Are white countertops a good idea?

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Updated: March 24, 2023

White quartz countertops is one of the top “must haves” in current kitchen trends for homeowners going into renovations or new builds in 2022! Quartz countertops offers up a look and lifestyle we just couldn’t match with other surfaces. After reading this post, you will know how low maintenance quartz actually is, the pros and cons, popular kinds of white quartz you’ll want to consider, and how our quartz countertops held up after 4.5 years for our family of 6.

Everything You Need to Know Before Choosing Quartz Countertops

We’ve had our white quartz countertops installed for 4.5 years in our kitchen and all bathrooms. We used:

• Cambria Brittanicca
• Viatera Minuet
• Cosmos White

Towards the bottom of this post I’ll share more photos of our quartz countertops and recommend names of popular white quartz you can consider.

Above: my boys’ bathroom

What Are Quartz Countertops Made From?

Quartz countertops are man made. They are not a slab pulled from a rock quarry – they are what is called “engineered stone”, as in made in a factory. Quartz is made from mixing crushed up pieces of (real, actual) quartz and other stones, and bonding all the pieces together with plastic resin.

Our stone manufacture told us quartz countertops are roughly about 90% ground up particles of real stone, and 10% plastic resin. t’s that 90% that gives quartz countertops the look of real, natural stone to the untrained eye!

But since quartz isn’t pulled from a quarry, the slabs are manufactured in a variety of designs so you can find the colors and veining you want!

How Low Maintenance Is White Quartz, Really?

A quick google search of quartz makes the stone sound like an overblown exaggeration. We read it was more durable than granite, and no sealing ever! (Does anyone actually seal their granite yearly?)

You will not have to seal quartz, ever.

Quartz countertops should not be used as a cutting surface – although it likely won’t ruin the countertop – it will just ruin your knives. Because quartz is almost impossible to scratch, our countertops still look new 4 years later! Even with 4 kids who are determined to tear apart my house (and a year spent at home during 2020) – my countertops are the one thing here that still look brand new.

It is true; no maintenance is required.

Do White Quartz Countertops Stain?

We do not baby our countertops. We use our island heavily – mainly, piling up all our crap (that’s what they are there for!). But also for cooking, homework, kids crafts. Our white quartz is just about indestructible. Case in point:

a regular day at home during 2020 when schools were shut down

No, white quartz countertops does not stain. Ours see red wine, lemon, red slime, coffee spills, all of it. They are non-porous, meaning they don’t soak up and hold onto spills.

I once forgot to bring a box of popsicles to a party and left them out on the kitchen island – I came home late in the evening to melted, rainbow food coloring all over the white quartz countertops!

For that dark stubborn spill, I used my beloved Shout Out (the laundry cleaner). One spray, a few minutes of soaking, and the colorful stain wiped away clean to reveal the bright white countertop. If you like a more natural approach, just try a baking soda and water paste. 

Shortly after move-in day a dream crushing child wrote with permanent marker on our white quartz island! I shed actual tears, thinking it was forever. We gave it several 5 minute soaks with rubbing alcohol and were able to lift all the ink up, leaving just clean white countertops behind. The alcohol did not lift or change the finish on the counter.

How To Clean Stubborn Stains Off White Quartz Countertops?

• Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol soak
• A soak with a paste mixture made out of baking soda + water
• I use a soak with a liquid glass cleaner or laundry stain remover like Shout Out (Just my personal experience that these do well. Be sure to clean it up afterwards to make it food safe)

Sources: Anti-fatigue mat | cherry blossoms | kaftan

See 11 Washable Kitchen Runner Rugs here.

How To Clean Quartz Countertops Daily?

You can use a mild cleaner you have on hand; a warm soapy rag, a cleaning wipe, or a Norwex cloth are fine. What you shouldn’t use are abrasive cleaners with bleach. It’s just not necessary. 

Are Quartz Countertops Heat Resistant?

This is something to be careful of – high heat will damage your countertops! Not a cup of hot coffee though, but a pot out of the oven that gets set down directly on the quartz.

I say this with every ounce of good intention: people get too hung up on the heat issue. Generally speaking, getting the family in the habit of using hot pads under burning hot pans on the counter can be easily accomplished.

It’s just like the habit of reaching for a cutting board instead of using the countertop to cut! If my messy tweens and teens can handle it – it is doable.

Houzz

Are White Quartz Countertops A Good Idea?

White quartz countertops are certainly trending in 2022 and going forward into this decade, and they’re low maintenance enough to stay in favor with homeowners for the long haul. The value a classic looking quartz offers a kitchen remodel, especially when compared to the cost of granite, makes it a great idea and a solid investment.

If you are concerned about outlasting trends, stick to the classic solid colors of quartz, or subtle veining rather than dramatic veins.

How Much Do Quartz Countertops Cost?

But how much are my quartz countertops going to cost me? The cost of quartz runs $50 to $100 square feet. Premium types of quartz will be on the high side of that range (our Brittanicca island is a premium stone, for instance, and our perimeter White Zen is not).

The installation of quartz is an even bigger range, running between $75 and $200. When getting a quote for the cost of quartz, make sure to ask if the price includes installation, and removal of older countertops if needed!

I recommend making sure you are able to get countertops without a seam. This isn’t always possible, but keep looking further if the first answer isn’t positive. This will help keep the value of your kitchen.

You will also love reading my guide to 10 different types of white countertops!

The Quartz We Used In Our Home

We chose a balance of using premium high priced quartz, and simple, budget friendly quartz. All 3 kinds of quartz have done well in our home!

Cambria Brittanicca on our Kitchen Island

We chose Cambria Brittanicca for our island, a premium white quartz. Brittanicca is your statement piece for the room!  

Our island is generously sized at 9.7 x 4.3. We now have brass hardware in our kitchen. You can see the change here.

Cambria Brittanicca has a white base with a lot of contrast, thick large veining splashed across it, and bold movement. It has soft warm gray undertones, and the veining is light to medium gray tones. It says “look at me, I’m so pretty and extroverted!”, but it’s not ostentatious.

Shop the Look: Counter Stools | Large Palm Leaf | Step Stool | Pendant Light

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A 3″ Mitered Edge Countertop

We added a 3″ mitered edge just to the island countertop. A mitered edge means the edge is 3″ thick around, instead of 1.25″ like the perimeter countertops (the standard thickness).

Don’t be fooled – the whole slab is not 3″. Typically a mitered edge has sidepieces that are simply laminated on! In our case here, 3″ side was laminated onto the sides. This extra detail cost us right under $1500. The mitered edge countertop is a detail I don’t regret, because it is so noticeable and often commented on.

Cosmos Quartz White Zen On Our Perimeter Quartz Countertops

We saved a little by using White Zen quartz (a less expensive quartz) made by Cosmos on the perimeter countertops. White Zen looks just like what you would imagine – a pure, solid white countertop. No speckling or veins, nothing “exciting” but a great backdrop so your kitchen can shine.

Although most of our cabinetry is white, this could look great paired up with the trend of darker, moodier cabinets too!

Get The Look: 2 Gallon Jar | Marble Bookends | Cabinet Pulls

We continued the White Zen all through the house; in all the bathrooms too. Here it is in our powder bath:

Shop The Look : Mirror | Faucet  | Sconce

Viatera Minuet Quartz: A High End Look

I wanted something special in our bathroom. Something high end feeling and lux! We were able to find our Viatera Minuet top from a remnant. What a score!

Sources: Cabinet Pulls | Mirrors | Sconce

Viatera Minuet quartz is made by LG Hausys. Viatera Minuet might by a mouthful to say, but it sure is easy on the eyes! It has grey marbling that makes it look classic and luxurious. It has a rich feel, and somewhat mimics marble.

3 Other Kinds of White Quartz To Consider

When looking at quartz, make sure you ask for a take home sample to see in the light of your own home. What looks like a regular white quartz in the showroom could can be stark and cold  amongst your own lighting. Some of them are also available in a matte finish, but polished looks the cleanest.

1. Cambria Ella

If you have concerns Brittanicca (the quartz on my island) is too bold, Ella is the compromise you are looking for. The veins are thinner, more delicate. Cambria Ella is hands down gorgeous. It gave me pause even though my heart was set on Cambria Brittanicca. Ella looks more like marble with the veining. The white in the quartz is luxe. 

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Goooooood morning sunshine and happy Wednesday! OK, so today’s post is LOOOONG overdue. Like, I meant to post this four months ago kinda overdue. I know, I’m so bad. And to be honest, it’s actually one I’ve been wanting to write since finishing our kitchen makeover back in OCTOBER, but it just kept getting pushed off and pushed off. But today is finally the day my friends! I’m here to share an honest review of our white quartz countertops. I thought this might be useful for any of you that are planning out a kitchen makeover or looking to upgrade to some new shiny countertops. I’m chatting about the good AND the bad, as well as a few general thoughts on our countertops now that we’ve been living with them for over six months. Ok, so just for kicks how about we start with a before photo of our kitchen?

And how it looks now:

Quite the difference, right?! (These are quartz tops in Arctic White) I still can’t get over how different our kitchen looks now from when we moved in three years ago. It’s so much brighter, plus it has a cozy cottage vibe that I love.

THE GOOD

• This is the first time we’ve ever had quartz countertops. And I have to say, they are SO nice. They’re low maintenance, which I love, and very durable. When we were shopping around for different tops, I kept coming back to quartz because they are so easy and hassle free. Unlike granite, quartz is non-porous and it doesn’t need to be sealed, which is a big WIN in my book.
• It’s also scratch resistant, stain and heat resistant too–which is AWESOME. I still use a cutting board, just because it’s easier, but it’s nice knowing how durable they are. It’s held up great so far and we’ve had no issues at all.
• Another reason we went with quartz is because at the time I wanted white countertops with very minimal veins and no crystals or speckles at all. I basically wanted a solid pattern. But since granite is a natural stone that was almost impossible to find, even though the company we went with had tons of granite options. I honestly just didn’t love any of the granite tops I saw. So I kept coming back to the quartz because I loved the simple and clean look of the Arctic White.
• They truly are stain resistant. I’ve spilled just about everything on these tops (including lots of coffee!) and they do not stain at all, even though they are white.
• Immediately after our white countertops were installed, I felt like the kitchen looked 10 times bigger. I wasn’t really expecting that, but the white definitely made the whole space feel brighter and fresh.

THE BAD

• The bad thing about these white tops is they do show every little mark. I remember the third day we had them someone slid our crockpot across the counter and it left a large black mark. It wasn’t scratched, but the black mark would NOT come off no matter what I tried. I finally had to use a Magic Erasers to remove it.
• Aside from marks on top of the counters, I’ve also noticed dark marks on the front of the tops as well–they almost look like little pencil markings. It’s not super obvious, but it definitely bugs me. And again, the only thing that will remove it is a Magic Eraser. I don’t know if this is common with other quartz tops, but I’ve been surprised to see how easily marks are left on ours.

Overall I love my white quartz countertops. And of all the renovations and projects we’ve done in our home over these past three years, choosing to invest in our kitchen countertops was one of the best decisions we’ve made. They’ve not only completely transformed our kitchen, but they are SO darn easy and they really do require very little maintenance. I simply clean them with hot soapy water most of the time. My one and only regret is that I didn’t go with a shade of white that had a teeny bit more dimension to it. Given how easily these tops show any little mark, I think getting something with even a few veins may have helped disguise those marks a bit more, but maybe not. Either way, I love the simplicity of the white and I think it suits are kitchen well.

Well that’s it for my review! Please let me know if you have any questions or if you’d like to know more about something I didn’t cover. I’d love to chat!

More posts you might want to wander over to:

Farmhouse Sink Review

Farmhouse Master Bathroom Reveal

Budget Friendly Mudroom Makeover

Farmhouse Style Front Room Makeover