Web Urbanist recently featured ten of the coolest counter and surface material designs. Although they’re all really beautiful, I noticed that the more spectacular ones are lit from behind.

So my question is, do you really need to spend a fortune on semi precious gemstones or lava to get that same glowing effect? Sure, if you have the money, be my guest (and loan me some). But I’m thinking that you can probably achieve a very cool effect by backlighting just about anything.

Some ideas:

1. Colored glass or plexi

2. Individual glass marbles, tiles or quartz stones

3. Transparent paint for glass

4. Stained glass

5. Embedded anything in resin

6. Punched metal

7. Old photographic transparencies

8. Strings of Christmas lights under clear glass

Now obviously if these are surfaces where water will penetrate, you’ll need to protect them. Do I even have to mention that any paint, holey metal or photo should be underneath the glass? And if it’s a countertop, make sure you’ve checked into heat, breakage and seams? But you knew that already, right?

The lighting is something that can be adjusted. You may not want it evenly lit. Perhaps some shadow areas would give a more dramatic effect. Just make sure you have your wiring and spacial issues worked out in advance! Keep in mind that lighting from behind will take up at least a couple inches, and that’s some narrow lighting I’m talking about.