Marble countertops are gorgeous—and the last thing you want to do is install flooring that takes away from that. For many, that means they can’t install anything but marble flooring to partner with their marble countertops—but we’re here to derail that train of thought and let you know that there are plenty of flooring options that bring out the beauty of your marble countertops.
In this article, we’ll share a few things to consider when picking the type of flooring after you install marble countertops.
Color Tone
Let’s just say you chose Carrara marble for your countertop. From a distance, many slabs tend to look gray—and this means you should choose a floor that has hints of gray to complement the color scheme of the marble.
Determine whether your marble slab has a warm base or a cool base. You can do that by taking a closer look at its undertones—if it has purple or blue undertones, it has a cool base. If the undertones are yellow or red, the base is warm. Once you know the base, you’ll more easily find complementary flooring.
Color Selection
Let’s still work with the Carrara example. There are quite a few colors that work with this type of marble, including white or black. A few other choices you might not have considered for flooring are navy blue, chocolate, gray/beige, taupe, dark yellow, olive green, or even light pink.
Remember, if your marble slab has a cool base, stick to flooring in a color that is cool as well. For example, if your marble is a cool white with cool gray veining, stained red oak flooring might look a bit out of place. Instead, go for a black-stained wood—because it’s cool!
Texture
You can get your marble countertop polished or unpolished. Whatever finish you choose, make sure that your flooring has the opposite. If you place a shiny tiled floor below a shiny marble countertop, the room will seem cold and sterile. Instead, choose a matte wood or tile so the shine of the countertop has a chance to stand out. Or if you’re looking to install marble countertops with a honed (unpolished) finish, try a high-lacquer wood floor.
Pattern
While there are plenty of opportunities for floors to complement marble countertops, make sure that the pattern of the floor doesn’t compete with that of marble. Avoid flooring that holds a similar pattern to the marble’s veining.
So if you have widely spaced veining on your countertop, try not to use tile that’s in the one-to-three-foot range or wide planks of wood, because the lines in the floor might look like they’re trying to copy the veins in the marble. Instead, try out small mosaic tile, subway station tile, or smaller planks of wood. On the other hand, if your marble’s veining is close together, feel free to use larger planks of wood or flooring with a wider-set pattern.
Designing Your Space
At WS Granite Tops, we care about your project as a whole, and we’re already here to offer sound advice. For more tips and tricks on remodels and renovations, contact us today.
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