Advantages of natural stone in home decoration
All modern interior styles cannot be imagined without natural stone. They cover entire walls, floors, countertops, fireplaces, various inserts are made from stones, furniture is made, decorative items are created, and much more.
Thanks to the unique and noble texture of natural stone, the rooms of the house are transformed in the most impressive way. And despite all the progress of technology, natural stone remains the same irreplaceable and relevant material in both the interior and exterior decoration of houses, cottages, mansions and other types of buildings.
Advantages of natural stone in interiors:
- This is a natural, noble and unique material (each stone block has its own unique color and pattern);
- This is a resistant and durable material - natural stones are much stronger than most modern building materials (but it is important to consider that “indestructible” stone surfaces do not exist in nature, and even the strongest of them can be damaged);
- This is a universal material that will look great in any room of your home;
- This is practical material . Surfaces made from most types of natural stones do not require frequent or special care. They are relatively easy to wash and clean.
Today, most types of natural stones for construction and renovation can be purchased either individually, or in the form of boards of different thicknesses, or in the form of ready-made tiles 1-5 cm thick and in standard sizes (for example, 30x30 cm, 60x60 cm, etc.).
Of course, stone is mined in a completely different form - in large blocks and blocks, which, as a rule, are cut into small plates with a thickness of 2 to 10 cm. If you want a uniform pattern, color and appearance, you need to look for elements cut from one stone block . Having found a suitable texture, you can cut the selected part into slabs with the required dimensions. A less expensive solution is to purchase ready-made stone tiles. You can also choose a mosaic on a grid and customize it to the size and shape you need.
When ordering stone, pay attention to the finishing of the edges of the elements - they may be uneven, cut or beveled. The thickness of the material depends on this. The thickest walls will be for tiles with uneven edges, and beveled ones are laid practically without a seam (the seams on the surface become almost invisible).
Natural stone is the generic name for thousands of different types of minerals mined around the world. For commercial purposes they were divided into several large groups. Let's take a closer look at the most popular types of natural stones used in the decoration of country houses and cottages.
Stone selection
Natural stone for interior decoration is chosen:
- from the sedimentary group: sandstone, travertine, limestone;
- from metamorphic rocks: slate, quartzite, marble;
- from the volcanic or igneous group: granite and tuff.
The surface is now processed by grinding, stones have been learned to be sawed and split in various ways, and polishing is used.
Since ancient times, rooms have been decorated with granite. Ultra-strong and reliable noble material with expressive texture and choice of shades. Granite finishing creates either luxurious, calm comfort, or cold, confident silence. Installing it yourself is difficult, it’s worth calling a professional.
Quartzite has the same qualities as granite. The same moisture resistance and immunity to pollution.
Marble finishing emphasizes the refined taste of the owners. This is an expensive and noble material, characterized by strength, durability and edema (from white to black). The sunny color plays on the iridescent marble surface, creating a play of shadows. This finish is used for walls and floors.
Marble coating does not corrode and retains heat. It is suitable for lining fireplaces because it can withstand elevated temperatures and cooling. It is easy to work with it independently even for an inexperienced beginner. When choosing, you should pay attention so that you don’t come across a fake - a composite slab glued together from marble chips.
When finishing with travertine, a warm and gentle atmosphere is created in the room. This is a thermally conductive material and is best suited for wall surface decoration.
Onyx is a beautiful and expensive stone that stands out when illuminated.
Slate is used to decorate rooms in the style of minimalism, brutalism or high-tech. This eco-friendly and heat-conducting natural stone is appropriate in the interior of any room of the appropriate style.
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Sandstone slabs are fossilized quartzite rocks. They vary in size, with smaller pieces being cheaper. Installing it yourself is not difficult, but it is worth considering that this stone is used in warm summer weather.
They are laid out only on concrete or brick walls along a fixed mesh with glue applied. It is recommended to glue the slabs from the bottom of the wall, leaving 1 cm between the fragments. Then remove excess glue and wash the surface using detergent.
Granite in the interior
Granite stone has a grainy structure and can be either gray, beige, black, red, and even blue, green, or brown.
These stones are considered the most versatile and the hardest - they are very difficult to scratch and are also resistant to cracking. Granites also have very low porosity and absorbency, making them resistant to moisture, weathering, staining, and grease. In addition, they are characterized by minimal abrasiveness. This is why granite surfaces have been so in demand and popular in construction for many centuries.
But that is not all. Granite surfaces do not require impregnation or too frequent or complex maintenance (they just need to be washed with water and ordinary soap-based detergents). They are ideal for floors and stairs, window sills and countertops - in the kitchen and bathroom. They can also be used as wall cladding in wet areas, even as a material for shower trays.
However, compared to other types of stones, granite is the most difficult to process. Therefore, most often it is purchased to the desired size and also placed.
Marble in the interior
Marble is decorative, expensive and luxurious, but a softer stone than granite. Although marble surfaces are also quite durable, they have greater water absorption, making them susceptible to permanent staining. Unfortunately, marble is easily stained, stained with grease, as well as acids, even weak ones (for example, vinegar), so such stone products require regular impregnation.
But all this does not bother property owners. Marble has been a sign of status since ancient times. People valued this stone for its rich, intense colors and distinctive unique marble vein structure. It is difficult to confuse this stone with something else, although many ceramic manufacturers try to achieve the same texture.
Marble tiles come in a variety of colors, they can be smooth or richly veined - translucent, in exceptionally beautiful colors, from pure white to various shades of pink, yellow, gray, red, brown, to deep black. You can view our range of marble here.
These types of stones are widely used for cladding walls, stairs, and floors. Marble is ideal for decorating fireplaces, window sills (however, it is better not to place pots on them), and for making various decorative elements of the house. Marble surfaces are resistant to high temperatures, so they can be used to decorate the kitchen and dining room. But in bathrooms, cladding from this stone is not recommended due to the high water absorption of the material.
Limestones and travertine in the interior
Limestones are soft stones with high porosity. They easily absorb fat and water. Therefore, surfaces made from them must be impregnated with resin, silicone and polished. This will make them easier to keep clean.
The most famous and popular type of limestone in decoration is travertine. It is a slightly harder version of limestone with an original, heavily carved and porous structure, and characteristic warm honey-yellow tones. Travertine has recently become so fashionable that its specific color and texture have even been copied by ceramic tile manufacturers.
Thin travertine stones are best suited for finishing walls and fireplace rooms. If you want to use them in the bathroom, then this can only be done after the pores have been sealed and the surface itself has been polished and impregnated.
What rules should you follow when decorating walls with natural stone?
It is worth considering that natural stone in the interior is not “friendly” with all materials. Optimal for decoration in Gothic, Country, Empire and other similar styles.
1). A wall lined with stone is not complemented with other objects (paintings, shelves, etc.). You can add contrasting color and texture.
2). Finishing with natural and decorative stone does not suit the romantic style and airy textiles, as well as cute, delicate accessories.
3). Stone walls are optimal for a calm interior without unnecessary or small details.
4). Walls made of natural stone in a small or narrow room are not the best option, as it will turn into a well. However, you can decorate a separate part of the wall and add decoration with drawings and frescoes.
5). In addition, a large stone loves a lot of light, and if there is little of it, the room looks gloomy and gloomy. A good option is illumination from below with spotlights.
6). Metal and glass objects are appropriate with stone: partitions, furniture and decorative items.
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7). Living plants, more often climbing ones, must be added to the stone decoration.
Sandstones in the interior
These natural stones are very finely grained and come in many colors, although red and beige sandstones are by far the most popular for finishing.
These stones are easy to work but not very durable because they are highly absorbent and porous, prone to abrasion and have poor compressive strength.
This is why sandstones are not suitable for rooms with high humidity (therefore they cannot be used to decorate bathrooms, kitchens and toilets), but they can be safely used as wall cladding in living rooms, halls and other dry areas of the house.
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Sandstones are also suitable for fireplace surrounds, especially those in a rustic style.
Every year this stone in decoration is becoming more and more popular, because sandstone tiles and other cladding elements can be purchased at affordable prices.
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