Let’s Talk Texture: Adding Depth and Character With Natural Stone

Texture refers to the tactile characteristics of a surface - how it feels or how it appears to feel. When thoughtfully applied, texture can add visual interest and make a space feel more complete. 

One of the best ways to incorporate texture within your home is selecting natural stone for specific areas. Natural stone is inherently textural and many stones naturally create uneven or slightly rugged surfaces. The formation of different minerals also gives natural stone visual variations, creating the appearance of tactile differences. 

Our extensive selection of natural stone offers an immense amount of textures, patterns, and finishes that allow you to get creative with how you design your interior spaces. Read along for some ways that you can incorporate textures within your home!

Aqua Intenso Honed Curva Tile

Common Types of Natural Stone

Marble

• An excellent choice for creating smooth, polished, or fluted surfaces. It is known for its distinctive veining that creates complex, flowing patterns and a strong visual texture. 

Travertine

• Its porous nature with visible pits and voids creates a highly textured, rustic surface. 

Limestone

• Often has a soft, earthy, monochromatic appearance and is generally softer and more porous than marble.

Slate

• Its naturally divided planes allow it to split into thin, flat layers, creating a natural cleft surface. 

Onyx

• Known for its translucence, it can be carved and backlit for a dramatic effect. It has swirling bands of colour, often creating an interesting visual pattern.

Silver Ash Filled and Honed Travertine Tile

Diverse Finishes

The diverse finishes of natural stone also impacts its texture. Here are a few examples of how different finishes can create various textures. 

Polished

• A polished finish creates a smooth, glossy texture, allowing any subtle variations of the stone to be seen and sometimes felt. It can also reflect light, highlighting the stone’s depth. 

Honed

• This finish allows for a smooth, matte surface, creating a softer texture. It is less reflective than a polished finish, however, it still showcases the stone’s natural beauty.

Tumbled

• Tumbled natural stone creates texture by mimicking natural erosion, creating rounded edges along with subtle irregularities.

By understanding the inherent textural qualities of natural stones, along with how different finishes can enhance or change these characteristics, you can make informed decisions on how to add textural components to your spaces!

Visit our Instagram page for more tips, tricks and inspiration!