Laminate wall decoration - design for home and cottage

In the modern world, laminate is widely used as a floor covering. But not everyone knows that he can act as a material for decorating walls. The variety of textures, colors, easy installation method make it possible to create an interesting home interior using laminated panels instead of traditional materials.

There is no such thing as a wall laminate. When finishing the walls use the same type of coating as when laying the floor.

Depending on the type of fasteners, all types of laminate are divided into adhesive, tongue and groove:

• Glue. In this embodiment, there is no lock system. The panels are fastened together by means of special glue or liquid nails.Before making the wall, it must be leveled. This is the most costly method both in time and in the amount of material used. In order to facilitate the installation process a little bit, you can glue the laminate onto a plasterboard substrate. You can install the panels one by one or assemble a shield on the floor, and then fix it on the wall.

• Sheet piling. This type of laminate has a tongue and groove lock. The boards are fastened one to another with the help of small studs or special brackets.

• Click. This variant of the laminate is an advanced lock system. The panels tilt at an angle of 20 degrees to each other, lead to the grooves of the lock and snap into place.

Such glue-free types allow the joints to remain dry, which eliminates the possibility of staining the coating. Laminate on the wall is mounted with a batten of wooden or metal bars. Pitch should be 30-40 centimeters. The wall surface with this type of mounting does not require alignment, and the sound and heat insulation is usually placed in the resulting space.

Modern laminate is a four-layer highly functional coating. The lower (first) layer is responsible for the rigidity and noise insulation. Dense fibreboard is the basis of the frame of the board, the second layer. It is here that manufacturers have a mounting mechanism. Color and pattern are located on the third paper layer.

The final layer performs both protective and texture-forming function. Melamine or acrylic resin determines the class of wear resistance. On its surface put a relief imitating a particular material.

Each manufacturer sets the size range independently. Typically, the thickness of the laminate varies from the thinnest 6 mm to 12 mm in increments of 1 millimeter. Boards can be rectangular or square. The thicker and longer the board, the more convenient the installation.

In the production of laminate using the whole range of colors - from white to black. The choice of shade depends on the material that imitates the coating.

Classic can be considered a coating that copies the tree.Thus, the neutral color is represented by imitation of ash, birch, light alder or oak. The darker scale is a stained or ordinary dark oak, chestnut, wenge.

Color collections are often produced, because on the paper layer you can apply a drawing of any color and shape. Often these lines are designed for children's rooms. The image of popular cartoon characters is put on their surface.

When choosing a laminate for decorating walls, you need to think about the room where it will be used:

• In the hallway, living room or in the hallway favorable environment, so you can choose an inexpensive material. Since there is no temperature difference and normal humidity in these rooms, there is no need to overpay for a high class of wear resistance.

• But if there is a desire to decorate the walls with laminate in the bathroom, toilet or in the kitchen, you need to select a moisture resistant coating. When installing, do not neglect the additional sealant for the seams, otherwise the panels may swell.

Due to the fact that the boards are easy to cut, they can be designed as the entire surface, and its part. If there is a niche in the room, then it is quite simple to select it using laminate. Ease of installation allows you to use such a coating not only on the walls, but also on the ceiling.

To the surface had a finished look, you must use additional elements.

When installing laminate on the wall leave small gaps around the perimeter. This avoids the deformation of the canvas and makes it possible to install baseboards and ceiling curbs. Do not use plastic products, as they will stand out against the background of the canvas. For decorative purposes, it is better to choose wooden or laminated borders.

Due to the fact that even the thinnest laminate is thicker than traditional wall materials, it is impossible to perfectly fit it at the wall junctions. To eliminate these defects use corners. They decorate all the joints and projections.

In kitchens, a pipe can be built into the wall. For registration of such places use special rings.The material of manufacture and dimensions of these elements are different, therefore, to choose the right one is not difficult.

For the classification of laminate using European labeling. It is based on tests for moisture resistance, abrasion, the degree of strength and sound absorption. As a result of all tests, two main classes were identified: for commercial use (31-34) and for home use (21-23).

Modern manufacturers have practically refused to produce only for domestic purposes. Laminate with marking 31 is slightly higher at the price of the 23rd household, but the quality of the coating is much better.

The strength of the base layer is determined by numerical designations, and the wear resistance class of the top coating is marked with letters AC. All necessary information about the quality of the canvas is indicated on the packaging:

• 31 (AC3): service life of not more than 6 years with a low degree of load;
• 32 (AC4): suitable for public spaces with low daily traffic, at home will last up to 15 years;
• 33 (AC5): high-quality canvas, can be installed in cafes and offices with a large load on the surface, with maximum operation, the service life is up to 10 years, at home the warranty is unlimited;
• 34 (AC6): the most durable and wear-resistant class, used in gymnasiums, airports, service life - up to 10 years, practically not used in domestic premises due to extremely high prices.

For laminate used as a wall covering, strength and abrasion resistance are not so important. The only point you should pay attention to when buying is moisture resistance.

In the design of laminated panels can distinguish several characteristic types of decor:

• Tree. Originally laminate was created as a budget replacement for expensive floorboard. Manufacturing techniques allow to accurately simulate the pattern of various wood species and transfer the color range from dark oak to light birch.

• A rock. Finishing the surface with natural stone is a difficult and expensive job.High-quality styling hides a lot of space, and the room becomes cold. Laminated board perfectly copies the stone, and installation is quick and easy.

• Leather. Genuine leather is a very expensive and whimsical material. To make with it a large surface will be difficult. Many manufacturers of laminate produce collections that mimic the leather covering.

• Tile. To cover a wall with tiles, complex preparatory work is needed. A large surface trimmed with this material will make the room not cozy. Laminated tile boards will help avoid these problems.

Texture and relief play an important role in the decoration of the laminated panel. Thanks to these qualities, you can create a glossy, matte or artificially aged surface.

The shape of the board will depend on the shape of the board. If the laminate has a rectangular shape, then the well-known option of assembling a Christmas tree will suit everyone. The tile can be arranged in a checkerboard pattern, or by combining different colors, create a unique pattern.

The design of the walls with laminate is considered to be a bold design decision. This kind of decor can be applied in rooms executed in various styles:

• The wall panel imitating a tree perfectly combines with a brick. Therefore, if the room is stylized under loft, laminate on the wall will be a good solution. Since this style is characterized by a large amount of open space, the laminated wall will help create a bright accent and demarcate the room.

• Distinctive feature of the village country music is the use of natural materials, especially wood. Very often, designers, making out the ceiling, leave open wooden beams. To visually support such ceilings will help the wall, decorated with artificially aged laminate.

• If the room is made in ethno-style, you can place on the wall a map of the world deposited on laminated boards. Many manufacturers produce collections with different images. Drawing from floor to wall will create a unique atmosphere.

• The key principle of style fusion is complete freedom in the combination of all kinds of materials and colors. Non-standard use of decorative elements allows you to achieve full creative expression during interior design. Therefore, using, for example, wallpaper on the ceiling, and laminate on the wall, it fits into the concept of this direction.

• The main feature of the style vintage it is the belonging of furnishings to past eras - the older, the better. All elements must bear a clear imprint of time, so texture is very important in the interior. A background in such a room can be a laminate with a emerging relief of a woody structure imitating an aged uneven surface.

• In style high tech many elements made of glass and metal. The surface of the wall, decorated with a laminated board with a coating of metal will complement the industrial image of the room.

When choosing a laminate, consider the following points:

• Type of room. The class of the product, and, accordingly, the price depends on the place of operation. As a wall covering the laminate is not subjected to a serious load.Therefore, choosing a material, you should pay attention only to moisture resistance.

• Installation method If it is necessary to add noise or heat insulation to the room, the lock laminate with installation on the crate is perfect for this purpose. But if the room is a small area, it is worth stopping at the choice of adhesive types, since during their installation the space is less concealed.

• Design. A variety of colors and textures allows you to achieve exactly the appearance of the wall, which is necessary for this room. Creating a beautiful and unique interior is the primary task when choosing a decor method.

The main advantages of the laminate are:

• Security. Modern production technologies make this material environmentally friendly. It can be safely used not only in common areas, but also in children's rooms.
• Reliability. Even if you buy a non-high-class laminate, as a wall covering, it will last a very long time. Observing the choice and installation of all recommendations, you can create a strong, durable coating.

• Installation A convenient mounting system allows you to install laminated panels yourself.Several installation methods make it possible to take into account the characteristics of a particular room.
• The decor. Large selection of textures gives you the opportunity to show creativity in creating the interior.

Disadvantages:

• Susceptibility of the coating to moisture, which may cause bloating.
• Instability during temperature fluctuations, leading to deformation of the product.

After conducting numerous surveys, the following European laminate manufacturers entered the top three:

• Pergo. A Swiss company that has been manufacturing laminate flooring since 1979. Quality control at all stages of production allows us to produce high quality products.

• Berry alloc. A joint Belgian-Norwegian enterprise with a large scientific base. This allows the use of patented technology HPL (High Pressure Laminate - high pressure laminate), which makes the coating durable and not susceptible to external influences.

• Kaindl. Austrian full-cycle plant. Such production makes it possible to independently develop, produce and sell products, which virtually eliminates the appearance of fakes.The buyers of the products of these companies mark the variety of design, high quality and a large selection of size range. The only disadvantage is the high price.

• Competition to foreign firms can be made by domestic manufacturers who manufacture their products together with European ones. Quick-Step. In 2011, a Russian-Belgian enterprise began its work in the city of Dzerzhinsk, Nizhny Novgorod Region. It produces the most popular with the domestic customer line with the proprietary locking system.

• Tarkett / Sinteros. Co-production of Germany and Russia since 2010, producing its products in the city of Mytishchi, Moscow Region. Inexpensive products 32-33 classes with a large selection of collections.

• Kronostar. Another German-Russian company operating since 2002 in the Kostroma region. The products are distinguished by the use of classic locks for easy assembly. The brand's products are distinguished by a small amount of design and the same size range. As a plus, buyers point out an optimal price-quality ratio. The disadvantage is the presence of marriage in batches, an unpleasant chemical smell.

You can install laminated panels as a wall covering in almost any room of the apartment. In the bedroom traditionally allocate part of the wall at the head of the bed. Warm wooden laminate will create comfort and harmony in the room. Sheathed laminated walls in the bedroom can be further isolated from the noise using a batten. Also in them it is easy to hide the wires and sockets from the lamps.

In the interior of the living room with the help of panels, you can visually change the dimensions of the room. When installing boards vertically the ceiling is visually lifted, and horizontally - the space expands.

The corridors in the apartments are usually quite narrow. Therefore, adhesive laminate mounted on a concrete wall is a good way to avoid additional reductions in space.

When buying material for a child's room you should opt for a colored blackboard with a drawing. Since the child is very active in their games, it is necessary to purchase a high-end product with a durable coating, this will help avoid damage. All modern models have safety certificates, so nothing threatens the health of children.

Very often, balconies in modern apartments are insulated, electricity is carried out there and heated floors are installed. Thus, a separate room for recreation is created. On these loggias, you can use laminated panels of good quality. When finishing the curved walls use a crate that allows you to put an additional layer of insulation.

Easy installation method makes it possible to perform all the repair work with your own hands, which eliminates the extra costs during the repair.

There are several basic recommendations for laminate wall finishing:

• Before installing, leave the laminate for a couple of days in the room where it will be used. During this time, the board adapts to the external environment, which eliminates the deformation of the assembled canvas;
• When installing it is necessary to leave gaps of 1-2 centimeters around the perimeter of the wall;
• Laying should start at the bottom left corner of the wall;

• If the doorway is decorated with dobory, they must be removed;
• For additional moisture insulation seams need to be treated with sealant;
• It is better to fasten the boards on the floor, and put the finished shield against the wall and fasten it entirely;
• The panels are mounted with a small run-up, so the material is worth buying with a stock;

• For the decoration of the walls there is no need to choose an expensive coating, the load during use will be minimal;
• Do not neglect the components, they will help to create the finished look of the room;
• When choosing a laminate you need to consider all the features of the room.

You can find out how to lay laminate on the wall in the next video.