For most of us, the bathroom is a personal oasis. We love how it calms our spirit in such a unique way and helps us forget the troubles of life for a moment.
Considering this is where you start and end your day inside there, it’s crucial to choose a natural stone countertop that fits your bathroom’s design, all while matching your unique taste and personality.
Whether it’s just the vanity or other countertops in your bathroom, it can be daunting to know which materials to choose, especially considering the wide array of options available. Besides, if you’re considering a renovation, you want a surface that is durable and well within your budget.
So what’s the best natural stone countertop for the bathroom? Let’s look at the popular options to consider as well as the feel, cost, and style options for each.
Granite Goes the Extra Mile
Granite is known for its sheer quality, making it the perfect choice for your vanity and bathroom countertops. It’s also readily available in a variety of patterns and colors.
This stone boasts a natural, earthy look, and you’re likely to find a style that will blend with almost any bathroom décor. It has a shimmering beauty that results from crystals of feldspar, mica, and quartz trapped within it. What’s more, its durability and timeless appearance mean that you will enjoy it for years to come.
Most of us often place our toiletries in different places. This makes it difficult to care for stone countertops- but not with granite. Once sealed, it’s one of the least porous and scratch-resistant materials out there, meaning you can carry on with your morning routine worry-free.
Unlike most materials, granite is a low maintenance option for your countertops. The only thing you need to do is clean it often and avoid applying acid or harsh chemicals on its surface. The simple act of cleaning messes right away can make your granite countertop last longer. The best part? It will look sleek and beautiful when you need it the most!
We strongly recommend sealing your granite countertop once a year to protect it from chemicals and normal wear and tear. In terms of cost, this stone ranges between $75 and $200 per square. Thankfully, granite prices are going down by the day, and you’ll find more affordable options if you search well.
Quartz Is a Universal Choice
Like granite, quartz is famous for its durability, but it can imitate any natural stone’s appearance. The quartz countertop is not made out of real quartz. Rather, it is engineered using ground-up quartz, resin, and other minerals. While it’s vastly natural, the slabs aren’t cut directly from the ground the way granite and marble are.
Quartz is perfect for bathroom countertops because of its long-lasting nature (on par with granite) and incredibly low maintenance requirements. It’s also extremely resistant to moisture, making it excellent for showers as well.
Another real benefit is that if you’re cutting many slabs, quartz will have a much more consistent look as the slabs are manufactured. You won’t need to vein from slab to slab to achieve the ideal pattern for your space. This might be worth considering if you’re redoing a large bathroom.
If you’re looking to create a raised bathroom, this stone is perfect for the job. Plus, there are so many design options for quartz countertops to select from, you’ll love every bit of renovating your bathroom- from the sink to shower! The uniformity of color and patterns across different quartz styles means that you can use any remaining slabs for upcoming kitchen projects.
As this stone is non-porous, it requires minimal effort to clean and maintain quartz-based vanities. It’s also the least prone to stains and requires no sealers as well. The best thing about quartz is that it’s more modern looking than most stones on this list, giving your bathroom a more minimalist, subtle feel. We can all agree that quartz can match just about any bathroom décor, style, and design.
The cost of quartz surfaces varies considerably from one manufacturer to another. However, on average, you can expect to pay between $110 and $250 per square.
Marble Is a Luxury Statement
Elegant and beautiful, marble is an excellent choice for your bathroom project. This stone is formed from dolomite rock or limestone that undergoes extreme heat pressure, giving it such a distinctive vein.
Marble naturally exists as a white shade and often has a tan, reddish, black, gray, green, light blue, or pink veining. The stone can be honed for a crisp matte finish or polished for a bright shiny look. The truth is, if you go the marble way, your bathroom will forever be thankful to you!
While it is not as strong as quartz or granite, marble is way better than other non-stone countertops due to its incredible resistance to stain and heat. Plus, it has the best aesthetics of any stone in the market.
You’ll feel a strong feeling of elegance and luxury immediately you notice this stone. Marble has a subtle yet powerful appearance that can really elevate the beauty of a bathroom. Moreover, since it’s not a common choice among homeowners, you can use it to make your home stand out from the lot.
On the downside, marble has to be sealed properly to match the durability of its counterparts. It’s quite porous, which means it scratches more easily than granite and can absorb more stains. However, with the right care, this stone’s classic look will create a beautiful space for your bathroom for years to come.
Marble countertops can also be quite costly. However, typical slabs are often slightly costlier than quartz or granite. Prices range from $120 to $250 per square, but if you love the look of marble, there’s hardly any substitute.
Here’s the best part: since marble is durable and provides a timeless style, it can add value to your home and justify its price in the long haul.
Limestone Is a Real Bargain
For a more informal look, limestone is an excellent choice. It captures fossilized animal and plant life, giving your bathroom a more primitive but aesthetic appeal.
In its purest form, limestone imitates marble and comes in a wide range of colors. You’ll find it in cream or white, but different minerals can cause its color to tweak.
As limestone is more porous than many stones on this list, it requires proper sealing to maintain its look and prevent staining. Most homeowners love the matter finish of limestone countertops. Better yet, at approximately $50 per square, marble is perhaps the most affordable stone in the market. It’s perfect if you’re looking for a material to complement the existing floors and walls without stretching your budget.
Soapstone is for the Trendy Home
If you’re on the lookout for a stylish yet trendy countertop, then soapstone offers the perfect choice. It is a very hardy stone- waterproof and non-porous to the core. Like granite, it is super easy to clean and resistant to bacteria.
This stone has a distinctive veining (similar to marble) and offers a tasteful finish to your vanity. Soapstone requires a mineral oil sealant to keep the surface looking sleek. When not applied often, the surface will turn a drab grey color and lose its appeal over time.
For a more utilitarian feel, it’s best to go for soapstone over granite. However, the patterns and colors are more limited than most stones on this list.
At only $70 to $120 per square, this stone provides the most convenient ways to upgrade your bathroom countertops. The practicality and deluxe feel that soapstone brings are simply unmatched!
Final Thoughts
There you have it- our all-exclusive bathroom countertop buying guide! The key is to combine the perfect blend of durability, deluxe look, and ease of cleaning when choosing a bathroom countertop. Whatever material you choose, try to savor the final look- you deserve it!
Want to explore more stone options for your next bathroom project in St. Louis? Feel free to visit and explore any of Arch City’s Granite and Marble fully-stocked showrooms today!