Onyx

Onyx is one of the more exotic and visually dramatic stones you can use in furniture, and it occupies a very different space than something like granite or marble.

It’s a form of calcite rather than a true granite or quartzite, which means it’s actually quite soft and fragile by stone standards.

The defining characteristic of onyx is its translucency. Unlike most stones, onyx allows light to pass through it, which opens up some really striking design possibilities. Backlit onyx panels, tabletops, and bar fronts are genuinely showstopping when done well. That luminous, glowing quality is something no other natural material quite replicates.

In furniture, it shows up most often as tabletops on low-use pieces like coffee tables, side tables, and console tables, where it won’t take heavy daily abuse. It’s also used as decorative panels, cabinet door inserts, and wall applications.

Because it’s soft and brittle, it scratches and chips more easily than harder stones, and it’s porous, so it stains readily. Care should be taken to be sure it is sealed regularly.

It’s also one of the more expensive stone options, and slab sizes tend to be smaller than granite or marble, which can limit design options on larger pieces.

For custom furniture, it’s a great material to be used in statement pieces for its visual impact.