Selecting Kitchen Materials: Handy Tips

Kitchen Material Checklist: Handy Tips for Selecting the Right Kitchen Materials

By Usha Balasubramanyan- May 05, 2021

Choosing the right kitchen materials and finishes could turn out to be the single most stress-inducing chore— and what makes it even more challenging is that there are no hard and fast rules to work with! Our kitchen material checklist gives you thumb rules and handy tips you can use to select the right kitchen materials.

Here are some guidelines you can follow, to make your choices easy and practical.

1. Let’s start with the cabinets

Your cabinets set the tone for the aesthetics of your kitchen, and create most of the functionality. When choosing the materials, here are some considerations to keep in mind:

Do you like the sleek, contemporary appearance of high gloss cabinets or the warm, comforting tones of traditional cabinetry? Is wood your preferred finish, or do you like bold and dashing colours or prints?
The core materials that go into making the boxes could be BWP ply, commercial ply, HDF, MDF, or particleboard. BWP ply is the most expensive option, while particleboard is the most cost-effective.
Your cabinets can be finished in wooden veneer, laminate, acrylic, paint or glass. Choose the surface finishes that appeal to your taste.
What kind of handles or knobs would you like to use? Modern kitchens could also have cabinets with invisible hardware, like push latches or integrated handles, that add a minimalistic slant to the appearance. Old fashioned ceramic knobs look pretty in vintage-style kitchens. There are a whole lot of options that you could choose from.
The accessories you choose will help to keep your kitchen well organized. Pantry pull-out units, Lemans corner or Magic corner units for those hard-to-reach corners, plates and cutlery organizers, and bottle pullouts, among a great many other options, help to minimize clutter and make your life just a little bit easier!

Cost	A classical-style kitchen with veneer finishes would cost more than a simple matte laminate modern kitchen. The more accessories you choose, the more your cost will increase.
Aesthetics	Pick the style and material of the shutters based on the décor theme you have followed. A vintage kitchen would look out of place in a home that has a modern outlook.
Texture and finish	Your cabinets could be surface-finished with matte, semi-matte, gloss or high gloss finishes. You can also opt for textured laminates that can give you ribbed, grainy, or metallic surfaces.
Colour	Lighter colours will make your room appear brighter and more spacious, while dark colours will appear to constrict the space. You can also opt for a two-tone finish which is trending at the moment!
Durability	The core material will determine the longevity of your cabinets. Workmanship also plays an important role in durability. Cabinets that are perfectly finished with seamless edge sealing will last a long time. Be careful to choose hardware that can take the load on the drawers; if you plan to store heavy items, then you should ask for heavy-duty channels.
Maintenance	Wood and veneer finishes will require regular polishing but can be refinished to look as good as new any number of times. Laminates can be wiped clean very easily, but scratches will show up and cannot be fixed.

kitchen cabinets

2. Next, take a look at the countertops!

Your countertop takes a lot of wear and tear, and the materials you choose should be hardworking to match! Keep in mind:

While granite is a popular choice, you can choose from a variety of materials ranging from Corian to quartz, marble to laminate.
Choose surface finishes based on durability, ease of maintenance as well as aesthetics.
The materials you pick should match the overall colour palette and the décor theme.
For an integrated look, you could choose to have the same material for the backsplash and the countertop.

Cost	Costs vary, with laminated boards at the lower end and high-quality marble or quartz at the upper end of the spectrum.
Aesthetics	Corian or quartz suit modern kitchens, while stone finishes will go well with any style.
Texture and finish	Countertops should always be smooth and polished, for ease of maintenance.
Colour	Here, too, lighter colours will open up the room and make it look spacious. However, depending on the material you choose, light colours could also get stained. Darker colours will not show up any stains.
Durability	If you are using softer stones like marble, make sure that the surface is well sealed to make it completely waterproof and durable. Granite, quartz and Corian are very durable. Laminated surfaces are not very durable and can get scratched easily.
Maintenance	Wipe down the counter at the end of every cooking session, using organic cleaners and warm water. Don’t leave it to dry on its own, but wipe with a clean dry cloth to bring out the shine on the surface. Natural stones should be re-sealed every few years to maintain the quality of the surface.

kitchen materials

3. Choose the flooring and backsplash with care

Next up, think of choosing the flooring materials and the backsplash. Here’s what you should consider:

It goes without saying that the floors you choose should be non-porous, anti-skid, and durable. The same goes for the backsplash, except that here the anti-skid properties don’t apply!
You can pick from vitrified or ceramic tiles, or stones like marble, granite, or Kota stone.
Colours matter, as well as textures. Make sure that they fall in line with your overall color schematics and décor theme. Border tiles look good in an old-fashioned kitchen, as also tiles laid at an angle. In modern kitchens, straight lines and larger tiles are trending.

Cost	Ceramic tiles are the most cost-effective option, while high-end natural stone could prove to be expensive.
Aesthetics	Tiles and stones are available in a wide range of patterns, textures, and colors. Pick the best option that complements your home décor and sense of style. The backsplash and flooring should look good together.
Texture and finish	Floor tiles should ideally not be highly polished, as any spills could make them slippery. Wall tiles can be glossy or matte, as anything that has too much texture will attract oil and grime, and become difficult to clean.
Colour	Tiles and stones are available in a wide range of colors and patterns. Pick the options that match your overall décor theme and palette.
Durability	Softer stones like marble or Kota should be well sealed with a penetrating sealer, to make the surface completely waterproof and durable. Vitrified tiles are hard and non-porous and will last a great many years.
Maintenance	Wipe the backsplash with soapy water and then rinse till the soap suds are gone, wiping again with a microfiber cloth to bring out the shine.

4. Do you need a false ceiling in the kitchen?

A false ceiling adds character to the kitchen and helps to provide uniform lighting across the room. Do think about these points:

You can opt for gypsum, POP, or wooden ceilings, or readymade grid ceilings that can be fitted at the end.
Recessed spotlights, cove lighting, or pendant lights add an ambient, task, and accent layer of lighting and make the kitchen appear warm and inviting.
If there are unsightly structural beams running across the ceiling, then a false ceiling is a must.

Cost	POP ceilings are the cheapest, while wooden ceilings are expensive.
Aesthetics	If you have an old-fashioned vintage kitchen, a POP ceiling with moldings and panels will add to its charm. Sleek gypsum board false ceilings with hidden lights or a ceiling with wooden beams add character and enhance the aesthetics of your kitchen.
Colour	Light colours lift up and visually enhance the height of the kitchen. The most popular colour is white.
Maintenance	POP and gypsum ceilings will require painting and crack sealing every year. Wooden ceilings must be repolished every couple of years.

5. Last but not least, the sink!

The sink forms a part of your countertop as well and should be picked for its durability and ease of maintenance. Read our blog to find out the ideal traits of a good kitchen sink.

Do you need a single or a double bowl sink, and should it have a built-in drainboard or not?
Should you pick a sink that is fitted under the counter, or one that is top mounted?
Your sink could be fitted with a crusher below the counter that minces up wet waste, reducing clutter in the kitchen.
Pick a faucet that can be swiveled to reach all the corners of the sink, and fit it with an aerator to prevent splashes and save on water consumption.

Cost	Stainless steel sinks are the most cost-effective option. Quartz composite, Corian, and stone sinks fall into a more expensive category.
Aesthetics	An integrated sink that is the same material or complements the countertop looks good. Stainless steel sinks are most commonly in use.
Texture and finish	Pick a smooth texture, with a finish that is easy to clean and does not become a hiding place for germs or grime.
Colour	The colors you pick should suit your décor theme.
Durability	Stainless steel sinks of a lower gauge can get dented or scratched.
Maintenance	Sinks with rounded edges are easier to clean. A sink that is integrated with the countertop has seamless edges and does not harbor any germs.

We hope you’ve got all the info you need to make your material choices easier! Whether you want to keep it simple or pull off a complex look, our expert designers at HomeLane can help! We’re just a call away.