Avoid These 7 Outdated Kitchen Countertops
Countertop materials affect both the look and function of your kitchen. Some materials, once popular, are now considered dated due to maintenance issues, lack of durability, or overuse. If you’re planning a kitchen update, here are the countertop styles to avoid.
1. Tile Countertops
Tile countertops were popular from the 1950s through the 1980s due to low cost and design flexibility, but they stain easily, collect grime in grout lines, and chip or crack more than modern materials.
2. Laminate Countertops
Laminate countertops were once a budget-friendly choice, but they chip, scratch, and warp easily, look artificial, and can lower resale value.
3. Waterfall Edges
Waterfall countertops, once seen as luxurious, are now considered outdated due to overuse and limited function, they reduce side cabinet storage and add no practical benefit.
4. Granite Countertops
Granite countertops were popular in the early 2000s for a very good reason. They are a natural stone, highly durable, and come in a gorgeous variety of patterns and colors, but this very popularity has led many kitchen designers to consider other kitchen countertop options. Granite countertops were popular in the early 2000s. Many homes adopted this same countertop type at the same time, and this has given some granite varieties a dated look.
Some people still want granite because it is cost effective and long-lasting. If you want to use granite in your kitchen, look for lighter and solid-colored options. The speckled brown and black varieties are the most outdated.
5. Stainless Steel Countertops
Stainless steel countertops, once associated with industrial kitchens, also became popular in residential kitchens. Stainless steel countertops are an extremely practical choice; they are durable, anti-bacterial, and stain-resistant, but they lack the warmth that many homeowners want to create in their kitchen.
The hard surface of these countertops can amplify noise in the kitchen, making them a bad choice for people who want a quiet home. They can also be difficult to keep clean from fingerprints, smudges, and watermarks.
6. Marble Countertops
Let’s be clear, marble countertops will always be a timeless and beautiful countertop for kitchens, but the broad love affair with marble countertops might be waning. This is not because marble is any less beautiful; it is only because modern families want more durable and cost-effective countertop options that are still gorgeous.
As much as everyone loves marble, it is a soft and porous natural stone. This can make it chip, crack, and stain more easily than other, more durable options. If you still love marble, and many people do, consider using it just for an island, where it won’t receive as much wear and tear, and use an alternate material on the other countertops that receive more action.
7, Concrete Countertops (DIY-Style)
Concrete countertops stain, crack easily, and require frequent sealing, making them impractical for most kitchens.