Kitchen Designs using IKEA’s Laminate Butcher Block Countertops

It’s not only for island countertops – design with Butcher Block for your entire kitchen.

Butcher block countertops have become popular elements of modern kitchens. They’re beautiful, natural, and fit in with two of today’s most popular aesthetics: farmhouse and minimalist.

You can’t have a rustic farmhouse kitchen without involving wood grain. For a farmhouse kitchen, you can go nuts and make everything butcher block: the perimeter counter, the island top, the floor, the ceiling (Okay, maybe not those last two). In a modern, minimalist kitchen, butcher block becomes a way to add warmth to a sterile, monochromatic room. We like designing it to be used boldly: in accents, like an island top or bar/sideboard – but mostly all countertops.

You can get the same effect with a laminate butcher block from IKEA, and in many ways, their product is better than solid wood.

Is laminate really better?

Yes!

“Besides the style factor, the plus side to butcher block I hear about most often is how you can use it as a cutting board. It sounds like a nice feature, but organic material will get stuck in the wood and eventually stink and cause staining. That means you have to sand it and treat the wood. Buying a cutting board is so much easier. Is that ‘perk’worth the trouble of maintaining a butcher block countertop? In my opinion, the answer is no.” –Javier, IKD designer

Here are five reasons why we design with IKEA’s laminate butcher block:

1. IKEA’s laminate butcher block countertops have a 25-year limited warranty. A quick Google search will tell you that the average life expectancy of a solid-wood butcher block countertop is 20 years. IKEA promises five extra years from their laminate butcher block countertops.
2. They are easy to maintain. You care for IKEA’s butcher block laminate countertops the same way you do most laminate countertops: clean with a cloth and mild detergent. While the countertops have real wood veneer (so you can seal them or treat them monthly if you want to), they’re pretreated with hard wax oil and are much less prone to moisture problems than natural wood, thanks to their layer construction.
3. If you do nick, scratch, or scorch your laminate butcher block countertop, you can still sand and treat the surface if necessary.
4. Install it yourself. Our designs include a detailed shopping list and template that tells you exactly where and how to cut your laminate butcher block countertop. IKEA laminate countertops come with edging strips so you can still give your countertop a finished look after it’s been cut to size. Even if you aren’t comfortable making the cuts and installing yourself, you’ll have no trouble finding a contractor that’s willing to take on the project without needing to spend extra on a specialist.
5. Butcher block island tops are beautiful. The kitchen island often becomes the informal gathering place for family and friends, and the butcher block style gives it a welcoming, homey feel.

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Are there many options when considering a laminate butcher block countertop?

IKEA’s pre-cut laminate butcher block countertops come in a variety of shades and patterns.

“My personal favorites are the KARLBY, which comes in a narrow stave pattern in walnut, birch, or oak veneer, and the BARKABODA, which comes in a gorgeous chevron-patterned walnut veneer.” – Javier, IKD designer

Regarding sizing, most of IKEA’s butcher block laminate countertops come in 74” L x 42” W, which is ideal for a kitchen island. Standard lengths measure 74” or 98”, and they come with edge banding so you can cut the countertops to size and maintain that finished look.

Are laminate butcher block countertops affordable?

Yes!

When looking for laminate butcher block countertops, your options are KARLBY, SALJAN, VRENA, MOLLEKULA, PINNARP, SKOGSA, and BARKABODA. Prices range from $79 to $399, depending on the product and its size. A solid wood butcher block countertop for an island would cost a minimum of $630.

Laminate countertops are DIY friendly, too, which means you can cut, edge, and install with relative ease. Saving money on installation is always a plus.

There are a few cons to any laminate countertop.

The main cons to a laminate butcher block countertop are:

1. Joining the laminate countertop to join in a corner.
   Most homeowners butt two pieces of butcher block against each other, perpendicularly, to create a corner. The downside to this is the seam. It may be an eyesore to some and a home for tiny crumbs. Unfortunately, there’s no real way to get around this since laminate is notoriously difficult to cut and join in a more seamless manner.
   
2. Using an undermount sink.
   Using a farmhouse sink or other undermount sink requires a bit of technical skill. Since that area will, of course, be very moisture heavy, it’s best to ensure that any edges touching the sink are factory sealed instead of using the edge banding provided by IKEA. Wet particle board swells and comes apart, so even if you have to buy an additional piece of butcher block laminate to ensure the edges stay waterproof, it’s well worth the investment.
   

Key Takeaway

Skip the overpriced, high-maintenance butcher block, and choose an eye-catching laminate butcher block countertop from IKEA. They’re a smart choice when designing an attractive kitchen, whether you’re on a budget or just shopping smart!