Natural and Manufactured Stone in the Bathroom – Why and How

The desire to feel close to nature is deeply embedded in each of us and is often expressed in the search for materials, colors and shapes that closely resemble our natural environment. These are the natural building materials – stone and wood- or their artificial substitutes. They can be present in the bathroom in different shapes, colors and textures, as tiles, countertops, sinks, bathtubs and many others. For the bathroom, the stone is the most preferred among these materials – whether natural or manufactured stone (also known as faux, man-made, artificial, etc.) – as in the last few decades, the technologies advanced to the extent that manufactured stones are hard to distinguish from the natural ones.

In order to preserve their quality and appearance, the stones are subjected to cutting, edging, grinding, polishing and impregnation. The beauty of the material, its decorative effect, depends not only on its natural properties – texture and color, but also on the type of processing. Smooth, with a matte surface, polished to a shine, embossed or rough in appearance, it affects in different ways and suggests its different perception.

The stone in its natural or artificial version can be used both in the wet and in the dry part of the bathroom. Extremely beautiful and luxurious are the bathrooms filled with elements of natural stone, but they also have their drawbacks, which are due to the porous structure of the material – the natural pores cause fragility and absorb humidity. Where it is directly exposed to water and moisture, more porous materials should be impregnated or avoided. Manufactured stone has the basic properties of natural stone, of course, without its uniqueness, but thanks to its homogeneous structure, it is much more convenient for various treatments and easy to maintain.

For countertops, the front surface is usually polished to be smooth and even, for edging and decorative details, embossed and rough treatment is used. When choosing the color and texture of the stone, keep in mind that the rarer the material and the richer its texture, the higher the value of the finished product. Therefore, in such situations a very good option is the use of granite tiles – imitations of marble or granite. Placing them with a narrow joint will create the impression of solidity and completeness of the cladding. Stone sinks and bathtubs are used more and more often and in more and more non-standard forms. They can be chosen as an accent when designing a bathroom or toilet. Stone bathtubs are less common due to their rather high price, but the use of a bathtub made of this material gives maximum comfort and authenticity to the experience.

The way of illuminating the stone surfaces is very important for the impact of the stone. A well-judged and appropriate lighting can bring out the best sides of the stone surface and give a unique look to the room.

In any case, the choice of stone cladding elements for the bathroom is not only a current trend in interior design, but also an approach that guarantees a classic and timeless style and durability. The material provides opportunities for a variety of solutions, beautiful details combined with functionality, not only for your bathroom, but for stone accents in the entire interior of the house.