Pros and Cons of Mixing Countertop Materials

Your kitchen’s countertops should make a statement about their utility as well as their design. There’s a lot of work that goes into designing a modern kitchen countertop and choosing its materials, from drawing up its initial template all the way to its final installation. With so much time and energy that you need to invest in order to get the perfect countertops for your kitchen, you should make sure you’re also picking the right materials for them. 

Homeowners can use multiple countertop materials to maximize their kitchen’s utility as well as its design and aesthetic. The challenge of using different materials and additional countertops is improving the look and feel of your kitchen space without going over your budget or falling prey to fleeting trends. Let’s look at some of the biggest pros and cons homeowners face when it comes to using multiple countertop materials and designs in the kitchen. 

Pro: You Can Maximize Your Kitchen’s Utility 

The island in your kitchen ties your stovetop, lighting, tiling, cabinets, and of course, your countertops all together. Since your island is such an important (and delicate) part of your kitchen, it probably doesn’t see as much wear and tear as, say, a perimeter counter does. If you know you want a perimeter countertop that’s a bit heartier than your island, consider choosing different materials for both a perimeter and island countertop to maximize your kitchen’s utility. 

For homeowners considering different materials for two or more countertops in their kitchen, granite is a great choice for perimeter countertops that they know they will use most often. Granite is the quintessential countertop stone for kitchens that need durability in their design and some time-tested aesthetic thrown into the mix. Slabs of granite strike the perfect balance between practicality and elegance and are an affordable choice for those who want a quality perimeter countertop around their island. 

You can offset the cost of a perimeter countertop by investing in affordable materials that don't require regular upkeep. On top of granite, quartz is another smart material to choose for a perimeter countertop that doesn't compromise on quality and demands relatively little maintenance. Quartz boasts a low price point and works best for creative countertop designs that encourage undetected seaming for longer sections like perimeter countertops.

Pro: Your Island Will Stand Out Even More

There are few better ways to make your island countertop stand out than by giving it a luxurious material to work with. And, if you decide to use different materials for your kitchen's countertops, you can give your island its very own design without worrying that you’ll ruin its surface. One of the biggest drawing points for homeowners using different materials for their kitchen countertops is the ability to make the kitchen's island stand out as much as possible with a material that makes it shine. 

A perimeter countertop design that uses affordable, durable materials such as quartz and granite gives you a larger budget for your island's countertop materials. For homeowners who favor a more traditional countertop design, marble, for example, is a popular choice for islands with a luscious, porous character. Marble is a godsend for those with an eye for chic design and flows best in kitchens and space with little activity due to its relatively high maintenance needs. 

Pro: More Materials Means Better Lighting

There's nothing quite as cozy as a warmly lit kitchen. The lighting in your kitchen is an essential part of its design and should complement the materials your countertops use. More materials in your kitchen's design mean more options to turn your kitchen's lighting into a bigger part of your space. 

You can apply different finishes to multiple countertops to play with your kitchen's lighting in exciting and attractive ways. For example, countertop surfaces with honed finishes can turn your kitchen's lighting into a non-reflective glow that exudes warmth. Honed surfaces work best on materials with relatively plain designs so that you can soak up and redistribute as much light as possible back into your kitchen without overwhelming the design of your material.

Con: You Invest More Time and Energy Before Installation

Big decisions like installing a new countertop require coordination, care, and time. If you decide you want to use multiple materials for your kitchen's countertops, you should expect to spend a little more time and energy planning your project. 

During your initial and follow-up project meetings, you’ll need to discuss the surface, type, edges, and finishes for the countertops for each material in your design. This also means that your completion timelines may be a bit more stretched out compared to projects that use just one material. 

Con: You Risk Falling Prey to Trends  

A current trend among homeowners is to use different countertop materials in the kitchen, well - just because. The biggest drawback to renovating your countertops with multiple materials is that it may affect your home’s resale value because prospective buyers may not like the design. If you think you may sell your home within a few years, you may want to choose a more classic design. However, if you’re going to stay in the home for many years, then move forward with the stylized design you love.

Schedule a Design Appointment Alpha Surfaces 

At Alpha Surfaces, we make it as simple as possible for customers to get the countertop materials that work best for them by providing expert service every step of the way. We know that the best way to help you make smart countertop purchases is by providing detailed information about the materials available to you. 

If you’re interested in using multiple materials for your kitchen countertops but aren’t sure where to start, we’ve got you covered. Schedule a design meeting with our team today, and we’ll get started on your project.