Should kitchen countertops be light or dark? Designers explain the pros and cons |
Need to kitchen countertops be light-weight or darkish? It’s a concern you are going to probable be inquiring if you are reworking the home, and selecting on colors for everything from cupboards to walls, floors, and window therapies along with the counter tops.
As you’d expect, there are execs and drawbacks to both equally mild and dim kitchen countertop strategies. The two have added benefits that could drive your choice dependent on your aesthetic preference and also the sizing of the place, but even some of the downsides could be averted with some designer knowhow.
We have place their professional insights together here to make it effortless to complement kitchen cupboard concepts together with the rest of your kitchen area colour palette.
Should really kitchen area counter tops be mild or darkish?
Kitchen countertops are a key ingredient in the room’s coloration palette, and need to have to complement the cupboards together with the hues selected for walls, flooring and to dress windows.
The regular selection? ‘The classic method to counter tops has ordinarily been to have a contrast in between the shade of the cupboard doors and the countertop, that is dark doorways/gentle countertop and visa versa,’ suggests Josie Medved, style and design manager at Symphony Team (opens in new tab).
However, this is a recipe that’s found change. ‘In the previous number of decades there has been a pattern to have the countertop in a identical color to the kitchen doors,’ she notes. ‘This has been in particular well-known with classic painted pale coloured kitchens with white or cararra marble type counter tops.’
Whichever option you’re contemplating for kitchen countertops, here’s what the specialists suggest, and it’s savvy you can also use when pondering of laundry space countertop strategies as properly.
(Impression credit: Long run / Nicholas Yarsley)
The professionals of mild kitchen counter tops
Range a single on quite a few people’s lists of why kitchen area counter tops must be light-weight in colour is their reflective excellent. ‘Light surfaces reflect the mild about the kitchen area and can help to harmony darker cabinetry,’ states Simon Temprell, inside style supervisor at Neptune (opens in new tab).
The reflective excellent of light-weight counter tops can be a individual boon in compact rooms, claims Alex Main, director, The Primary Firm (opens in new tab). ‘A bright countertop is a great way to enable give the illusion of room in compact kitchens as the hue will help bounce and reflect light around the room, resulting in your kitchen experience a lot more ethereal and roomy,’ he describes.
Light-weight kitchen area counter tops give the place an aesthetic several prefer. ‘Lots of people today just adore the freshness of kitchen that is numerous tones of light or white,’ claims Julia Brown, structure director, Mowlem & Co (opens in new tab).
Versatility is also a reward of light-weight countertops, in accordance to Oliver Webb, director of all-natural and artifical area experts Cullifords (opens in new tab). ‘They will brighten up the place and can either be paired with darkish cabinetry or gentle cabinetry, so they’re much more multipurpose in phrases of application in various kinds of kitchen models,’ he suggests.
Gentle counter tops can equally make it easy to opt for flooring. ‘They work with a vast wide variety of cabinet and floor colours and finishes,’ states Chris Dance, head designer and director at InHouse Encouraged Room Structure (opens in new tab).
The negatives of light-weight kitchen countertops
While their reflective mother nature is often a reward of gentle kitchen area counter tops, it can be a downside. ‘Sparkling, reflective finishes can replicate way too a great deal light-weight, hence making the kitchen area truly feel a minor much too dazzling,’ claims Chris Dance.
White or product kitchen countertops could also truly feel a bit characterless, he advises. ‘Avoid light-weight countertops in a solitary, basic shade. Without any texture, dappling, or variation within just the countertop substance or complete, light counter tops hazard building the kitchen area come to feel way too clean up and sterile when paired with light-weight flooring, walls and cabinets,’ he claims.
To keep away from this, Richard Davonport of Davonport Kitchen & Household (opens in new tab) indicates, ‘There are some gorgeous grays and greens about at present which are a lot far more interesting options.’
‘We are likely to use a lot of grey quartzites and white marble lookalikes in quartz,’ he carries on. ‘I’d never propose true marble in a kitchen area simply just since it’s not sturdy plenty of. It can scuff and scratch and, as it’s porous, it is also vulnerable to staining. There are some fantastic manmade quartz and granites which will give an practically similar impact though also likely the length.’
Simon Temprell agrees that marking can be a difficulty. ‘Marble and granite can stain fairly badly if pink wine stain or tomato juice is left for also prolonged on the area,’ he claims.
Alex Major emphasizes that cleanse-up of gentle counter tops is something to be regarded. ‘It demands a great deal of routine maintenance to hold it hunting its ideal for a long time to come,’ he says. ‘Homeowners have to have to be conscious of spills when preparing food stuff.’
(Picture credit: Roundhouse)
The pros of dark kitchen area counter tops
Decide for dim countertops for a placing glance. ‘They make a lot more of a assertion element, and can increase significantly extra drama to a kitchen area layout,’ states Oliver Webb of Cullifords.
Equally, dim counter tops can make the kitchen area really feel homely. ‘Dark countertops lead to a cozy, heat environment, and are a great anchoring stage when blended with lighter cabinets,’ claims InHouse Motivated Space Design’s Chris Dance.
Dim kitchen area countertops also have the gain of becoming accessible in a extensive assortment of products, describes The Primary Company’s Alex Principal. ‘Homeowners have a lot of selection and selection when it comes to darker counter tops,’ he suggests. ‘From granite and reclaimed wooden to concrete and metals, there is a style and tone of countertop to suit every interior style and design style.’
Opting for dark may well imply the countertop appears its greatest for lengthier. ‘A darker surface can be much easier to sustain as it’s greater at hiding signs of don and tear, whereas a lighter area can generally stain or mark,’ suggests Alex. ‘Reclaimed wood is a good alternative if you’d like a darker surface as it receives much better with age, as well as provides its own unique character.’
Oliver Webb agrees. ‘A matte textured surface will hide markings well, and you will not need to fret so significantly about any stains and servicing,’ he states.
The drawbacks of darkish kitchen counter tops
Just one of the downsides of dim kitchen area counter tops is that they soak up instead than reflect light with a kitchen-shrinking influence. ‘They can make a area show up more compact if not utilized in the right way with the correct light-weight,’ states Oliver Webb.
Darkish counter tops can also involve additional routine maintenance than you could possibly suppose. ‘Unless a consumer specially specifies a darker hue, we have a tendency to keep away from them as these heavier colors normally display water marks a lot more very easily,’ claims Richard Davonport. ‘Although it may seem counterintuitive, they also clearly show just about every speck of dust and filth, also, so it can be more durable to maintain a pristine complete.’
Fingerprints can be a specific issue on darkish kitchen countertops. ‘I’d steer clear of a shiny dark surface, or something similar, as this is recognised for demonstrating fingerprints and can produce endless operate polishing the countertop – primarily when the sun shines immediately on it,’ says Alex Key. ‘If you prefer a darker, black surface area, then consider a matte finish in its place as it will make everyday living much simpler.’
Oliver Webb has the identical caution. ‘A higher gloss floor can display fingerprints and marks a lot more than a lighter surface,’ he says.
And it is not just fingerprints that can compromise a dark kitchen area countertop. ‘As with mild counter tops, the texture and finish is as crucial as the shade,’ says Chris Dance. ‘There’s a large difference between a black granite worktop and a matte, dark mahogany-impact one particular. The latter, with warm red undertones, has a softer truly feel than a lot of of the dim, shiny stone worktops. So fork out interest to the general atmosphere of the kitchen area and the influence you want to reach. To soften contrasts, enjoy with curved edges and corners, though steering clear from solid white and black pairings.’
Are dark countertops out of model?
Dark counter tops are not out of type, including when they are merged with dark cabinets. ‘The “dark on dark” look is now quite a lot on pattern,’ points out Josie Medved, design and style supervisor at kitchen area professionals Symphony Group (opens in new tab). ‘However, you would want to have fantastic task lighting in your kitchen to compensate for the darkness.’
Consider the aesthetic you want to produce as perfectly as the measurement of your place if you are contemplating dim counter tops. ‘When paired with other abundant tones, dim countertops can develop a heat, luxurious sense,’ suggests Roundhouse (opens in new tab) designer Lauren Wright. ‘The dim pigment absorbs light, supporting to create a moody plan. This has a cocooning result, making a room sense smaller so it is essential to take this into thing to consider.’
What coloration countertops make a kitchen area glance greater?
To make a kitchen area glance more substantial, light-weight counter tops are the respond to. ‘Light counter tops, particularly if they have a polished, shiny finish, will replicate the light-weight in a area and make it look greater and brighter,’ states Josie Medved, design supervisor at kitchen experts Symphony Group (opens in new tab).
Be conscious that you will have to retain up with the cleansing to maintain the magnificence of light countertops. ‘Although paler stones with veining are aesthetically satisfying, dependent on the stone, they are usually extra vulnerable to staining and marks are far more visible,’ cautions Lauren Wright, designer at Roundhouse (opens in new tab).