7 Modern Kitchen Countertop Ideas (Trending In 2020)

The kitchen is where so many crucial household chores take place, from meal prep and family get-togethers to children’s homework and craft projects. And your kitchen countertop plays an important role in the space’s overall appearance and functionality.

Since it’s the hardest-working surface in your home, you’ll want to choose something attractive and durable. There are so many unique design ideas, from patterned granite to metal and solid glass, to potentially include in your next kitchen remodelling project.

7 Trending Kitchen Countertop Ideas in 2020

Whether you’re building a new kitchen from scratch or upgrading an existing one, it’s important to choose a countertop design that suits your needs and lifestyle. While all countertop materials need a certain amount of care, some require more than others. Consider how much effort and time you’re ready to put in before starting a countertop installation project.

Here, we’ve put together the latest countertop trends for 2020, focusing mainly on choices of colour and material.

1. Neutral Quartz Countertops

One of the hardest and moist durable construction materials, quartzite slabs have a high quartz content that ensures high density, stain resistance and low maintenance requirements. While quartzite is a completely natural stone, quartz is its engineered variety; made with quartz crystals strengthened by resin.

High-gloss quartz surfaces have been popular for ages, while matte neutral-toned ones are trending in 2020. Cream, beige and blush quartz countertops look great, especially when paired with contrast-coloured cabinets and shelves. With bright overhead lights, colourful backsplashes and a touch of greenery, your kitchen is sure to impress.

2. Unconventional Brown Marble Countertops

White marble countertops are an evergreen trend. They look elegant, minimalistic and clean – three important traits for any kitchen.

Their pure white background, specks of grey and veined pattern lend intense richness to any space, but brown marble countertops are a trending home improvement product.

Available in different shades of brown like auburn, chestnut and tan, these center islands give a modern touch to an otherwise traditional kitchen. The best thing about them is that they match other kitchen elements like wooden cabinets, drawers, steel kitchen appliances and other pieces of marble furniture like sink tops, chairs and chimneypieces.

3. Pastel Granite Countertops

Less is more when it comes to modern interiors.

A matte-finish, neutral granite countertop in shades of taupe, gray, white and cream give your kitchen a subtle, stylish appearance. They look stunning alongside bright kitchen accessories like colourful crockery, cutlery trays, coasters and patterned towels.

A naturally occurring rock, granite is super-hard and durable, perfect for countertops. White it’s resistant to heat, cuts and scratches, it may crack or chip if struck hard enough. It’s also porous, which means it can easily stain and absorb liquids. With proper sealing, you can keep granite countertops waterproof and stain-free for a long time.

4. Two-Tone Countertops

For a completely unique and modern look, choose two different surfaces for your kitchen countertop.

This design was once used by professional chefs who preferred having a smooth stone surface for kneading and rolling dough and another of stainless steel for prep work like chopping and marinating.

You can pick any two materials for this two-tone countertop design, depending on your needs and budget. For example, if you do a lot of chopping and slicing, choose marble, quartz and granite for one section and wood or laminate for the other. This will make your kitchen functional and aesthetically sound.

5. Wrap-Style Countertops

A trending countertop design, the wrap-style look involves using the countertop material of your choice on the top and sides of cabinets. This interesting design draws the eye across other parts of the kitchen, giving it a comprehensive look.

For a more impressive impact, choose a countertop colour that contrasts with the rest of the space. Sometimes a bold contrast is all you need to create a statement look. Trending colours include yellow, orange and lime green, or you can opt for black or white, depending on your kitchen’s dominant colour scheme.

6. Waterfall Countertops

Also known as risers, waterfall countertops run vertically down the sides of cabinets instead of ending abruptly at their edge. This links the cabinets to the floor, giving your kitchen a smooth and seamless look.

For a dramatic impact, install a white waterfall countertop bar above bold coloured cabinets in neon green, fuchsia or royal blue. For something completely different, opt for gold-mirrored cabinets. This matches the streamlined contemporary design and gives the space a glamorous touch.

Use pendants and task lights to make the most of this modern countertop design.

7. Butcher Block Countertops

Beautiful and timeless, wood or butcher block countertops add a touch of warmth. While wood has drawbacks, like heavy maintenance and bacteria/mould problems, wooden countertops are trendy in 2020.

Of course, not all hardwood is the same, as their hardness varies by species. If you want a strong and durable wooden countertop to withstand everyday wear and tear, choose a species that ranks high on the Janka hardness scale. Its maintenance will depend on the species, finish and overall use. You can either choose an oil or wax finish or polyurethane coating. While the latter is usually permanent, the former requires much upkeep. So, before choosing butcher block countertops, consider whether you’ll use it for regular meal prep or simply want it for the look.

The future of the Canadian housing market remains uncertain. That means now’s the time to upgrade your kitchen and make it ready in case you wish to take advantage of any future price surge by selling your home. Take inspiration from these design ideas, use your creativity and cook up some magic in your kitchen.