Marble floors – the noble beauty of natural stone in home interiors

Marble floors are not only stunningly beautiful but they exude a special dignity and nobility. Home interiors look stylish, sophisticated and respectable. Thanks to the unique pattern, texture, the variety of shades and halftones, marble organically fits into modern interiors and you can achieve exceptional designs.

Since ancient times, marble is considered to be one of the finest materials. The magnificence of marble was first appreciated by the Greeks. They were attracted not only by its suppleness during processing, but also by the absolute smoothness and brilliance of the finished product. Nothing can replace the beauty of natural materials and marble is the most luxurious way to add serious chic to the design. Due to its environmental friendliness, practicality and durability, it has not lost its popularity. Architects and designers still use it to decorate rooms in various styles and demonstrate the high status and excellent taste of the homeowner. Yes, this is not the cheapest way to decorate an apartment or house, but the effect is definitely worth it.

Pros and cons of marble floors

It is not a surprise that the latest fashion trends in interior design return to ancient times when the homes and villas of the nobility could not be imagined without marble. The variety of colors, shades, texture and patterns makes it possible to choose something unique for almost any interior. Natural marble is the epitome of luxury in interior design and leaves no one indifferent. It occupies a special place among other types of stone. Even small areas decorated with marble give the interior a sophisticated look. The amazing coloring allows you to use it not only as the dominant color, but also to create accent spots in combination with other shades.

Marble can be gray, white, black, beige, pink or even green and it is the most easily recognizable natural stone. The beautiful veins, smooth surface and intricate lines cannot be mistaken. White marble without a single vein is considered the standard of this rock. It looks great in minimalist interiors, giving a particular asceticism to the room.

Gray marble also enjoys huge popularity among designers. It has a rich palette of shades and several types of texture – from large to fine-grained. Gray polished marble is most often used for interior decoration of bathrooms and areas where you can take advantage of its texture and unique pattern of veins and inclusions

Blue marble is one of the rarest varieties is. It gets the color due to the content of iron sulfide in the composition. There are very few deposits of this rock so blue marble is quite expensive material for interior decoration.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of marble floors? How to choose the perfect one for your home? We shall give you useful tips to make your choice easier and will show you some exceptional interior designs in different styles.

• Durability is one of the main advantages of marble floors. If you treat marble surfaces carefully, they will never lose their appearance and beauty. Due to the stable structure of the rock, its physical properties remain unchanged.
• High wear resistance – On average, the first signs of a change in the appearance of a stone appear after 100 years, and with proper care it can even serve for centuries.
• When properly sealed, marble is resistant to temperature changes and moisture. These characteristics make it ideal for the design of bathrooms and kitchens.
• Environmental friendliness – As a porous material, it perfectly passes air, which creates a favorable microclimate in the room. This material does not emit harmful substances, even when heated.
• Fire resistance – Marble floors are not susceptible to fire and even at high temperatures, hazardous substances are not released.
• High decorative properties – the natural beauty of the stone is distinguished by outstanding patterns and uniqueness of every slab. In addition, marble floors can be successfully combined with other materials – glass, metal, wood and other natural stones like granite, for example.
• Convenience of processing -This material is easy to polish, and the high density of the stone allows you to give it a variety of forms.
• Hygiene – The surface of marble does not accumulate harmful bacteria. It also has beneficial effects on air quality.

There are no ideal building materials and each one has their own advantages and disadvantages. On the downside of marble floors we have to point out that marble is softer than other natural stones. Marble is susceptible to staining and etching. It is sensitive to acids and despite the fact that marble is stronger than limestone, for example, exposure to acids can lead to the appearance of stains from any spilled liquids. Marble, as a flooring material, does require certain maintenance and care to protect the surface from bacteria and any damage. The high cost and complexity in processing are also among the minuses of marble. Working with natural stone requires special tools and professional skills.

Marble floors in interior design of different areas in the home

Due to the technical characteristics of the natural stone – strength, wear resistance, ease of cleaning, low electrical conductivity and good resistance to high temperatures, marble, as a finishing material, is most often used for flooring. It is cool even in hot days, which makes it ideal for areas with hot climate. Elegant and sophisticated, marble is the best material for decorating not only residential premises, but office foyers, which usually serve as the face of the company. The stone can be used in the decoration of any room. Most often marble floors are used in the design of living rooms, bathrooms and kitchens.

Nowadays, there are several types of marble floors to choose from:

• marble floor tiles
• marble slabs
• marble panels
• decorative compositions with marble elements

Most often, residential premises are finished with marble tiles. Marble slabs are large stone blocks measuring 2-3 meters. The front side of the slab is carefully sanded and polished. Marble slabs allow you to create unique patterns. Marble panels combine unusual patterns and each element is processed individually and then mounted in place. This type of installation is the most expensive but the result is the most beautiful. An artistic laying of marble floor is very similar to the panel. Elements are prepared and processed in advance. After that they are arranged in complex patterns and compositions.

Almost all varieties of marble can be used for flooring. Marble tile floor in contrasting color looks impressive. Checkerboard floors in dark and light contrasting squares are considered classic. The main consideration that you need to keep in mind is that the selected pattern should be harmoniously combined with the rest of the interior of the room. It is desirable that the floor pattern is repeated in individual decorative elements or accessories – marble vases, figurines, fireplace hearth, etc.

The entrance hall creates the first impression for the home and its inhabitants. A polished marble surface reflects light just like a mirror. Its use is especially effective on shady and north facing areas. Light marble in sandy shades will add light and warmth to the room. In sunny areas with an excess of sunlight, it is preferable to use dark marble with a cold shade – gray-blue, green, blue, etc. In rooms with heavy traffic it is best to choose a matte polished surface. This will partially hide minor damages.

Marble floor in the living room creates a striking impression of luxury and elegance so it should be as open as possible. Do not cover it with carpets and minimize the number of furniture pieces. Light marble is wonderful for small rooms, because it reflects light well and shines even in dim lighting. This visually expands the space of the room.

In the bathroom a marble floor creates a striking impression. You should not hide the natural beauty of marble behind a lot of furniture. Its unique texture creates the noble chic and delicate gray or cream shades make it an ideal material for decorating the bathroom.

For the kitchen and dining room, marble flooring is the perfect solution. Using contrasting marble slabs will help you define the different functional areas. In kitchen design, a floor and countertop made of the same marble look very stylish against the background of contrasting furniture. Do not forget to immediately remove any acidic liquids – lemon or citrus fruits, tomatoes and acidic spills.

In conclusion we can say that the sophistication and gloss of marble floors allow you to create a really expensive and at the same time concise design. It can be used in almost any interior style and become a main element or a focal point of the entire interior concept.