Onyx Advantages

Onyx countertops

Onyx is one of the most beautiful natural stones. This rarely used material is versatile and stylish, allowing it to look good almost anywhere. Onyx is considered luxurious in the stone world for many reasons. This softer stone is considered more delicate than other natural stones such as marble and this delicacy has its advantages and disadvantages. Although onyx kitchen countertops are beautiful, they are not as practical as granite countertops and require more care. However, onyx slabs have some of the most unique movements and patterns among natural stones, giving them great value, beauty, and intrigue.

Light

Onyx is a lighter material compared to marble or granite slabs and can be easily installed in creative applications. Most of the world’s onyx is mined in small slabs, making it easy to handle and manufacture. Onyx kitchen and bathroom countertops are striking with the unique patterns and colors. A more inspiring application is installing onyx as a wall finish or cladding in a grid pattern where the slabs are cut into manageable size sections and attached to the wall with metal fasteners or channels. Onyx is on the softer end of the stone’s density scale, making it more suitable for interior and vertical applications.

Translucent

Another advantage of onyx is that it is somewhat translucent and has the appearance of being delicate and smooth to the touch. This luxurious quality allows for easy backlighting. Illuminating a stone with an even distribution of light can greatly enhance the color and movement within a stone. Depending on the spectrum of the backlight source, colors in onyx tend to appear warmer and more vibrant, highlighting the dynamic beauty of the stone. It is common to use backlighting in a vertical application such as a stone wall or a room divider. Backlit onyx countertops are impressive in restaurant bars, as are backlit onyx countertops on a hotel facade. Since backlight stone tends to be magnetic and attracts attention, it is often seen in public spaces designed to illuminate or energize crowds, such as casinos, hotel lobbies, and bars.

Colorful

Onyx naturally has a magnificent range of colors and patterns. The stone is most commonly found in shades of cream, gold, red, and green. Movement can range from bright white with few streaks to deep red with vigorous movement. Onyx slabs and tiles look more like gemstones than granite. The variation and movement of color is smooth, similar to the transition of liquid from one color to the next. In addition to countertops and shower surrounds, the fluid motion in onyx is ideal for carved products including statues, figurines, sinks, and mantels.