Marble Bathroom Tile Ideas – 8 seriously stylish ways to use this striking stone
One of the most luxurious and instantly recognisable rocks, marble is durable, beautiful and truly timeless.
An ancient building material, marble has been quarried and used to create sculptures, monuments and mosques since the 3rd century BC. Valued as highly as gold by the Egyptians, marble is prized for its flawless appearance.
From the Taj Mahal and the Parthenon to the Leaning Tower of Pisa and London’s Marble Arch, this durable material has been used to construct many of the world’s most famous structures.
Historically associated with wealth and reserved for cladding the interiors of well-to-do homes, the methods of extracting marble have improved considerably over the years, making it a much more affordable commodity. Marble is still perceived as a luxury item but it’s increasingly found gracing kitchens and bathrooms in more humble homes.
If you’re thinking of using marble in your bathroom, keep reading to find out more about this beautiful stone and discover our pick of the best marble bathroom tiles.
Image credit: @sunniesarelife
Recommended Tile: San Babila
What is marble?
Marble is a metamorphic rock, formed when limestone is subjected to extreme heat, causing the minerals within it to enlarge and fuse together. This recrystallisation changes the texture of the rock and the characteristic coloured veins are formed from clay, sand and other minerals.
Is marble suitable for bathrooms?
Marble is one of the strongest and most durable materials on earth. It’s a hugely popular choice for floors, walls and countertops and it can add value to your home.
Marble is surprisingly versatile, it’s easy to think of palatial bathrooms clad in sweeping huge format marble tiles, but marble tiles are available in a vast range of colours, shapes and sizes and you can opt for highly polished gloss marble, a honed (matt) finish or a much more rustic tumbled marble.
There are a few things to bear in mind if you’re thinking about fitting real marble tiles:
- Marble isn’t watertight so it will need to be sealed in areas where it comes into contact with water.
- Acids can damage the surface of marble so, as well as periodically sealing the stone, you’ll need to be careful to quickly mop up spills and only use suitable chemicals for cleaning.
- Marble is a solid rock so it’s extremely heavy and can be hard to manoeuvre.
- Highly polished marble can be slippery underfoot.
Real marble can be an excellent addition to your home but it is much higher maintenance than porcelain. If you have your heart set on marble but are worried about the upkeep, you might want to consider marble-effect porcelain tiles. These ultra-realistic tiles have all the aesthetic qualities of marble and won’t scratch, stain or ever need to be sealed.
Magnificent marble bathroom tile ideas
Whether you opt for natural marble or marble-effect tiles, they’re guaranteed to add a luxurious feel to your bathroom. Take a look at our pick of the most gorgeous marble bathroom tiles:
Gold-veined marble tiles
The veins in marble are known as breccia veins and form from crystallised minerals within the stone. As the minerals vary, so does the colour of the veins and marble can be laced with black, red, grey, blue, pink and gold.
Every natural marble tile will be unique, which is a huge advantage of opting for a natural stone, however, the tiles in the below bathroom are marble effect and, because they are printed with such high-quality images, it’s hard to distinguish between the two.
Image credit: @originalstyleuk
Recommended Tile: Canaletto Gold Marble
Marble with mixed tiles
Love marble but don’t want to tile the whole bathroom? No problem! Marble is such a versatile material that it will sit happily alongside other colours and textures. This is a great option if you’re on a budget, or just fancy adding a hint of marble to your bathroom.
Image credit: @theopendoordesignstudio
Recommended Tile: Renoir Isola
Marble hexagon tiles
Marble tiles don’t have to be square or rectangular and there’s an impressive range of tile styles and sizes to choose from. Marble is one of the most classic materials that you can choose for a bathroom but you can give it a modern edge with geometric-shaped tiles. Hexagonal tiles are bang on trend and porcelain tiles give you all the looks without the upkeep.
Image credit: @originalstyleuk
Recommended Tiles: Waxman Ritz
Tumbled marble tiles
As majestic as polished marble is, tumbled marble can look just as incredible. In order to achieve the pitted, worn appearance, the stone is tumbled with rocks, sand and water.
One of the advantages of tumbled marble is that its surface won’t be as slippery as smooth marble when wet so it’s great for use on floors as well as walls. Don’t worry about any pitted surfaces in floor tiles as they can be ‘slurry grouted’ which will fill them.
Image credit: @amelia.home
Marble tile floor and bath panel
Marble tiles exude elegance and are always a classy option for a bathroom. Continuing floor tiles onto a bath panel creates a streamlined look that will help you achieve that high-end, hotel-style finish.
Image credit: @kn_athome
Recommended Tile: Elgin Gloss White Marble
Floor-to-ceiling marble
Can you have too much marble? We think not and this incredible bathroom shows marble at its brilliant best. Now, we know that tiling a ceiling with heavy marble may not be the most practical option, but you can get the look by using the same marble tiles on the walls and floors and opting for a dramatic marble sink.
Image credit: @sepi_designs
Recommended Tile: Breccia Tortona
Two-colour marble tiles
Marble doesn’t have to match and you can create a spectacular effect with contrasting coloured marble tiles. Keep it neutral with bold black and white tiles or warm it up with softer beige and brown tones.
Image credit: @myrebuildjourny
Beige marble
Marble is often thought of as white with black or grey veins, the classic Italian Cararra marble, but natural marble can vary widely in colour. The Spanish Emperador marble comes in several shades of brown.
Opt for warmer shades of marble if you prefer a softer look that’s still neutral.
Image credit: @design_home_by_anna
Recommended Tile: Wellington Light
Black marble tiles
For the ultimate luxurious bathroom tiling material, look no further than dramatic black marble tiles. Available in polished or tumbled finishes, black marble is undoubtedly one of the most striking choices for a bathroom.
Black bathroom tiles are a bold statement and although dark colours can make small rooms feel smaller, they also add a cosy feel and can be broken up by white baths, showers and toilets.
Top Tips for Marble Tiled Bathrooms
- Marble is one of the toughest natural materials around and a great choice for a bathroom, just be sure to regularly seal natural marble to prevent staining and damage.
- 2. Make sure to use specialist cleaning products on natural marble tiles.
- It’s worth getting some sample tiles or visiting our showroom before you make your final choice.
- If you’re fitting marble-effect tiles, be sure to check for any pattern repeats and make sure that the same tiles aren’t placed next to each other for the most natural look
For more upmarket bathroom style ideas, check out our Hotel Style Bathroom Tile Ideas article.
Atlas Ceramics has an impressive range of real marble and marble effect bathroom and cloakroom tiles to help you achieve a similar look. Browse our selection yourself or call one of our experts for advice.