Polished Travertine Tile: Look, Uses and Care Guide

What Is Polished Travertine?

Travertine is a natural limestone formed around hot springs, known for its warm tones and small natural pores. To make polished travertine, the tile is first filled so the pores are sealed, then ground and buffed until it shines. The result is a glossy surface with deep, rich color that looks closer to marble than to rustic stone. Because it starts as a natural stone, each tile still has its own bands and variation. If you are new to the stone, start with what is travertine. In our catalog, polished travertine is usually offered as filled and polished, so look for that wording on the product page, for example in Scabos, Walnut, Gold/Yellow, Ivory Light and Noce Exotic travertine.

Travertine Polished Tile vs Honed and Tumbled

Finish changes the look, the feel and the maintenance more than most people expect.

• Polished: glossy, reflective, formal. Colors look deeper. It shows scratches and water spots more, and it can be slippery when wet.
• Honed: smooth but matte and soft. Easier to live with on busy floors, see honed travertine tile and filled honed travertine.
• Tumbled: softened edges and a rustic, aged feel, see tumbled travertine tile and the tumbled travertine guide.
• Brushed: textured, matte and slightly worn, see brushed stone tile.

For a deeper comparison, read honed vs polished stone and the stone tile finishes guide.

Polished Travertine Flooring

Polished travertine flooring brings a bright, elegant look to entries, living rooms, hallways and bathrooms. Because polished stone can be slippery, choose a honed finish for wet areas or high-traffic spots, and add rugs at entries. Large formats look especially smooth, see large format stone tile, 12x24, 18x18 and 24x24 tile. Browse travertine floor tile, entryway tile and living room tile, and read the natural stone floor tile guide before you buy.

Where Else to Use Polished Travertine Tile

• Bathrooms: see travertine bathroom tile and bathroom tile. In showers and wet areas, natural stone needs sealing and a proper waterproofing system, so follow your installer. See travertine shower tile.
• Backsplashes: a polished travertine backsplash glows under kitchen lights, see travertine backsplash tile and backsplash tile.
• Mosaics and accents: travertine mosaic tile adds pattern.
• Fireplaces: see travertine fireplace tile.

Polished travertine is usually for indoor use. For patios, pool decks and outdoor areas, a honed, brushed or tumbled finish gives better grip, see travertine pavers and pool coping and outdoor tile.

Polished Travertine Colors

Travertine ranges from ivory and cream to gold, walnut and silvery gray. Ivory and cream tones such as ivory travertine and Ivory Light feel bright and classic. Gold and walnut tones feel warm and traditional. Gray and silver tones feel modern, see silver travertine and Silver Pewter Blend. Compare with beige and cream stone tile and brown stone tile.

Filled or Unfilled Polished Travertine

Polished travertine is usually filled, because sealing the pores helps the stone take a polish. Unfilled travertine keeps its natural holes and is usually honed or brushed. Filled stone is smoother and easier to clean, while unfilled has a more natural, rustic character. Read filled vs unfilled travertine to decide, and see the travertine polishing guide for how a polished surface is created and refreshed.

Polished Travertine Care

Travertine is a softer stone than granite, so it can etch from acids and scratch from grit. Seal polished travertine, wipe spills quickly, use a pH-neutral cleaner and walk-off mats at doors. Avoid vinegar, lemon and harsh cleaners. A polished surface can dull over time, and a stone professional can restore it. See travertine care, travertine sealing guide, natural stone care guide and travertine for indoor and outdoor spaces.

Styling Polished Travertine

Polished travertine reflects light, so it makes small rooms feel brighter and larger. Keep walls soft and warm, such as cream, sand or soft white, and use brushed brass or bronze fixtures to echo the stone's warmth. Large tiles with narrow grout lines give the most continuous, glassy look, while a mix of polished field tile and a honed or tumbled border adds quiet contrast. Choose a grout color close to the tile so the surface reads as one calm plane, see the grout guide, and plan the pattern with stone tile patterns. If you love the warm look but want more grip, pair polished tiles on walls with honed travertine on the floor, using the same stone so colors match.

Polished Travertine vs Polished Marble

Both give a glossy, upscale look. Travertine is warmer and more earthy, with pores and bands, while marble has crisp veining and cooler whites. Both are soft and need sealing. Compare polished marble tile and read travertine vs marble and limestone vs travertine.

Plan, Sample and Order

Gloss changes how color looks in different light, so order samples first. Any 5 samples are $25 and ship free through shop sample tiles. Order all your tile from one lot, see the same-lot guarantee, plan quantities with the tile calculator, and match trim with stone trims and edges. More reading: Stone Encyclopedia and contact us. Local customers can visit Anaheim pickup.

Common questions