One of the best ways to transform your home is to use natural stone. This material used to be an expensive, luxury item that only the very wealthy could afford, but there are now many affordable kinds available to choose from - marble, limestone, natural stone - and each variety has the ‘wow factor' in its own way.

Here's how to use and embrace stone in each room of your house:

Kitchens - Natural marble or granite floor tiles work excellently in kitchen spaces, creating a welcoming, rustic look whilst still being contemporary. Another great idea is dark, polished granite, which reflects light back into the room.

Bathrooms - As well as using stone on your bathroom floor, why not create a relaxing and practical wetroom by cladding the walls with stone? You can also find stone versions of baths and showers, and chunky stone sinks are incredibly fashionable right now.

Outdoors - Natural stone paving slabs are versatile and durable enough to be used in outdoor spaces such as gardens and patios. What's more, stone is the perfect material for garden paving.

There is one last thing to remember when choosing natural stone for your home; make sure to check it is suitable for the space you want to use it in, as they all have different attributes.

How to clean tiles and stone

Once you've bought and fitted your beautiful new stone floors or tiles, you then need to learn how to look after them! A little bit of care and attention can not only keep your new floors looking as bright and clean as the day you bought them; it can also make them last longer.

Here are a few of our top tips for cleaning...

Floor tiles and ceramic wall tiles

  • Tiles generally only require gentle cleaning, using just a mild all-purpose cleaner and warm water
  • Use a damp, not wet, mop to clean your tiles
  • Make sure to always dry the floor to prevent streaks and smears
  • You can get specialist tile cleaners for more stubborn stains, but avoid anything too harsh or abrasive which may damage the seal, finish or glaze

Stone floors

  • Unless your stone floors come pre-treated (recommended), be aware that they may stain easily so you may need to invest in a suitable sealant
  • Sealed stone floors can be cleaned with a mild detergent and warm water
  • If anything acidic is ever spilled on stone, wipe it up immediately