A Trick of the Light: Understanding the Aesthetic of Your Solid Surfaces

During a kitchen or bathroom remodel, you may want to choose a solid surface countertop. These counters look beautiful but also tend to be more durable and low maintenance than more traditional materials. One thing you must keep in mind, however, is that lighting can drastically affect the look of your counters.

How Lighting Differs in Small Areas
Bathrooms and kitchens are the spaces in your home that tend to have brighter lights but also fewer natural light sources. Because they tend to be in the interior of the house and filled with cabinets, you may have a small window or a skylight that lets in light from outside. Otherwise, you are depending mostly on artificial light. This light can play tricks on different angles. The concentrated shine can make a solid surface countertop look completely different in the room where it’s intended to go than the panel appears in the showroom. It’s also important to keep in mind that every material looks different under different lighting, so you should expect this with your solid surfaces just like you would with natural stone or tile.

How Lighting Can Work for Solid Surfaces
Because you want your countertops to look great where they are, it’s important to have test panels in the actual room before you make your final choice. Talk each choice over with the contractor. If you do have a natural light source in the room, look at the choices at different points of the days to see how light and shadow change the look. Talk to the contractor about caring for your solid countertops, as scratches can also change how light affects the aesthetic. These conversations help you set reasonable expectations of how your new countertops will look in the space.

If you want the easy care and beauty of a solid surface countertop, there are many choices available. Taking your time to pick the right one and adjusting expectations to fit your choice can increase your satisfaction.