Statement marble has been enjoying a massive renaissance for the last five-plus years now, and we have to admit, we’ve loved it. But what started as a kitchen trend quickly spiraled into an all-marble-everything trend — you can now find marble iterations of book ends, candle holders, coasters, vases, trays, lamps, paper towel holders, salt and pepper shakers, decorative bowls…the list goes on.

In other words, it’s safe to say that the marble trend has reached its peak, which of course begs the question: What’s next?

“The bold, colorful marble look takes heavy inspiration from the 1980s — a decade not exactly known for its restraint or timelessness,” says Heather Goerzen, lead Havenly designer and Director of Design & Content. “We predict that more understated materials, like travertine, lightly-veined quartz, soapstone, zellige tiles in kitchens and bathrooms, and smoked glass and chrome decor, will slowly take center-stage into 2025 and beyond.”

Aesthetics aside, real marble is notoriously expensive, delicate, and hard to care for, especially in kitchens and bathrooms. “These other materials not only lean more subtle and understated, they’re also more durable and easy to clean,” adds Heather.

So, instead of a spacious kitchen with boldly-veined marble countertops and a matching backsplash, picture understated quartz or soapstone paired with a zellige tile backsplash. Rather than a marble coffee table that mandates the use of a coaster, picture a more neutral travertine option that adds warmth and texture without leaning “statement.”

The “new marble”

When it comes to decor, we recommend bringing in materials like smoked glass, travertine, warm wood, chrome, onyx, and ceramic stoneware over marble on marble. Not only do these materials offer an array of colors, textures, and finishes to play with, they just feel more interesting in light of marble’s ubiquity.

“Always mix and match materials when decorating your home, whether you’re styling a bookshelf or a coffee table,” notes Heather. “Think beyond the marble tray or candle that you can now find at every big-box retailer in favor of something more personalized and time-worn.”

Using marble in 2025

If you do decide to use marble in your kitchen or when decorating your home, we recommend keeping longevity, timelessness, and restraint top of mind. Rather than coating your kitchen in head-to-toe marble with rich veining, consider adding a pop of warm marble as a backsplash, and mixing in another solid material elsewhere, like in the above kitchen. When decorating, opt for a cool, sculptural marble side table or unique vase, and cap it at that. When it comes to decorating with such a bold and expensive stone, sometimes less truly is more.

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