The Brief

• The kitchen is the heart of the home, where family meets and friends congregate – the most popular room in the house.
• Choosing a kitchen countertop can be likened to finding a life partner. They’re with you for better or worse.
• Quartz, granite, laminate or butcher block are the four major choices for your selection of countertops. 

Not only is the kitchen the heart of the home, it’s also where the magic happens. It’s where midnight snacks are raided, coffee is brewed like lifeblood, and families congregate all at once every holiday, birthday, and even Tuesday evenings. Whether you’re flipping pancakes or flipping a house, one thing is clear. The kitchen is the real MVP of any home.

Choosing a kitchen countertop is kind of like picking a life partner. You want something attractive, durable and capable of handling stress. Whether you go sleek, bold with granite, thrifty with laminate or cheap with butcher block counters will define your kitchen’s personality.

If your kitchen had a dating profile, it would probably list itself as “social, hardworking, lowkey stylish, and loves long Sunday brunches.”

So if you’re a homeowner itching to remodel or a buyer hunting for your dream home, investing in this high-traffic zone is a power move. And when it comes to a kitchen remodel, one of the biggest decisions is what countertop to install. 

Here’s a bite-sized breakdown of the most popular countertop materials that could be starring in your next kitchen makeover.

Quartz

The Instagram-Ready Workhorse

If countertops had a personal assistant, it would be quartz.  Organized, low-maintenance, and makes you look way fancier than you actually are. It’s made of 94% stupground quartz and comes in finishes that sound like spa treatments: honed, sandblasted, embossed and fancy. Quartz typically costs about the same as natural stone.

The Good: Super durable, stylish, and won’t hold a grudge if you spill wine on it.

The Catch: It can literally crack under pressure especially at the corners, so opt for rounded edges if you’re prone to kitchen clumsiness.

Granite

The One-of-a-Kind Classic

Granite is the Beyoncé of countertops, elegant, timeless, and never exactly the same twice. Each slab is unique, so if you like your home with a side of “no one else has this,” granite is your go-to.

The Good: Laughs in the face of heat, scratches, and knife slips. Plus, it’s naturally resistant to bacteria.

The Catch: Like quartz, corners can chip if you get too wild with your top chef show reenactments.

Laminate

The Budget-Friendly BFF

Laminate is the savvy shopper’s dream: affordable, colorful, and surprisingly tough for its price tag. It’s like the IKEA of countertops stylish on a budget, and you might even install it yourself with only minor swearing involved.

The Good: Easy on the wallet and available in plenty of colors, patterns and textures.

The Catch: Don’t treat it like a cutting board unless you want scars that last a lifetime. Be careful to always use a cutting board on any laminate surface.

Butcher Block

The Warm, Woodsy Wild Card

If you like the rustic farmhouse feel or an artisanal bakery vibe then Butcher block could be just what you’ve been looking for. It’s basically the hipster of countertops.

The Good: Gorgeous and affordable. 

The Catch: It’s high maintenance. Butcher block should be sealed immediately after installation to protect against bacteria and warping. Though high maintenance, many homeowners find the unique look worth the extra elbow grease.