Epoxy countertops are a standout feature in the world of resin crafts.
Their large, expansive surfaces serve as striking focal points in any setting, particularly in kitchens, where they significantly enhance the aesthetic of the space.
On top of that, they're relatively easy to create. The long, flat nature of countertop surfaces simplifies the application of epoxy resin and facilitates easier removal of air bubbles, taking advantage of the self-leveling properties of most tabletop epoxy resins.
Epoxy countertops offer immense aesthetic flexibility, allowing for the creation of unique and distinctive designs. This can be achieved through the choice of substrate material, embedding various objects or small items, and incorporating different colors and textures into the epoxy before pouring.
In this article, we share a variety of epoxy countertop concepts that work as excellent starting points for your projects.
8 Great Epoxy Countertop Ideas
The traditional approach to creating an epoxy countertop involves using a conventional material such as granite, laminate, or quartz as the substrate and covering it with a clear layer of epoxy.
This use of epoxy as a sealant is not only its most popular function but also typically yields pleasing results even for users who are completely new to epoxy application.
Below, we'll showcasing 8 distinct types of epoxy countertops that can be created with some extra effort.
These countertop projects include:
- Clear Finish with Object Embedments
- Metallic Textured Finish
- Marble Textured Finish
- "River Table" Style
- Sealed Paper/Fabric Finish
- Color-Tinted Epoxy Finish
- Inlaid LED Countertops
- Themed Epoxy Countertops
We'll take a look at each concept, one by one.
Countertop Idea #1: Clear Finish with Object Embedments.
First up is a standard epoxy finish with added object embedments. This type of countertop has a transparent epoxy coating but with embedded objects to add additional flavor to the aesthetic.
For this, numerous different types of objects are feasible. Common choices, though, are things like bottle caps, coins (such as pennies), corks, marbles, different small stones and minerals, and more.
Small paper mementos like photos, concert tickets, and such can also be used but first need to be coated in a sealant like Mod Podge to prevent them from absorbing the epoxy, which can mar or distort their appearance.
Learn how to embed items within an epoxy finish using our guide here.
Countertop Idea #2: A Metallic Textured Finish
Second in our list is the metallic textured epoxy finish. This type of finish is given a metallic appearance through the use of mica powder pigments. This is done during the mixing phase of the epoxy project.
What Are Mica Powder Pigments?
Mica powder pigments are a type of colorant used in a variety of mediums—including epoxy—to imbue them with vivid, shimmering, shades of color. The pigments are derived from a base of ground mica minerals, which have a reflective nature that exhibit a metallic sheen when blended into epoxy. Moreover, mica powder pigments are exceptionally easy to mix into an epoxy batch, making them a great choice for epoxy beginners and professionals alike.
In our Primaloc store is a wide selection of mica powder pigments from Pigmently, including metallic tones such as Bronze Goddess, Steel Power, and Vegas Dust.
Discover how to mix pigments into an epoxy batch here.
Countertop Idea #3: A Marble Textured Finish
In addition to metallic finishes, mica powder pigments can also be used in epoxy to produce a realistic marble aesthetic. By applying a few different pigments in different ways, epoxy can be given the look of natural marble without the weight, expense, or structural concerns inherent to real marble.
Most users start with a white pigment base to add streaks of darker color to. However, marble exists in a range of colors and other options—such as black or bluish-gray—can be used as a base while still simulating a realistic appearance.
For example, to simulate white marble, the Porcelain White pigment from Pigmently is recommended. Once a white-tinted layer of epoxy has been applied to a substrate, the user can follow up by adding streaks of a smaller batch mixed with a darker pigment like Velvet Night Grey to achieve the marbling look.
Countertop Idea #4: A "River Table" Epoxy Finish
An epoxy river table is a table top with one or more deep epoxy veins that run through or between the table substrate material. These veins are often tinted with colorants to produce a more striking "river" effect.
But despite the name, the "river table" effect is not limited to table tops, and in fact can be used for countertops, bar tops, and other types of furniture as well.
The river effect is often achieved using Primaloc Deep Pour Epoxy, which supports deep epoxy layers in a single pour. Bar & Table Top Epoxy can be used, too, but only for shallow veins.
Read up on river tables in our guide to them here.
Countertop Idea #5: A Sealed Paper/Fabric Finish
Fifth in our list is an epoxy finish with a sealed layer of paper or fabric. When customizing an epoxy project, one option many users opt for is to lay out and adhere a trimmed layer of wallpaper or fabric onto the substrate. This then gets sealed in with the rest of the substrate by the epoxy finish, which showcases the appearance of the materials with crystal-clear clarity.
Two Reasons to Consider It
The appeal of this type of countertop is twofold.
First, you get the convenience of a pattern or other form of imagery already designed and crafted. Making your own intricate patterns is of course possible but takes a lot of care. If a fabric or wallpaper already exhibits something you find pleasing, a lot of effort on your part can be saved by using that.
Second, the sheer variety of options available these days in fabrics and wallpaper designs means you'll have plenty to choose from, allowing you to hone in on an aesthetic choice that matches your artistic preferences.
For more unconventional ideas, consider the following possibilites:
- Historical maps—Beautiful maps can be used applied as an aesthetic layer to your countertop.
- Motifs—Recurring patterns of things like abstract shapes and lines or of familiar elements (e.g., symbols of nature, handicrafts, etc.) can be a great choice for something that can cover the entire countertop and be endearing without being too conspicuous.
- Mineral Patterns—Designs that resemble different types of minerals or sheeting can be a good way to imitate those elements without having to go through the tricky, expensive process of incorporating the actual thing.
Countertop Idea #6: A Color-Tinted Epoxy Finish
Epoxy is highly receptive to a variety of different colorants, and tinting the epoxy before applying it has become a popular way to generate some really beautiful finishes.
Because epoxy is so receptive to certain types of dyes and powder pigments, many resin users have begun to prefer a colorful, less transparent finish for their epoxy countertops.
There are two main types of colorants used with epoxy resin:
-
Mica Powder Pigments—Mica-based mineral pigments that imbue the epoxy with a translucent or fully opaque color that shimmers, given the illusion of several similar tones blended together.
- Epoxy Resin Dyes—Liquid colorants that can be added to epoxy to tint it gently. The more you use, the darker the epoxy will get until eventually it is opaque (can't be seen through). This type of colorant provides the epoxy a uniform tone that looks the same from any angle.
These colorants are blended into the epoxy during the mixing phase, changing it from a colorless substance to something between delicately hued and intensely vivid.
Find out how to give your epoxy natural tones or vibrant hues in our color guide!
Countertop Idea #7: An Inlaid-LED Countertop
Another thing you can do with a transparent or translucent epoxy finish is to first inlay individual LEDs or LED strips. This type of lighting is often white, but there are also versions that allow you to change the lighting to a color of your choice, enabling stunning light displays, including gradients or patterns.
Countertop Idea #8: A Themed Epoxy Countertop
Our final idea has become fairly prevalent in the last few years, the themed epoxy countertop.
A themed epoxy countertop can be a mix of any of the previous ideas, but with the goal of having a cohesive concept put together to portray a theme of the owner's choice. Examples of this are beach themes, space themes, tropical themes, geode/mineral themes. There's no limit to the concept, though, as it's entirely up to personal preference and aesthetic desire.
Embedding, tinting, and layering are all common techniques used to incorporate a consistent theme. For instance, a river theme might include small pebbles or aquatic elements as embedments to indicate a river bed. From there one might pour a tinted layer of Primaloc Deep Pour Epoxy for the river vein itself, followed by a final layer of Primaloc Bar & Table Top Epoxy for a steadfast topcoat that seals the entire project and showcases its beauty.
Primaloc Epoxy: Premium Epoxy for Premium Results
With our premium Bar & Table Top Epoxy and our Deep Pour Epoxy, Primaloc gets the job done. Our epoxy resins are premium-grade, with high performance in every category, including:
- Unmatched Strength: A Primaloc finish won't buckle, even under high pressure.
- Long-Lasting Resilience: Primaloc epoxy lasts for many years with minimal care, and can endure high-traffic environments with ease.
- A Crystal-Clear Coating: With its pristine, transparent appearance, looking at a cured Primaloc coating is like peering through a window.
Epoxy resin can be beautiful, strong, and long-lasting—which is why you shouldn't compromise on quality. With Primaloc Epoxy Resin, you get the ultimate finish in durability and visual appeal.
Protect your surfaces by giving them a rock-solid epoxy finish. Choose strong. Choose reliable. Choose Primaloc.