Wood countertops are popular thanks to their durability,timeless appeal, and natural warmth.
This classic kitchen materialavailable in a wide variety of styles and stainsoffers a furniture-like finish and long-lasting beauty.
Use these wood countertop ideas to help you select a surface you’ll love for years to come.
Credit: Stacy Goldberg
Walnut Wood Countertops
Walnut countertops add rich color and texture to this white kitchen.
This bang out of wood will grow darker and more lustrous with time and use.
For a natural patina,avoid cleaning wood countertopswith abrasive chemicals.
The kitchen after.Credit: Laurey Glenn
Butcher-Block Countertops
Butcher blockis made from strips of wood glued together to create a sturdy work area.
This variety of wood gets its name from the unique, squiggly grain pattern.
To keep the surface in top shape, plan to condition the wood with boiled linseed oil annually.
Credit: Edmund Barr
Wood Island Countertop
Incorporate wood countertops as an eye-catching accent to other materials for contrast.
In this kitchen, a mahogany slab treated with a food-safe finish adds warmth and texture to the island.
The perimeter cabinets aretopped with white quartzfor a sleek, durable finish.
Credit: Nathan Schroder
Butcher block tends to cost less than solid wood countertops, offering a similar natural look.
However, using your wood countertops as a cutting board can eventually scratch or otherwise damage the surface.
You’llneed to sandandrefinish your countertopsto restore the smooth top.
Credit: Jason Donnelly
DIY Butcherblock Countertops
Install your own DIY butcher-block countertops for a budget-friendly kitchen update.
Tracing a template onto cardboard will help you create exact cuts for the edges, sink, and faucet.
Cut the butcher block with a jigsaw,then installit with corner supports.
Credit: Lincoln Barbour
Reclaimed Wood Countertops
Infuse your kitchen with a sense of historyby using reclaimed woodfor your countertops.
Here, the wood countertop is made from heart pine salvaged from a 19th-century textile mill.
The surface is sealed with food-safe tung oil for a durable, water-resistant finish.
Credit: Jay Wilde
Wood Countertop Finish
Wood countertops require a protective finish to ward off moisture and stains.
Clear-coat finishes, such as urethanes and lacquers, last longer and are generally safe forfood prepwhen fully cured.
Plus, the softer wood surface is quieter and more forgiving with dishware and other fragile items.
Credit: Stacy Zarin Goldberg
Farmhouse Wood Countertops
Wood countertops can enhance the rustic look offarmhouse-inspired kitchens.
Here, natural material pairs with glass-front cabinet doors and a Shaker-style peg rail.
The warm wood finish contrasts beautifully with white-painted cabinetry and paneled walls.
Credit: Brie Williams
Wood Countertop Edges
Wood can be cut and carved into intricate designs.
On this wood island, a fanciful edge design emphasizes the kitchen’s traditional style.
Storage-Filled Wood Countertop Island
A thick wood slab tops the island in this nature-inspired kitchen.
Credit: Erik Johnson
The countertop material unites the island with the perimeter cabinetry and trim throughout.
Awarm gray paint colorand vases filled with flowering branches reinforce the earthy appeal.
Here, blocks of end-grain maple are glued together to form a grid pattern.
Credit: Stacy Goldberg
The butcher-block top adjoins the work island’s expanse of verdetropical granite, which was quarried in Brazil.
Kitchen trendscome and go, but functionality and warm, natural elements never go out of style.
Avoid settinghot panson your wood counters, and clean up spills immediately to avoid staining the surface.
Credit: Helen Norman
Your wood counters can last for decades with proper care (and occasional refinishing).
Credit: King Au
Credit: Craig Dugan
