Natural stone table tops are quickly becoming a hot trend in home decorating. While traditionally polished marble has been the stone of choice for table top designs, today artists are working with a wide variety of materials including slate, limestone, travertine, granite, and even onyx, to create a dizzying array of unique stone table applications.

Various materials will have varying requirements to keep the stone looking its best. These treatments will also vary depending on how you want the stone to age, as well as whether you will be keeping the piece indoors or outdoors.

With materials such as slate, limestone, and travertine, the surface is not polished smooth, and is slightly irregular. When a material is polished it gets a uniform look, which can be completely broken by something as simple as a tiny scratch. However when stone has a natural finish, it hides tiny imperfections, within the chaos of its own natural face.

Over time a table top with a natural finish will tend to weather, with the natural forces of air, humidity, and time slowly but surely eating away at the surface of the stone. This will be dramatically faster if the piece is left outside to face the elements. However its not necessarily a bad thing. As the stone weathers, it will tend to take on an antiqued look. It will gain the appearance of the ancient ruins of the greatest buildings in history. This classic style has a lot of appeal in many modern homes.

However if you want the stone to look shiny and new, and want to preserve the fresh look of the material, that is simple enough also. There are a variety of chemical sealant that can be purchased which will completely re-invigorate the look of the stone, giving it a fresh, lustrous shine that looks like something out of a movie. You should always consult a stone specialist about the best sealant to use on your particular type of stone.

With materials such as marble or granite, which traditionally get a polished surface, you have to take more serious precautions to maintain their appearance. Aside from adding an above surface sealer to coat the stone, you will also need a below surface sealer to clog its pores. This will prevent the stone from staining, and will even provide some protection against scratches.

Natural stone tables can be a beautiful way to bring the natural power of the mountains into your own home. They come in a wide variety of materials, each with a multitude of multi colors and patterns, and even mosaics available. This makes it easy for you to find the perfect piece for your home.