HGTV's Jasmine Roth's Countertop Tip Will Save You Money Without Sacrificing Looks Or Durability

Designing a kitchen or bathroom is no easy project. There are a plethora of materials you have to choose from, and they all have to be somewhat complementary in order to create a harmonious design. But from backsplashes to cabinetry and paint colors, the price of remodeling these areas can quickly add up. According to Home Depot, the average cost of a minor remodel is $24,000. It goes up $69,000 for a major remodel and $136,000 for an upscale remodel. Just looking at countertop installation alone, you could be facing costs as high as $4,300 per Bankrate.

Obviously, no one wants to pay nearly $5,000 for countertops, so Jasmine Roth has revealed a budget-saving tip every homeowner should be aware of. Based in California, Roth has a niche for creating custom dream homes and showed us her skills as the host of "Hidden Potential," according to HGTV. She's now the host of "Help! I Wrecked my House," where she helps homeowners bring their properties back to life after a botched renovation. Due to her experience, we believe she's the perfect designer to help you save money without sacrificing the beautiful design you want to create.

According to Realtor.com, the designer advises giving porcelain a shot. "This is an interesting material," Jasmine Roth notes. "It looks like marble, but it has the durability of porcelain. So it won't stain, won't scratch, lasts forever. It's large-scale, and it's printed to look like marble." And although it mimics the beautiful pattern of marble, you can find it at a much lower cost. According to CounterTop Guide, the price of marble is typically $75 to $250 per square foot, whereas porcelain is $60 to $100 per square foot.

If you want to stay on the lower end of the price, it's recommended to use porcelain tiles instead of slabs. Also, choosing a simple design will help keep the price of square footage low. MaxSpace Stone Works says that, unlike marble, porcelain doesn't need to be sealed because it is non-porous, which is a key reason why it's easy to maintain — this feature makes it less susceptible to staining. It's also noted that porcelain is 30% stronger than the toughest granite, which makes cooking easier for homeowners when there is less worry of accidentally scratching the countertop.