The Summer is here, and so is your monthly dose of Trend Watch! This June, it’s time to invite a fresh new look into your home and garden! You only have to look around you to pick up on the Summer trends – in shops, in restaurants, in trendy bars. A big one we’re noticing here at Walls and Floors is stone.

The idea of inviting the outdoors indoors has been growing for a while now, but this Summer, it has really come into blossom! In this edition of Trend Watch, we’ll look at the different types of stone you can introduce into your home, as well as the different designs of stone coverings that are available (be it mosaics, split face or simple stone slabs!) We’ll also take a look at alternatives to natural stone.

A guide to stone

Think that stone is just stone? Think again! There are several types of natural stone! They’re found in different locations around the world and are extracted in different ways. Here are a few:

Limestone

Create a timeless look in your home with natural limestone. This gorgeous ‘antiqued’ stone has a calm soothing surface with gentle undulation, a half honed antiqued finish and tumbled edges. These Andra Antiqued Sand Tiles (below) are variated in texture and colour for a unique design.

Slate

This popular stone appears in many colours but is typically used in variations of black and grey. Our Country Farmhouse Black Slate Tiles will add a rich, elegant feel to any room in your home with their classic character and charm.

Marble

Popular since the Roman era, marble is renowned for its elegance and style. Our Natural Polished Carrara Marble Tiles (below) effortlessly create an elegant, luxurious look wherever they’re placed in the home. Made from highly sought after Carrara marble, their stunning natural veining and variated hues are sure to be the envy of guests!

Get creative with Stone Tiles

Long gone are the days where plain stone slabs were the only option. Now, you can get natural stone tiles of various different thicknesses – allowing you to mount them on walls, and cut them to fit awkward spaces. Natural stone mosaics are a great option:

Powerful Stone Mosaics

These Zibo Fossil Square Small Slate Mosaic Tiles come on mesh sheets, making them super easy to cut to size. Made from natural slate, they have a variated colour scheme and a textured surface, perfect for creating a naturalistic splashback in your kitchen or bathroom!

Modernistic Splitface Magic

These Crystal Stone Split Face Tiles come in a range of colours from black to shimmering copper. Created from a refined source of natural quartzite, their unique crystalised particles combine with an undulating surface design to provide a lavish, sparkling wall covering.

Realistic Alternatives: The Appeal of Stone Effect Tiles

As great and as varied as natural stone tiles are, they do require some sealing and maintenance. For a completely maintenance-free option, why not try Stone Effect Tiles? With the latest High Definition printing technology, you’d be hard-pressed to tell real from fake.

Above, Stacked Slate Stone Effect Tiles.

What do you think about this latest trend? Will you be inviting stone tiles into your home? Let us know what you think and tag us in your project pictures on Instagram @wallsandfloors.