Marble-look tiles: Carrara, Calacatta, Statuario or travertine?

on Nov 13, 2026

in Tiles & Flooring, Tile Trends & Interior Inspiration, Buying Guides: Types of Tiles & Applications, DIY Guides & Building Tips

Marble-look tiles: Carrara, Calacatta, Statuario or travertine?

Short answer: marble-look tiles are ceramic tiles with the look of natural stone, but without the delicate upkeep of real marble. The main differences are the pattern (Carrara, Calacatta, Statuario, travertine or a coloured marble), the finish (polished, satin or matt) and the size. On the wall you are free to choose; for the floor and the shower you pick a matt or satin tile with enough slip resistance. In this guide you will read which pattern suits your room and what to watch for when laying the tiles.

Read this article in Dutch: Marmerlook tegels: Carrara, Calacatta, Statuario of travertin?.

Why marble-look instead of real marble?

Real marble is beautiful, but it is also soft and porous. Acidic products such as limescale remover, lemon juice or vinegar etch the surface, and it needs regular sealing. A marble-look tile made of porcelain stoneware (porcellanato) does not have those drawbacks: it hardly absorbs water, it is scratch resistant and you keep it clean with an ordinary, neutral cleaner. That means you can use the look of marble where real marble is difficult, such as in the shower, on the kitchen floor and in the hallway. A general explanation of tile types is in our buying guide for ceramic tiles.

Built-in bath with surround and floor in white marble with sharp grey veins

The patterns: how to recognise them

The names come from famous types of marble from Italy and Turkey. Manufacturers use them loosely, so mainly look at the image of the tile itself.

Carrara: calm and grey-white

Carrara has a light grey to white background with fine, soft grey veins. It is the calmest marble pattern and suits almost any style. Ideal if you want the whole bathroom in marble-look without it becoming busy. Examples: Carrara Premium White polished 60 x 120 and, for the wall, Carrara Chic White glossy 29 x 89.

Calacatta: white with warm, striking veins

Calacatta is whiter than Carrara and has wider veins, often with a warm grey or gold tint. It gives a luxurious look and works well as a feature wall behind the bath or basin. You can choose from different finishes, such as Calacatta New White matt 60 x 120 and Calacatta New White polished 60 x 120, or a satin version such as Calacatta Mistari White satin 60 x 120. For smaller walls, Calacatta Tone White matt 30 x 60 in 30 x 60 cm is handy.

Statuario: bright white with strong contrast

Statuario has a very white background with sharp, dark grey veins. The contrast is greater than with Carrara, so the tile stands out more. Beautiful in large formats on the wall, for example Aversa Statuario White polished 60 x 120 or the slightly warmer Statuario Warm White polished 60 x 120.

Travertine and coloured marble

If you want a warmer look, choose travertine: beige to cream with horizontal lines and small pores in the print, such as Liv Travertino Classico Beige matt 60 x 120. A grey marble pattern such as Marble Skin Grey matt 60 x 120 gives a calm, modern floor. For a real statement there are also coloured or translucent-looking patterns, such as Marble Blue polished 60 x 120 and Brave Onyx White polished 80 x 80.

Pattern	Look	Works well in	Watch out
Carrara	calm, light grey, fine veins	whole bathroom, small rooms	can look cool, combine with wood or warm light
Calacatta	white, wide warm veins	feature wall, basin wall, kitchen	on large surfaces choose veins that continue
Statuario	bright white, sharp contrast	large walls, luxury bathroom	strong veins call for a calm floor
Travertine	beige to cream, warm	floors, rustic and warm styles	match the grout to the beige tone
Coloured or onyx	outspoken	one feature wall or niche	not on every wall at once

Polished, satin or matt?

Polished or glossy gives the real marble shine and reflects light. Beautiful on walls and in small bathrooms, but slippery as a floor in wet rooms.
Satin has a soft sheen and is slightly less prone to stains and streaks. A good middle ground.
Matt is the safest choice for the bathroom floor, the shower and the kitchen. Always check the slip resistance in the product information.

Many series come in several finishes. Then you can lay the wall glossy and the floor matt in the same pattern. That keeps the whole room calm while the floor stays safe.

Size and continuous veins

Marble-look looks its best in large formats, such as 60 x 120 cm. The larger the tile, the fewer the joints and the more it looks like a real stone slab. Large tiles do need a flat substrate and a good adhesive; read more in our blog on laying large-format tiles. Smaller formats and mosaic, such as Marble Room mosaic mix 20 x 20, are handy in a niche or for a shower floor with a fall.

💡 Dry-lay the tiles first and look from a distance. Tiles from a marble-look series have different prints. Spread striking veins over the wall, so you never see the same image twice side by side.

Combining with the rest of the bathroom

A white marble pattern is easy to combine with a basin top in the same style, such as Larga basin top Marble White 80 cm.
Warm metals such as gold and copper suit Calacatta; chrome and matt black work well with Carrara and Statuario. Read more in our blog on the bathroom trends of 2026.
Want a warmer contrast on the floor? A wood-look floor with marble-look walls is a strong combination; see our blog on wood-look tiles.

Laying marble-look tiles: what to watch for

Substrate. Check flatness and strength beforehand, see our blog on assessing the substrate before tiling.
Adhesive. Use a flexible tile adhesive for porcelain and large formats, such as Kerakoll H40 tile adhesive. With large tiles you apply adhesive to both the floor and the back of the tile. Adhesive classes are explained in our explanation of tile adhesive C1, C2, S1 and S2.
Laying flat. A tile levelling system with separate levelling wedges pulls the edges level. With glossy tiles every height difference shows up in the light.
Grout. Choose a narrow joint in a colour that matches the background of the tile, usually white or light grey, for example Kerakoll Fugabella Eco Porcelana 0-5. See also our blog on choosing the right grout colour.
Combing and cutting. A Raimondi notched trowel with the right notch and a good Raimondi Kompass tile cutter make the job a lot easier. Also read our blog on cutting tiles.

Maintenance

Keep marble-look tiles clean with a neutral cleaner, such as Fila Brio universal cleaner, and a soft cloth or sponge. Do not use abrasive products on polished tiles: they make the surface dull. Remove limescale regularly so you never have to scrub.

Working safely

Sawing and grinding porcelain releases fine quartz dust. Preferably cut wet or with dust extraction and wear an FFP3 dust mask. Read more in our blog on dust and quartz on site. Also wear:

work gloves with nitrile coating against cement and sharp tile edges;
safety goggles when cutting and breaking tiles;
knee pads for floor work;
earplugs when using a tile saw or angle grinder.

DIY or a professional?

A wall with 30 x 60 cm tiles is quite doable for an experienced DIYer. Large 60 x 120 cm tiles, glossy floors, a shower with a fall or a bathroom where the waterproofing has to be right call for more experience. Calling in a professional is never unnecessary. A tiler makes sure the veins are nicely spread, that no height differences show up in the light and that the wet zones are watertight. For the full step-by-step plan, also see our blog on tiling a bathroom.

👷 Unsure about the substrate, the finish for the floor or the waterproofing? Have a tiler take a look. Are you a professional or contractor and do you need larger quantities for a project? Saniso is a wholesaler and also supplies large volumes; get in touch for advice or a quotation.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Carrara and Calacatta?

Carrara is light grey with fine, soft veins and looks calm. Calacatta is whiter and has wider, more striking veins, often with a warm tint.

Are marble-look tiles slippery?

Polished tiles are slippery when wet. For the bathroom floor and the shower, choose a matt or satin finish and check the slip resistance.

Can you use marble-look tiles in the shower?

Yes. On the wall any finish works; on the shower floor choose a matt tile or mosaic with enough slip resistance. Always make the substrate watertight.

Which grout colour suits marble-look tiles?

Usually a grout in the colour of the tile background, so white, off-white or light grey. A dark grout actually makes the tile pattern stand out.

Do marble-look tiles need sealing?

Porcelain tiles themselves usually do not, because they hardly absorb water. Always follow the manufacturer's advice. Real marble does need protecting.