10 Most Practical and Gorgeous Kitchen Materials
Renovating parts of your home will do wonders for both looks and functionality. When done correctly, it will also add to the value of your property. For most families, the kitchen is a focal point of the house. Food brings us together and preparing or sharing a meal with your close ones assures a good quality time spent together.
Because it is the gathering spot of many homes, it’s a worthwhile investment of time and money to make your kitchen meet your exact needs. While the decor, textile, kitchen mats and rugs are the first things that catch the eye, kitchen remodelling should not be just about aesthetics. It would help if you focused on utilizing the space, integrating the elements, choosing the right materials.
When daydreaming about your ideal kitchen, be sure to consider functionality as well as beauty.
Frequently Used Kitchen Materials by Elements
The kitchen serves one of the most critical roles in the house. It’s a compound room with many elements, and all of them do a purpose. The core rule of having a functional, durable kitchen that you can utilize day after day for years to come owns elements made from top-notch materials. With that in mind, I made a guide to some of the essential components in a kitchen. Read on to learn about them, and what sorts of materials work best for them.
Flooring
Plenty of different flooring materials are suitable for kitchen use. When you are considering flooring options for a kitchen, the most important thing is to keep durability high on the list.
Ceramic Tile
Made from natural clay, this is an extremely durable flooring material. Ceramic tiles, as well as porcelain, are resistant to heat and breakage. They provide a hardened surface that is impervious to water and stains. They come in numerous design colours and sizes that will satisfy anyone, no matter how selective. Picking tiles is a safe, smart choice, but they are not without drawbacks. Some people find ceramic tiles to be too hard and cold on the feet, though this can be addressed with area rugs.
Hard-Wood
Hardwood flooring is warm, beautiful, and is comfortable underfoot. It is an excellent choice if you have an open floor plan that extends beyond your kitchen. Usually, it comes in two forms – solid hardwood planks or engineered wood flooring with a hardwood veneer.
While durable and low-maintenance, hardwood floors are more susceptible to problems with moisture and stains than other flooring materials. Manufacturers overcome that problem since hardwood kitchen floors can get a surface finish. Polyurethane sealant will completely seal the wood and give it a high level of water resistance.
Vinyl
Older models of vinyl, like the vinyl sheet, are durable and easy to maintain; however, they are out of style. Luckily, vinyl resurfaced with a better, improved product called “luxury vinyl”. Luxury vinyl is a hardwood look alike that is resilient to stains, damage, and water issues. These planks can last for years in high-traffic areas without any problems. They are stylish, modern looking, and an absolute hit in recent years.
Concrete
Inexpensive and long-lasting perfectly describes concrete flooring. This surface is polished and treated in a variety of ways to make it a stylish, attractive flooring for the kitchen. Moreover, a pebble floor is a concrete variant that establishes a connection between indoors and outdoors.
Drawbacks include a cold and hard surface for the eyes as well as the feet. Everyone does not share an appreciation for the look of concrete.
Linoleum
Made from all-natural linseed oil and biodegradable cork powder linoleum is environmentally friendly. It is a resilient flooring that comes in many patterns and colours, and it stands up well to foot traffic. Although it was popular to have it in your home in the 60’-70’, today it’s more common to see linoleum flooring in a restaurant or industrial kitchen. If properly cared for, an installation will last for decades, so linoleum is bound to resurface as a trend sooner or later.
Countertops
Countertops are made in dozens of colours, patterns, and textures to attain any design goals. They carry the most demanding role in a kitchen, so it is expected of them to withstand all sorts of abuse.
Materials such as plastic laminate or wood butcher block served their purpose for many decades. Although still present in the modern-day kitchen, they are rarely the first desired option.
Granite
Granite is a high-end material that will add a touch of luxury to an otherwise modest kitchen. As one of the hardest natural stones, it is scratch-resistant and impervious to heat. It is a gorgeous material, but it is not without limitations. Granite is high-end in every aspect, including price. Moreover, the slabs could crack if stressed or improperly installed, leaving you with a costly failure.
Solid-Surface Countertops
Made from thick acrylic or polyester, this material is known for being practical. Created as an alternative to stone, they are designed to resemble granite and other natural materials. Solid-surface countertops are highly stain- and scratch-resistant. And when they do get damaged, they are completely renewable and repairable. Plus, it is one of the least expensive countertop options.
Quartz
Quartz is one of the latest human made countertop materials. This material is composed of pulverized waste rock mixed with resins for hardness and binding. Since it’s an engineered stone product, quartz counters have all sorts of agents added to make them more desirable. Things like antibacterial properties, different colours and styles are available with this material. Quartz countertops are highly sought after, and that is reflected in the prize.
4. Marble
Natural stone material composed of a highly unique variety of minerals – no two sheets of marble are the same. Marble is best used as a work surface for activities like baking or making fresh pasta. Although highly prized, this material is not the best choice for busy kitchens due to its tendency for staining and scratching.
Plastic Laminate
Plastic laminate is often called Formica. It is surprisingly durable and can survive many years in the toughest of kitchens. This material is made primarily of kraft paper impregnated with resins. It is ideal if you want to go wild with colours and patterns, it is budget-friendly, but it doesn’t hold up to heat, and it may start to chip or peel over time.
Other Commonly Used Kitchen Materials
Depending on your kitchen’s size, you can implement numerous elements in your layout. Some are indispensable such as cabinets, backsplashes, faucets, utensils, and appliances. While others – kitchen bar, banquettes, sitting area, are optional. Read on to find out some frequently used materials for other elements of the kitchen.
Backsplashes
Adding a backsplash has become a necessity for many homeowners. They are useful for protecting the walls from getting stained, as well as a simple way to add a design element in the kitchen. Installing a backsplash on your own is easy, thanks to the peel-and-stick vinyl tiles. Wallpaper and washable wall paint are practical and nice-looking. It is easy to apply them yourself, and since they are quite affordable, you can change them up on a whim.
For those who want something more, permanent tiles, stone, glass, and even wood are reliable options.
Cabinets
Cabinets are an integral part of a kitchen. For them to stay in top shape and endure daily wear and tear, you need to pick a durable material. Moreover, they are the focal point of your kitchen and play a vital role in the aesthetics and flow of the area.
When it comes to cabinets, they are typically made from wood and wood-like materials.
Some of the most common options include hardwood, plywood, fiberboard, and veneer. Other modern cabinets use aluminium, stainless steel, glass, polyethene to add a contemporary, futuristic feel to the room.
Sink and Faucets
Although a small part of the kitchen, sinks, and faucets can be used to make a statement; typically, faucets are made from materials that are resistant to corrosion. Brass is by far the most commonly used for faucets.
Sinks should be complementary with the countertops, but also stands up to heavy-duty use. That is why stainless steel, copper, enamel, composite, and even stone come to mind for a stylish, durable sink. Make sure to source your materials from reputable companies like this hardwood lumber supplier.
Having a functional and captivating kitchen is essential for many of us. A good design will maximize movement and improve the ability to use the kitchen as a multi-functional space. When it comes to construction, the base is mainly repetitive. Today’s technology made it possible to have a lot of mixes and variations of the same materials. The goal is to have an end product that is designed to stand up for a specific purpose. Learning to recognize the most common materials, and their usage will help you create a gorgeous and practical kitchen.
