Interior design options
A wide selection of laminated products allows you to bring to life completely different design ideas for rooms.
For example, the use of laminate in the hallway as a finishing material for walls will improve sound insulation. This material is perfectly cleaned of traces of dirt, which is very important for the corridor. Laminate corridor cladding has become popular because of the durability and wear resistance of the material.
In the corridor, you can highlight separate zones using different shades or create a contrast between the wall and the ceiling. As a rule, the entire walls are not sheathed with laminate.
If you decide to finish the walls with laminated panels inside the balcony and loggia, then you need to remember about humidity and temperature drops. Therefore, you should opt for a laminate with an increased resistance class. They can completely sheathe all walls, or they can be combined with other finishing materials.
Another original solution is to use laminate trim at the head of the bed in the bedroom. In the bedroom, you can use material of any class, since there are no strong temperature changes.
The material will look harmonious if you choose textiles for the bedroom of the same color. The decoration of one of the walls with a white laminate combined with a light brown flooring looks beautiful. Installing lighting on the wall at the head of the bed will also add zest to the interior.
Laminate, moving from wall to ceiling, will transform such an important place in an apartment or house as a bedroom.
In the living room in the apartment, the use of laminate for wall covering is also widely used. They can allocate a certain part of the room, or, for example, only an area for a TV and a fireplace. The living room looks elegant, in which laminate and other coatings, such as stone, are combined. Gray shades of aged wood can be used.
A wide range of laminated panels makes it possible to use them in the bathroom. Due to constant humidity and temperature fluctuations, it is recommended to give preference to a waterproof laminate. Absolutely any color palette can be used in this room. An interesting option is to highlight the shortest with a laminate bathroom wall.
Laminate attic finishing is the best solution
Most often this is an unheated room, therefore it is important to lay thermal insulation when installing the walls. If you install the backlight in the panel, then, in addition to the interesting decor, it will be additional lighting of the attic room.
In case you have chosen laminate wall decoration in the kitchen, then you should opt for panels above the 23rd class. There are a huge number of design options in the kitchen. You can buy a stone or wood finish. Usually in the kitchen, a kitchen apron or one of the walls is distinguished by sheathing. You can also decorate the finished coating with accessories, for example, a clock or a painting.
For information on how to lay laminate on the wall, see the next video.
Advantages and disadvantages
For most people, the idea of using laminate flooring for wall decoration will seem out of the ordinary. However, if you study this issue in detail, then laminate wall decoration will undoubtedly have a number of advantages.
Aesthetically pleasing appearance. Laminate is similar in texture to real wood, which gives the finish a certain charm. In addition, it is an environmentally friendly product and is suitable for lovers of natural materials. Because of this property, the material can be used to decorate a bedroom, children's room or guest room.
Thanks to a special manufacturing technology, the laminate perfectly retains heat in the house and has soundproofing qualities. Reduces the amount of incoming noise and suppresses most of the outgoing noise.
Durability. The wall under the laminate has a very long service life, it is resistant to scratches and accidental damage. The material is able to maintain a presentable appearance for a long time.
Easy care will be a nice bonus. The basic rule is to wipe dry from water. Otherwise, there are no restrictions. From above, the material is covered with a lash, which does not allow soap and dirt particles to settle. Thanks to this, the laminate is very easy to put in order in case of contamination.
Such wall decoration makes it easy to divide the space of the room into certain zones. The ability to install the material yourself is another undoubted advantage. Plus, wall-to-wall laminate flooring won't be too expensive. Large selection of colors and shades. There are both woody colors and absolutely atypical ones.
Like any material, in addition to the positive qualities of the laminate, there are also disadvantages. Be sure to read them before buying and decide if they are important to you.
A way out of the situation can be an extractor hood with increased power. It will not allow moisture to accumulate in the room, maintaining the necessary microclimate. This will protect the laminate flooring and maintain its attractive appearance and long service life.
Installing laminate flooring with assembly adhesive requires a perfectly smooth surface. There should be no irregularities, bumps and slopes of the wall.
Laminate is not the thinnest material. Please note that after installation on walls, the size of the room will decrease slightly, which makes it unsuitable for very small rooms.
The material is difficult to tolerate sudden temperature fluctuations. But the laminate is one of the few materials that is impregnated with special means in case of fire. It burns poorly and does not produce chemicals hazardous to life or health when exposed to elevated temperatures. In this it outperforms the cheaper plastic panels.
Wall decoration with laminate: where the material can be applied
A feature of the laminate is its layered structure.
A high-quality material has a dense and resistant to external influences coating, usually moisture or water resistant (depending on the class of the laminate), however, the use of lamellas in very humid or too warm / cold rooms is not rational. It is even more risky to mount it in the kitchen, bathroom, balcony / loggia - where the fluctuations in temperature and humidity are large and sharp.
Laminate on the wall in the interior is considered acceptable:
- bedrooms;
- children's;
- living room;
- cabinet;
- libraries;
- office;
- hallway.
At the same time, it is undesirable to mount the material with a solid surface; it is better to use it for finishing certain areas.
The most justified laying of laminate on a wall that is often exposed to friction, accidental impacts, frequent touches - for example, the wall above the head of the bed, adjacent to the stairs.
Surface requirements
Fastening the laminate to the wall requires certain conditions to be met:
- the absence of irregularities, bulges, depressions, cracks and other defects on the surface. The permissible irregularities are up to 1 ... 2 mm, the same applies to level differences along the entire wall - 1 ... 3 mm per 1 m;
- sufficient hardness and surface uniformity, especially in the case of adhesive mounting. For this installation method, it is necessary to carefully level the wall and prime it.
Before starting the installation, the wall is checked for verticality and the absence of form deviations. The first parameter is checked with a level or plumb line in several places. If the position of the wall does not coincide with the vertical, it is necessary to mark the most protruding point of the surface and measure the deviation.Irregularities are detected using a rule - a long straight strip or strip, which is carried out several times over the entire surface horizontally, vertically and obliquely. The detected valleys and protrusions are marked.
Surface preparation
In order to properly level the surface for mounting the laminate on the wall, it is worth using the method of plastering on beacons. It is not necessary to apply a thick layer of plaster, it is enough just to compensate for all irregularities and deviations in shape.
An easier and faster way of leveling is to cover the walls with laminate on the lathing. In this case, it is possible to arrange the lathing directly on the wall, compensating for its irregularities with linings under the slats or by cutting them off. The convenience of this method lies, among other things, in the possibility of sound and thermal insulation of the wall using insulating materials laid in the crate cells.
A modified version of laying the laminate on the wall with your own hands - installation on sheets of plywood fixed on the wall. The sheet material can be attached to the lathing, over the insulation, or directly to the wall using the glue method. With sufficient thickness, plywood partially "smoothes" the unevenness of the surface to be faced and dampens sounds, reduces heat loss.
DIY styling options
There are several options for placing panels on the wall, and they depend not on the installation technology, but on the selected shade, texture and technical parameters. The lamellas can be arranged horizontally, vertically or diagonally.
Horizontal
Stopping at the option of horizontal finishing, you need to lay the material in such a way that the joints form a single line. It is closed with baseboards and fixed on the wall with dowels. For fasteners, you need to pre-make holes through the panels themselves.
Horizontal stacking is highly complex and not always reliable. In order for the finish to be of high quality and the laminate to stick firmly to the wall, it is recommended to cut the strips before laying. This will distribute the load on the fasteners evenly.
Vertical
There are several ways to lay the laminate vertically on the wall, if you install it with an adhesive solution on a dry base. Using long panels as the main panels and residues of various shades as complementary, the following styling options are available:
- At the bottom, the strip is laid out with complementary lamellas, and the main material is mounted to the upper edge of the wall. Plinths are placed on horizontal and vertical joints.
- The main panels cover the lower part of the walls, and a whitewashed strip is left on top to create a laconic visual effect.
- A dark strip of complementary lamellas is placed in the center of the wall and decorated with skirting boards. Pictures and other interior items can be placed on the strip, which will look original in the interior.
Diagonal
Laying diagonally opens up a number of design possibilities. If the panels are placed non-standard, but with an offset to a certain angle, then the diagonal placement may correspond to the principle of parallelism to the light rays.
Most often, diagonal installation is performed in small hallways, since the masonry visually expands the space. This option looks spectacular in the room and gives uniqueness to the given style.
Advantages and disadvantages of laminate wall decoration
When working with laminate, the following positive characteristics were determined:
- The product is environmentally friendly. It is produced by both foreign and domestic companies. It can be safely used in a children's room without fear of any harmful effects.
- Durability, and if you follow certain rules, you can withstand the ideal condition of the laminate for several decades.
- The cheapness of the material. For many, the determining factor when choosing a material for finishing is cost.Laminate is inexpensive in comparison, so you can save money when working with it.
- A wide variety of color palettes. The variety of textures provides room for choosing a suitable option for decorating rooms.
- No need to hire workers to install laminate flooring. All work can be done independently, without the involvement of specialists. The main thing is to familiarize yourself with all the features of the work and strictly adhere to them. Even a person who was minimally involved in repairs can do everything.
However, there are some disadvantages that you should be aware of before using the material. The main negative trait is a strong susceptibility to moisture
After careless spilling of liquid onto the surface, the material may swell and crack. It is worth taking care of such a coating or finishing only in rooms where the laminate will be constantly dry
The second disadvantage is considered to be a high susceptibility to temperature changes. High temperature especially spoils the appearance.
Not the best solution would be to decorate the walls of the balcony or loggia, basement. Even the best laminate flooring will not be able to withstand unsuitable operating conditions for long. In such places, the use of lining or MDF will be optimal.
Wall decoration with laminated coating
Wall panels can be fixed vertically, horizontally and diagonally. However, it is worth remembering that each position has its own difficulties in installation. Much depends on the skills and experience of the installer.
The spacer wedges leave small gaps in the corners, at the floor and at the ceiling. This space will later be closed with baseboards and will not be visible to the prying eye. Fastening is carried out using dowels. Additional fastening with a plinth will reduce the load on the laminate, the strips of which are held together. It is worth laying the panels with a "comb" to increase the strength of the cladding.
Fastening the panels start from the left corner, which is opposite to the entrance to the room, then continue working clockwise. This will make it more convenient to attach all subsequent elements.
Before finishing the walls with laminate, it is necessary to correctly calculate the amount of material. To do this, you need to multiply the height of the wall by the width and add 10 percent. These percentages will allow the material to fit in the corners. Further, depending on the number of stripes and the idea, the surface is cleaned and leveled for an adhesive look.
For other types of laminated flooring, it is necessary to make a crate. It is made from metal profiles or wooden slats. They are attached to the wall with self-tapping screws in 35 cm increments. They should be mounted perpendicular to how the laminate strips will be installed. Very often, fastening systems are included with the material.
Laminate wall cladding always starts at the top, regardless of area. From the ceiling, you need to measure 15-20 millimeters under the baseboard. When installing the glue type, you need to apply glue to the panel, hold for about a minute and continue installation. The panels are fastened to the crate with clamps or nails. For greater reliability, all panels can be glued. After installation, the skirting boards are attached, which will give the structure a more aesthetic look.
Popular colors and textures in 2019
There are trends not only in the world of style and beauty, interior design is also subject to fashion trends. Sometimes this is due to the release of a new finishing material, and sometimes simply due to a very popular design project.
Laminate imitating natural wood.
Fashionable and popular shades of laminate this year are as follows:
- red-brown - they perfectly mask dirt, but do not allow the floor to become commonplace;
- light brown - these colors are combined with any shades of the rest of the interior;
To lay the laminate in the corridor, you need an absolutely flat surface.
- dark deep tones are impractical in the corridor, but if the hallway is huge and there is an opportunity to regularly clean it, it is worth the risk;
- gray and white shades - will create a cool but stylish finish.
It must be remembered that the material for the entrance zone must be highly resistant to moisture and high strength.
The classic wood remains a hit among the textures. Moreover, the laminate imitates not only the pattern of different breeds, but also their texture.
Visually, this technique will make the floor in the hallway original and special.
Ideas for using laminate flooring in various styles (photo)
Surprisingly, laminate panels fit into different styles:
If you want to shade the country style, then select a darker texture. Preference is given to imitation of logs, boards with a pronounced wood structure, natural timber
With the predominance of high-tech style in the room, they pay attention to glossy material options.
For modern classics, imitation of light noble wood will be most suitable.
In the eclectic style, various textures and the most unexpected shades can be used.
It is important to observe organic matter and not to be too variegated.
Functionalism. The complete opposite of minimalism style
A combination of different elements of several styles of interior design and a large variety of decorative highlights.
The neutral walls of the living room will be diluted with a laminate with a natural wood texture
Light and laconic Scandinavian style living room interior
- In a room decorated as a Swiss chalet, a laminate with imitation of walnut and ash will look good. If preference is given to a pleasant, elegant Provencal style, then light, discreet colors of the finish will be required, for example, under bleached oak.
- Muted accents look organically in the Japanese style, which allow to emphasize minimalism in the overall solution of the interior, elegance and restraint. More than three shades should not be present here. Preference is given to gray.
The color and texture of natural wood in the interior will transform any room
Darker tones of laminate on the wall are best used in spacious rooms.
Pop art style, tending to maximalism, dynamism, audacity, allows you to pay attention to the laminate with green splashes, blue background. Such material will be in good harmony with the bright pattern of creative furniture.
With an avant-garde interior solution, you can use juicy shades in wall decoration
Achromatic black and white options will also fit.
For the Art Nouveau style, beige or mustard tones are selected. If possible, use vegetable imitation.
The modern version of the art deco interior assumes broken lines, therefore, the laminate is selected with a similar solution.
Interesting design of a large living room with natural finishing materials
Eco style is popular with people of all ages and interests. Natural materials, natural plants and flowers soften the bustle of the city environment
Mediterranean notes in the interior design are combined with matching bluish, purple hues. Possible imitation of pebbles, sand.
Hallway design solutions
Laminate flooring is usually placed under the wood on the floor of the hallway, and manufacturers offer a wide range of these products. In small darkened hallways, it is better to use a light laminate, which will visually expand the space. It can be bleached oak, maple, beech or ash. Dark laminate is best used in hallways with good lighting and a large area. For small rooms, it is worth combining a dark floor with light walls. It is better to use a moisture-resistant laminate on the floor, since cleaning is done here more often than in other rooms.
Laminate wall decoration is an endless field for design fantasies.The classic version of panels with a height of 1-1.2 meters is very practical for the hallway. The laminated surface will not only be distinguished by its beauty, but also by its practicality. She is not afraid of accidental mechanical damage, and the moisture-resistant surface is easy to clean. Wallpaper and decorative plaster are perfectly combined with the laminate located at the bottom of the wall.
The complete decoration of the hallway with laminate is an effective technique, in this case, collections that contrast in shades are used on the floor and walls. Part of a large hallway can be finished with a laminate of the same color, while creating the effect that the floor rises to the wall and tends to the ceiling. Such solutions are typical for modern styles in interior design.
Which laminate is suitable for wall decoration?
When choosing a laminated coating, first of all, they are guided by what kind of load it will be subjected to. And if we take into account that there are practically no loads on wall structures, then you can safely purchase 21 classes of material. It is designed for floor installation in sparsely populated areas and has a low cost.
In hardware stores, they offer three types of laminate: glue, sheet pile and click. Which one is most suitable for finishing wall structures.
- The adhesive type has smooth edges. It is installed on a leveled surface using liquid nails or construction silicone. Most often, this type of coating is used when installing floors. This is due to the fact that the adhesive laminate has a small contact area with the surface, and this does not allow it to be installed on the batten.
- The tongue-and-groove type is equipped with a special tongue-and-groove lock. It is suitable for finishing all surfaces of the room. It is attached using staples - clamps or small nails.
- Click-through laminate is also suitable for decorating walls in the kitchen, hallway or bedroom. The cladding made of this material is characterized by increased strength, reliability, and resistance to deformation. It is attached to the walls with glue and small nails.
Modern manufacturers offer laminated panels in various colors. You can also purchase a laminate with a pattern applied to it or imitating other materials. For rooms decorated in a classic style, an oak or mahogany finish is suitable. In rooms in a modern style, it is recommended to use panels imitating stone, metal, ceramic tiles.
In the photo gallery you can see a wide variety of interior design options using laminated boards. It is not necessary to decorate all walls completely with laminate. The photo shows that other design options for wall surfaces will look beautiful. For example, in the hallway, the covering is sometimes laid only on the lower half of the wall; in the bedroom, only the area at the head of the bed is made out.
Laminated panels in decor
When choosing a laminate for a bathroom, it is necessary to take into account all the features of this room. All surfaces in it are exposed to a high level of exposure to water and steam. That is why it is worthwhile to focus on panels with waterproof characteristics. Such material will cost a little more, but it will retain its properties for a long time and give the room originality.
Almost any panel is suitable for the kitchen. The location and area of finishing completely depend on the idea of the designer. In most cases, an apron is sheathed in the work area. It will look harmonious if the panels overlap in style with flooring or furniture.
You can use laminated panels for living room decor as you like. The main condition will be a harmonious combination with the general interior of the room. They can visually enlarge the space or give it warmth. You just need to play the plot correctly.
In bedrooms, it is very common to decorate the wall behind the head of the bed. This will add organic and practicality to the bedroom.As an addition, the wall can be decorated with paired lamps or a large painting.
Laminate wall decoration in the hallway is very practical. Since the entrance hall is a room that is very much used, it can be completely sheathed with such panels. They will not rub and fade like wallpaper, keeping their original appearance for a long time.
Design ideas: what kind of laminate will decorate the hallway
Opinions and reviews are completely different, so such flooring as laminate can delight some and completely disappoint others.
So, in addition to the color scheme: from dark tones to light tones, there are all kinds of drawings on boards or laminate squares, for example, imitation:
- Wooden covering;
- Ceramic tiles;
- Natural stone;
- Crocodile skin.
The last type of drawing is quite difficult to meet.
It is important to remember that a combination of different patterns is also possible, which will also look good and unusual. As mentioned earlier, laminate flooring is not a big hassle.
The main thing is to remember that before installing the coating itself, you need to properly prepare the floor, namely, lay the substrate.
Before laying the underlay, you need to clean the floor covering up and down from dust and dirt, and only after that you can proceed to installing the underlay.