Natural Stone

Natural slate is a powerful and exotic material, that can add a passionate element to a rooms ambiance. In a bedroom, slate installations can often add an energy to the space, that is invigorating and exciting. However, before choosing this material, there are several factors that you have to consider.

Texture

In its natural form, slate has a rough clefted texture, that resembles the side of a towering mountain range. The extremity of this clefting will vary from material to material. In some instances, the clefting can be so severe that it makes walking on it barefoot painful, because of the tiny peaks and ridges in the surface of the stone.

Since the level of clefting will vary from material to material, it is important to evaluate a range of tiles before making a selection.

If the slate you choose has too many sharp edges, the material can often be honed, or even polished down, to give it a flat surface. The drawback to this, is that honing slate tends to subdue the vibrant colors which are often found in it.

One way to have your cake and eat it to, is to purchase slate which has a brushed finish. This means that the slate has been honed down such that, all of the sharp peaks on the stone have been removed, but the depth and crevices in the stone remain. The result is material which you can walk on barefoot, but which retains much of the natural beauty of slate.

Temperature

The other concern you have to be aware of when installing slate in your bedroom is temperature. Slate tends to be cool to the touch. If it is a warm summer day, putting your bare feet on a slate floor can be a refreshing pleasure. However. if its a chilly winter morning, hopping out of bed barefoot can be a nasty surprise.

The best way to compensate for this is by installing a sub-floor heating system. That consists of a series of heated pads which are installed directly beneath the tiles, and which are connected to a thermostat which allows you to control the heat output. The best time to install sub-floor heating is during the tile installation, because the stone is generally adhered directly to the pads.

A less involved method of handling the cold is simply spacing warm throw rugs throughout the room, allowing you to travel throughout the space in warmth. The interplay of cold and warm textures will make the space seem even cozier.

Advantages

Most people who install slate flooring in their bedrooms claim that they are looking for a way to connect their lives to the natural world. Others claim they like the fierce and passionate appeal that it adds to the space. However, many people like it simply because it is so unqiue, and easy to maintain.