Dreaming of stunning, durable countertops that transform your space? Quartz surfaces could be the perfect choice. With its beauty, durability, and low maintenance, quartz countertops are a favorite for both homeowners and designers. But with so many options for colors, patterns, finishes, and styles, selecting the right one can feel overwhelming.
To make your selection process simple, we’ve broken down the key tips and tricks most professionals use to ensure you find the right fit for your home.
How to Choose the Right Quartz Countertop in 8 Steps
Selecting the perfect quartz countertop doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By breaking the process into manageable steps, you can make informed choices that blend style, functionality, and budget.
1. Assess Your Entire Space
Evaluating your space is an essential step to ensure your quartz countertop blends seamlessly with the room’s functionality and design. A countertop that complements the size and overall aesthetic of your space not only enhances its visual appeal but also improves its practicality. Here are the key considerations:
Room Layout: Evaluate the layout to ensure the countertop fits seamlessly with appliances, cabinets, and seating areas.
Style Alignment: Select a design that fits the room’s theme, such as polished finishes for modern styles or matte for rustic aesthetics.
Functionality Needs: Identify how the space is used to prioritize durability and practical features for high-traffic areas.
Properly assessing your space allows you to make confident choices about your countertop design, ensuring it adds lasting value and beauty to your home.
2. Understand Your Budget
When compared to higher maintenance and higher cost countertop materials marble or quartzite, quartz is the more affordable option while also being high quality and low maintenance. The total cost typically ranges from $50 to $150 per square foot, including both materials and installation.
To make the most of your budget, it’s important to understand how various features impact the overall cost:
Brands:MSI Q Quartz provides affordable options between $15 and $90 per square foot, while luxury brands Caesarstone cost $75 to $120 per square foot, reflecting their premium finishes and intricate designs.
Prefabs vs. Slabs: Prefabricated countertops are more economical and quicker to install but offer fewer customization options. Full quartz slabs allow for unique designs but come with higher costs.
Add-Ons: Decorative edges, sink cutouts, and complex installations can increase the price by $10 to $300, depending on the specifics.
Discover detailed pricing tailored to the Chicago area by diving into our comprehensive article on quartz countertop costs — packed with valuable insights and the latest local trends!
3. Explore Aesthetic Options
Quartz counters offer a stunning array of colors, patterns, and finishes to match any style or aesthetic. From classic whites like Carrara Cloud to bold blacks and vibrant jewel tones, there’s a quartz color for every vision. Trending colors include ground quartz colors, warm neutrals like beige and taupe, as well as moody blues and greens that bring a modern, earthy vibe. As for quartz patterns, they range from minimalistic solid colors to intricate veining that mimics natural stones. Designs like delicate veining, speckled textures, or striking abstract patterns provide the versatility to suit any room’s theme. For example, subtle veining suits traditional kitchens, while bold, high-contrast patterns create striking focal points in modern spaces.
When it comes to quartz finishes, the aesthetic design of your space will help determine which one you should go with:
Polished Finishes: A glossy, reflective surface that exudes luxury — perfect for classic or high end quartz countertops.
Matte Finishes: A muted, understated look, ideal for warm and rustic spaces.
Satin Finishes: Offer a soft, understated sheen that effortlessly blends modern elegance with minimalist charm — a choice for contemporary spaces.
4. Do Not Forget About Samples
Samples are the easiest and most fool-proof way of keeping your design cohesive and succinct. Similar to paint samples, using quartz samples will help you visualize what will work with a room and what will not. Experiment with several different colors, textures, and finishes to get a better grasp of what you’re looking for in quartz countertops and how they will mix with your space.
5. Mind Your Lightning
When taking into consideration the way light works in your space, you will want to take note of the underlying feeling of your space in natural light and in your artificial light. Keep these key points in mind:
Natural Light: Observe how sunlight interacts with the countertop during different times of the day. Bright natural light enhances lighter tones and subtle patterns.
Artificial Light: Test how the countertop looks under your room’s artificial lighting, including warm, neutral, or cool light bulbs. Lighting temperature can alter the appearance of colors and patterns.
Lighting Placement: Overhead lights and under-cabinet lighting can cast shadows or highlight specific features. Position lighting to showcase the countertop’s best attributes.
The samples you pick will help you test the colors and finishes against the lighting. Use the samples during different times of the day, each hour providing different angles of light, to see how the samples compare in different variations of lighting.
6. Find the Right Edge Profile
The edges of a quartz counter can be more curved or straight, depending on the elements of design you are styling your space with. Certain edge profiles can add softness or sharpness to your quartz kitchen countertops and overall look to a space. There are many different edge styles you can consider when choosing quartz countertops that will fit the design and feel of your project space. Most popular edge profiles for quartz countertops are:
Eased Edge: A simple, modern option with slightly softened corners, ideal for contemporary and minimalist designs.
Ogee Edge: A decorative, double-curve design that adds elegance and works well in traditional spaces.
Bullnose Edge: Fully rounded edges that create a smooth, soft appearance, ideal for family-friendly spaces.
7. Choose the Right Thickness
The thickness of quartz countertops will determine how much weight they can bear. Although strong and sturdy, some quartz kitchen countertops can still break. If you are designing your quartz kitchen countertops for heavy use and abuse, then thicker is the way to go.
Thinner quartz countertops are lighter and look more sleek and modern. However, unlike natural stone, they would not have the brute strength that thicker quartz countertops will. They can also be much cheaper.
8. Let Your Countertop Settle
Before you add all the finishing touches to your renovations and design, it’s a wise idea to let your quartz countertops settle for a while before you add other accents and elements to your space.
Let your quartz countertops truly absorb the space before you pick the perfect accent colors and accessories to match the space, especially since quartz countertops are often the focal point of a room. Once everything is installed and renovated, adding those small, finishing touches will come naturally and harmoniously.
Ready to transform your space with the perfect quartz countertop? Explore our stunning quartz countertop collection now!
Start Your Quartz Countertop Project with Confidence
Choosing the right quartz countertop means balancing style, functionality, and budget. By evaluating your space, budget, and design options, while factoring in lighting, edges, and thickness, you can create a stunning and practical centerpiece for your home.
At Granite Selection, we offer high-quality quartz countertops that blend durability and beauty. With a wide selection and expert guidance, we’ll help you find your perfect match. Contact us today to start your journey toward the countertop of your dreams!
Paul Batashev is the owner and CEO of Granite Selection. The company began in 2011 Pay Less for Granite and has been transforming homes since 2011 with its expertise as a kitchen countertop company and manufacturer of fine custom granite countertops.