Linoleum in the interior: how to choose, photo

Surely for most of us the word “linoleum” does not evoke the best associations. Naturally, because a picture pops up before your eyes: Soviet brown linoleum with an unpresentable seam on a felt backing. Plus, it’s too old, since it’s unlikely that anyone will immediately remember its original appearance.

However, modern linoleum has nothing in common with the Soviet one. And for many designers, such flooring is indeed one of the most convenient, practical and no less attractive materials. We advise you to take a closer look at it.

And yet, which linoleum is better to choose and what do you need to know about it?

Varieties

Linoleum is distinguished by thickness, protective layer and susceptibility to abrasion. According to these parameters, linoleum is divided into three main categories - household, commercial and semi-commercial:

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Household linoleum is the most inexpensive option. It is quite thin, but this does not affect the quality of the coating in home spaces, where the load on the floor is not so significant.
The commercial (or industrial) type of linoleum is most often used in halls that involve large crowds of people, offices, institutional corridors, and shops. The material is the most dense, can withstand maximum loads, is resistant to abrasion and the weight of objects. However, its price is significantly higher, so this type of linoleum is not suitable for an ordinary apartment.
Semi-commercial linoleum is a cross between household and commercial material. This option will successfully justify itself in the living room of a house, where crowded companies often gather, or in the reception area of the boss’s office.

Manufacturers

When choosing a floor covering, you should pay attention to the country of origin. The best linoleum is made in:

Hungary. In the manufacture of the material, a calendered coating is used, which increases heat and sound insulation;
France, where special attention is paid to the aesthetic and technical characteristics of linoleum;
Slovenia. A distinctive feature of the product is the presence of a protective layer. Slovenian linoleum has increased wear resistance.

Decorating with wood is a universal option.
Light linoleum for laminate, given the existing shortcomings, is often the best option. Proper design creates a harmonious atmosphere. Proper selection of color and surface type allows you to achieve positive results and perfectly arrange the space of the room. A suitable light floor can decorate, add light, and visually expand any room in the apartment.

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Material composition

Linoleum also has significant differences in the composition of the materials used:

Thus, household linoleum is most often made from fiberglass, which is then covered with a thick protective film.
Polyvinyl chloride in linoleum is usually used in several layers and provides increased strength of the material. This linoleum does not require perfectly flat surfaces for installation.
Linoleum based on foam materials is quite dense and flexible, and is an excellent heat and sound insulator. Thanks to the thick protective film, there are no dents left on it from heavy objects.

Each type of material must be accompanied by documentation detailing its composition. To those indicated above, various compounds can be added to provide additional strength, layers of material for insulation and rigidity, coatings to reduce slipping, brightness of colors, antibacterial and antistatic substances.

Care Tips

The instructions for caring for white linoleum are the same as those for a similar coating of any other color.

But there are also some peculiarities.

Linoleum with a smooth coating is easier to clean, but it is slippery . On a textured surface, debris and minor unevenness in the floor are not so noticeable, but it is more difficult to clean.
Immediately after installation, it is advisable to apply a protective layer of special mastic to the material , creating a durable thin film on the surface that prevents mechanical damage and increases wear resistance. And update this layer as necessary. It is enough to do this once every 3-4 months.

Design

In modern conditions of flooring production, choosing a linoleum design can be quite difficult. Therefore, before embarking on an exciting journey through colors and decor, it is worth deciding on your own view of interior design and identifying priorities.

After all, no matter how beautiful the design and color of the flooring may be, it must be in harmony with the atmosphere of the room, with its purpose, with the walls and pieces of furniture.

How to choose by color?

Ornament, warmth and brightness of shades, surface texture - let’s try to understand the main subtleties and nuances of the variety of products offered:

light shades of the flooring visually expand the space. This also applies to canvases with diagonal patterns;
dark colors give respectability to spacious rooms if they contrast with light walls;

The linoleum door ensemble looks stylish. Linoleum under wenge doors in a room with light walls will be an excellent frame for a classic style. Light tones of the floor covering, continuing in the color of the doors, will also become a kind of highlight, adding completeness to the idea of the interior, if we are talking about strict compliance with respectable styles;

dark furniture stands out brighter on light linoleum, and vice versa;
Rich ornaments and bright colors of linoleum are good for a plain, calm wall surface. If both walls and flooring are brightly decorated, the space risks turning into a multi-colored box. Such a design will overload the space and tire the eye;
for the southern direction of the apartment, cold shades of linoleum are preferable, and for the northern direction - warm ones;

the glossy smooth surface creates an atmosphere of solemnity of the ballroom, but in bright sunlight, stains, dust particles and scratches are best visible on it;
a matte finish with a rough texture is unpretentious and can hide minor imperfections in the floor.

Glossy floor - use in design

Glossy linoleum - original and stylish

Gloss gives a chic and prestigious look, does not overload the room, and does not require decoration. Already in itself it is a decoration.

Reflecting the surrounding space, gloss visually enlarges the room. The price for such an original coating is relatively high and not everyone can afford it.

Despite its external vulnerability, the gloss is durable and reliable. Its only drawback is that marks remain on the linoleum, and it must be washed using special products. Some products have additional protection against scratches.

Laying such linoleum with your own hands without damaging it is difficult and it is better to entrust the job to a professional. This is especially true for light shades - they are easy to get dirty during installation work.

Linoleum can be an excellent alternative to laminate. It is stronger and warmer to the touch .

For lovers of natural textures, you can choose flooring that imitates oak or ash. Preference can be given to light colors.

Laminated linoleum is good in this situation - it is more durable and scratches do not appear on its surface longer. It is protected by an additional film, which also adds gloss.

How to choose?

The design of linoleum is determined by its purpose for a particular room:

Hallway . For a hallway, linoleum in dark, discreet shades with a rough texture and a pattern of small ripples is best suited. Such a coating will maximally mask the room into which dirt is brought from the street or entrance. The choice of color will be absolutely justified in the autumn-spring period, when traces of shoes remain, despite all the efforts of the housewife to ensure cleanliness.

Living room . The choice for the hall can be very diverse, depending on your preferences and the dimensions of the room. Brown color or any shades that imitate noble wood species are perfect for elegant styles (classic, art deco, modern). Bleached oak linoleum will look no less luxurious. This option is suitable for a spacious living room, in combination with dark or, conversely, bright, rich shades of furniture and curtains.

If the living room is spacious and requires a lot of space free from furniture, then glossy shiny linoleum will give the room solemnity and elegance.

Kitchen. Perhaps the most diverse choice of linoleum belongs to the kitchen. Here you can not take into account the severity of the style, the appropriateness of the color and structure of linoleum. The only guideline can be the color scheme of the wall cladding and kitchen units.

The combination of light and dark shades must be observed when one of the parts is dark. That is, for a light beige kitchen set, you can choose both light and dark shades of linoleum. But dark or bright walls and furniture require a light floor covering so that the room does not look gloomy or oversaturated.

Materials stylized as marble, stone, or tiles are also suitable for the kitchen. Wood or straw linoleum will create a warmer atmosphere. There are options for sawn logs or wicker basket designs.

Bedroom . Options for the bedroom are no less varied, it all depends on your personal perception of color and the overall style of the room. Even if a specific style is not expected in the bedroom, you can adhere to the basic rule - combination with wallpaper will provide a harmonious environment, will not disturb the eye, and will allow you to rest peacefully.

For example, cream wallpaper with an unobtrusive coffee pattern will be perfect for linoleum under white parquet. Or a pastel range of wallpaper in blue, pink, light green, lilac tones.

Children's room. Bright colored linoleum sheets will look good in a nursery. They are not too easily soiled and color perception will be useful for the child. It can be a light covering with multi-colored geometric shapes, or delicate tones that softly repeat the color of the crib or desk, or a three-dimensional drawing of fairy-tale characters.

Again, consider the balance between the intensity of the colors of the walls and the floor so that they do not merge and cause ripples in the eyes.

Bathroom. Despite the fact that it is customary to use tiles in the bathroom, in some cases you can and even should prefer linoleum covering. Especially if there are small children in the house. Tiles are a slippery material, and in the bathroom moisture and heat make them even more dangerous.

Linoleum will help prevent possible troubles and will look no worse than tiles. For example, a black and white checkered pattern will add a checkerboard twist to the appearance of an ordinary light bathroom, while a bright 3D pattern can make you completely forget about the flooring material.

Color selection rules

This is an important stage in the repair and decoration of any room. The problem is that if you make standard mistakes, the room design will look cheap and unattractive. Therefore, experienced designers give recommendations on choosing the right shade of linoleum:

overall picture of the design - before buying linoleum, you definitely need to imagine the final version of the finish, for this you can think through and visualize the object yourself or order a 3D model of the room from a specialist, this service is quite expensive, but the result of the repair and furnishing will be ideal;
exquisite shades and unusual texture - so that the flooring does not look cheap and does not spoil the overall style of the room, it is important to choose a product with an interesting texture, for example, imitating natural parquet or having an unusual ornament - the floor should become a real decoration of the interior;
personal preferences - the selected material must be liked by all family members, only in this way will harmony at home be achieved.

It’s better not to make hasty decisions and go to several stores offering light-colored linoleum. First, choose several options you like, and only then resort to sorting what you liked the first time.

Beautiful ideas in a modern interior

Recently, 3D coating has begun to gain popularity, that is, a coating with a three-dimensional three-dimensional image and, most often, with a certain colorful plot. These can be all kinds of animals, fish, birds, the seabed, waterfalls and fields of flowers. The fantasies of authors and designers are limitless, and modern technologies make it possible to bring them to life.

In addition to the fact that such linoleum literally looks amazing indoors, it can visually enlarge the space. For example, a three-dimensional image of an abyss or whirlpool visually expands the boundaries of the room, creating a feeling of additional volume.

The calmer design of an aquarium with goldfish produces the same impression. And in the bathroom you can create a completely unique atmosphere using a marine theme.

That is, the space in the drawing turns out to be the real space of the room, visually enlarging it. A pattern on 3D linoleum can also divide a room into functional zones.

For more information about the features of choosing linoleum, see the following video.

Create a discussion on the forum

Do not consider linoleum imitating wood, tiles, stone, etc., as an imitation of these materials. Linoleum is not used as an imitation. It's just his drawing. Very decent flooring. I prefer to use commercial or semi-commercial tarkett for home use. And the price is no cheaper than laminate. Doesn't smell at all.

For lovers of porcelain stoneware, cover it with linoleum. Just put it on top.

In response to the opinion: “And linoleum for apartments is usually too thin, it tears and pierces much more easily than the same Soviet one.”

I thought so too, and then I learned from a consultant that the thinner the linoleum, the more resistant it is to “piercing” and the appearance of holes - the smaller the height difference with “spot” pressure. The secret of strength is in the properties of the protective coating - it should be of the highest quality and thickest possible (but this thickness is millimeter, not centimeter).

It is the thick base that creates the possibility of deformation and tearing from furniture legs and heels. So preference should be given to thin linoleum (but of high quality).

PS In my opinion, the article lacks an analysis of the technical characteristics of different linoleums.

I learned from a consultant that the thinner the linoleum, the more resistant it is to “piercing” and the appearance of holes - the smaller the height difference with “point” pressure.

Consultants will lie about three boxes just to sell the most lame product.

This may be true in theory, but in practice it is quite the opposite.

The thinner and softer the linoleum, the easier it is to pierce through if there is a wooden floor or rough screed underneath it, i.e. in the most typical cases. There is room for a sharp object to go deeper through the linoleum - the wooden floor is pressed through, the screed has irregularities and holes.

Expert opinion

Mikhailova Maria Vasilievna

Furniture store manager. Knows everything about comfort and interior design

And if you pierce the linoleum with furniture, and then try to move the furniture, there will immediately be a tear, a large torn gap in which dirt will collect.

Leaky linoleum will also lose its moisture-protective properties, the wooden floor underneath will begin to rot, moisture easily penetrates there and does not evaporate for a long time.

Soviet linoleum was very hard and over time it hardened even more, turning into hard PVC, because there were no good plasticizers in the USSR. Modern linoleum, on the contrary, only softens over time.

Advantages and disadvantages of linoleum

Construction stores offer collections of linoleum from different brands. They are different in structure, purpose, specialization, not to mention shade and design. The parameters vary, but the properties of the coatings, which determine their general advantages and disadvantages, do not change.

A variety of modern linoleums help solve any design problems. The material is surprisingly varied in surface type; There are glossy and matte, smooth and embossed, rough, plain or patterned options. Collections are produced with imitation wood, paving stones, and parquet. Premium varieties reliably imitate laminate, tile, and natural stone.

Coating with imitation tiles for the kitchen

Knowing the strengths and weaknesses of a material will allow you to understand how suitable it is for a particular room. The coating is valued for the following qualities:

Versatility. The material can be used without restrictions in premises of any purpose and of any size.
Pleasant value for money. The cost is determined by the composition of the canvas and the external design.
Wear resistance. Depends on the purpose of the material. If the spruce canvas is chosen correctly, it retains its original appearance and performance characteristics for years.
Moisture resistant and easy to care for. The coating repels moisture and is suitable for use in rooms with high humidity levels. Thanks to this feature, wet cleaning using household chemicals is not limited.

In an elegant interior

The following qualities are valuable for construction and repair work

Quick installation. The fabric is available in different widths, which allows it to be laid without visible joints or seams.
High thermal conductivity. The material conducts heat well and evenly; It is convenient to combine it with a heated floor system.

Some features of linoleum can be considered its weaknesses:

Most types of coating contain synthetic components.
An additional protective layer simultaneously increases wear resistance and increases the cost of the product.
The canvas is quite difficult to transport. During transportation it must be protected from deformation and damage.
Budget material has a poor choice of colors; It's hard to make a room truly stylish with it.
If installation rules are not followed, the coating will have uneven joints, and over time it may swell or ripple.

Variety of shades

Linoleum - photo

On this page you will find a large number of photos of linoleums of different types, classes and designs. During renovation, the first priority is the appearance of finishing materials. And because the floor is the basis of the entire interior, then photographs with an overview of linoleum are what you need.

Here you will find many different coating samples, in particular, photos of the interior, an overview of average prices and recommendations for choosing colors.

The influence of color on the psyche

There is an undeniable relationship between a person’s mood and color schemes in the interior. Some tones relax, calm, and inspire. Other shades unconsciously instill panic and have an irritating effect on the psyche. Each color stimulates a specific area of the brain and pituitary gland. The latter formation is responsible for the release of hormones that affect metabolic rate, sleep, libido, appetite, and emotional stability. A person depends on what surrounds him. Even a staunch optimist will begin to feel depressed when spending a long time in a room with an abundance of gray and black.

Interior view

Modern technologies have reached such a level that now linoleum can almost completely imitate other coatings, such as laminate or tile. Take a look at the photo of linoleum from above - at first glance it seems that laminate or boards were laid on the floor, but this is exactly linoleum.

The cost of such a coating will be much cheaper than its analogue - on average about 500 rubles per 1 m 2. The price is quite affordable. Black linoleum as in the first photo goes perfectly with the white interior.

Imitation of noble coatings

Sometimes, even experts cannot recognize at first glance what kind of coating it is, therefore, in most cases, laminate can be replaced with linoleum without compromising the appearance of the interior. In houses and apartments you can use both household and semi-commercial linoleum.

As you know, commercial, non-commercial and household coating options are available for sale on construction markets. Because Since our site is primarily designed for the renovation of private apartments and houses, we will only consider household linoleums, photos of which are widely presented on this page.

How to care for such a coating?

One of the advantages of this coating is that it is easy to clean. But it’s not easy to sweep, as dry dust flies to the sides, it’s better to vacuum. Like any floor covering, linoleum requires maintenance and compliance with operating rules. The service life and appearance depend on this.

Do not wash with hot water, this will erase the top layer and over time the coating will lose its luster.
In direct sunlight it fades over time.
You can’t dry it or ventilate it in the cold in winter - it will crack.
PVC-based coatings do not like a lot of water, so when cleaning wetly, wring out the cloth.
Do not use products containing abrasives when cleaning.
If there is chlorine in the detergent, this will have a detrimental effect on the material, stains will appear, and part of the surface will become discolored.

Furniture legs leave dents in the covering; this can be easily dealt with by placing wooden plates under them. Linoleum should be washed with a soft damp cloth. Use only warm water with a solution of powder or soap. There are also special detergents designed for this coating.