A buyer's guide to choosing the best marble tiles for floors

Marble floor tiles possess a unique ability to transform any surroundings. Depending on the style, shape, and colour scheme chosen, they offer a range of design styles. Whether you seek a classic, opulent setting or a contemporary, minimalist feel, marble tiles can cater to a wide variety of design preferences. Amongst the various options available, white marble tiles stand out as an enduring favourite with homeowners and designers alike, with their ability to brighten and open up spaces.

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Homeowners are not limited to just white marble for floor tiles. Selecting the perfect marble floor tiles requires careful consideration of the different colour schemes, styles, finishes, and shapes.

In this guide, we explore all the information to consider when buying marble floor tiles, offering insights into the best colours and shapes, and where marble tiles are most suitable.

Where should you use marble floor tiles?

As a versatile flooring option, marble tiles can be used in a variety of areas in your home. It is important to consider the specifications and needs of a particular room to ensure a good and long-lasting outcome after installation.

Bathroom floors

Marble bathroom tiles add a touch of luxury and create a spa-like feel. The natural beauty of marble enhances the appearance of the space while providing a durable surface. When selecting marble tiles for bathroom floors, consider opting for honed or matt finishes to minimise the risk of slipping, especially in wet areas.

Kitchen floors

In kitchens, marble floor tiles create a timeless feel and with its hard wearing nature it makes an excellent choice for high traffic areas such as kitchen floors. However, it's essential to be mindful of potential etching and staining from acidic substances commonly found in the kitchen. It is important to seal marble to help prevent staining and to protect your marble on an ongoing basis.

Which shapes are the best for marble floor tiles?

When it comes to shapes, marble floor tiles offer a plethora of options to suit a variety of designs and spaces.

Browse the table below to find the shape perfect for your marble floor tiles:

Choosing the most popular colours for marble floor tiles

Marble floor tiles come in a range of colours, each offering distinct advantages and aesthetic appeal:

White marble floor tiles

White marble tiles epitomise elegance and style, lending a timeless charm to any space. Their bright and luminous appearance can make a room appear bigger, making them ideal for smaller areas or those with limited natural light. White tiles create a sense of openness, enhancing the overall aesthetic of bathrooms, kitchens, and living areas.

Different types of white marble include Carrara and Calacatta marbles, which vary in their white tones and grey veining.

White marble is also perfect for creating chequerboard patterns, partnered with black floor tiles. The classic black and white combination is often used in hallways, kitchen floors and bathroom floors, for a timeless appeal

Greys, creams and neutrals

Cream and neutral-coloured marble tiles blend seamlessly with various decor styles, from traditional to transitional. Ranging from light or dark shades of grey, to beiges and sand tones; these marble floor tiles complement multiple design styles and colour schemes.

Patterned and decorated tiles

Patterned and decorated marble tiles add a touch of artistry and personality to floors, elevating the look of any space. Instead of blending in with the decor, like creams and neutrals, they stand out and offer unique designs, serving as focal points on any floor.

What should you consider when buying marble floor tiles?

There are countless options of marble floor tiles, and they can be used in various ways depending on your own style and preferences. When buying marble wall and floor tiles, consider the functionality of your room to select the perfect shape, colour and style for your needs.

Other considerations when buying marble tiles include:

• Natural marble requires maintenance: Though there are benefits to marble flooring, it is important to remember that it requires sealing and ongoing maintenance to help prevent staining

• The benefits of marble effect tiles: In some instances, natural marble may not be suitable for your home and specific room. Marble effect floor tiles are made of porcelain and can replicate the marble look.

Browse through our entire range of marble effect floor tiles here.

• Bespoke design service: No matter your style or preferences, visualising marble tiles in your home can be hard so why not consider a bespoke design service to help maximise your space, working with expert designers who can offer suggestions you may not have considered.

To find out more about our design service, or to discover more ways to use marble floor tiles, book a design appointment today.

• Reputable tile supplier

Fired Earth is an acknowledged authority on colour and pattern, including an exclusive collection of handmade and high-quality tiles. Our wall and floor tiles come in a variety of colours, shapes, finishes, and materials, including porcelain and marble.

NANOGRESS PORCELLANATO Product Page

Contact Fired Earth today for more information on our marble floor tiles, or visit us at one of our showrooms.

Frequently asked questions

Where can you use white marble tiles?

White marble tiles can be used in various areas of your home or commercial space. They are particularly popular in bathrooms, kitchens, entryways, and living areas. They can create an elegant and luxurious ambience, making them suitable for both modern and traditional interior designs.

Are marble floor tiles expensive?

Marble floor tiles are generally considered to be on the higher end of the price spectrum compared to other flooring options. The cost of marble floor tiles can vary depending on the type of marble, quality, thickness, and size of the tiles, as well as installation expenses.

What are the most popular finishes for marble tiles?

With endless possibilities, marble tiles come in a variety of finishes and tones. Some of the most common marble finishes include honed, where the stone slab has been ground to create a non-shiny and matt look, and polished, with a smooth and glossy appearance.

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If you want floor tile that makes a room look elegant, our team here at Oasis Tile thinks it's hard to beat marble floor tiles. Available in different styles and colors, marble floor tiles are often used in kitchens and bathrooms, since they are easy to clean when they get wet. If you have fallen in love with marble floor tiles but want to know more before buying them and having them installed, here are some tips we think you should keep in mind along the way.

Marble Tiles Are Prone to Staining

While marble floor tiles can make your home look fantastic, be aware that they are not for everyone. The biggest drawback to this type of floor tile is it can get stained somewhat easily. If you want to use it in your kitchen, try not to spill anything on it that is highly acidic, such as vinegar, juice, or wine. Also, if you have pets in your home, marble can be permanently damaged by pet urine. When cleaning marble flooring, always do so gently and rub in a circular pattern, instead of scrubbing at a fierce pace. 

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Marble Floor Tiles Are Heavy

If you want to use marble floor tiles in your home, your contractor will likely be using ones that are 2'x2' to give your floor that beautiful new look. Since marble tiles are usually heavier than many other types of floor tiles, larger tiles may require specialized installation methods. 

As an alternative, you can opt to purchase porcelain or ceramic floor tiles that have a marble-like appearance. Often much more affordable and easier to install, this is an option many of our Oasis Tile customers find to be very appealing.

Always Choose Quality Marble Tiles

When you are considering marble floor tiles, always be willing to spend a few more dollars to purchase ones that are of the best quality. This will be important, especially if you will be placing heavy furniture or appliances on top of your marble tiles. If you notice deep fissures on marble tile, this means it is at greater risk of cracking when underneath something very heavy. 

Professional Tile Installation is Usually Best

When you choose to have marble floor tiles installed in your home, it is usually best if you hire a contractor for the job. Although you can do the job if you are an experienced DIYer, many people often waste time and money because they break plenty of tiles during the process. Since cutting and laying marble tile can be difficult and the subfloor must also be expertly prepared before the first tile is put down, you will save money in the long run if you hire an experienced contractor to handle the job.

Marble vs. Porcelain Tiles

As we said earlier, many of our Oasis Tile customers are finding that choosing porcelain tile that mimics the look of marble can be a real game-changer in terms of their renovation and project costs. In many cases where porcelain tiles and marble floor tiles are side-by-side, it is almost impossible to tell the difference. This is even more so during installation, especially if the contractor being used is one who understands how to lay out the tiles so that the veining patterns simulated on the porcelain tiles are made to look completely random on the floor.

As for costs, most porcelain tile will be no more than $10 per square foot, making it very budget-friendly. If you don't mind simulated marble in your home, porcelain floor tiles may be something you should consider.

Marble Floors May Lead to Cold Feet

By this, we don't mean that you will decide to not use marble floor tiles. Instead, we are referring to the fact that marble tile is one of the coldest types of tile you can have on your floor. Therefore, if you like to walk around your home barefoot, you can expect to have cold feet. 

However, marble floor tile is also one of the best floor tiles to use with radiant floor-heating systems. Known to be a good base for these systems that use hydronic tubing through the underlayment, it is actually easy to transform a marble floor from one that is very cold to one that is quite comfortable.

Always Buy an Extra Box of Tiles

When you purchase marble tiles for your home, always buy at least one extra box to keep on hand after the initial installation is completed. No matter the type of marble tile you buy, the coloring and veining will be a bit different than other marble tiles. If you don't have extra tiles on hand from your original lot of tiles, it will be virtually impossible to match your existing flooring, potentially ruining its look. 

Slick and Slippery Marble Flooring

If you have polished marble in your home, be aware that it can be slick and slippery, especially when it is wet. Should you use polished marble in your bathroom or kitchen, we recommend you put down non-slip rugs as an extra precaution against falling. If you want marble but don't want the slippery surface that goes with polished marble, choose marble tile that has a matte finish.

One-Of-A-Kind Look with Marble Tiles

When many people choose marble tile for their home, it is because they want to give their surroundings, such as their kitchen, a unique look. Since marble tiles are created from various raw stones found in Egypt, India, Italy, China, Greece, and many other exotic locations around the world, each piece of marble tile is actually unique unto itself, meaning there will be no other tile like it anywhere on the planet. 

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Your Marble Flooring Experts

Here at Oasis Tile, we think of ourselves as marble flooring tile experts. Combining our years of experience with our commitment to excellent customer service and staying up-to-date on the latest design trends, we can help you learn all you need to know about marble floor tiles. When you're ready to install marble flooring tiles, rely on us here at Oasis Tile.

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