What To Know Before Buying Corbels

When you’re building a house, the top priority is to make it sturdy and functional—but if you want to attract buyers, you’ll have to give it a unique design, too. Thankfully, there are a few simple ways to add character to your in-progress home.

If you’re searching for a way to spruce up the countertops or shelving, corbels are the obvious choice. Here’s what to know before buying corbels so that you can choose an option that you and your future buyers will be happy with.

Choosing a Style

There are plenty of unique designs to choose from, but how do you know which is best? The easiest way to narrow down your choices is to pause, stand back, and take a look around. What’s the style of the home you’re building? Is it traditional or contemporary?

Maybe it’s a mix of both. For an elegant, vintage design, you might want to opt for corbels with smooth curves and an intricate, hand-carved design. Or you can achieve a modern look with clean lines and a simple, minimalist design. With the abundance of options on the market, you’re sure to find something that suits your building budget and style.

Picking the Right Materials

Another thing to know before buying corbels is that they come in a wide range of materials, including hand-carved wood, polyurethane, and marble. The right material for you will depend on multiple factors, such as the style you’re aiming for, your budget, and the purpose of your corbels.

Wooden corbels can use all types of wood, which makes matching corbels to your existing cabinets a simple process. Polyurethane corbels are long-lasting and resistant to wear-and-tear. However, this material is exclusively decorative, so you shouldn’t use corbels made from polyurethane as a form of support.

Marble is beautiful, but it’s also expensive. If you’re using marble corbels as a decorative or supportive addition to your countertops, keep in mind that they’re quick to stain.

Knowing Their Purpose

Corbels are multi-functional. They can be decorative, functional, or both. You can use them to support your kitchen’s countertops or include them as a design element that’s sure to catch the attention of prospective buyers.

The primary purpose of a corbel is utility, though, so even if you’re only adding them for decorative purposes, they should always look like they’re holding something up.

Sizing Your Corbels

Once you’ve picked out your corbels’ design, you’ll have to make sure they’re proportional to the surface you’re working with. To accurately size your corbels, you’ll need to know where you’re putting them and whether they’ll be functional or purely decorative.

If they need to support your countertops, your corbels should be at least half the depth of the overhang. For shelving, you can use the two-thirds rule. Your corbels should be two-thirds the depth of the shelf.

The method you use to size your corbels will be different depending on their purpose, so make use of expert online guides to help you size your corbels accordingly.

image credit: Pixabay