Six Stunning Ways to Use Natural Stone in Your Home

The use of natural stone for decoration and practical purposes around the home is growing. 

This is because stone lends an extremely luxurious and impressive appearance, but can increasingly be achieved without breaking the bank. From new features in the living room, to bathroom floors, and kitchen countertops, whether you are completely re-decorating your house or just making small changes, it could definitely be worth incorporating natural stone.

In this article we take a look at six stunning ways that your property would benefit from using natural stone.

• For floor tiles

One of the most attractive uses for natural stone in the home is as floor tiles. Natural stone tiles can be used both in outdoor patio areas and paths, or inside the home for your kitchen or bathroom – they are practical and versatile, and are available in a huge range of colours and styles to ensure that there is something to match the aesthetic of your home.

You can choose from a huge number of types of stone including everything from granite and marble to limestone and slate. Just ensure that you choose the right type of stone that is going to suit its use in your home – for example, polished stone surfaces are not suitable for bathrooms as they are slippery when wet.

• As a feature wall

There is no doubt that as a feature, natural stone is extremely eye catching and it can make a very attractive backdrop for a room. Once again, the real benefit of natural stone here is that it is available in such a broad range of types so whether you are matching something to the current look of a room or you are completely redesigning the look of your home, there we be something to suit you.

A full room of natural stone walls could be simply too overwhelming so it best to ensure that stone is used only as a single feature wall for the best effect. 

• As a fireplace

Having a fireplace in your home is undoubtedly a sign of luxury and can make the place feel both relaxed and cosy – even in a large space. So, if you are having a fireplace installed in your property or you are redesigning it, you should consider decorating the exterior with natural stone, it really adds that romantic edge to the look.

If you are captivated by the look, but don’t want the expense of using a large number of natural stone bricks, you could choose to have a veneer installed over the existing framework. This will give you the aesthetic that you are looking for at a much lower cost.

• A sink

It may be the case that you don’t want to have natural stone as a major feature of your design but you are interested in using it as an accent. This could be achieved in a way that is both attractive and practical in the kitchen or bathroom by having a natural stone sink installed.

Stone sinks look fantastic and are hard-wearing if you use the right materials. It is worth consulting with a stone specialist to select the right type of stone.

• As décor

It can be extremely effective to use natural stone in rooms such as the living room or dining room in the form of décor. Choose a piece of furniture that is made using natural stone, or accessorise in the same type of stone. You could opt for a number of marble statues and ornaments, or select an impressive natural stone coffee table.

Adding natural stone around the house can be very dramatic, and is especially effective in larger spaces.

• As a Countertop

If you are contemplating having any kind of natural stone in your kitchen, one of the most obvious places is as a countertop. Natural stone countertops are some of the most expensive on the market, however they are extremely durable and hard wearing, as well as being extremely useful in the kitchen settings. For example, marble counters are prized for making it easier to make pastry. This is due to the fact that the dough will stay cooler and will not stick to the counter.

This article is part of a series of lifestyle content pieces written for Moving and Improving by Annie Button. Find out what else Annie has been up to over on Twitter: @anniebutton1994 or visit more of Annie's amazing articles in our related blog section.

Live well with Moving and Improving