When you choose a granite countertop, you're choosing one of the most beloved kitchen materials in American homes today. It's not without good reason. Granite is strong, stain-resistant, takes abuse from hot pans, and keep its good looks year after year and decade after decade. It's not living with granite that's hard - it's choosing the best color. Before you make a selection, here are five important factors that you'll want to consider. #1: You Definitely Need a Sample A granite countertop isn't a minor investment, nor would you expect it to be. For that reason, you definitely need a sample to bring home and check under the lighting and color conditions where it will live. For a lifetime of rewarding durability and good looks, a granite investment evens out over time. If you're not sure, think about the last countertop you owned and how quickly you first noticed damage. Granite usually wins that comparison hands down. Because you plan to live with this counter for years to come, be sure that you really love the color before you buy. #2: Pattern Size Makes a Difference One thing a sample can't tell you is the detail of patterns and depth of color occurring throughout the slab that you want. You'll get some of the color to bring home, but the whole effect isn't possible in a small piece. Patterns matter. They matter a lot.

Larger patterns often look gorgeous in the showroom. They're practically art on their own, says designer and color expert, Maria Killam. But they're also difficult to match. The bolder the pattern, the more obvious the seams. For a small counter, such as an island, that's not a problem. For a whole kitchen, you'll have to learn to love seams or choose a different slab with a much smaller pattern that blends well. #3: Dark Tones Take the Right Touch Dark granite looks sleek and elegant, and it can also look just as rustic as plain old wood (without any of the headaches). But dark countertops need ample light and paler surrounding surfaces, such as the cabinets and backsplash, unless you're aiming for an overall dark and smallish appearance. Black and other dark colors show more dust than lighter colors. They're not harder to clean. They just don't hide anything at all. If you're in for dark countertops, you should learn to embrace a little dust or be fastidious about cleaning. Lighter tones look great anywhere and they can brighten up a smaller kitchen like nothing else. #4: Lighter and Mixed Tones Fit Almost Anywhere A lighter granite works in practically any kitchen, regardless of its size, lighting or surrounding cabinetry. HGTVsays it looks beautiful in a modern kitchen and is just as perfectly at home in something that's a little more country. Because of the wide range of patterns and colors, you're likely to find the perfect light granite countertop to complete the look that you want. One caution: White granite isn't easy to find. But, if you're in the market for creams or beiges with any number of natural color accents ranging from pinks and browns to oranges and even greens, a lighter granite can settle in and look like it was born to be there. #5: Some Mysteries Can't be Solved in Advance You can examine granite slabs all day, bring home samples, take photos and compare colors and patterns until your eyes nearly cross. But until it's installed in your kitchen, there's no way to know exactly how it will look. Lighting variations in your kitchen, differences between slabs, seam placement and many other factors all play a role in the finished product. Although kitchen designers can bring some of your vision to life in advance, you have to throw at least a little caution to the wind when you choose granite. Until it's resting on your cabinets, you won't really know. Granite is never a bad investment. Regardless of which color and pattern you choose, it will last a long time and look great the whole time. The big question is the color and whether it will really work the way that you expect it to. At BT Kitchen and Bath, we can help eliminate a lot of the confusion and give you more information to work with. You'll still have some mystery until it's installed. But you'll be armed with much more information than if you'd shopped at a big box store. Request a free design consultation today and start your journey toward the perfect granite countertop for your home.

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