Classic Countertops with Colorful Cabinets

Jay Wilde

This glossy gray-and-white marble countertop is gorgeous on its own, but it’s still simple enough to let the teal-green cabinets and gleaming gold hardware take center stage. The counter displays a little extra character thanks to the decorative ogee edges.

Butcher Block Kitchen Countertops

Kim Cornelison

Butcher block is durable and easier to maintain than luxury materials like marble. So, if you do a lot of meal prepping and are harsh on your counters, install the wood slabs throughout your kitchen. Pair them with a white beadboard backsplash and mint cabinets for a bright, cheerful space.

Soapstone Kitchen Countertop Ideas

John Bessler

A black soapstone countertop with faint veining breaks up this otherwise all-white, sun-drenched kitchen. It also gives the rustic room a contemporary touch, and from a functional standpoint, the dense material helps deter damage from hot dishes, spills, and splatters.

Farmhouse-Inspired Marble Countertops

Lisa Romerein

This gorgeous kitchen is decidedly farmhouse. The vertical shiplap walls, weathered wood floors, and Shaker cabinets with brass cup hardware are the ideal backdrop for both sets of counters, the rustic butcher block on the island and the sophisticated stone throughout the rest of the room.

Mix Matte and Glossy

Werner Straube

Can’t decide between countertop materials? Incorporate both! Stick to a similar color palette, such as the combination displayed here: Shiny stainless steel perfectly contrasts the flat, leathered granite. Stainless steel is antibacterial, and leathered granite repels liquids, so decide where you plan to prep food and play bartender before having them installed.

Understated Kitchen Countertops

Jason Donnelly

Your kitchen color scheme may not be bold, but perhaps it has other eye-catching details, such as horizontal wood-grain island siding, a geometric marble backsplash, and an oversized, angled range hood. Sticking to sleek counters made of white quartz with subtle gray veining is one way to let all the scene-stealers shine.

Granite Kitchen Countertop Ideas

Mali Azima

Practically any type of countertop would have blended beautifully with the rich blue hue that envelopes this kitchen, but this shade of granite makes a gorgeous statement. The dominant gray tone complements the cabinet’s silver hardware and dual over-island pendant lights.

Waterfall Kitchen Countertop

Anne D. Schlechter

If you’re craving a contemporary look for your kitchen or, perhaps, some added drama, look into a waterfall style. Whether you add it to the ends of the base cabinets or just the island, it will give the space a streamlined appearance. However, consider the material carefully, as it may be difficult to upkeep—especially if you have active kids or pets who can easily bump into the vertical sections.

Matching Countertops and Backsplash

Nate Sheets Photography

Pairing kitchen countertops with a backsplash isn’t necessarily a novel idea. However, teaming white and gray marble with matte black cabinets and brass accents can be a striking style statement. Note that marble counters come at a cost, as they are among the more expensive options and require more maintenance than others.

Laminate Kitchen Countertop Ideas

Carson Downing

Laminate countertops are one of (if not the) most inexpensive options on the market. Replacing your kitchen counters is a relatively budget-friendly way to upgrade the space. So, if the budget is tight but the counters are overdue for a refresh, shoot for a simple surface. Reserve a small amount for a can of paint in a vivid color to spruce up the cabinets.

Cottage-Style Kitchen Countertops

Haris Kenjar

Every detail in this cottage-style kitchen is enchanting, including the minor yet impactful choice to integrate the countertop with the apron-front sink. The quartzite material with neutral-colored veining is an ideal match for the whitewashed cobblestone accent wall and the exposed wood-beam ceiling.

Complementary Materials

Julie Soefer

While these floating shelves are made of white oak wood, the stone countertop below them is nearly identical in color. Set against white shiplap walls and above Shaker-style drawers, the two materials come together to create a dreamy coastal farmhouse kitchen.

Countertops for Form and Function

Meghan Beierle-O'Brien

If you’re flexible with your renovation budget, consider springing for quartzite counters. As opposed to factory-manufactured quartz countertops, naturally mined quartzite is the real deal, and you can guarantee that no two slabs you have installed will look the same. Not only does the organic stone look stunning in any space, but it also demands minimal maintenance and provides a sturdy surface to prep meals from morning to night.

Black Kitchen Countertops

Katie Charlotte Photography

This space is surprising in all the right ways. The extensive exposed brick walls, natural wood exposed ceiling beams, and organic decor pieces are just a few details that will keep dinner guests guessing. What ties the entire kitchen together is the spectacular soapstone kitchen island counters that mirror the stove backsplash. 

Modern and Minimalist Kitchen Counters

Max Kim-Bee

Modern kitchens are known for their simplistic, streamlined look. If that’s your go-to decor style, make sure your countertops coordinate with the rest of the room. Here, clean quartz counters look flawless atop a blonde-toned island and white cabinets.

Mix Kitchen Patterns

Victoria Pearson

As if the cobalt blue cabinets and arch details weren’t remarkable enough, this kitchen incorporates multiple playful patterns. A herringbone backsplash, wallpaper with a faint geometric motif, and white and gray marble countertops complete the trio.

Transitional Kitchen Countertops

Nancy Nolan

Coastal and industrial farmhouse aesthetics come together in this kitchen to form a timeless, transitional style. The metal accents, from the range hood to the dome pendant lights, give off modern vibes, while penny mosaic-patterned floors and a subway tile backsplash evoke a vintage look. Between them all, a polished marble countertop and robin’s-egg-blue cabinets contribute to an airy, beachy ambiance.

Reclaimed Wood Kitchen Countertop Ideas

Stacy Zarin Goldberg

Fully lean into the farmhouse kitchen aesthetic by choosing countertops made of salvaged wood. Like quartzite, you can be confident that the slabs installed in your space will be unique. So long as the look of its imperfect grain and the need to regularly reseal the counters don’t deter you, you can also feel good about making a sustainable choice for your home.

Stone Kitchen Countertop Ideas

John Granen

You can still pull off mismatched countertops in a more traditional kitchen, especially if it suits your cooking habits. Here, a butcher block counter with the sink makes for easy chopping and rinsing, integrating seamlessly with the rest of this all-wood kitchen. Opposite the sink, dark soapstone surrounds the stovetop, allowing it to withstand hot pots and pans and visually breaking up the consistent wood tone throughout the room.

Colorful Kitchen Countertop Ideas

Brie Williams

For those with a penchant for eclectic home decor, the kitchen counters can be a fun and easy way to express your creativity. Start by picking out a glossy laminate countertop in a bold color, like cherry red, for the island. If you want to update the rest of the counters in the same shade later on, make a DIY project out of it and relaminate the surfaces.