We all wish we had an unlimited budget when remodeling our kitchen. Unfortunately, that’s not usually the case. Instead, you have to determine how to utilize your budget best to bring your dream kitchen to life. From cabinets and flooring to appliances and countertops, many factors impact your budget, allowing you to determine which area you may need to opt for a budget-friendly option.
Luckily, countless affordable kitchen countertop options still allow you to improve your space’s look and function. But what cheap countertop options are there? And how do you know which cheap kitchen countertop alternative is right for your home? Follow along as we share a few of our favorite affordable countertop options.
Depending on your kitchen remodeling budget, you may be looking for the cheapest countertop option on the market, or you may be considering a middle-tier alternative. Either way, there is a solution for you that can seamlessly fit into your kitchen’s aesthetic. Here are six recommendations for budget-friendly kitchen countertops.
Countertops options make up a large portion of your remodeling budget, especially if you opt for a pricey natural stone. A great alternative that allows you to spend more of your money on other areas of the kitchen is butcher block countertops. These have become quite popular in recent years because of their beautiful color palette that compliments various styles and aesthetics. However, the lower price point doesn’t mean that it is easier to take care of. Butcher block is less resistant to water damage, staining, heat, and general wear and tear than a traditional countertop option. You will need to properly take care of it to keep it looking its best.
If you dream of a sleek, modern kitchen, look no further can concrete countertops. This option immediately adds a rustic, industrial feel to add space without drawing attention away from the other beautiful parts of the room. Concrete is an extremely durable material that is resistant to stains, heat damage, and wear and tear, making it a great option for a kitchen that sees a lot of traffic throughout the day. Depending on how much of your countertop budget you’re looking to reduce, you may even be able to turn concrete countertops into a do-it-yourself project to cut down on labor costs.
As a tried-and-true option, this list of cheap alternative countertop materials would not be complete without laminate countertops. Laminate countertops are created by combining layers of plastic-covered particleboard, resulting in a plethora of color and pattern options — allowing you to find the perfect option for your home easily. This cheap countertop option is available in pre-cut slabs, making it easy for you to choose the style and shapes you want and install them in your kitchen. However, they are not as strong and durable as a more expansion countertop and may show signs of staining, scratches, and other blemishes. And if you decide down the line that you don’t love the color laminate countertops you installed, you can always cover them with contact paper to create DIY faux granite countertops.
Depending on how large your kitchen is and the amount of space that needs countertops, tiles may be a cost-effective option for you to consider. One of the things we love most about using tiles as your countertop material is the flexibility it gives you in your overall kitchen design. When customizing the look and feel of your kitchen, you can choose from an assortment of tile colors, sizes, shapes, materials, and patterns. You can even opt for tile grout in various colors to create a one-of-a-kind kitchen countertop. Plus, they’re very durable — although the tiles can crack and the grout can become stained. With proper care and maintenance, they make an excellent affordable countertop option.
Solid surfacing countertops are another cost-effective choice for a versatile and durable countertop material for homeowners. We especially love that solid surfacing countertops have a seamless appearance, creating a sleek and modern aesthetic in any application. Unlike natural stone, solid surfacing is man-made, which creates a wider range of color and pattern options — making it easier to find the ideal match for your space. Plus, they’re also resistant to heat, scratches, and impact, ensuring long-lasting beauty and functionality for many years to come.
If you’ve ever been inside a professional kitchen, you likely remember the stainless steel used throughout the room. Stainless steel countertops are not only an affordable countertop option, but a top-tier choice because of their resistance to heat, stains, and corrosion. Their sleek appearance marries beautifully to a kitchen with a modern or industrial aesthetic, but also works well in various kitchen styles. Unlike some other cheap countertop materials, stainless steel is also very easy to maintain due to its durability and bacteria resistance. You won’t be disappointed if you opt for stainless steel countertops as your budget-friendly choice.
Butcher block countertops made from wood are an excellent choice for kitchen countertops. However, you need to ensure they are properly installed and sealed for safety. If you install a butcher block countertop that isn’t properly sealed, liquid and food residue can seep into the porous material and cause bacteria growth in your home.
Of the cheap countertop alternatives mentioned above, laminate tends to be considered the cheapest type of countertop material available. However, each material has different price points, so there may be some instances where laminate doesn’t come in as the lowest quote.
In most cases, the most expensive countertops you’ll find on the market are those made from natural stone. The most expensive natural stone countertops are marble and granite. However, each of these natural stone options is incredibly different from one another, so it’s important to understand which type matches your family’s needs.
With the price tag often comes durability. Quartz is one of the more expensive natural stone options, but it is also one of the most durable countertop materials on the market. Because it is engineered using a combination of natural quartz minerals and resin, it is extremely durable and holds up well against impact, stains, and heat — all the traits you look for in the perfect countertop.
Last Updated on December 12, 2022
One of the most expensive parts of a makeover for a kitchen, bathroom or laundry room renovation is the countertops. To save money and stay on budget, we have DIYed kitchen counters and a bathroom vanity using 2 different methods. And they turned out GREAT! So if you don't like your countertops but don't want to spend a fortune, try one of these affordable DIY countertop ideas!
The two methods we have used to update our outdated countertops are just TWO of the options out there! I have been floored by all the amazing DIY countertops out there! SO many talented bloggers have come up with budget-friendly options and tutorials. I've found the best DIY concrete countertops, DIY wood countertops and more from around the web. You are sure to find the perfect one for whatever room you are working on!
DIY Countertops That Will Blow Your MindDIY Painted Marble CountertopsDid you know you can paint your countertops to look like marble? Yep! I painted the outdated granite countertops in our budget-friendly kitchen makeover and have zero regrets. In fact, I've been so happy with it that I've also done it as part of Attley's bathroom renovation and Avery's bathroom makeover as well! They have been painted for about 18 months now and are holding up beautifully. You can even watch a short video to see how we did it below!
If you love the idea of faux marble countertops but are nervous about painting yours like I did, check out these faux marble counters by Anika's DIY Life. Hers turned out beautifully!
DIY Butcher Block CountertopsThese simple but beautiful butcher block countertops by Tidbits are classically beautiful and very affordable! And can we all swoon over the marble accent under the faucet?!
The Easiest DIY Concrete Vanity Top–No Forms or Heavy Lifting RequiredWhen we gave the powder room in our a facelift I used this a concrete overlay using the same technique we used on our DIY concrete fireplace. I had no idea if it would work on a vanity and in a sink, but it totally did! It looked perfect for several years before we tackled our full powder room renovation. This is one of my most popular DIY projects of all time. Thousands of people have done this in their homes. It's gorgeous and only cost me about $20 to do!
DIY Concrete CountertopsConcrete countertops are absolutely beautiful, but they are very expensive to hire out (trust me, I know… We hired our the concrete counter for the island in one of our homes). This DIY Solid White Concrete Countertop by Oak Abode is absolutely beautiful and it's super budget-friendly!
DIY White Concrete Kitchen CountertopsThese white concrete kitchen counters by Chris Loves Julia look like solid-surface counters that would cost thousands of dollars. They cost a fraction of the price and look just as beautiful!
DIY Wood CountertopsHow pretty are these DIY wood counters by A House We Built? Such a high-end look on a small budget!
DIY Ebony Wood CountertopsLove the look of rich, dark countertops but don't have the budget for dark stone? Check out these DIY DIY ebony wood countertops by Lemon Thistle.
DIY Laminate CountertopsDid you know it's VERY simple to cut and install laminate countertops yourself? That's what The Craft Patch did and they look great! And laminate counters have come a long way, y'all! I can't get over how much their laminate countertops look like soapstone!
Faux Granite CountertopsPainting your counters to look like marble isn't the only option. Amanda at Love and Renovations painted her laminate counters to look like granite. It totally elevated the look of her kitchen on a tiny budget!
DIY Wood Waterfall CountertopCan you believe that this modern and beautiful laundry room countertop is made out of plywood?! GENIUS! Solid surface countertops like quartz are so expensive. And waterfall countertops are stunning, but they can double the cost! This affordable DIY wood waterfall countertop by Mandi at Vintage Revivals is such a budget-friendly option!
DIY Wide-Plank Wood CountersThese DIY wide-planked wood counters by Simply Maggie look like solid walnut countertops but come in at a tiny fraction of the price. I am absolutely blown away by this DIY option!
Refinish and Revive Old Butcher Block CountertopsLast but not least… If you have existing butcher block countertops that look bad, don't give up on them! It took me about an hour to refinish the butcher block countertops in my friend Thea's kitchen. They look absolutely beautiful!
I love all these tutorials! SO many great ideas out there. Even though I really love concrete, I also adored the beautiful wood countertops we had in one of our old houses. Which of these countertop options works best for your renovation? Looking at all these is getting my juices flowing on what type of countertop we should use in our upcoming pantry project.
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