Light Stone Colors for Bright Aesthetics

by Rachel Lyon, Editorial Director for Direct from the Designers

When you think of designing with stone, you probably imagine the effect of dark, earthy colors in or on your home first. It’s only natural given the material! But if you like the other charming features of stone—like texture, lines, and being a general point of interest—and want to maintain a brighter design, you’ll still find options out there. Here are some light stone ideas that work well for contemporary, transitional, and even rustic schemes!

Clean White Tones

You might be surprised to learn that white stone options are out there. While they may seem niche at first glance, they can actually suit a variety of designs. Not sure how to choose? Consider the amount of surface texture on each stone and across the whole wall as well as the shapes and sizes of the pieces to get a feel for the different products. In general, the more uniform the profile, the more likely it is to come off as clinical or commercial. Opt for variation and you can add chic style without letting your white stone fall flat.

If you’re going for a crisp white look, you’ll find it in Cultured Stone’s Pro-Fit® Terrain™ Ledgestone in Arctic—a slim, contemporary profile with sharp clean edges, equal-height pieces in a range of lengths, and a mix of textured and smooth stones. For a softer effect in your space, Hewn Stone™ also comes in Arctic, and it offers rectangular pieces in an array of heights and lengths as well as texture across the whole wall to effectively diffuse light. Take a look at some application photos to see how well these options work in residential settings!

Subtle Light Color Blends

Pure white not your thing? No problem—you’ll find tons of white-based color blends. Available in a wide range of profiles suitable for both rustic and contemporary schemes, these light stone colors are a great way to update a design, brighten a room, and add just a touch of warmth. Most homeowners go this route over white stone because there are a lot more options—that means more design flexibility and ways to tailor and balance the final finished look!

With the variety of light-colored stone products out there, you might find some discrepancy between what you and somebody else would consider light. So, we’ll stick to our favorite undoubtedly light options here! The Winterhaven™ color of Pro-Fit® Alpine Ledgestone makes a great choice for modern applications with its slim pieces that fit together neatly. The white base has just slight tinges of grey and tan, so it’s still very neutral. If you need to step up to a more rustic profile, Country Ledgestone has diverse shapes that range from slim to blocky as well as plenty of textural variation. The Wheaton™ color offers a cream base with touches of grey—again, very neutral—while White Oak leans warm with pops of rusty orange. Finally, for a rugged historical look in an unexpected hue, look to Cobblefield® in Salt Flat™. It gives you the unique opportunity to brighten traditional designs with stylistically appropriate stone in a soft white palette that includes hints of cream, pale tan, and warm grey.

Light Brick Options

Brick and stone aren’t the same medium, but they have too many similarities to leave out of this discussion. Like light stone, light brick adds interest to a design without additional color to compete with your other choices. There’s plenty to think about between the dimensions of the brick, its surface texture, the pattern it’s laid in, and whether you go for matching or contrasting grout. So, give brick a try if you want more regularity in your design!

The classic shape and look of Handmade Brick makes it a popular choice for any home. The Canvas™ color is ideal for practically all light brick applications with its subtle—not stark—near-white hues. If you’d like something with a little more depth, the Titanium™ color provides it with light grey tones. For a more contemporary take on brick, the longer, linear shape of Tenley Brick™ delivers, and Loften™ makes a wonderful color choice with its adaptable light shade.

If you’re in the market for any kind of stone or brick, take a look at Cultured Stone! They offer an extensive catalog of profiles and colors to suit every sort of home and design. Take a look whether you’re interested in the light stone and brick veneer shown here or you need something in the medium or dark range to make your goals a reality!