Taking natural stone walls inside: stylish ideas for your home

Stone has been used to construct buildings for centuries. But it is not only suitable for external facades, terrace deckings, or garden sceneries. Natural stone walls look just as good indoors – without a lot of effort.

Compared to other trends, e. g. green plants on the wall, they are extremely robust, low-maintenance, and long-lasting.

Interior stone walls for any room and style

Rustic, industrial, minimalist: natural stone walls can accentuate a variety of furnishings. There are numerous types, colours, and structures to choose from. Depending on your preferences, you can upgrade your living room, bedroom, kitchen, or bathroom in a subtle yet distinct manner. Natural stone wall cladding also helps to split up spacious rooms and sets the scene for special decorative pieces.

This works particularly well in four areas:

1. large wall surfaces behind couches

2. walls behind beds

3. backsplashes above bathtubs

4. sections between kitchen counters and wall cupboards

Coarse sandstone walls: the perfect background for living rooms and bedrooms

In spaces where you relax and sleep, we recommend using bright and warm colour shades. Walls built from single natural stones create an earthy, homely ambience.

Anthracite slate walls: interior stone cladding for living rooms and bathrooms

Slate proves equally convenient for different indoor areas: classic anthracite surfaces will add a touch of elegance to living rooms in minimalist style.

Alternatively, dark tiles in the bathroom may serve as a contrasting backdrop to white basins or bright wooden elements. The same goes for kitchens with counters or cabinets in bright colours.

Marble wall cladding: a hint of luxury in your kitchen

Throughout the centuries, marble has always been associated with wealth and prestige. The exquisite material adorns historical buildings as well as high-quality valves and counters in bathrooms or kitchens.

Thanks to its diverse colour spectrum and smooth, shiny surface, marble is ideal for natural stone wall cladding. Variants enriched with precious metals such as rosé gold or silver will bring a sophisticated feel to your home.

Underscoring instead of plastering: how to combine natural stone walls

If you are aiming for a harmonious atmosphere, less is definitely more. Your decorative stone wall should not overpower or downsize the room. Make sure to carefully select the colours, materials, and structures for the rest of your interior. This also applies for switches and socket outlets: placed on a natural stone wall, they should blend into their surroundings with ease.

Tip: The Gira design lines include a wide range of frames to match any kind of style.

While switches like the original Gira E2 keep it sleek and simple, variants such as Gira ClassiX will make for an extravagant eye-catcher on every wall. Using the Gira design configurator, you can try out different combinations virtually before deciding on your favourite.

Choosing natural stone for your wall: source and texture is key

Of course, optics play a major role in any interior setup – but so does quality. In the end, it’s the substance that determines which kind of stone looks best on your wall. When weighing your options, pay attention to where the material comes from. Natural stone from Europe has usually been tested and approved for the use in building projects. However, this not always holds true for stone imported from China or India.

Neben Beschaffenheit und Herkunft ist ein weiteres Kriterium auch die Gleichmäßigkeit der Kanten. Je glatter diese gearbeitet sind, desto problemloser lassen sich die Steine verlegen und verfugen.

Apart from the country of origin, uniform edges are another decisive criterion. The smoother their polish, the easier it will be to assemble and grout natural stone walls. Factors such as the ore mineral content, firmness and density of different minerals, and porosity also affect the material’s longevity and weather resistance. The denser and less porose your stone wall, the less it will be impaired by humidity, alga, moss, and lichen. This proves particularly important in wet rooms such as the bathroom and kitchen.

If you plan to purchase larger amounts of natural stone for entire walls, we recommend consulting with a specialist retailer first.

High-end aesthetics with a low budget: how to re-create the natural look

Of course, quality always comes with a price. Depending on the type of material and the country of origin, natural stone walls will cost between £13 and £60 per square metre. This does not include the additional adhesive and sealant needed for construction.

However, we’ve got good news for anyone who can’t afford a pricey renovation: there are many low-budget alternatives that will seem just like natural stone on your wall.

Recognising the growing demand, retailers now offer many wallpaper designs reminiscent of natural stone. Imitations made from polystyrene or rigid foam will also do the trick, thanks to their three-dimensional, densely structured surface. How about brick-like panels attached to your wall, instead of actual stone? With modular foam components, you can easily achieve an authentic look without overstretching your budget.