Stone Bathroom Tile Ideas – 10 Ways to Add Value to Your Home

Natural stone is one of the planet’s most beautiful building materials. From the marble-clad Acropolis to the limestone-covered pyramids, stone has been used to beautify buildings, monuments and homes for millennia.

Stone tiles are among the most attractive tile types and the perfect choice for bathroom walls and floors.

Whether you prefer magnificent marble or timeless travertine, there’s a stone tile for every style.  Keep reading to learn more about the different types of stone tile and how their unique qualities can be used to enhance your bathroom.

Image credit: @nationaltilesau

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Stone bathroom tile ideas

Take a look at our pick of the finest stone tile designs to help you choose the right tile for your bathroom.

Show-stopping marble tiles

With its distinctive veining patterns and a wide choice of colours, marble is an inspired choice if you want to create a bathroom with a luxurious feel.  Marble tiles are often highly polished, but you can opt for honed (slightly polished) or tumbled marble. 

Different types of marble have different aesthetic qualities. Tumbled and honed marbles are ideal for more rustic and contemporary settings while polished marble is ideal for creating a hotel-style bathroom vibe.  Marble can be as subtle or dramatic as you like, it’s worth getting some samples and viewing marble tiles on a larger scale in a showroom before splashing out.

Image credit: @blankslatestudio

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Contemporary grey marble tiles

The characteristic veins that thread through marble are a result of mineral deposits. As the quantity and type of minerals varied, so did the resulting veins which can be heavy and dramatic or much more subtle.

Subtly veined marble tiles in a gently polished finish are a brilliant choice for a modern bathroom.  They’ll still add plenty of texture and interest and their unique patterns guarantee a distinctive, high-end finish.

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Marble subway tiles

Marble tiles are a popular choice for kitchens and bathrooms and there are a range of tile shapes and sizes to choose from, ranging from miniature mosaics to extra-large format tiles.

Subway tiles are one of our favourite designs, they’re versatile,  easy to fit and can be laid in several attractive patterns.

Combining different-sized tiles is a clever design trick, helping to add a different dimension to bathroom walls and floors. We love this subway floor and large-format wall tile duo, it’s classic, elegant and unexpected.

Image credit: @proj_london

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Sleek slate tiles

Slate tiles are one of the toughest natural stones and can be purchased in a range of shades, from pale shale and deep, plummy greys to rich brown, red and beige.

Slate is strong and almost fully waterproof, but it will need sealing to protect it from stains and make it completely watertight. The natural texture of slate makes it ideal for bathroom flooring, creating a safe, non-slip surface.

Image credit: @victoria_albert_baths

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Classic limestone flooring

Famed for its beauty and durability, limestone is one of the most versatile natural stones. Ranging in shades from white and cream to grey, limestone can also be almost black.

Limestone is one of the softer natural stones and can be damaged by acidic substances. To help prevent damage, it’s essential to regularly seal limestone tiles, use appropriate cleaning solutions and quickly wipe up any spills. For floors that are this beautiful, it’s a small price to pay.

Image credit: @modern_nest

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Timeless travertine

A type of limestone, travertine is well known for its distinctive striations. This attractive stone is usually pale cream or beige and it’s a perfect choice for subtle, neutral colour schemes.

Like most natural stones, travertine is incredibly versatile, adding welcome interest to minimalist, contemporary schemes and enhancing traditional properties. If you want to add unrivalled luxury and interest to your bathroom, travertine is one of our top picks.

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Travertine floor tiles

Travertine can be cut differently, so not all travertine tiles have linear patterns. Vein-cutting will produce stripes while cross-cutting results in a more mottled pattern. Both styles are versatile and timeless and can be combined in the same room.

Choose cross-cut travertine tiles for a more rustic look, these tiles are perfect for walls and floors, adding subtle texture and interest.

Image credit: @nationaltilesau

Similar Tiles To This: Corfe Stone Beige

Rustic splitface tiles

Splitface tiles are cut at different thicknesses to create a random, multi-surface texture. Suitable for vertical surfaces, you can use splitface tiles to create impressive feature walls and panels.

Splitface tiles are often made from natural slate and can be used in nature-inspired bathroom designs.  Working best when used over small areas or single walls, these are some of the most transformative tiles you can choose.

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Tumbled marble tiles

Although classic, polished marble isn’t usually seen as a stone for natural, laid-back-looking bathrooms, tumbled marble can be the perfect partner. With its smooth, weathered texture and plethora of cracks and chips, timeless tumbled marble is well-suited to modern and traditional bathroom designs.

Tumbled marble comes in several colours from white and cream to grey and black, providing a wide range of design options.

Image credit: @mouse_interiors

Stone effect tiles

Stone effect porcelain tiles have come on in leaps and bounds over recent years and with advanced printing techniques and realistic textures, they’re almost indistinguishable from the real thing. Although premium stone-effect tiles aren’t necessarily cheaper than real stone, they do have some advantages; they’re completely waterproof, won’t chip, crack or stain and don’t need to be sealed.

Image credit: @originalstyleuk

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Is stone tile good for bathrooms?

If you want to create a timeless, luxurious-looking bathroom, fitting stone tiles is one of the best ways to achieve this.  Stone is a classic material that won’t date and its neutral tones will suit all bathroom styles from traditional to contemporary.

If you’re contemplating stone tile, here’s why they’re a savvy choice:

Durable: As well as looking fabulous, stone tiles are extremely durable. They won’t crack or chip easily and can withstand heavy footfall and the wear and tear of everyday life.

Value adding: Stone tiles aren’t the cheapest option but can add value to your home and once fitted, you won’t need to replace them.

Unique: One of the main advantages of choosing a natural stone tile is that each piece is unique. There is a huge variety of natural stone tiles to choose from, the most popular choices for bathrooms are marble, limestone, travertine (a type of limestone) and slate. All have different characteristics, adding interest and texture to bathroom floors and walls.

Heat retaining: Stone floors conduct heat more effectively than porcelain and work well with underfloor heating systems.

What stone is best for bathroom walls?

From marble and travertine to slate and limestone, all types of stone tile can be used for bathroom walls. If you’re looking for a textured surface, splitface and tumbled tiles will provide interest. If you prefer patterns, look for veined marble and vein-cut travertine.

Stone wall tiles are suitable for use in shower areas and around baths and sinks, make sure they are sealed regularly to keep them watertight, hygienic and easy to clean.

Is stone tile expensive?

Because it’s a limited resource, natural stone tiles are one of the most expensive tiles on the market. Stone tiles can be heavy, adding to the cost of installation and they also have higher maintenance needs than porcelain and ceramic tiles, contributing to the overall cost.

Stone tiles can increase the value of your home and last a lifetime, however, so they can be a worthy investment.

We stock a wide range of stone tiles for bathroom walls and floors at Atlas Ceramics. If you have any questions about the different types of stone available, our friendly team of experts are on hand to help.