Marble bathrooms: how to use stone in big and small ways

Posted on 17th October 2024

Do you want your bathroom design to ooze luxury? Enter: marble. From stone drenching to simple accents, the use of this material will inject sophistication into any scheme…

With a heritage that spans millennia, marble is timeless and incredibly versatile. Available in a wide range of styles – from the dark Nero Marquina marble to the colourful Rosso Levanto – and adorned with various veiny patterns, it pairs well with a range of other materials, such as wood, metallic surfaces and stones such as granite and quartz. And with the drenching trend rising in popularity, you can also find plenty of marble-effect surfaces that help you get a glamorous look without breaking the bank.

If you are considering going for the real deal, there are, however, a few key practicalities to bear in mind – from care to maintenance to weight (particularly important if you’re planning to have a marble bath). KBB journo Francesca Seden has got the lowdown…

Marble drenched bathroom from the tiles and vanity to the shower. — Described as a ‘pink dream’ by interior designer Amy Stoddart, this bathroom features a bespoke marble basin in polished Calacatta. The tiles are by Mandarin Stone in honed Carrara. Photography: Chris Snook.

Using marble in your bathroom

Firstly, when thinking about cleaning, it depends on whether you have honed marble, which is matt, with a rougher texture and a higher porosity, or polished, which is shiny, smoother, and less porous. For the former, you’ll need to use a solvent-based sealant on it regularly. Seal it when it’s installed and then, potentially, every few months. If you want something easier to care for, polished stone might be a better choice.

The best way to ensure that marble stays clean is to wash it often with soap and a soft towel, making sure to dry it after washing. You should be able to get advice on appropriate cleaning from your supplier, depending on the sort of surface you have.

Mike Whitfield, luxury interior expert at Lusso, notes how weight is a significant factor with marble baths, as it is incredibly heavy, weighing at least 700kg, especially when combined with water. “This can put considerable strain on flooring,” he says. “So, before ordering and fitting your bath, careful planning is required for delivery and installation, as marble baths will need adequate space for safe handling and placement.

“I’d recommend instructing a structural engineer to survey the area to see if the bath weight and water capacity are suitable for your bathroom. A specialist engineer will then be able to advise you on what would be required to support the bath and how to fit it. This may include a hoist, a crane, or other specialist equipment to lift the marble bath into place.”

Coloured marble bathtub in a spa-like room setup. — This tub is handcrafted by Lusso’s expert artisans from Rosa Norwegian marble. Priced at £25,000, this model weighs 750kg and holds 300 litres.

Design ideas

Marble can be a big investment, but it all depends on the look you’re going for. These days, there are plenty of beautiful and convincing products on the market that emulate the look, if you’re not quite prepared to fully commit to the real thing.

Stone effect tiles in a walk-in shower with a wood vanity unit next to it. — Stone-inspired surfaces offer the best of both worlds – beautiful aesthetics and easy maintenance! Add colour to your bathroom with the help of Lux Noor Apple marble-effect tiles, £76.24 per box, Hyperion Tiles.

If you want to go all in, for a fully drenched look, consider using a statement piece of real marble “in light-traffic areas, like a tub or wall, and use quartz in high-traffic areas, like countertops and floors, stainless steel and other stones like quartz or granite”, advises Peter Woodward, marketing manager at Scudo.

More of a minimalist? Opt for a few accents instead – a marble basin, a shower cubicle clad in the stone (or look-alike tiles), a statement wall, a splashback, or some bathroom accessories. The joy of marble is that it can be used in classic or contemporary schemes, with as much or as little as desired, and it will always elevate a space.

Scroll down to browse through our inspiration gallery, boasting with real marble and stone-effect ideas…