India is an abundance of Natural Resources and its production and construction have led to milestone changes in its development and economic prosperity. India has been a prime exporter of Natural Stones worldwide amounting to 27% of the total production of stones. 

The construction and interior designing community have been an enormous incorporator of Natural stones as an important building material into homes, architectural sites, commercial spaces and many other common public spaces that have high traffic and also require an aesthetic appeal.

Natural stones are one of the most popular choices by architects and the construction industry because they are not only naturally and easily procured, they possess endurance, easy maintenance, beautiful earthy tones and a touch of natural beauty in our living spaces.

India has been a popular site for utilizing natural stones from Ancient Indian civilization into the most renowned archaeological wonders like The Taj Mahal, Kumbhalgarh Fort (Rajasthan), Khajuraho (Madhya Pradesh) and many other wondrous temples and forts that are a sight to behold. All such sites have one thing in common, they are made and preserved from the utilization of natural stones that have made them stand high and mighty for hundreds of years.

Therefore The natural beauty of Indian natural stones is incomparable and unsurmountable,  incorporating natural stones in your interiors is the best investment and decision you can make.

While all such factors stated above are commonly known to us, we find it difficult to search through the qualities and inbuilt properties of the building and install material apart from what looks stylish or sturdy from the outside therefore The Story Boxx has made a list of the Top 10 Indian Natural Stones for your interiors that are known for their endurability and natural beauty.

BASALT

Most commonly used in construction activities, Basalt is a finely grained or sometimes glassy Igneous rock formed from the rapid cooling of molten lava. It is rich in elements like magnesium and iron. Due to huge quantities of availability in India, it is used in construction and outside spaces, thanks to its low cost and high durability. Basalt is found in the Deccan region of South India and consists of a dark, finely grained stone. Its widespread uses include road construction, pavements, activities of restraining walls, rivers and dams.

Basalt is a dense and sturdy material for your interiors and ticks all boxes for a modern-looking, endurable flooring or countertop option.

MARBLE

Marble is one of the most popular household installations and archaeological sites like the infamous Taj Mahal. It presents a luxurious and ultra-modern look. Marble is a metamorphic rock with layers of calcite crystals, giving the stones a very beautiful and varied pattern type. It is a resilient stone that is prone to higher temperatures making it a perfect stone for Indian homes. It has excellent insulation properties, that is to say, it posits warmth during winters and cold during the summertime. Since India experiences more summer months it makes for an excellent hot and humid climate interior. 

It has multiple patterns and designs incorporating classical to modern interior finish that looks polished and pristine. From the famous Calcutta marble to green colored Andhi marble, it has a very forgiving feel and posits calmness to your interior spaces. While early on they were a luxurious extension to our places, Now it is found in varied prices and types.

LIMESTONE

Limestone is a sedimentary rock comprising calcium carbonate. It is most widely used in archaeological or heritage sites, interior design, and product design. They are extremely durable for walls and pavements that require durability. It’s a water-resistant and easy to maintain installation when it comes to kitchens or high traffic commercial spaces. It comprises the highest range of color varieties from light to dark stones of variable thickness and endurance.

One of the most commonly known qualities is it’s easy to carve and cut into nature that making it a corrosion-free structure material. Limestone has insulation properties and sometimes makes for a cost-effective substitute for marble stone in household and construction activities. the very beautiful Kota stone is the famous variety of Limestone in India.

GRANITE

Granite is one of the hardest natural stones that can be found anywhere in the world, due to this, it makes for the most installed natural stones in interiors and outside spaces. It is not costly and easily procured and the chips and fine-grained texture in the granite stones come from the mixture of minerals like quartz and feldspar. Granite has a medium range of stone color variety like black, green, pearl and mixed. Granite is popularly utilized in beautiful mosaic tiles or chipped floor ideas that make your interiors colorful and durable as well. 

Granite stones are commonly utilized in kitchen countertops due to their non-porous and fire/heat resistance, floorings due to their strong and sturdy nature in high traffic areas and water resistance.

QUARTZITE

Quartzite is a very hard rocky stone made from interlocked crystalline quartzite. It is one of the toughest rock stones that tops granite as well. Quartzite has a very grainy and sandpaper-like texture that can be polished into shiny surfaces. It comes in a range of colors and has an exotic occupancy in the range of natural stones. These stones are most widely used in rooftops, concrete building material, floorings, stairs and tabletops. since they are non-porous they don’t easily stain and thus make for a long term investment in varied applications from construction to household and commercial interiors with beautiful design interiors. They are generally the hardier yet lavish interior instalments to granite stone.

SLATE

Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogenous metamorphic rock derived from the original sedimentary rocks mixed with clay or volcanic ash. Utilized in large scale construction building, floorings, rooftops and wall cladding. Its different strips can be used to make a combination of shades and colors of varied patterns. Slate has a very fragile and soft exterior however it can be made into compressed slabs that make for excellent flooring material. It posits a darker tone of greys and blacks that make it a popular choice for kitchen slabs and floors.

Slate slabs are porous, stain-resistant and impenetrable that making them excellent for high water storage and flow areas. The floors remain slip-resistant and slate, in general, gives a modern and rustic finish. For a neat and earthy look that is also sustainable to the environment, slate makes for an excellent interior installation.

SANDSTONE

Sandstone depicts the most traditional and typical Indian interiors whether it is a heritage site or a prehistoric archaeological creation, Sandstone is mostly found in Rajasthan and is present in abundance in India. India is the leading exporter and mining site for Sandstone. Its yields come in different colors mostly warm hues and niches like reds, oranges and browns. Sandstone can be used in the most creative ways whether patterned tiles or unique shapes as flooring. Due to its high-quality abundance in India, it was used in the most iconic archaeological creations like Red Fort and government buildings in India. Sandstone permits a traditional, vintage Indian interior look that can be most variedly used in floorings, buildings and interior design. 

TRAVERTINE

Travertine is terrestrial limestone that is tough and durable. It’s a stylish and minimalistic installation for your interiors. It comes in calmer, warm tones that range from tan, ivory, gold and off-white. It posits a very luxurious and neutral look to pull off, generally installed in outside spaces like patios, swimming pools as they are heat resistant and have insulation properties. Its unique swirls of patterns formed generally by the calcium and other mineral deposit make them loo pleasant and exquisite. Travertine stone has a naturally textured look that can be polished and honed into giving a smoother finish for your interiors. They are soft textured stones that are widely used for external spaces. Due to their water-resistance qualities, they are used for making bathroom tiles and bathroom product designs.

CUDDAPAH STONE

Cuddapah or Kadapah stone is a limestone family variant and is found in Andhra Pradesh. It’s low porosity, a smooth textured stone that gives a more rustic appeal to your interiors. T gives a dark hue to your interiors and is easily installed in high traffic zones and wet areas, thanks to their non-slippery nature and durability as a compact stone material. Cuddapah is a strong and wear and tear wary stone that is easy to maintain and long-lasting. It can resist high temperatures and moisture. It is popularly installed in cladding kitchen shelves, cabinets, floorings, cupboard shelves, skirtings and pavings. Cuddapah stone is installed for hassle-free and economical interior choices. 

JAISALMER STONE

Jaisalmer stone is a limestone variant that is mostly worked with in Rajasthan. Yellow colored Jaisalmer stone is one of the top sellers when it comes to limestone variants. It occupies a traditional approach and is installed as floors or balconies for traditional buildings, however, many modern buildings have incorporated The Jaisalmer Stone as beautiful carved out balconies, patterns and front doors. This stone is known for its durability, hardness, rough whether conditions and beauty. It can be used in wall cladding and table tops as well that keeps the places in touch with beautiful warm hues of interior décor.