A bit obscure, yet très chic – we’ve unearthed a marble alternative that’s taking the interiors world by storm. Say hello to travertine stone…
I believe it was at Decorex 2024 when I discovered travertine. Fast forward to a few months later, and it’s all I’m hearing about. With its popularity soaring, I decided to look into what makes the material so special, and whether it’s worth including in your home.
What is travertine?
“It’s a natural stone with a rich history that forms over millennia from mineral-rich waters,” says Thomas Oldham, co-founder of UK Construction Blog.
Essentially a type of limestone, travertine is known for its warm, earthy tones, such as cream, ivory, yellow and grey (or sometimes even pink and red hues), as well as its intricate, wavy patterns. “The unique swirls in each piece make it feel personal, as if it’s telling a story in your home; its beauty speaks for itself,” he adds.
Quality travertine can be found in quarries all over the world, Thomas tells me – Turkey’s Denizli, Italy’s Tivoli, or Mexico, Iran and Peru. “Specialist suppliers or high-end showrooms offer a range of finishes and sizes. For something truly one-of-a-kind, a custom stone fabricator can craft the perfect piece.”
It’s this very individuality that allows travertine to make a real statement in your space, whether you’re adding it to your kitchen, bedroom or bathroom. “It ages beautifully, developing a patina that gives it even more character over time.”
Sue Jones, creative director and co-founder at Oka, agrees with Thomas, suggesting the stone can be a gorgeous alternative to marble, too: “It has the tactile appeal of marble but in a more neutral tone that works in any space.”
Where can you actually use it?
Thanks to its subtle hues, travertine blends beautifully into minimalist spaces, or even maximalist designs, where it serves as a calm ‘blank canvas’ grounding the rest of the scheme. And it can be an elegant addition to country-style interiors, too.
Mara Rypacek Miller, founder of Industville, explains that it pairs effortlessly with exposed wood beams, linen upholstery and earthy colour palettes, while Thomas adds that “it’s ideal for striking hearths or rustic kitchen splashbacks”.
In the bathroom, travertine is completely at home – used in floors, walls, countertops or shower surrounds – bringing the warmth needed in an environment meant for relaxation. These days, you’ll also find it in smaller furnishings, such as coffee tables and lighting fixtures which “emit a beautiful, warm glow,” as Mara says.
Why is travertine suddenly so popular?
Gavin Shaw, managing director at Laminam UK, says the stone’s natural shades and organic texture are what catches homeowners’ attention, aligning with the ongoing desire for biophilic design. From the designers’ perspective, travertine offers the perfect opportunity to work with materials that haven’t been used as widely in the past.
“From polished and honed to textured and raw, designers are now experimenting with different finishes, to bring an increased depth to homes,” says Oli Webb, director at Cullifords.
And if you’re wondering whether it can withstand wear and tear, Yousef Mansuri, C.P. Hart’s director of design, assures me that it’s robust and hardwearing – although it does have porous nature, which makes it more susceptible to stains, heat and scratches than other materials.
To protect it from stains and moisture damage, sealing (applying a protective layer to the stone) is always advised, as is resealing every one-to-three years.
The travertine effect
For a similar aesthetic, you can include a travertine-effect surface or tiles, which replicate the natural shades, pitted texture and subtle veining of the real thing, but with the reassurances of man-made stone. “Travertine-effect tiles come in a variety of tones – warm creams, greys or earthy hues – and finishes, including matt, honed or textured,” says Colin Lincoln-Evans, buyer at Tile Mountain. “Unlike natural travertine, these don’t need sealing.”
As with all design-related choices, it’s up to you to decide whether travertine is for you. But before you make your decision, be sure to consult professionals and consider a number of factors; such as its look, quality (there are actually three ‘grades’ that define that, based on the number of holes or pores in the stone), and cost – keep in mind that prices vary depending on your travertine’s finish, grade and origins.
Whatever you decide, this graceful material is one to watch in 2025, and maybe for years to come.
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