Natural stone has been a favorite of all building materials for a very long time, and justifiably so. It is esthetically appealing, very durable, and has a personality.
In the latest design of modern bathrooms, natural stone makes it easy for them to bring the outdoors inside and transform the bathroom into a spa-like atmosphere.
The following article will guide you through the advantages and practical matters to consider when installing natural stone in a modern bathroom and how to look after the stone.
Benefits of Natural Stone
Natural stone offers a wealth of benefits, making it an ideal choice for the bathroom:
Durability:
Natural stone is very hardy and can become resistant to traffic and water, making it ideal for use in the bathroom. It only requires the proper care, which can last the client’s lifetime.
Variety:
Still, it can be reassuring to know that natural stone does not only come in the more familiar marble, granite, or limestone but also in a range of other colors, patterns, and textures to meet everybody’s design expectations.
Uniqueness:
Natural stone is not standardized; it has a unique pattern of streaks and color range, and you need help finding two slabs that contribute significantly to the value of your bathroom.
Timeless Appeal:
Natural stone is not par for the course or going out of fashion; thus, your bathroom will look elegant for quite a long time.
Increased Home Value:
This is a great reason why employing the services of a specialist in natural stone can significantly enhance the resale value of your property.
Design Considerations
When incorporating natural stone into your modern bathroom, consider the following factors:
Stone Type:
Select a stone that suits the total design concept and requirement per the structure’s utility. From its look, marble gives off a luxurious feel, granite offers a never-ending toughness, and limestone has an antique-like appeal.
Color and Pattern:
Choose colors and patterns that give the mood and atmosphere that you prefer. Choosing lighter shades gives the bathroom a more prominent feeling, while darker shades bring a dramatic and luxurious look.
Finish:
Different stone finishes have outlook and cleanliness characteristics; for example, polished finishes are shiny, and honed are less shiny.
Application:
Most types of bathroom projects, such as tile floors, bathroom walls, counters, shower walls, and bathtub surround, can be done with natural stone.
Budget:
Natural stones can prove costly; a budget is required, and research on various natural stones that fit the budget is necessary.
Popular Natural Stone Types for Bathrooms
Selecting natural stone for use in the bathroom is relatively easy as it provides varied choices. All types of stones are different in their look, how they suit your environment or home, or how they can be used. Here’s a closer look at some of the most popular choices:
1. Marble:
- Aesthetic: On sculptures, carvings, and virtually every piece of furniture, marble is considered elegant. These veining patterns are anything but ordinary and range significantly in terms of being barely noticeable or predominantly bold and noticeable. The ordinary white and grey types can be considered classy, while the different greens, black,s or pink types can be beautiful.
- Properties: Marble is available, and metamorphic rock is more or less tender and easily subjected to etching and stain. Still, correct sealing and care can improve its ability to withstand the assaults of climate and other disturbances.
- Applications: Products made from marble include countertops, vanity tops, floorings, and wall cladding. It can also be carved into beautiful freestanding tubs or sinks, as seen in other examples below.
- Popular varieties: Carrara, Calacatta, Statuario and Emperador.
2. Granite:
- Aesthetic: Granite is stylish, elegant, low maintenance, and adds a timeless appeal to whatever theme of the house that one wants to give. This natural fiber is available in various colors and textures, ranging from mottled and muted to vibrant and saturated.
- Properties: Granite is an igneous rock with many physical properties, such as remarkable toughness, hardness, and wear resistance. It is an easy-to-clean type that can survive the daily traffic of a bathroom wall.
- Applications: Granite is used in most areas of a house, including the countertop in the kitchen, flooring, shower area, and backsplashes.
- Popular varieties: Absolute Black, Uba Tuba, Baltic Brown, Santa Cecilia
3. Limestone:
- Aesthetic: Limestone is naturally warm in tones and texture and imparts a warm feel to the area or space in which it is being used. It is an off-white to brown-colored stone with a fine-grained, earthly, ribbed, or fossil pattern.
- Properties: Limestone represents sedimentary rocks that are generally softer than granite but more durable than marble. Due to this, it is very porous and therefore demands to be sealed often to prevent water marks on the stone and staining.
- Applications: Limestone is mainly used as flooring material, wall panels, shower areas, and countertops such as vanity tops. It also has a rough surface, which enables it to give good slip resistance in wet locations.
- Popular varieties: Jerusalem Gold, Jura Beige, Pietra Grey, and Crema Marfil.
4. Travertine:
- Aesthetic: Travertine is a type of limestone that naturally has an uneven texture with a porous-like appearance and is found in warm and muted shades of color. It gives a country feel but, at the same time, is elegant and can fit into many architectures.
- Properties: Travertine is more arduous, and people are familiar with the property’s anti-slip feature; therefore, people prefer to use this material to make shower floors and walls. For this reason, it is more liable to staining and water damage and needs to be sealed periodically.
- Applications: Travertine is best suited for flooring, shower surrounds and walls, wall cladding, and vanity tops. It can also be employed in accent walls and other designs.
- Popular varieties: The variants of Travertine include the standard travertine, silver travertine, noce travertine, and walnut travertine.
5. Slate:
- Aesthetic: Slate provides a stylish and theatrical appearance because of its dark coloration and coloration surface. It is often identified with a modern or countryside kind of look.
- Properties: Slate is a metamorphic rock familiar for its density, durability, and non-permeability to water. It is suitable for the area to be covered since it is easy to maintain, resilient to traffic, and can handle water.
- Applications: Slate has been widely applied for flooring and shower walls and used as accent walls. Other associated characteristics can give a natural textile good slip resistance.
- Popular varieties: Black Slate, Grey Slate, Green Slate, Multicolor Slate
6. Onyx:
- Aesthetic: It is a semi-translucent kind of stone that is generally looked at as exotic and flamboyant. It may be famously known for its illumination, colorful, twirled design, and that it can be backlit.
- Properties: Onyx is a relatively delicate and permeable mineral used in stoneworking. It must be treated with great care and periodically resealed to be protected from any stains and other contamination.
- Applications: Onyx is utilized for paneling, specifically accent walls and countertops, particularly for washbasins and other decorative features. It can also be used to construct shower enclosures or even translucent sinks.
- Popular varieties: Honey Onyx, White Onyx, Green Onyx, and Black Onyx.
7. Quartzite:
- Aesthetic: Quartzite can be described as an upgraded natural stone, giving a perfect look and performing better than other stone floors. It is available in numerous colors and designs, commonly imitating the natural stone of marble or granite.
- Properties: Quartzite is one of the most desirable types of stone because it is more challenging and scratch, stain, and heat resistant than marble. Pennington does low maintenance, which doesn’t necessitate sealing very often.
- Applications: Quartzite is often utilized for counters, floors, shower surrounds, and backsplashes.
- Popular varieties: Taj Mahal, White macaubas, super white, Azul macaubas
Selecting a natural stone for the bathroom depends on the user’s design preference, wallet, and lifestyle.
Modern Bathroom With Natural Stone
Maintenance Tips
That is why maintenance plays a significant role in keeping the visual appeal and durability of natural stone used in your bathroom. Here are some tips:
Clean Regularly:
Clean the surface with a damp cloth, a stone cleaner with a gentle detergent, or another gentle lukewarm water pH-neutral cleaner. Do not use rough substances that can scratch the stone or solutions of abrasive content that are likely to tarnish it.
Seal Regularly:
Sealing can be done to avoid penetrating stains and water penetrating through the stone’s pores. The frequency of sealing depends on the type of stone and the activity level encountered, and trust this one to a professional for suggestions.
Address Spills Promptly:
Accidents should be cleaned immediately to avoid stains because some fabric stains cannot be easily removed. In cases of difficult-to-clean stains, apply a poultice that sucks in the stain but does not harm the stone.
Protect from Scratches:
Place coasters under glasses, and do not slide heavy items over the stony surface.
Avoid Harsh Chemicals:
It is also important not to use cleaning acids, bleach, ammonia, or similar products on natural stone because they erode or change color.
Design Ideas for a Modern Bathroom with Natural Stone
Create a Spa-Like Oasis:
Natural stone gives a bathroom design an elegant and calming look. Install a separate bath of Carrera marble or travertine, stone walls, and a tiled floor.
Embrace Minimalism:
Natural stone should be associated with lines and smooth geometry, sleek and straightforward designed installations. They might include a floating vanity with a stone top and basic contemporary faucets.
Highlight a Feature Wall:
A modern concept for your bathroom is to choose a natural stone for your feature wall. Textured rocks such as slate or travertine should be applied on the walls or ceilings.
Combine Different Stones:
You should not be limited to a single color or type of natural stone when designing; instead, try to use them in combination with each other. Once again, incorporate marble with limestone floors or travertine shower walls.
Incorporate Natural Light:
Ensure the bathroom gets as much natural lighting as possible so that the natural stone will stand out. Big windows or lights dangling from the roof can make the room light.
Conclusion
Adding natural stone to your modern bath space is a wise investment that offers an excellent return for several years. Herein lies its beauty: the material is durable, has a wide selection of products and styles, and the design is timeless, which means it is perfect for making a space luxurious and reusable.
If a bathroom consists of natural stone, one must choose the type of stone, color appearance, and usage; all contribute to achieving your desired style and lifestyle improvement. If your natural stone bathroom is looked after and kept in good condition, your bathroom will still be stunning for many years.