Erin Napier's Brilliant Solution Revitalizes Laminate Kitchen Countertops

If you're remodeling your kitchen on a budget, laminate countertops can be a cost-effective choice. Although laminate countertops have a reputation for being less attractive than stone or solid wood, home restoration expert Erin Napier offers a clever design trick for elevating budget-friendly laminate. By opting for square-edge laminate instead of round, you can make your countertops look more luxe. 

On an episode of HGTV's "Home Town," Napier and her husband and co-host, Ben Napier, help to rehab a starter home for a woman on a tight budget. Laminate countertops were the obvious, inexpensive option for the kitchen, but Napier didn't want to sacrifice aesthetics to save money. So, she picked square laminate since the square edge mimics the appearance of higher-end materials.

As Erin Napier explained on the show, square-edge laminate countertops look more like stone than rounded laminate. They also look more modern. Co-host Ben Napier agreed and admitted he thinks rounded laminate can feel dated. "To me, the curved edge has always felt very 1997 laminate," he says.

Picking the right material for your countertop means considering many factors, including how often you cook, how long you want your countertops to last, and of course how much you can afford. But for rehabbers on a budget, the good news is that today's laminate is nothing like your grandma's laminate. Modern laminate is not only more durable than vintage laminate but it also looks more like stone or wood than a cheap substitute. 

If you want to bring Napier's accessible elegance in your own kitchen, look for square-edge laminate countertops with a matte or honed finish. Napier designed her own kitchen to look like the set of "Downton Abbey," and she opted for granite with a leathered texture that mimics soapstone's appearance. Matte countertops can look refined and grounded, and they work well in many types of kitchen designs, from English countryside to contemporary. 

While laminate countertops are inexpensive compared to other countertop options, it's worth mentioning that square-edge countertops tend to cost more than rounded countertops. That said, matte finishes are often slightly less expensive than glossy finishes, so you could still save a little extra. Additionally, matte countertops hide imperfections and scratches better than glossy countertops, so you won't have to baby your countertops when cooking or cleaning.