I’ve walked through a lot of kitchens over the years.
Beautiful ones, expensive ones, kitchens that look like they belong in magazines. And you know what I’ve noticed? Some of the prettiest materials are absolute nightmares to maintain.
Homeowners tell me the same story over and over.
They fell in love with a material during the renovation, installed it, and six months later they’re scrubbing, sealing, or just plain regretting it.
The kitchen looked amazing on installation day. Now it’s a chore.
Here’s the thing—I’m not saying these materials are bad. They’re not. But if you value your time and sanity, you might want to think twice. Or at least know exactly what you’re signing up for.
8 Kitchen Materials Experts Want You to Avoid If You Want to Stay Sane During Upkeep
Let me walk you through the materials that look great in showrooms but can turn your kitchen into a part-time job.
Marble Countertops
Marble is gorgeous. I get it. That veining, the cool surface, the way light hits it—there’s a reason people have been using it for centuries.
But here’s what they don’t tell you at the showroom.
Marble is porous. Really porous. Spill some lemon juice? That’s etching. Set down a glass of wine? Potential stain. Put a hot pan down without thinking? You might have just marked it permanently.
I’ve talked to homeowners who seal their marble every few months. They use cutting boards for everything, even just slicing a lime.
They bought special pH-neutral cleaners because regular kitchen cleaners are too harsh.
One woman told me she basically treats her countertops like a museum piece.
If you love marble and you’re okay with the patina it develops over time, that’s one thing.
Some people actually like the lived-in look. But if you want pristine surfaces, you’re going to be stressed every time someone sets something down.
There are porcelain slabs now that look almost identical to marble. Just saying.
Glossy Cabinet Finishes
High-gloss cabinets look incredible in photos. They reflect light, make small kitchens feel bigger, give everything this sleek, modern vibe.
Then you touch them.
Every fingerprint shows up. Every smudge. Every time you open a cabinet door with slightly damp hands, you’ve left evidence. If you have kids? Forget about it.
I visited a kitchen last year with glossy white cabinets.
Stunning design. But the homeowner kept a microfiber cloth hanging on the oven handle because she was constantly wiping them down.
She told me she regretted the finish within the first week.
Matte or satin finishes hide so much more. They still look good, they’re way more forgiving, and you’re not wiping down cabinet doors twice a day. That time adds up.
Butcher Block Countertops
I actually love butcher block. The warmth, the texture, how it softens a kitchen that might otherwise feel too industrial.
But you have to oil it. Regularly.
And not just when you remember. Like, actually on a schedule.
Monthly if it’s getting heavy use. You sand out stains, you avoid water pooling, you definitely don’t let water sit near the sink area or it swells.
A designer friend of mine installed butcher block in her own kitchen because she wanted to practice what she preaches.
She maintains it religiously and even she says it’s more work than she expected. She loves it, but she’s honest about the effort.
If you’re the type of person who can keep up with that maintenance routine, great. But I’ve seen too many butcher block counters that look dried out and sad because life got busy and the oiling got skipped.
Indeed, the secret to mixing more kitchen materials perfectly may lie in some considerations and deep thinking. You can’t throw materials around like you’re building an Ikea showroom..
Natural Stone Backsplashes with Heavy Texture
Textured stone backsplashes have this organic, artisan quality. They look handmade, authentic, like something you’d see in a European villa.
They also collect grease like it’s their job.
I’m talking about stacked stone, rough slate, anything with crevices and uneven surfaces.
When you’re cooking, especially if you do any amount of frying or sautéing, grease becomes airborne.
It settles. And when it settles into textured stone? You’re scrubbing with a toothbrush.
Actually, I know someone who does exactly that. She has a designated toothbrush for her backsplash.
She soaks it in degreaser and goes over the grout lines and crevices every couple weeks.
Smooth tile is just easier. You wipe it down, you’re done. You’re not excavating oil from tiny cracks.
Open Shelving Instead of Upper Cabinets
Open shelving photographs beautifully. It makes a kitchen feel airy, curated, like you have your life together.
But unless you actually use those dishes daily, they’re collecting dust. And grease. And that weird kitchen film that appears out of nowhere.
I’ve rearranged my opinion on this one over the years.
I used to think open shelving was charming. Now I think it’s charming for about three items you use constantly, and everything else should be behind closed doors.
You end up washing dishes before you use them, not just after.
You’re wiping down the shelves. And if you’re someone who likes to have backup dish sets or seasonal items, where exactly are those going?
Some people love the look enough to deal with it. But I’ve also talked to plenty of homeowners who closed up those shelves within a year or two.
The maintenance wasn’t worth the aesthetic.
Dark Grout with Light Tiles (or Vice Versa)
Contrasting grout looks sharp. It highlights the tile pattern, creates definition, makes the whole design feel intentional.
It also shows every speck of dirt.
Dark grout with white tile? That grout is going to lighten over time from cleaning products and general wear. You’ll be scrubbing it to keep it looking dark and crisp.
White grout with dark tile? Every crumb, every splash, every bit of grime shows up like it’s under a spotlight.
I watched a friend try to keep white grout clean in her kitchen.
She used grout pens, special brushes, even considered re-grouting at one point. Eventually she just accepted that it was going to look a little dingy.
Matching your grout closer to your tile color hides so much.
It’s one of those small decisions that makes daily life easier.
Stainless Steel Appliances Without Protective Coating
Stainless steel has been the standard for years now. Professional look, goes with everything, holds resale value.
But unless it has a fingerprint-resistant coating, you’re polishing constantly.
I mean constantly.
Every time you open the fridge, there’s a handprint. If you have kids who like to “help” in the kitchen, your appliances will look like a crime scene by the end of the day.
There are smudge-proof stainless finishes now.
They cost a bit more usually, but they actually resist fingerprints. I’ve tested them myself—opened the fridge with greasy hands just to see. Wiped right off.
The regular stainless? You need special cleaner and you’re buffing it out, going with the grain, hoping it looks decent.
Some people have switched to panel-ready appliances or black stainless just to escape the fingerprint cycle. I don’t blame them.
Matte Black Sinks and Faucets
Matte black fixtures are everywhere right now. They look moody, modern, like something out of a design blog.
They show water spots worse than any other finish I’ve seen.
Hard water? You’ll see every dried droplet. Soap residue? Visible immediately. That matte surface just highlights everything.
I talked to a homeowner who installed a matte black farmhouse sink. Loved the look. Hated that she had to wipe it dry after every use to keep it looking clean.
Every single time she washed her hands, she’d grab a towel and dry the sink too.
She told me it felt ridiculous but she couldn’t stand looking at the spots.
Chrome and brushed nickel hide water spots so much better. They’re not trendy right now, maybe, but they’re also not making you wipe down your faucet five times a day.
The Reality Check
None of these materials are terrible choices. People install them all the time and live with them just fine.
But I think it’s worth knowing what you’re getting into before you commit.
Before you spend thousands on a renovation and then realize you’ve accidentally given yourself more work.
I’ve learned that the best kitchens aren’t always the ones that look the most impressive.
Sometimes they’re the ones that just… work. Where you can cook dinner without worrying about staining the countertop.
Where you can open a cabinet without leaving fingerprints. Where cleaning up doesn’t require specialty products and a detailed routine.
Your kitchen should make your life easier, not harder.
If you love one of these materials enough that the maintenance doesn’t bother you, that’s completely valid.
Some people genuinely enjoy caring for marble or oiling butcher block. It’s part of the experience for them.
But if you’re already stretched thin, if you want a kitchen that looks good without constant effort, there are easier options out there.
Materials that are just as beautiful but way more forgiving.
I guess what I’m saying is this: pick your battles. Maybe you really want that marble island and you’re willing to baby it. Fine. But maybe skip the glossy cabinets and the open shelving so you’re not maintaining everything at once.
Because at the end of the day, you’re the one who has to live with these choices.
Not the designer, not the showroom, not the Instagram photo that inspired you.
Just you, in your kitchen, probably wishing you’d gone with something a little less demanding.
Ask yourself what you actually want to spend your time on. Then choose your materials accordingly.
That’s the real secret to a kitchen you’ll actually love living with.
