Choosing the Perfect Bathroom Accent for Your Home

Choosing the Perfect Bathroom Accent for Your Home

It’s All About Bathroom Accents

Choosing the right bathroom accents for your bathroom renovation can seem almost impossible! With so many different options and looks that fit into each of our budgets, its best to shift the focus to the actual materials being used in each design.  Let’s explore the strengths and design features of seven heavily used materials involving bathroom accents Remember, it’s important to decide early on in the remodeling process to help avoid costly changes in the future.

Marble

Marble is a beautiful classic choice to add into our bathroom renovation! Since the stone is partially translucent and reflective, it is perfect in creating a light airy effect. The patterns on marble tend to have a very natural vibe due to their free flowing design. Marble is one of the longest lasting stones on the market, however it is a porous and soft stone, making it easier to stain and chip. If maintained properly with regular sealing, it will retain its natural beauty for years to come. Marble can be added in several areas such as used as the primary shower tile, weaved into a multiple layer designed accent strips, the top lining of a bathtub, and even creating a whole accent wall. Don’t think you have to stick to neutral colors just because it’s marble, there are many types of marble that absolutely pop. Any way you want to do your marble, classic or colorful, the natural stone brings a crisp and cool sophistication to your peaceful space.

• Partially Translucent and reflective
• Light airy effect
• Free flowing design
• Crisp and cool sophistication
• Soft and porous
• More high maintenance stone

Granite

Although Granite can be found in the walls of the Great Pyramid, using granite for countertops did not become a trend until the late 1980s. Granite is an incredibly hard stone that can withstand a great deal of pressure, making it very durable. It tends to have an opaque and solid design and can be most greatly admired when mixed with solid colors and designs. Unlike marble, granite has a more consistent pattern that follows throughout the whole piece. Since granite is so hard it is very scratch resistant as well as heat resistant, however like marble if it is not properly sealed is susceptible to stains, as it is porous. Granite is most popularly liked for bathroom countertops. Granite can come in an array of colors such as blacks, light greys, tans, and greens. If you want to go for a true statement, you could do a splash of color in the shower!

• Very durable
• Opaque and solid design
• Consistent pattern
• Scratch and heat resistant
• Needs to be regularly sealed

Limestone

Limestone is a sedimentary rock that has been used for centuries as a building material. Although it is a natural stone and possesses the quality minerals, it has the ability to emulate the beauty of hardwood. It comes in a variety of timeless, rustic, and earthly neutral colors making it a great choice for natural décor. However, Limestone is not heat resistant, nor is it scratch-resistant, making it a very delicate stone. Limestone can be seen in contemporary designs like seen on Houzz, Mediterranean styles, traditional styles, French cottage, modern designs or classic styles. Limestone also looks great when paired with other tiles to create a unique design.

• Ability to look like hardwood
• Timeless, rustic, earthly neutrals
• Not heat or scratch-resistant
• Easy to incorporate into any home style

Terrazzo

Rather than being one kind of stone, Terrazzo is a composite material poured in a place or precast made with glass, quartz, granite and marble chips. It is a very lightweight stone with lively and decorative patterns. It is both stain and scratch resistance making it preferable for those who are active with beauty products such as makeup and hair dyes in the bathroom space. Also, it is long-lasting as it can be refinished repeatedly. However, it can be quite slippery, so adding a nonslip additive is ideal for a bathroom. But it does not require much maintenance for its incredibly unique look. Terrazzo tiles can be in neutrals but most prefer pops of color such as blue, green, or even multi-colored.

• Lightweight
• Lively and decorative
• Stain and scratch resistance
• Long-lasting
• Can be slippery

Travertine

Travertine is a white or light-colored rock making it a preferable stone for those who want a natural look. It is used universally as a building material for those who want a classic look but want something environmentally friendly. Travertine is very durable and easy to replace. Like many of the other stones however, Travertine is porous and highly reactive to acidic substances. While they do tend to be cheaper than marble or granite they also tend to be heavier as well. Check out the Travertine tile pros and cons at Sefastone.com. Travertine is popular in showers in both lighter tones, as well as darker tones.

• Environmentally friendly
• Very durable and easy to replace
• Porous and highly reactive to acidic
• Cheaper than marble and granite

Ceramic

During the 20th-century ceramic tiling was used in kitchens and bathrooms as a move towards more sanitary hygiene. Now you can still that ceramic is used widely in all designs even in public transportation! Ceramic tiles are thin slabs of clay hardened by an oven and coated with glaze giving it great durability. The tiles are very easy to clean and don’t harbor germs making it ideal for those who want something more low maintenance. They tend to have a lower price tag than porcelain but they don’t retain heat well so beware on cold nights. Ceramic Tiles can be incorporated through bathroom floors, walls, showers, countertops, or a variety of creative backsplashes.

• Sanitary
• Very durable
• Easy to clean
• Lower price tag

Porcelain

Porcelain is created by finely ground sand making it very dense and very water-resistant. It is more durable than ceramic and can be heavily used but it also carries a higher price tag. Porcelain’s durability is its biggest strength being stain resistant, fireproof, and very low maintenance in the home. When properly installed porcelain can easily last for decades and repair is easy. The installation of porcelain however is very difficult and time-consuming meaning you will definitely need professionals for the job. It is important to remember while porcelain is impervious to stains, grout is not and needs to be regularly sealed and cleaned. Porcelain tiles can be stylized on bathtubs, a polished flooring, a natural finish, or an exotic design.

• Water Resistant, fireproof, stain-resistant
• Higher price tag
• Difficult installation
• Long lifespan
• Stronger than basic ceramic

Whatever your bathroom needs, one of these natural stones or tiles will be the right choice for you! JC Marble is happy to schedule a free consultation to walk you through all of the bathroom accents available. Visit the website or call (310) 429-1470 to schedule yours today!