Finding the right material for your shower can be crucial for the functionality of the space and the aesthetic of the room. An onyx shower wall offers many advantages in terms of maintenance, beauty, durability and practicality.
If you haven’t yet considered using this unique and exotic stone for your shower walls, you might want to take it into account. In this article, we’ll delve into the pros and cons of using onyx tiles for your shower walls.
How to Choose the Right Material for Your Shower Walls
Durability
Showers are exposed, of course, to a lot of water and chemicals. Without a hardy enough material covering the walls, you could find that wear and tear is exaggerated over time.
Maintenance
Consider the amount of maintenance and complexity of cleaning each particular material requires to keep it clean and free from damage.
Aesthetic
Thinking about your personal style preferences and how your chosen material will complement the overall bathroom aesthetic is important.
Cost
Most home renovations are done on a strict budget, so factor in the upfront and long-term costs of your chosen material from the outset.
Installation
Different materials come with different levels of installation complexity. This can affect your budget and timeline.
Availability
Various materials are procured from many far reaching sources. Natural stone, for example, is quarried directly from the ground and so supply can be limited. If you’re working to a strict timeline, you may want to consider availability.
Uniqueness
Engineered and factory produced materials are, by their very ‘nature’, identical. Naturally occurring materials, be it stone or wood, all form in nature and therefore are all unique in exact style and pattern.
What is Onyx?
Onyx is a stunning natural stone that is known for its translucent aesthetic quality and unique, banded appearances. It forms in caves as stalagmites and stalactites that meet over time and merge into this type of quartz mineral stone.
Onyx comes in a range of vibrant colours and mesmerising patterns that makes it an ideal choice for a variety of applications, including shower walls. When used for walls and in interior design, slabs or pieces of onyx need to be cut down to size and shape. As with all shower walls, there is plenty of opportunity to customise your shower not just in terms of material but also in terms of the size, shape and pattern of your wall tiles.
Should you choose to have onyx shower walls?
Ultimately, the decision as to whether or not onyx walls are right for your bathroom comes down to you. It’s important to consider what your preferences and limitations are, as well as what each different material option has to offer.
To help guide you towards the right decision, we’ve listed the five top advantages and disadvantages of using onyx stone for your shower walls.
The Pros
1. Aesthetic Elegance
Onyx shower walls offer a luxurious and sophisticated ambiance. In addition to the captivating style and opulent shading, the stone’s natural translucent allows for a unique play of light that will be a welcome addition to your bathroom.
2. Versatility
Onyx stone comes in a wide variety of colours and patterns which provide homeowners with a wide range of design options. Additionally, onyx can be easily tailored to suit all sorts of interior design preferences whether it’s classic, modern or even rustic.
3. Uniqueness
Being natural stone, each slab of onyx is distinct and unique. The natural banding and veining of your onyx shower walls will be one of a kind and bring an exclusive level of personalisation to your bathroom.
4. Lighting Effects
Onyx tiles are often installed with a backlight to take advantage of the stunning visual effect of the light filtering through the translucent stone. This will make your bathroom all the more radiant and welcoming.
5. Temperature Control
Onyx stone has advantageous natural thermal properties that make it cool to the touch. In Australia, where we enjoy warmer weather, this is a refreshing and comforting feature for your shower walls.
The Cons
1. Cost
Perhaps the biggest drawback of onyx shower walls is the cost. This high-end material comes with a higher price tag than other shower wall materials. The initial cost of purchasing and installing onyx shower walls can be a worthy investment, but still require a larger budget than other options.
2. Scratching/Etching
Onyx, compared to some other materials, is relatively soft. While care can and should be taken when cleaning and maintaining, it is more prone to scratches and etching from acidic substances than other options.
3. Maintenance
Shower walls always need maintenance and ongoing cleaning to preserve beauty and hygiene. With onyx walls, however, sealing is also required to protect the stone itself from water damage, staining and deterioration over time.
4. Availability
Finding large and unblemished pieces of onyx stone can be challenging. This affects the options in terms of size and configuration of onyx shower wall tiles and can also affect the price.
5. Installation
Onyx’s delicate nature can make working with it and installing it tricky. You’ll need skilled professionals with experience handling and cutting this unique stone.
Find Out More About Onyx Shower Walls
Onyx walls can undoubtedly transform your bathroom into a lavish retreat. While it is important to crucially weigh the pros and cons carefully, consider your budget, and think about your aesthetic preferences, onyx stone has been and continues to be a popular choice in a variety of interior design applications.
