Many families live with two or even three generations under one roof. When it comes to family, it’s often important to consider not just our needs but the needs of others around us. That’s where countertop design for multigenerational living comes in. The countertop spaces in our home are important; they represent an important means for completing projects, cooking, personal hygiene, and much more.

Whether in the kitchen, the bathroom, or even in common living areas around the home, there is a wide range of needs to consider when choosing the right design, material, and configuration. That’s why we’re exploring countertop design for multigenerational living—including some of the considerations one might take when trying to create a space that’s suitable for family members of all ages. Let’s dive in.

Durability

One important factor to consider is the durability of different countertop materials and designs. Different materials can offer their unique benefits, making different types more or less suitable in certain situations.

The durability of a surface can hinge not only on your choice of material but also on what purpose it is used for. For example, while marble countertops are highly resistant to heat, they are less resistant to staining than other natural stone materials. As such, a marble countertop may be a good option in a space that doesn’t see frequent spillage—less so in a highly-used kitchen in which spills are common.

How Countertops Are Used

Naturally, an important consideration when determining the best countertops for multigenerational living is what they’ll be used for. This can be an important part of determining which material and which configuration will be ideal in your home.

In the Kitchen

Consider some of the typical uses of countertops—cooking, completing school or work projects, storage, and hygiene.

In the kitchen, some considerations you might take include

how often you host,
how often you or others cook,
what kinds of meals you prepare (Is there a lot of baking? A lot of sauces?),
how quickly spills are typically cleaned, and
how often surfaces are maintained (resealed, polished, etc.).

If your kitchen sees frequent cooking, the kinds of meals you typically prepare can inform your choice of materials. For example, if you’re an avid baker who rarely delves into sauce making, marble may be perfectly suitable for the kitchen. However, if you frequently cook foods with sauces that will potentially spill, then quartz may be your material of choice, offering a high degree of stain resistance.

In the Bathroom

In the bathroom, considerations may look a little different. Here are some questions you might ask yourself:

How many people share the counter?
Are soap scum, shaved hairs, and toothpas