Why White Kitchens and Kitchen Countertops Make Sense

Keystone Logo
Table of Contents

Many people find white kitchens a bit sterile. With so many colors available when doing a kitchen upgrade, sticking with white cabinets and kitchen countertops seems to be the safe choice and waste of time and effort if you are trying to make an impact.

However, while white kitchens are common, they also stand the test of time. This is not true for other colors, especially trendy ones. As a kitchen remodel can be quite an investment, you want to make sure you will not need to do another one for a long time. A white kitchen is a classic for some very good reasons.

A little history

It might seem a bit wacky to state that the reason white kitchens are so popular is because of the flu, but that is a fact. A little history lesson will clear this up quite nicely.

A flu epidemic broke out sometime in 1918, and a particularly nasty one that led to the death of millions of people around the world. In the US, it claimed the lives of 500,000 people, and people were understandably panic stricken. While the outbreak inexplicably stopped quite suddenly in the same year, but the fear of catching it stayed with many people in the US.

To address this, home appliance manufacturers began producing white appliances in the 1920s as people associated this with cleanliness. White showed up dirt and grime very well, so people felt it would be easier to keep their homes clean if they had white stuff all around them. This was particularly true in the kitchen, which is inherently a source of pathogens. White tile also became popular for kitchen countertops around this time.

The effect is psychological, of course, as most people are aware that not all pathogens are visible to the naked eye. This did not stop people from choosing white for their kitchens, though.

Homeowners continued to choose white for their kitchens and kitchen countertops on and off over the next few decades, even as other colors gained and lost traction in the 50s, 60s, and 70s.  White never lost its appeal completely, and by the 1980s, neutral colors began to creep back into style together with Formica.

Thankfully, the Formica era petered out by the 2000s and white once again came into its own. By this time, marble, granite, and quartz countertops had become affordable, so people chose these materials for their kitchen countertops.  Today, white marble and quartz stone, and to a lesser degree, white granite, have become the kitchen countertops of choice for trendy white kitchens.

Visual impact

You might not always acknowledge it, but white does inspire feelings of joy, happiness, and lightness. The psychological impact is hard to ignore, and particularly important in the home. If you feel happy in your kitchen, chances it will reflect in the food you cook and the interactions you have with other people in the home.

Another visual effect of white is space. If you have a small, dark, and/or low-ceilinged kitchen, choosing a white color palette for it is a great way to address these issues. It can make any kitchen look bigger, and definitely brighter.  White kitchen countertops and backsplashes are particularly effective in deceiving the eye when it comes to spaciousness.

Marketability

Because of the first two reasons, homes with white kitchens tend to sell better. If you are looking to sell your home in the future, choosing white countertops and cabinets for your kitchen remodel now can help you avoid doing any major overhaul in the future. White works well with staging, and many homebuyers seem to respond to it positively.

Versatility

While a completely white kitchen can work in some cases, it can be overwhelming, so most people prefer mixing it up. White can still be the dominant color, but it plays well with other colors, so it is very versatile in that sense.

Many designers choose to mix up white countertops with darker cabinets and floors to give the room depth. White also brings out metal elements into relief, so appliances and accents such as light fixtures, brass knobs, and trims pick up the reflections of the white countertops. Anything you want to bring into focus can play off white walls, cabinets, and countertops.

Think of white countertops as a blank canvas where you can make almost any other color work. It will work with any type or style of kitchen, lighting, mood, theme, or homeowner without bringing any undue attention on itself.

Conclusion

White countertops are a good way to bring the spirit of a white kitchen even if you do not choose to have a completely white kitchen. If you do a complete kitchen remodel, make sure to include white countertops into consideration for the above reasons. You should also consider working with a reliable countertop specialist such as Keystone Marble and Granite in the areas of Columbus, Ohio, Delaware cities, Lancaster and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We are experts at fabricating and installing kitchen countertops, so you can be confident that you will get the very best in product and service quality.

We have showrooms in Lancaster and Horsham, Pennsylvania as well as New Castle, Delaware and Columbus, Ohio. We will walk you through each marble or granite slab and explain how each can benefit you in your kitchen or bathroom remodel. If you prefer engineered stones, we also carry the top brands in the industry such as Cambria, Caesarstone, Silestone, and MSI, all with manufacturer warranties.

Once you have chosen your slabs, we provide free professional design consultation and quotes so you know exactly where you are before committing. We also have a quick turnaround, so you will get your products on time and on budget.

Give us a call or send us an inquiry through our website to get the white kitchen you need!