There are many reasons as to why stone has long been considered an excellent luxury material for home interiors. Stone can bring warmth, add texture and create a rustic yet elegant natural ambience. Strong, durable and perpetually in style, natural stone offers a unique, timeless charm that works alongside a vast range of interior aesthetics. Furthermore, stone could increase the market value of your property by making it more appealing to potential buyers. Read on to find out how to bring natural stone into your home.
Flooring
Indoor stone flooring can add a charming rustic feel to any room. Slate is affordable, timeless and damage-resistant, ideal for busy, high-traffic areas such as the kitchen and hallway. Limestone is another good heat-retaining, hard-wearing option perfect for achieving that country kitchen aesthetic. Conversely, polished marble flooring screams luxury, making it an excellent choice for formal areas such as the foyer, as well as bathrooms due to its remarkable water resistance.
Tiling
As a general rule, natural stone tiles are far more durable and damage-resistant than their ceramic counterparts. While porcelain tiles are denser in nature and able to withstand higher temperatures, many homeowners prefer the malleability and natural texture of stone. You may even spot traces of geological history in your limestone tiles, including natural colour variations and even fossils. Consider natural stone for a kitchen splashback or as bathroom wall tiles.
Countertops
There is nothing more frustrating than a damaged countertop - not only are cracks unattractive, but they can also compromise kitchen hygiene. Fortunately, granite - a highly popular choice for kitchen countertops - is scuff, scratch, heat and chemical-damage resistant. Natural stone countertops require minimal maintenance and are able to withstand spills, stains and other mishaps associated with busy family life. Granite countertops are also impeccable in terms of hygiene and can be easily wiped clean using a microfibre cloth and pH-neutral cleaner or stone-specific soap.
Fireplaces
Natural stone is a profoundly durable substance; some varieties, such as marble, limestone, and granite, are excellent heat conductors. As such, natural stone has long been used to craft fireplaces. Long-lasting and able to cope with the intensity of everyday use, a natural stone fireplace is the ideal focal point for a cosy social area, such as a living room or dining room, adding both functionality and timeless aesthetic value.
Staircases
Another excellent example of stone interior design is stone staircases. Staircases invariably undergo a lot of foot traffic; therefore, construction materials need to be of the highest quality. As such, stones like marble and granite are considered among the best materials possible for crafting an elegant, hard-wearing staircase. Unlike wood, stone will not splinter or rot and is extremely resistant to accidental damage - ideal if you have pets or young children. Additionally, contrary to popular belief, natural stone is slip-resistant, making it exceptionally safe.
Garden Furniture
Natural stone garden furniture is perfect for maintaining the charm of the outdoors. Although a great deal of wooden and metal garden furniture is remarkably hard-wearing, natural stone will last a lifetime, requiring minimal maintenance and retaining its versatility regardless of how your garden changes over the years. Consider a stone bench framed by shrubbery or even a granite garden tabletop with cast iron detailing, perfect for garden parties and leisurely family dinners.
Sinks And Basins
As mentioned previously, marble and granite are beautiful materials that make excellent contemporary sinks and basins. Stone basins add outstanding natural quality to modern bathrooms and kitchens. Unless excess force is applied, stone sinks are virtually indestructible, and while the porous nature of some stones may have the potential to stain, you can easily remove blemishes with vinegar, baking soda and warm water.
Pathways
There is nothing more quaint than a country garden path made from natural stone. Even if you live in the heart of an urban area, you can add a rural charm to your front garden with a natural flagstone walkway. Better yet, a flagstone pathway is a relatively straightforward DIY project you can attempt by hand-selecting your flagstones and arranging them in your desired pattern with small rocks or crushed gravel between the gaps. Durable and cost-effective stones to consider include limestone and decomposed granite.