Your Personal Guide to Design Kitchen Countertops and Backsplash

Kitchen countertops and backsplashes are one of the most flexible renovation tasks when it comes to updating your kitchen. The budget and design of these two can range from anywhere between a three-digit figure to five digits. Upgrading your kitchen countertops and backsplash can easily enhance the design of your kitchen. This article will help you understand the function of kitchen countertops and backsplashes so you can design them for maximum efficiency.

Importance and Function of a Kitchen Countertop

Gourmet kitchen features white shaker cabinets with marble countertops, stone subway tile backsplash, double door stainless steel refrigerator and gorgeous kitchen island. Northwest, USA

A kitchen countertop is one of the most visible and used features in your kitchen. The countertops have to be solid as they hold small appliances and are used regularly as a surface to perform various kitchen tasks. Many homeowners use the countertops for eating and dining purposes as well.

Along with kitchen cabinets, the kitchen countertop is the first thing one notices when they enter the kitchen. The countertops have the ability to enhance the appearance of your kitchen for the naked eye.

Importance and Function of a Kitchen Backsplash

Mosaic backsplash in kitchen. 3d rendering. Modern interior. Classic style.

A good quality backsplash has garnered immense importance for a well-designed, protected, clean, and safe kitchen. You can choose ceramic, glass or metal tiles as well as stone for your kitchen backsplash. A perfectly installed backsplash protects your kitchen walls from spills and splatters preventing stains, they allow you to personalize your kitchen, protect it from mildew, bugs and pets and most importantly, are easy to clean up!

How to Design Kitchen Countertops and Backsplash

Coordinate Colours

Modern kitchen countertop with food ingredients and green herbs.

Countertop and backsplash colours compliment each other. Ideally, they should not be the same but if you include if they share some design elements, your kitchen can look beautiful. For example, let’s say you have decided to choose tiles for your backsplash and granite for your kitchen counter. If the granite countertop has a grey and cream design, then you can choose cream tiles for the backsplash. This will balance the colour palette and the patterns.

Choosing the Right Material

Kitchen countertop colors made of quartz, granite and marble slabs

There are a variety of materials available in the market to choose from for this specific project. Though laminate countertops and tile backsplashes are very popular amongst Canadian homeowners, you can always experiment with different materials based on your budget and functionality. For kitchen countertops, you can choose from modern laminate, granite, marble or quartz surfaces. For the backsplash, you can choose from different types of tiles (glass, ceramic, porcelain, metal, travertine, thermoplastic), stone veneer, glass or metal panels, marble slab, wood, brick or sticker wallpaper. With so many options of material, it’s easy to get confused when making a specific choice. You can consult a nearby kitchen renovator to help you with this particular pickle.

Edges and Thickness of Countertop

Beautiful wooden kitchen worktop with special tickness on kitchen cabinet.

The recommended thickness for a kitchen countertop is between 2” to 5”. The thickness of your countertop ensures the strength and stability required for the durability of the material. Also, make sure that you don’t have sharp edges on your countertop as it can be harmful and accident-prone. You can ask your contractor for a smooth or oval edge countertop for better functionality.

Choosing the right countertop and backsplash can be very time-consuming as you have to consider the cost, design and functionality. We highly recommend you talk to a kitchen designer to ensure the most visible part of your kitchen is appealing, durable and fits in your budget.