The luxe elegance of marble has for long been the discerning home owner’s choice when it comes to interior options. Whether it’s for flooring, wall cladding or countertops, the lovely patterns and veins in natural marble lend a touch of class to any space. Which begs the question: should you choose black marble or white marble for your home, and what are the factors you should keep in mind when making your choice?
We’ve put together proven tips from our expert designers on how to pick the perfect marble slab for your home, and where you should be using black marble over white. Keep reading!
First Up, What’s Marble?
Marble is a crystalline natural stone that’s made up of limestone or dolomite. It’s available in a wide variety of colours, ranging from lustrous pure white to black, green, red and brown. Every single slab is unique, with colours and patterns unlike any other.
The finest white marble is found in Italy (Carrara), Turkey (Ibiza) and Spain (Tranco), as well as Greece (Volakos). In India, white marble is found in the quarries of Makrana, and if you remember your high school history, this is where the gorgeous marble used to construct the Taj Mahal was sourced from!
Black marble usually has fine veins in white or gold running through it, enhancing its stunning appearance. This marble is also available in Spain (Nero Marquina), Italy (Nero Portoro) and Greece (Levadia), but is, however, not as readily available as white marble.
This table below gives you an easy reference to the differences between the two shades of marble.
| White Marble | Black Marble | |
| Appearance | Pure white marble is stunning and adds an air of sophistication to any interior. As with all shades of white, it opens up the space and makes it appear visually larger. | Black marble is edgy and eye-catching, and is suited to glamorous spaces such as designer bars, luxury bathrooms and so on. While matte black shades make a room appear visually smaller, highly polished black marble has the effect of a mirror and enhances even small spaces. |
| Staining | When used on kitchen countertops, marble tends to stain with acids such as lime juice. Coloured marble will turn noticeably whitish, which is why white marble is the better choice for a kitchen. | As black marble will get discoloured with even mild acids, it is not the best choice for a kitchen countertop where spills are highly likely. |
| Veining patterns | White marble usually has delicate veins or patterns in yellow, gold, brown or green. Pure white marble is also available from a few quarries. | Black marble usually has inherent veins or fluid patterns in yellow or gold. Pure black marble is not easily available. What you usually see in black kitchen countertops is not marble but black granite, which is very commonly available. |
| Polishing | Both white and black marble must be surface-sealed and polished with several coats of tin oxide. | White and black marble must both be surface-sealed and polished with several coats of tin oxide. |
| Scratching | Regardless of the colour, marble is porous and soft, and is prone to scratches and stains. These marks do not easily show up on white marble. | All types of marble are prone to stains and scratches. Scratches are very visible on the surface of black marble. |
| Maintenance | Routine cleaning can be done by wiping with a soft cloth dipped in warm water and gentle organic cleaning solutions. | Warm water and organic cleaners work well for black marble surfaces too. |
| Cleaning | Any spills should be mopped up immediately. | Especially on black marble, spills should be cleaned at once and not left to set in. |
| Where to use | White marble is used in flooring, wall cladding and for kitchen countertops. It is a popular choice for pooja rooms. | Black marble is also used in flooring, wall cladding and for kitchen countertops. It is a popular choice for bars, kitchen countertops and backsplashes, and luxury bathrooms. |
Black Marble vs White Marble Lookbook
Black and white make for an arresting pairing, and can be used in myriad ways to add glamour to your home décor. Here are some pages from our designers’ lookbooks.
Black and white marble
This elegant bathroom combines glitzy black marble on the floors with Italian white marble on the walls to create a haven of luxury. The highlight of the space is the sunken strip of floor between the wet and dry areas that is softly lit from below, and makes it appear as though the tub is floating. The circular mirror accentuates the space.
White marble Flooring and black backsplash walls
Glamour runs high in this luxurious bathroom featuring his and her sinks on the white marble countertop and flooring, artfully contrasted against fine black marble on the walls. Subtle understated lighting throws shadows and creates intrigue, while the mirror that runs the full length of the counter visually enhances the spatial quality of the room.
Black and Gold Marble
Black and gold is a tantalising, edgy combo that creates magic in this ultra-modern loft kitchen. A natural crack through the middle of the backsplash is carved out and highlighted in white, creating a stunning backdrop to the wall behind the cooktop. Gleaming chrome fittings add to the look, while globe glass lights throw reflections off the polished countertop.
Black and White Marble Tiles
A combination of white marble tiles with black marble inlay looks stunning, too! Here, the white marble has grey grains that emphasize the yin and yang combo.
Whether you choose to use black marble or white marble in your home décor, our designers can help you make the most of this lovely and versatile material! We’d love to get in touch; do call a HomeLane designer today.
