How to Choose Bathroom Countertops

And keep your sanity while picking a vanity.

Renovating a bathroom requires a lot of decision making, but one of the toughest choices is the bathroom countertop. You want it to look nice, function well, and last a long time. You also want to make sure you stay on budget. So how do you find the right one? It all depends on what you're looking for. "For a primary bathroom or even a powder room, people want to create that wow factor for guests," says REAL SIMPLE HOME 2024 designer Amber Guyton. "There are the options that would be the most durable and functional, but then also here are the options that are going to be eye candy and give guests something to talk about." Whatever your preference, below we'll take you through the basics, pros, and cons of seven popular countertop options so you can make an educated choice.

Granite

This natural stone with a characteristic speckled pattern is Amber's go-to surface for bathrooms. "It's really durable, stain resistant and heat resistant," she says. So, you can feel free to put your hair straightener right on it or spill a bit of skin tint without worrying it will permanently damage the stone. The key to keeping it that way is by regularly sealing it and not washing granite with any abrasive chemicals. Another bonus is that you can really customize granite to the look of your bath. "It also comes in endless colors and patterns but the cost can be a bit higher." Naturally, the stone is heavy so both the material itself and shipping may cost you a bit extra.

Pros

• Stain and heat resistant

• Varied color choices
  

Cons

• Requires sealing

• Expensive
  

Marble

Who doesn't love the look of marble? "It's timeless," says Guyton. "If you are remodeling a house or moving into a new construction home it will look just as as amazing 10 years from now, 20 years from now." But, just like marble kitchen countertops, the ones in your bath can also stain and scratch due to the porous nature of marble. In the kitchen, stains most often come from red wine glasses or lemon juice, but in the bathroom, your pigmented makeup can do the same kind of damage. Having the marble sealed can prevent stains, but that's an extra step and an additional cost.

Pros

• Timeless

• Heat resistant

Cons

• Expensive

• Can Stain

Quartz

Quartz countertops have become increasingly popular in both kitchens and baths thanks to its impressive durability (stain, scratch, pretty much, life-proof) and plethora of color and pattern options. These countertops aren't pure quartz, but engineered stone that combines products like crushed granite, marble, and recycled materials to create the surface (yay, eco-friendly!). On the other side, this material does not come cheap. It's notoriously expensive, making it something home buyers are looking for. And, while it's mostly heat-resistant, it can get damaged by extreme head over 300 degrees. This is because the sealant that ties all of these little materials together to create that engineered surface isn't as heat-tolerant. So, much like you'd use a trivet in the kitchen, you'll likely want a silicone mat for your hot hair tools.

Pros

• Varied color choices

• Scratch resistent

Cons

• Expensive

• Can be damaged with high heat

Concrete

There's no denying that concrete counters are just plain cool. They work in modern, farmhouse, and even boho style baths and kitchens. It's simple enough where DIYers can take a crack at it, and it can also be embedded with glass, stone, or anything really to customize and alter the look. It's a very durable surface, naturally. After all, it's what our sidewalks are made of! But just like sidewalks, it can crack, and when it does, it's pretty hard to fix. It requires regular resealing to keep stains at bay and you have to be careful about the weight you're putting on your cabinets and floors.

Pros

• Heat resistant

• Can be customized

Cons

• Expensive

• Repairs are tricky

Tile

Now, before your mind conjures up images of 80's bubblegum pink bathrooms decked out in tile from floor to ceiling, hear us out. Tile is actually a pretty great bathroom surface: It's far less expensive than natural stone and way more doable for DIY-ers. You can also customize it in (approx) a billion way, making it look modern and chic. There are some issues, though. "The cracking and grout. lines are going to be a concern," Guyton says. Just like your ceramic dishes, ceramic tile can chip and crack when heavy things are dropped on it-- sure, this is less likely to happen in the bathroom than the kitchen, but it doesn't mean you're immune. The grout can also get pretty gross and be a hotbed for bacteria, so regular cleaning is a must.

Pros

• Relatively inexpensive

• Heat resistant

Cons

• Grout is susceptible to bacteria and staining

• Prone to chipping

Laminate

This is another material that gets a bad name, but there are so many natural and cool-looking options now that didn't exist in the 1970's. "It looks way better than it did in my aunts house 20 years ago," Guyton laughs. The big draw here is that it's the least expensive counter material you'll en-counter (get it?). The cons are that with that cheaper price comes a far less durable material. It's not heat resistant or completely stain resistant. If you install laminate in your bathroom, you're also not adding to the value of your home for when you sell it, as prospective buyers are typically looking for one of the materials mentioned above.

Pros

• Inexpensive

• Easy to clean

Cons

• Not heat resistant

• Does not add value to your home

Wood

Wood? In the bathroom? Yes! It's a relatively inexpensive option and it adds a sense of warmth to a bath that stone just can't. You can also easily have it cut and stained to look any way you want. But, of course, this isn't going to be the most durable surface choice. Some of those reasons are obvious like you'll need to seal it to prevent moisture damage and it's clearly not heat resistant. So, choose where you put it wisely. "For a vanity top, especially if it's a guest bath or even a powder room- something that doesn't have a ton everyday foot traffic, definitely a viable option for sure," Guyton says. "But, if it's an everyday bathroom that you're in then or a Jack and Jill or your own primary bathroom, I may consider other materials."

Pros

• Relatively Inexpensive

• Can be easily customized

Cons

• Needs sealing to prevent moisture damage

• Not scratch or heat resistant

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