With its old-school glamour and luxury hotel suite associations, marble has long been seen as the ultimate indulgence material in a bathroom. Whether you’re considering splashing out on a whole bathroom filled with this beautiful stone or just want to incorporate a few touches, take a look at this selection to see the many ways it can be used.
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Large-format marble tiles cover the bath and two-thirds of the walls in this room, but the subtle veining and pale grey colour mean the overall look is calm and restful rather than overpowering. Leaving the top third of the walls plain is a more cost-effective option than taking the marble right up to the ceiling. In this scheme, the blind, shelves and mirrored cabinet make the shortfall far less obvious.
…or go sparingly
There’s no question that marble is expensive, so in a large space with a lot of walls to fill, try introducing flashes of the material to get the look without busting the budget. This marble top bathroom vanity unit and basin are just enough to give a sophisticated effect in this washbasin. The inky walls and bright white tiles bring out the tones in the stone.
Fake it
When you’re considering the pros and cons of marble bathroom tiles, a major factor is a high cost. So, if your budget won’t stretch to the real deal, marble-effect porcelain tiles provide a very realistic, cost-effective alternative. There are lots on the market in various sizes to achieve different effects. In this compact new-build bathroom, porcelain tiles have been teamed with simple, wall-hung fixtures and fittings for a look that’s sleek and modern, while the chic black tap gives the space a cool twist.
Highlight with gold
OK, a freestanding, marble-clad bath might not be an option for many of us, but there are lots of design ideas to take from this lovely space.
The amount of marble used is actually quite small – it would be a fairly simple job to clad an existing boxed-in bath in marble, or marble-effect porcelain tiles.
The grey painted wood panelling provides a smart foil for the marble, while the brass (copper would work just as well) fittings add a warm, elegant touch and provide a stylish alternative to the more standard chrome.
Team with colour
A marble bathroom doesn’t have to stick to the black-and-white rule book. In this traditional-style room, the marble floor tiles, countertop and shower wall are teamed with dark blue accents to add depth and focus.
Deep colours work best against a pale marble backdrop, as they provide a strong contrast while highlighting the veining.
Warm it up
Worried that marble might be too monochrome? How about choosing a stone with hints of beige instead? The warm hues in this basin area give a natural feel to the bathroom and tone beautifully with the grey walls either side.
Be dramatic
The beauty of a natural stone like marble is that it comes in so many different styles and colours. Here, a striking, black-cracked effect on a white background gives a very distinctive look.
If you’re tempted by a dramatic pattern like this, keep the rest of the fixtures and fittings ultra-simple to allow the marble to be the undisputed star of the show.
Reverse it
Although white marble with grey or black veining is more commonly found in a bathroom, a black stone with white veining can look very dramatic. Here, carefully placed lighting in the recessed shelving shows off the glossy material to its best advantage.
This look could work really well in a small bathroom – even one with little or no natural light – to produce a high-impact look.
Maximise the glamour
If you’re going for old-school glamour, you might as well really go for it, with plenty of marble teamed with Art Deco-style accessories, like the mirror and light fittings in this elegant scheme.
The cool white and grey marble here is offset by a warm wood unit that floats above the stunning marble floor.
