Travertine in 2026: Why It's the Stone Everyone Wants, and What It Costs

Warm, tactile and quietly luxurious, travertine has become the stone of the moment. This guide covers why designers and homeowners keep choosing it in 2026, where it comes from, what it costs for every kind of piece, how it compares with marble and other stones, and how to style and care for it so it lasts for decades.

The Checkmate coffee table by Satara, in ivory and brown travertine.

Walk into almost any beautifully designed home this year and you will find travertine somewhere: a coffee table, a dining table, a bedside, a mirror frame. Its soft, sandy palette and gently pitted surface bring the calm of natural stone without the coolness of a polished marble, and it pairs with almost everything. At Cocolea you will find it across our own collection, from Satara, and in sculptural pieces designed by Studiopepe for Essential Home. If you are weighing it against other stones for a dining table, our Marble and Stone Dining Table Guide compares every option side by side.

Why travertine is the stone everyone wants in 2026

It is the warm side of luxury. After years of crisp white marble and high gloss, interiors have moved towards warmth and texture. Travertine's creams, sands and honey tones soften a room instantly and sit beautifully with timber, linen, boucle and bronze.

It feels natural and honest. Homeowners are choosing real, natural materials that age well over synthetic surfaces. Travertine wears its natural pores and banding openly, so every piece is unique and nothing looks mass-produced.

It suits every style. The same stone works in a minimalist apartment, a Japandi or modern organic home, a coastal house or a classic Melbourne terrace. It is a neutral that never feels flat.

It is sculptural. Travertine carves into soft, chunky, rounded forms, which is why so many of this year's most-wanted coffee tables, plinths and pedestal dining tables are made from it.

The Cascadia Curved Rectangle dining table in solid travertine.

It is accessible. Travertine is one of the most affordable natural stones, so you can bring it into a room from under $1,000 and build up from there.

It has history. The Romans built the Colosseum largely from travertine, and it has returned again and again in design, from the 1970s to today. Design writers have tracked its resurgence for several years; Hunker credits both the 1970s revival and its practical warmth.

Is travertine marble?

Strictly speaking, no. Travertine is a natural limestone formed by mineral-rich springs, which is what creates its characteristic pores and soft banding, while marble is a metamorphic stone. Because it is quarried, cut, honed and used in the same way, it is often sold as "travertine marble" and sits alongside marble in most stone collections, including ours.

Where travertine comes from

The name itself tells the story. The Romans called it lapis tiburtinus, the stone of Tibur, today's Tivoli just east of Rome, and over time it became travertino. The quarries around Tivoli have been worked for more than 2,000 years and still produce the classic creamy Roman travertine.

Today Turkey is one of the world's biggest producers. Much of its travertine comes from around Denizli, home to Hierapolis-Pamukkale, the UNESCO World Heritage site where hot springs have built dazzling white travertine terraces down a hillside. Iran, Mexico, Peru and Spain also quarry travertine, each with its own colour and character.

It remains an architect's stone. The Getty Center in Los Angeles is clad in 1.2 million square feet of travertine from Bagni di Tivoli, about 16,000 tonnes of it, and visitors can still spot fossilised leaves and feathers in the split stone. That same character is what you see, up close, in a travertine table.

Travertine colours and finishes

Ivory and classic. The soft cream to sand tones most people picture, and the most versatile choice. You will see it in our Cannes tables, the Bel Air side table and the Cascadia dining tables.

Walnut and brown. Deeper chocolate and toffee tones with strong banding. The Checkmate coffee table pairs an ivory top with a brown travertine plinth for a striking two-tone look.

Silver and grey. Cooler, greige travertine that suits monochrome and contemporary schemes. Ask us about it for custom pieces.

Green. Rare and eye-catching, with moss and forest tones running through the stone. The Bel Air coffee table in Verdence Green is one of the most striking travertine pieces we stock.

The Bel Air coffee table by Satara in green Verdence travertine.

Finishes to know. Unfilled travertine shows its natural pores for a raw, organic look. Filled travertine has those pores filled with a colour-matched filler for a smoother, more practical surface, which we recommend for dining tables. Honed is a soft matt finish that hides marks; polished is glossier. Vein-cut stone shows linear stripes, while cross-cut shows a cloudier, more random pattern.

Honed vs polished travertine

The same slab of travertine can look and behave quite differently depending on how its surface is finished. Honed stone is ground smooth and stopped before buffing, leaving a soft matt or satin surface. Polished stone is taken through progressively finer abrasives until it shines like glass. The difference is all in how the surface handles light, and that shapes both how it looks and how it lives.

What the finish means for durability. Travertine is mostly calcite, which sits at about 3 on the Mohs hardness scale, and neither finish makes the stone itself harder or softer. What changes is how visible everyday wear is.

Scratches. A honed surface is already made of millions of microscopic scratches, so a new fine scratch simply blends in. On a polished surface the same scratch interrupts the mirror and catches the light, especially under a pendant or beside a window.

Etching. Wine, lemon, vinegar and some cleaners react with calcite and leave a dull mark called an etch. This is a chemical reaction rather than a stain, so sealing cannot fully prevent it. On honed travertine an etch is close to invisible because the surface is already matt; on polished travertine it shows as a cloudy patch in the shine.

Stains. Polishing closes the surface very slightly, so liquids soak in a little more slowly, while honed stone is a touch more absorbent. Either way, sealing about once a year is what protects against staining.

Long-term wear. On a dining table, the places where people sit and lean get the most use. A polished top slowly dulls in those zones and can look patchy after some years, while a honed top wears evenly and keeps the same look all over.

Restoring. Honed travertine can be refreshed by a stone restorer with fine abrasive pads, often in your home, and small etches buff out easily. Bringing back a polished finish takes progressive polishing to rebuild the shine, which is specialist work.

How the finish changes the look. Polishing deepens colour by a shade or two and sharpens the contrast of the banding, the way a pebble looks richer when it is wet. Honed stone reads lighter, softer and more uniform, and puts the focus on texture and touch.

Honed travertine is the signature of the 2026 look: modern organic, Japandi, coastal and quiet luxury interiors, alongside linen, boucle, oak, walnut and limewashed walls. It feels calm, photographs true to life and never competes with the rest of the room. Polished travertine belongs to a glamorous story: Art Deco, Hollywood Regency and classic European rooms, with velvet, lacquer, mirror and polished brass. It adds sparkle and formality, and catches reflections from windows and lighting.

The colour of the stone matters too. Ivory and classic travertine look their best honed, where their softness shines. Darker walnut, red and green travertines gain the most from polishing, because the extra depth brings out their veining.

Our recommendation. For pieces you use every day, such as dining tables, coffee tables and bedsides, choose a filled, honed finish: it is the most forgiving and the easiest to keep looking new. Save polished travertine for side tables, consoles, mirror frames and display pieces that are admired more than they are used. Mixing the two works beautifully, for example a honed dining table with a polished console in the same room. Most of our pieces can be made to a custom finish, so ask us about the options for any piece.

Which is most popular? Honed, by a wide margin. The most requested combination for travertine furniture right now is a filled, honed finish in ivory or classic tones: it suits the warm, natural interiors that define 2026, it is the most practical for everyday living, and it ages the most gracefully. Polished travertine is chosen far less often, usually for a single glamorous accent such as a side table or console.

Travertine prices at Cocolea

Travertine is one of the most accessible natural stones, which is a big part of its appeal: you can bring real stone into a room from under $1,000 for a side table, with solid travertine dining tables from $9,600. At the top end are sculptural side and center tables designed by Studiopepe for Essential Home, the Portuguese luxury brand.

Full prices at the time of writing; most pieces can be made to a custom size and finish. Our Satara travertine pieces are delivered Australia-wide in about two weeks. Selected pieces may be reduced during our Annual Design Event, which ends 25 October. On a phone, swipe the table sideways to see every column.

Why the range? Price depends on the size and thickness of the slab, how much carving the design needs, the base (stone, timber or brass) and the maker. Large solid dining tables can weigh 250 to 475 kg, so delivery and placement are part of the plan, and we quote them with you.

Travertine vs marble, quartzite and sintered stone

Every stone has a personality. Here is how travertine compares with the other surfaces you will see in luxury furniture. For the full picture on dining tables, including veneers and petrified wood, see our stone price comparison.

Living with travertine

Like marble, travertine is a porous natural stone. We seal every piece and recommend resealing about once a year. Wipe spills promptly, use coasters for wine, citrus and coffee, and clean with a soft cloth and a pH-neutral stone cleaner rather than vinegar or bleach. For dining tables, choose a filled, honed finish: it is smoother to wipe and disguises everyday marks.

Travertine is widely used outdoors for paving and pool surrounds, but for furniture we recommend covered outdoor spaces and regular sealing, because rain, leaves and sunscreen will mark an exposed porous surface. Our outdoor resort living collection has pieces made for full exposure.

The reward is longevity. Because it is solid natural stone, travertine can be re-honed, resealed and have its pores refilled years from now, bringing it back to near new. That is why, like solid marble, it is one of the best-value stones over the life of a piece. Our guide to which stones last longest explains the comparison.

How to style travertine: shop the look

Let travertine be the warm anchor of the room. Walnut, aged brass, bronze and deep green all bring out its warmth, while black accents add contrast. Here are four rooms we love, each built around a travertine piece.

The living room

Start with the Checkmate coffee table and a low, rounded sofa such as the Fitzgerald modular sofa by Essential Home, whose brass shell picks up the warmth of the stone. Add a Francis Scott side table in travertine and aged brass at the arm, and ground it all with the Kleopatra II rug, whose ivory, sand and taupe palette was made for travertine. Our luxury rug guide has more on choosing tones.

The dining room

A round Cascadia table seats six to eight and makes conversation easy. Ring it with walnut and velvet Henry dining chairs by Essential Home for warmth, or with our Electra teal velvet chairs for a bolder contrast, and hang a sculptural pendant from our statement lighting low over the centre. Browse more dining chairs and see our luxury dining room ideas.

The bedroom

The fluted Ochre Round bedside brings stone to a soft, layered bedroom, with three drawers and brass handles. In a reading corner, the sculptural Beverley side table by Essential Home reads like a piece of art. Explore our luxury bedroom furniture.

The entry

Make a first impression with the Monaco arched travertine mirror, which glows at night with optional LED backlighting, and set a Bel Air side table beside it for keys and flowers, or a slim piece from our consoles.

The Bel Air side table by Satara beside a soft boucle armchair.

The Monaco arched travertine mirror with optional LED backlighting.

For more inspiration, read our luxury home styling ideas for 2026, the definitive guide to luxury coffee tables and our living room furniture guide.

The makers behind our travertine

Essential Home and Studiopepe. Essential Home is a Portuguese luxury brand known for mid-century inspired design and bespoke craftsmanship. Its collection with Studiopepe, the Milan studio founded in 2006 by Arianna Lelli Mami and Chiara Di Pinto, takes its cues from Italian architecture. In travertine that means the Philip tables on solid walnut, the brass-wrapped Francis Scott and the carved Beverley, while the Ernest side table can be made in travertine to order. Cocolea is an authorised Essential Home retailer in Australia; see the full Essential Home collection.

Satara. Faceted, architectural pieces carved entirely from stone, including the Checkmate and the octagonal Bel Air tables. Satara travertine is delivered Australia-wide in about two weeks from our Port Melbourne showroom. Shop the Satara collection.

The Cocolea collection. Our own travertine range includes the Cascadia dining tables, the Cannes coffee and side tables, the Ochre bedside and the Monaco mirror, most of which can be made to your size and finish. For something completely bespoke, our interior design team can help.

Shop travertine

See the full travertine collection, our Satara and Essential Home collections, or browse all marble and stone tables, dining tables, coffee tables and side tables.

Frequently asked questions

Is travertine a marble?

Not strictly. Travertine is a natural limestone formed by mineral springs, while marble is a metamorphic stone. It is often sold as travertine marble because it is cut, honed and used in the same way, and the two sit together in most stone collections.

How much does a travertine dining table cost?

At Cocolea, solid travertine dining tables start from $9,600 for a 240 cm rectangle that seats 8 to 10, with round and curved designs from $11,100 to $12,300. Coffee tables start from $2,365 and side tables from $995. Prices are at the time of writing.

Is travertine cheaper than marble?

Usually, yes. Travertine is one of the most affordable natural stones, so a travertine piece generally costs less than the same design in a premium marble such as Calacatta, while still being solid natural stone that can be restored.

Is honed or polished travertine better for a dining table?

Honed is the better choice for most dining tables. Its matt surface hides fine scratches and the dull etch marks left by wine and citrus, wears evenly and is easy to refresh. Polished travertine has deeper colour and more sparkle, so it suits side tables, consoles and display pieces that see less daily use.

What is the most popular travertine finish?

Honed is the most popular finish for travertine furniture. A filled, honed surface in ivory or classic tones is the most requested combination because it suits warm, natural interiors, hides everyday marks and is easy to maintain. Polished travertine is usually chosen for a single glamorous accent.

Does travertine stain?

Travertine is porous, so it should be sealed and resealed about once a year, with spills wiped promptly and acidic drinks kept on coasters. A filled, honed finish is the most practical choice for a dining table.

Can travertine furniture go outside?

Travertine is widely used outdoors for paving, but for furniture we recommend covered outdoor areas and regular sealing, because rain, leaves and sunscreen can mark an exposed porous surface.

Where does travertine come from?

The name comes from Tibur, the Roman name for Tivoli near Rome, where travertine has been quarried for more than 2,000 years. Today Turkey is one of the biggest producers, with travertine also quarried in Iran, Mexico, Peru and Spain.

Which brands make travertine furniture at Cocolea?

Cocolea stocks travertine from its own collection, from Satara, and sculptural pieces designed by Studiopepe for Essential Home, including the Philip, Francis Scott and Beverley tables.

Is travertine still in style in 2026?

Yes. Travertine has become one of the defining materials of warm, natural interiors, valued for its soft neutral tones, tactile surface and sculptural forms that sit comfortably in modern, Japandi, coastal and classic homes.

Further reading

From Cocolea: our Marble and Stone Dining Table Guide, coffee table guide, guide to luxury dining chairs and luxury rug guide. Further afield: travertine on Wikipedia, the Getty Center's architecture and Hierapolis-Pamukkale at UNESCO.

Bring travertine into your home

Most of our travertine pieces can be made to your size, shape and finish. Visit our Port Melbourne showroom to see the stone in person, or book a complimentary design session and we will help you choose the right pieces and show you how they look in your room. Call 1800 855 665 or email sales@cocolea.com.au. Trade and project pricing is available.