Choosing Granite for Kitchen Countertops

granite countertops

Table of Contents

You can do yourself a big favor by installing great-looking kitchen countertops in your home. It will make your kitchen a lot more attractive and raise the value of your home considerably. Even if you are not looking to sell anytime soon, it is always good to be prepared. Choosing granite for kitchen countertops is a smart move.

The thing with granite is it comes in such a wide variety of patterns and colors that it can be hard to choose the right one for your kitchen. You have the more common speckled gray to more exotic white, black, green, and blue.

You want to make the right choice the first time because granite countertops represent quite a bit of change and they last for a very long time. You will not be able to justify replacing them anytime soon. These tips should help you in choosing granite for kitchen countertops.

Match with the cabinet colors

granite countertop that matches the dominant color of the kitchen

Kitchen designers usually base their color palette on one major element. You can go one of two routes when deciding on the granite slab for your kitchen. The first one is to choose granite with the primary color that matches the main color of the kitchen, which is typically the cabinet. The second one is to choose granite with veins or streaks that match the primary color of the kitchen.

For example, if you have dark wood cabinets in a stained finish, you can choose brown or black granite with tan streaks. You can also choose light colored granite with brown or black streaks or veins.

Consider the space

light granite countertop in small kitchen

Your kitchen countertops have a lot to do with the visual space. If you have a small kitchen, you might want to choose light colored granite such as gray or beige to make it look larger. The same principle applies for bathrooms.

You might have a bit of an issue with maintenance, as light colored countertops tend to show up dirt more easily. On the other hand, granite does not stain easily, so it is only a matter of wiping down your countertops regularly to keep it in pristine condition.

If you have a larger kitchen, darker granite is a good way to introduce some drama into it. You can also safely choose dark granite if you have a small kitchen that gets a lot of natural light.

Go for a contrast

modern kitchen with stunning granite countertop

 If you are just replacing your kitchen countertops, you want to consider the overall design of your existing kitchen before choosing a stone. Some kitchens already have a lot of color, so you want to strike a balance by choosing plain granite slabs. On the other hand, if you have a mostly neutral kitchen, you want to kick things up a notch by choosing granite in bold colors and complicated patterns. For instance, if you have flat front cabinets in your kitchen, a complex granite design would go very well with them.

Check out these pairing

oak cabinets with dark granite

Designers have long since established some classic pairing for granite countertops. You can use these safely choose granite slabs for your own kitchen.

  1. Deep brown cabinets and granite with greenish hues
  2. Light wood cabinets such as oak and dark granite such as black granite
  3. Rich red cabinets such as cherry and granite with white, green, or earth tones
  4. Dark or espresso hardwood cabinets such as mahogany and neutral or gold granite

Quick color tips

If you are still struggling with your choice, here are some quick colors tips that might help you.

White granite

white granite countertops

The most common colors for granite is brown, beige, gray, and pink, so white granite is rather rare. Additionally, it is very difficult to solid white granite. However, if you happen upon one, you might want to consider it for your kitchen if you favor the modern or contemporary style. White granite matches well with flat front cabinets and shiny appliances.

However, white is very versatile. White granite will look good in traditional and retro style kitchens if you have a fancy for going back to the 1920s.The fact that white granite is seldom solid white is a plus, because its subtle veins and streaks keep the countertops from looking too flat and adds depth to the kitchen design.

Black granite

black granite countertops

Neutral and monochromatic (one-color) kitchens tend to be on the boring side, so adding dramatic black granite into the mix is usually a good idea. It works well in well-lighted kitchens, either natural or artificial. The light picks out the white or silver specks that usually pepper these types of granite.  If you do choose black granite, it would look fantastic under pendant lights.

For smaller kitchens, it might be a good idea to pair it with light or white cabinets to keep it from looking too gloomy. The contrast makes a fantastic design statement.

Interesting fact: Most black granite you see from stone warehouses are not actually granite. These are usually granitoids such as basalt or gabbro, which are also igneous rocks but without the requisite proportion of quartz to make them true granite. They are dense, heat resistant, and very durable, so they are just as good as granite.

Red granite

red granite countertops

It is rare to find red granite, and it can be difficult to use in many kitchens as red is a very dominant color. On the other hand, it is a good way to guarantee your kitchen will stand out from the rest.

The best way to incorporate red granite countertops in your kitchen is to pair it with neutral colors for the cabinets. You can also choose red granite mixed in with other colors such as blue, white, yellow, or silver. This will ensure your kitchen countertops will not be too overwhelming.

Conclusion

Choosing granite for kitchen countertops is a smart move, but you do have to think carefully before choosing your slabs. These tips should help you make the right choices.

It also helps to have the advice of professionals. Granite ASAP is your best resource for advice on choosing granite for kitchen countertops if you are in the state of Virginia, including the cities of Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church, Fairfax, Chantilly, Herndon, Centreville, Tysons, and Washington DC. We offer free estimates and quotes for any of your kitchen countertops and remodeling needs.

We carry a wide range granite and marble stone slabs. Over 100 colors of granite and marble slabs are available for inspection at our Chantilly, Virginia showroom. We also carry some of the best engineered stone brands in the country if you prefer them. We offer Cambria, Caesarstone, Silestone, and MSI brands, each one carrying the manufacturer’s warranty. You can choose what you want and we will deliver it ASAP!

Feel free to ask any questions over the phone, or get in touch using our contact form today!

Call Now Button