Uses of Granite Countertops outside the Kitchen

While many people automatically imagine kitchens when the words granite countertops are brought up, the fact is these long lasting and beautiful stone slabs are slowly finding their way into many more areas of the house. Homeowners today are finding uses for granite countertops in a variety of settings outside its traditional place in the kitchen.

Granite countertops can now be found in outdoor area, mudrooms, basements, bathrooms, laundry rooms and any other area around the house that needs a beautiful and long lasting counter space.

Here are a few examples of granite countertops being used outside the kitchen:

Laundry rooms are no longer confined to the cramped and dank basement location. Recent trends in home design have brought the laundry room out of the basement in into the open. Today laundry rooms are luxurious and functional areas found in the main level of the house. With the larger space come new home appliances in the laundry room, and a need for more counter space. Granite countertops are ideal for laundry rooms, since they are more than up to the everyday wear and tear inflicted on it in a high traffic area like the typical laundry room. What's more, a granite countertop adds a touch of sophistication and luxury to what is normally regarded as a purely functional area of the home.

A regular fixture in the colder states, mudrooms are an extra room connected to the front door of a house through side entrance and act a safe place for shedding dirty sportswear, suiting up for the snow or wiping down the family pet. Most of us take the messy mudroom for granted, but the fact is that a mudroom's aesthetic qualities can be greatly enhanced with the addition of a granite countertop, a few tasteful cabinets and some creative storage solutions. With a few simple touches the common mudroom can be turned into a work of art.

Granite's amazing durability and near-zero maintenance requirements make them ideal surfacing solutions in outdoor areas. Whether it is for an outdoor kitchen, bar top area or makeshift seating space, granite works extremely well out in the open. Granite counters installed outdoors easily withstands the worst nature can throw at it and comes out looking brand new. Prolonged exposure to sunlight, extremes in hot and cold and persistent staining does not make a dent in a granite countertop.

Refurbishing a basement can not only create more livable space in your house, it also adds value to your home. Basements need not be an after-thought when it comes to home decor. An increasing number of homeowners undertaker DIY projects to transform their basement into something fun like a home theater, game-room or man-cave. An open ended entertainment area is the name of the game in basement redesigns, and granite countertops can be an invaluable addition for things like bar counters, island dividers and serving areas.

The possibilities of granite counters are endless. Many family rooms and dining rooms can be greatly enhanced with elegant granite accents. Consult a home decorator for even more ideas on how to best utilize the beauty and toughness of granite outside your kitchen.