The Pros And Cons Of Black Bathroom Countertops

There's no denying black bathroom countertops bring boldness into the space. Granted, there are a few things to keep in mind before installing something so daring. For one, used in smaller spaces, the darker hue could overwhelm the room. Also, from a practical standpoint, cleaning a black countertop isn't quite as simple as wiping it down and walking away. Even so, we're still definitely pro a moody vanity. After all, most of the cons can be flipped on their heads. 

Starting with one of the most obvious drawbacks, darker colors are known to make spaces look and feel smaller. If your bathroom is already on the small side, that's certainly something to consider — especially if your bathroom doesn't get a ton of natural light and if you're leaning toward matte features. With flat colors, the space can feel stifling. However, black countertops don't need to be completely avoided if you have a small bathroom. 

Paired with cabinets, floors, or even walls that have a degree of sheen (think white or wooden cabinetry, walls with a slight shine, or even countertop materials that reflect light over matte options), black vanities can serve as chic accents that don't overwhelm the room. Even if you are partial to matte options, having those luminous pieces (or even mirrors, which you should always have in a bathroom anyway) can help counteract the flatness. Ultimately, then, size doesn't have to be a con. You just need to pay attention to the way light reflects in the space.

One major con to take into account when considering black bathroom countertops is the diligence required to keep them clean. While black may seem like the perfect color to hide spills, items such as soap and toothpaste (aka the things most likely to leave a mess in the bathroom) will still show up. And, frustratingly, if you don't completely remove all traces of the soap, for instance, the residue can make the countertop look foggy and unclean even when you've taken pains to scrub it down. As such, it's worth noting that cleaning up can be a lengthier-than-usual process. If you prefer a quick clean-up, that may rule out black countertops. 

After all, your home should be tailored to your day-to-day lifestyle, not the other way around. Don't be discouraged, though. You can still achieve a stunning bathroom with black accents that don't include the countertops themselves so that you get a similar effect without spending considerably more time cleaning up than you'd like. On the other hand, this won't necessarily be a major issue for everyone. If you generally prefer to keep your bathroom vanity squeaky clean, and aren't afraid of a little elbow grease, you just need to see what works best for the particular countertop material you have in the space and take it from there. 

Optical illusions and cleaning concerns aside, one major pro of black bathroom countertops is that they're classic and are highly unlikely to ever go out of style as a result. Sure, they're not nearly as common as white countertops, but they work well with just about any home decor style, from modern or industrial bathroom vibes to farmhouse and everything in between. 

Despite being super bold, because black isn't tied to any particular trend, it can be mixed and matched according to your desires. For that reason, you're less likely to end up feeling as though you need a total bathroom makeover in a few years. At the same time, because of how eye-catching it is, you also won't feel like you need a complete overhaul to combat blandness.

At the end of the day, there are various pros and cons to installing black vanity countertops in your bathroom. You need to base the decision on what the space looks like alongside what's practical for you in terms of keeping your bathroom looking clean. However, if it is something you're considering, don't be intimidated by possible drawbacks. One of the greatest perks of black countertops is there are ways around just about all of the cons associated with them.