Stone is a versatile material that has the inherent power of a mountain born strength within it. It is a force of nature, a connection to the world beyond our own, and as such, it is a powerful decorating tool in the home. This has led to the popular rise of stone beverage coasters, functional accessories designed to stand between a sweaty glass, and the perfection of your surfaces. These pieces serve a dual function, both as precautionary devices, and as decorative items.

One of the great things about using coasters in a decorative design is that there are such a wide variety of colors, shapes, sizes, and style to choose from. Each one has its own peculiar properties, with some being more durable, some being more elegant, and others having varying degrees of absorbency. It is important to note the properties of the particular type you choose in order to ensure that you can do your best to care for and maintain these pieces.

Slate is one of the most resilient materials you can find coasters made of. It's strong, durable, and reliable. It is also slightly porous, so it will absorb the moisture from a glass. Sandstone is a similar material. Not quite as hard as slate, sandstone is also highly absorbent, making it prized in this faculty. Marble is non absorbent, but the surface of this material can take a high hone, allowing it to glisten with shimmering polished beauty.

There are three major styles of gemstone coasters available. You have natural colors. These can be red, black, green, blue, any color of the rainbow. The surface of the stone is simply that color, as formed beneath the earth over thousands of years. Usually these colors won't be solid, but instead will have a wavering, cloudy consistency, or a slight gradient of pattern, that makes it more real, more natural than a man made coaster would be.

The second style are multi-colors. These are natural colors, but rather than being solid, they are a multitude of hues, arranged in unique patterns on each and every piece. These colors can consist of anything, swirling reds, shimmering blues, and bursts of golden hue, almost anything you can imagine. The colors are formed in the stone during its formation, and are based on the chemicals present at the time that it was being developed. The great thing about these coasters is that each one is a unique work of natural art, and so you have the chance to have a set of one of a kind natural pieces in your home.

The third style is picture coasters. These are pieces which are made from natural stone, and then are printed with varying images. These images can be full color, black and white, or merely stamped pictures imprinted on the surface of the stone. With this option, your piece could look like pretty much anything you want, and if you're willing to buy in bulk, many places will create custom coasters for you.

Decorating with coasters is about finding ways to make them compliment the room around you. With the wide variety of colors, styles, and options available, you shouldn't have a problem finding the perfect set for your home. All you have to do is take your time, and shop around, searching for the best possible piece for your setting.