When you hear the term “granite countertop”, then you probably think about kitchens and bathrooms. Did you know that this durable material has uses in every other room of your home? With its unique variations in color and the durability to withstand the harsh demands of any sized family, granite can complement any room in your family’s home where you decide to have it installed.
Every slab of granite has a unique pattern. While two might look similar, no two are one hundred percent, exactly the same. Adding granite to a room in your home is like adding a piece of priceless art. In fact, some refer to granite as “fire rock” because of the way it is formed. Molten-hot magma trapped in pockets beneath the surface of the earth slowly cool to form this durable stone.
Because of how it is formed, granite is one of the most durable materials on the planet. In fact, only few materials top granite in strength, one of which is diamond. Granite countertops can hold up to extreme temperatures such as a hot pan straight from the stovetop, having things like a hot curling iron dropped on it, toothpaste splatters, outside weather conditions, and more.
Share Your Love of Granite throughout Your Home
Although granite countertops are most popular in the kitchen and bathroom, you can add them to any room of your home. Here are some suggestions for how you might choose to use them in your home, although you are likely to think of many more. You might even think of some areas of the home that are not mentioned here as well.
THE LIVING ROOM
A formal living room is a great place for entertaining, and a bar area can help with that. Use a short section of granite countertop and a single kitchen or bathroom vanity cabinet to create a bar that enhances not only the functionality of your living room, but also its appearance.
THE FAMILY ROOM
How many times have your wood coffee and end tables suffered white rings from a cold can of soda or drinking glass full of an iced beverage that was carelessly set down on it? A granite countertop makes a great tabletop, regardless if you use it to top your new coffee table or if you use it to top a sofa table that is placed conveniently behind a couch.
THE DINING ROOM
In the dining room, no matter how big your table is there never seems to be enough space to put all the food. This is especially true for big, family dinners at holidays and other special occasions when additional people are sitting around the table with your immediately family members. A granite countertop along one wall can act as a serving area where you can put side dishes, hot rolls, or desserts.
THE PATIO
A kitchen island is one of the most practical features in the kitchen. Can you imagine how much use one would get on the patio? Set it near a grill to hold spare tools, spices, and food. Put it near the back door to hold extra beverages and snacks in the summer to keep kids from running through the house throughout the day.
THE POOL AREA
If you have a pool house, then use a granite countertop on top of a cabinet where you store pool toys and towels. Granite is absorbent but maintaining the surface with professional sealing means you can have people put wet suits and toys right on the counter. And you can feel confident that they are not leaving permanent stains that mark up the natural textures and patterns of the stone.
THE GARAGE
Not everyone uses their garage as a grease pit where they perform vehicle repair. There are a surprising number of single family homes that use granite countertops to crown kitchen cabinets in the garage. This gives families an area to do small gardening projects on rainy days, store holiday decorations, or anything else that is not convenient to do inside their homes.
As you can see, granite is not only versatile in its physical appearance. Granite countertops have a diverse number of ways that they can be used by your family. Using granite countertops in your home is also a smart choice because it retains its value. If you ever put your home on the market, then potential buyers will be willing to pay more for a home that has first rate materials.