Choosing the best natural stone for kitchen flooring and countertops is of prime importance. While natural stones have a significant effect on the appearance, they increase the functionality of your kitchen.
The process of selecting quality material for your flooring and kitchen countertops is interesting and inspiring. It will significantly improve the aesthetics of your kitchen and enhance its productivity as well. However, there are a variety of natural stones available in the contemporary market today.
Natural stone has been a long-standing material of choice for kitchen countertops. Apart from its attractive looks, it will also make your kitchen relatively easy to clean and maintain.
While going through the various options, you should consider essential factors like the look, durability, and resistance of some natural stones like marble, quartz, limestone, and granite. Each of them has its unique advantages and weaknesses. This guide aims to help you narrow down the best natural stone for kitchen flooring and countertops.
Marble Countertops
Marble has been a trendy and in-demand material for kitchens since times immemorial. It has been used in building several royal palaces across the world.
Marble is a metamorphic product of limestone that is subjected to extremely high igneous temperatures. That results in it getting crystallized and gaining a beautiful, royal look.
Unsurprisingly, many admit marble to be the best stone for kitchen countertops and flooring. Its elegant appearance and luxurious style make it a popular choice among homeowners. Indeed, it can make your kitchen so graceful that your guests could feel they are in a historical mansion of sorts.
Despite this, marble does have its downsides as well. It is vulnerable to stains and scratches and requires relatively more maintenance than other natural stone countertops.
You will have to seal it regularly and pay particular attention to its maintenance. That will ensure that it will retain its elegant looks for years to come. However, you need to arrange for a professional to finish it in order to reduce the slippery nature of its surface.
Quartz
Any discussion regarding the best natural stone for kitchen designing is incomplete without mentioning quartz. Apart from its remarkable durability, the quartz countertop also possesses a smooth finish and rich textures. It is also available in a wide variety of colors for you to choose from.
One of the most notable advantages of quartz over other natural stones is that it is non-porous. Thus, it is remarkably resistant to scratches, stains, and damage due to heat. Quartz does not require any sealing and is relatively easy and straightforward to maintain.
If you aim for a natural kitchen that can retain its regal look and functionality with minimal maintenance, quartz could be an excellent option for you. However, because of their lavish qualities, quartz countertops tend to be relatively expensive. If you are operating on a limited budget, then this is something you need to keep in mind.
Granite
Granite has enjoyed immense popularity among homeowners and designers alike for a long time. Many people unanimously consider it to be the best natural stone for kitchen countertops. It is available in a huge range of colors and patterns for you to choose from. Apart from that, granite is remarkably sturdy and widely available all across the world.
One of its most significant advantages is that it is relatively cost-effective. Thus, you can opt for granite even if you are working with a tight budget.
But, one of the notable downsides of granite kitchen countertops is that it is porous. So, you need to regularly clean and reseal it to prevent damage and staining. Ideally, it will be best to try to choose the floor tiles and countertop slabs together for matching purposes.
Limestone
With its traditional and rustic looks, limestone is a strong contender for the best natural stone for kitchen flooring. In particular, limestone that has been quarried from Northern Africa or the Middle East has a truly splendid appearance.
Nevertheless, since this natural stone is highly porous, you need to go for floor tiles with greater density. Similar to granite, you will also need to reseal it regularly to prevent damage.
Slate
If you want an industrial or straightforward look for your kitchen, you can try choosing slate flooring for your kitchen. You should especially consider the dark-colored variants that are less susceptible to staining.
Slate flooring with regular finishing looks beautifully natural, with just a little polish revealing the nonslip texture. When you pair slate with kitchen cabinets having a light and natural wood finish, it gains a remarkably sharp appearance. Thus, it is a dynamic contender for the best natural stone for kitchen flooring.
Travertine
Travertine is a famous natural stone for the dining room and kitchen flooring among several pizzerias in Naples and Italy’s Campania region. That is mainly because of its beautiful appearance and highly persistent durability.
If you properly seal, fill and hone it regularly, you can maintain it for several years to come. If you decide to go with travertine for your kitchen floor, you should get it finished with a natural look, rather than a glossy one. Moreover, it notably goes well with open floor arrangements adorned with natural stone surrounds.
What is the Best Natural Stone for Kitchen?
The kitchen is one of the most mattering areas in your home plays a vital role in your daily life. Investing in natural stone for your kitchen flooring and countertops is well worth it.
Therefore, make your choice after careful consideration and make sure you weigh the pros and cons of all these natural stones properly. Keep in mind that an apt choice of natural stone for your kitchen countertop will prove greatly beneficial in due course of time.
You will have a luxurious and stylish kitchen area, and it will take much less effort on your part to clean and maintain it. Purchasing a granite stone and tile floor cleaner can help you increase the longevity of natural stone in your kitchen even more.