Paint and Accessories Can Change Over Time
When you’re choosing countertop color, you’ll be matching it to a color scheme for the room. Matching the countertops to a paint color can be gorgeous, but keep in mind that your color tastes may change and the room could be repainted. Strongly colored countertops that are chosen to match with paint, accessory, or furniture colors, can become outdated easily. Consider a countertop with veins or splashes of your favorite color, so you can keep your options open.
Recognize the Undertones of the Elements of the Room
Undertones can be your best friend in decorating or the bane of your existence. The key to making friends with undertones is learning to know the difference. If you have cherry wood cabinetry, your blue or green countertops are going to make them appear very very red or even pink. If your flooring or cabinetry has a yellow or orange undertone, cool gray or blue counters will intensify that undertone. A basic understanding of the color wheel can help you avoid a color clash with your new countertops. Veined or speckled countertop patterns can give you the pops of color you need, without creating color drama in your kitchen or bath.
Sampling Is Important for Countertops
If you’ve read color advice on this site before, you know that sampling your paint color is my #1 color tip for home decorators. This good advice is also extremely important for any surface you’re considering for your home. Many countertop decisions are made in a store, with paint strips and wood samples in hand. This quick method does not ensure that you are making the right choice. If possible, look at all elements together in the unique room lighting. Be sure to hold or attach the samples in the correct orientation to each other (i.e., paint and cabinetry samples vertically, floor and countertop samples horizontally,) as the way the light hits them can change everything.
Consider How You’ll Accessorize the Room
Solid color countertops can look simple and modern but can look cold in a room without other patterns going on. If you love the look of a stylized tile backsplash, or wallpaper, or even patterned upholstery and fabric accents, a solid color countertop can balance the room. If you like to keep other elements of the room simple, then countertops with a natural pattern or multiple colors can give you balance, too. To coordinate a bathroom countertop, your color accents can enhance your countertop choice through linens, paint, and colorful accessories. Choosing a neutral countertop for the bath gives you the most decorating leeway when choosing paint and accessories. A bathroom is a perfect spot to add a pop of color through accessories. Be sure to try your countertop choices out with your cabinetry, tile, and flooring, to be sure that the color undertones work well together.
