Update Your Kitchen with Inexpensive Worktops (That Aren’t Pricey Granite)

The kitchen is one of the most intimate rooms of the home. In this space, we gather with friends and loved ones, sharing food and sharing memories. It makes sense to create a kitchen that’s inviting and functional, but kitchen remodels can be expensive.

Luckily, there are a few options that fit the bill, to keep your kitchen remodeling bill right where it needs to be. Start with your worktops and check out these inexpensive options. Find even more information and inspiration on Angie’s List.

Tile

Tile isn’t just a great option for flooring or kitchen backsplashes, it’s an affordable alternative to expensive granite or natural stone worktops. Tile is available in a wide array of different styles, colours and patterns so you can let your personality shine with a little tile design.

Laminate

For worktops that mimic the look of marble or granite, consider laminate. These inexpensive, low-maintenance worktops are not only available in different styles to fit the look of your kitchen, they are functional, too. Laminate worktops are scratch- and heat-resistant, so a slip of a knife or a hot pan on the counter won’t hurt the integrity of your countertop surface. ConsumerReports.org writes about four reasons to love laminate.

Engineered Stone or Quartz Composite

This style of countertop is pricier than tile or laminate worktops, however, unlike natural stone, engineered-stone worktops come with a warranty — most ranging from 10 to 15 years. These worktops are made up of mostly ground quartz and a polyester resin, which gives engineered quartz its colour. Some engineered-stone worktops are made with metallic flecks or recycled glass for even more interest. These worktops are beautiful and highly resilient and durable. Plus, these quartz composite worktops offer the natural look of stone for much less.

Solid Surface

Solid surface worktops are more expensive than laminate or tile worktops. These worktops can be customised to your liking, as they range in colour and style options. Solid surface worktopstops are not heat- or scratch-resistant. But don’t let that turn you off — imperfections can be fixed. They just require a little sanding.

Concrete

Concrete countertops are one-of-a-kind and can be customised to your liking by adding in additional materials, like glass for example, to give it a unique look. Concrete worktops can be shaped, coloured and finished any way that you desire, with the help of a skilled craftsman.

Wood

A wood worktop can add a warm, rustic appeal to your home. Wood requires a bit more maintenance, and you still have to protect the surface. It’s recommended to use a cutting board while slicing up veggies, and experts recommend choosing a style that’s been sealed with a waterproof varnish to keep your wood worktop looking like new. Consider that white oak, teak, redwood, yellow cedar and mahogany are naturally more resistant to water than others. The Inspired Room offers a Q&A about the pros and cons of wood counters.

Have you got a favourite style?

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