable material for kitchen worktops
Regardless of whether you want to opt for a modern or traditional kitchen design, a kitchen worktop made of natural wood would always be a good choice. However, you should prepare for regular maintenance and care and possibly pay a little more. In addition, wooden counters, or so-called butcher counters, are made of solid wood or wooden panels of this type. This is a stable and durable solution that allows you to safely place, cut and prepare food. What other advantages and disadvantages does this variant have?
- Pros: The look of wood countertops is unique, although it could mimic laminate reasonably adequately. However, thanks to its softness, the wood is much more pleasant as a work surface and is gentle on the knives used. For these reasons, it is a popular choice for affordable kitchen countertops among professional chefs in restaurants. In addition, a surface made of natural wood brings incomparable cosiness to the kitchen, while being stable and attractive. If minor scratches appear on the material, they can be easily repaired using sandpaper and a special preparation. Properly impregnated wood panels are even better, although you can do this yourself to save on the price. It's cheaper than concrete or granite and looks even better over time.
- Disadvantages: What could make wood panels disadvantageous is their questionable resistance to high temperatures. Additionally, frequent use without specific wood cleaning products can make the surface more susceptible to moisture, with the risk of bacteria forming. Natural wood panels are usually more difficult to maintain than other materials. You should dry your wooden kitchen worktop quickly after cooking and clean it carefully using suitable cleaning products to avoid staining.
Affordable kitchen worktops made of acrylic, artificial stone or solid surface material
Products such as artificial stone usually consist of a mixture of resin, quartz and specially used pigments. These make the material waterproof and give it strength and durability. In addition, such kitchen countertops can be found on the market in a variety of colors and textures. Although they are made of synthetic materials, they have a stable and hard surface that is not as susceptible to damage. One of the most typical examples of this is Corian. This material can resemble the design of various countertops such as granite or marble, but is easier to maintain and more resistant to high temperatures, moisture and fading. Below are some of the advantages and disadvantages of such products.
- Pros: Solid surface kitchen countertops made from composite materials such as solid surface are typically relatively affordable and available in a variety of finishes. When it comes to appearance, these products usually look better than laminate countertops. Accordingly, you can make your kitchen more convincing by imitating expensive materials such as marble and granite.
- Cheap acrylic kitchen worktops also look modern and elegant, and you can find them in numerous designs. This means that such surfaces can be easily adapted to almost any interior design style and are easy to clean.
- Disadvantages: Unfortunately, inexpensive kitchen worktops made in this way are not particularly heat and scratch-resistant like those made of natural stone, glass or quartz. Although prices can vary, many prefer to spend more money for a higher quality material.
- Another alternative would be limestone, for example, which is not a particularly common material for making kitchen worktops. However, this can make your kitchen look more elegant, with limestone being much cheaper than granite, concrete or marble. It is mainly available in the sandy tones of white and beige, but its main disadvantage is that limestone is very susceptible to scratches and damage.
Choose ceramic tiles for the kitchen worktop
Last but not least, ceramic tiles could also be a recommended option as a lining for inexpensive kitchen worktops. These are therefore available in a wide variety of colors, shapes and textures, which offers a certain degree of flexibility in kitchen design. Typically the price is affordable, and they are also relatively easy to clean and stain and scratch resistant. The following advantages and disadvantages are worth mentioning.
- Advantages: As a solid material, ceramic tiles are resistant to moisture, staining and high temperatures. There are also glazed versions that are even more scratch-resistant and resistant to high temperatures. However, the main advantage is that ceramic tiles are easy to maintain.
- Disadvantages: Despite the easy-care surface, it is possible that the cleaning work is a little more complex due to the existing joints. If you often neglect this, there is a risk that the ceramic tiles will look worn and mold and bacteria will develop on them. Additionally, inferior versions can easily crack or break under the pressure of a heavy object, but can still be replaced. Additionally, installing tiles may not be as easy as installing another kitchen countertop.
Conclusion
Hopefully the information and tips above have helped you make the right decision and find cheap kitchen countertops. It is not always the best idea to follow trends as they are usually expensive but are not the best option for the situation. Of course, depending on your needs and taste, you can choose worktops made of stainless steel, glass or concrete and save on other design elements. Compromises are also possible when choosing colors and other factors that are not so crucial to functionality.
