Light-toned marble and stone, such as Carrara-style white marble or pale limestone, reflect more ambient light than dark flooring, which makes rooms with limited natural light feel more open. This is especially useful in narrow hallways, compact apartments, or ground-floor rooms that don't get direct sun.

Beyond colour, a polished finish reflects light more than a honed or matte finish, adding to the brightening effect - though it will also show footprints and dust more readily, so it suits lower-traffic rooms best. For busier areas, a light-toned honed finish offers a good middle ground.

If you're renovating a smaller home, we'd suggest bringing us your room dimensions and photos of the natural light at different times of day - it makes a real difference in choosing between a bright white, warm cream or soft grey stone.