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1. Pay Attention to Patterns

Take special note of patterns when you’re shopping for more than one countertop design. The last thing you want is two styles that clash. If two options both have significant movement or pattern, pairing them can overwhelm your kitchen design and distract the eye. If you find yourself drawn to busy designs, search for a complementary countertop that’s solid-colored or has minimal pattern. This will ensure that one counter material doesn’t compete with the other.

2. Coordinate With Accent Colors

Accent colors can come from your favorite art piece, linens, furniture, plumbing fixtures, cabinet hardware and even your range hood. If there’s a shade you’re fond of, pick a countertop design that either matches or incorporates that tone in its pattern. The downside to this strategy is that your countertop may look out of place if you ever decide to change your kitchen’s accent colors. While that shouldn’t discourage you altogether, it’s something to know before you sign on the dotted line.

This transitional San Francisco kitchen built by Singlepoint Design Build features a dark island top that coordinates well with its inky lower cabinets, creating a cohesive aesthetic among the wood, stone, metal and painted finishes.

3. Balance Dark With Light

The age-old principle of yin and yang applies to countertop design too. If your first choice is on the lighter side, look for a darker second choice for contrast. You can go with a classic black-and-white motif as seen in this midcentury kitchen built by Don Tankersley & Co., or mix light and dark neutrals, pastels, primary colors and so on.

When creating a light-dark dynamic, there’s more than one approach. If you have mixed cabinet colors, you can use a light countertop with light-colored cabinets (and vice versa) for a more dramatic contrast between your two designs. You can also opt for balance by placing your darker selection on lighter cabinetry. If your cabinetry is the same color throughout, consider other factors, such as how well each countertop design stacks up to your backsplash material.

4. Create an Accent Piece on Your Island

Whether they feature bold color tones or unusual patterns, many designs are natural showstoppers. There’s no better spot to install them than the hub of your kitchen. Wrapping your island with dramatic patterns and sweeping veins, such as in this Toronto kitchen island designed by Lori Morris, will create a focal point that stands out, especially if the rest of your kitchen’s color scheme is neutral or muted.

Accent pieces don’t have to be over-the-top. You can opt for styles that bring flair yet still mesh well with the rest of your space. This coastal kitchen island built by Seaside Construction features sparse veins amid a white background that pop next to the solid gray perimeter tops.

5. Mix Materials

If you’re undecided between two polar-opposite materials, there’s good news: You can use both. It’s common to pair both engineered surfaces such as quartz and porcelain with natural surfaces like granite and soapstone. You can even mix two different types of stone (travertine with granite, for instance). The drawback? One cleaning agent won’t necessarily fit all. For example, you can use a product like Windex on engineered surfaces, but it isn’t recommended for natural stone. Read up on each surface’s cleaning guidelines before you start wiping it down.

Other popular material options include a custom wood piece or butcher block. These can bring warmth and texture to your space, especially when mixed with a clean quartz or solid-surface style.