Modern, varied methods of interior design make it possible to use laminate not only on the floor, but also on the wall. At the same time, this type of coating is quite original in combination with wallpaper, plaster or decorative painting of walls.
Currently, there is a large variety of finishing materials for wall decoration.
This article will discuss the main pros and cons of using laminate as wall finishing, basic tips on the mounting method and choosing the shade of the panels.
More recently, finishing walls with laminate seemed strange and wild to many people.
What is laminate?
Laminate is considered a floor covering that has proven itself well. The material consists of 4 layers:
- A substrate, which can be chipboard or solid wood.
- The pressed paper is impregnated with a special mixture, which makes it waterproof.
- The decorative layer is also paper, but has a characteristic embossing and color. This is the main layer that determines the appearance of the material.
- The protective layer is lamination. It is transparent and reliably protects the decorative layer from damage.
Laminate flooring at the head of the bed is an original decoration for the bedroom.
Eco-friendly bedroom with beautiful brown laminate wall
Even the smallest class 21 laminate can be installed on a bedroom wall. Since this room will not be subject to strong mechanical and thermal influences.
Features of the material
Currently, designers are increasingly choosing flooring materials as finishing materials. Laminate flooring for walls in corridors today is often installed in apartments and private houses. This is an interesting option that offers many design possibilities.
Laminate flooring is now available in a variety of colors and textures, as well as many other properties. It can give your living room a unique and interesting look. Before starting work, familiarize yourself with the main features of the material. This is necessary in order to avoid mistakes.
You can experiment. You can choose different types of laminate or cover the surface with panels of the same type. Layout patterns may also vary. The choice depends only on the preferences of the home owner. In addition to natural wood, laminate can imitate many other coatings.
This could be stone, leather or other decorative surfaces.
Advantage of finishing
Pamel is durable - you can hit it on a surface, and it does not leave marks.
The finishing material does not absorb moisture - its structure is quite dense, without pores. In addition, during the production process, the slabs are covered with an additional protective layer.
It does not require special care - a simple detergent is enough. But don't overdo it, because it's best not to leave the surface too wet and soapy.
Although the material is made from inorganic raw materials, this does not affect its environmental friendliness.
It's easy to install - you can even make it yourself.
Flaws
flaws:
- the cost is higher than for panels;
- due to the heavy weight of the material, it requires a stable substrate and reliable fastening;
- suitable for finishing rooms with constant low humidity levels; the material does not tolerate temperature changes.
Laminate for all walls - arrangement rules
Source: //yellowhome.ru
Basic rules that apply when arranging laminate walls in the bedroom:
- It is better to retreat 3-5 centimeters from the ceiling;
- the ceiling plinth looks good if its color and texture match the design of the ceiling;
- the flooring and ceiling should be decorated in the same color and style.
When using this technique, you can arrange niches, install built-in or wall shelves, which are made to order or finished with laminate. This will add coziness and create original accents for furniture that connects with the walls.
Combining coatings
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Matte paint and decorative plaster, especially Venetian, go well with laminate. Moreover, the texture can be embossed or lightly patterned, but it is better to be careful with glitter, glitter and glossy surfaces in general.
Dark laminate goes well with colored dark walls if you decorate only part of the area with it. It is recommended to leave a distance on top and on the sides of the area to be covered with laminate (it is painted over with the main paint, for example).
Two types of dark laminate on a light main background go well together. They can be placed opposite each other. One is textured, the other is smooth. Both should be approximately the same color.
Furniture and laminate
Source: //happymodern.ru
If you install white or equally dark furniture against a wall covered with a dark laminate, the combination will be good. Colored interior items are rarely combined with this design.
Modern style, minimalism, hi-tech - all these design solutions can be implemented in the arrangement of the bedroom. Wenge shades are suitable - their range is wide, from light to the darkest.
Color combinations
Before you start finishing work, think about future moves and the color palette of the room. Neutral tones pair best with wood trim. However, even bright colors can go well with laminated walls.
Yellow
Another combination that exudes warmth and naturalness. Here you can go two ways - create contrast, for example, using an industrial concrete ceiling, or create a warm and natural interior. In the first case, a lemon-yellow shade and a laminate with a gray-beige texture are suitable.
For the second - mustard, honey for accent walls and curtains and chocolate-colored wood. Both have the right to exist in modern styles.
Red color
Fiery red color is quite active, attracts attention and creates an accent. Therefore, choose a floor of very calm shades.
In the kitchen, this could be a laminate flooring that imitates natural wood, a warm brown color that echoes the table, chairs and floor of a similar shade. Add a casual accent with pendant lamps above the table and an original poster.
In the bedroom, red should be used sparingly. Use white as a base and then add some red and gray elements such as laminate flooring and pillows.
Green color
The texture of wood with greenery is ideal for eco-style. Choose a laminate with a pattern that is as close as possible to natural wood, this is the only way you can achieve the desired effect. Let the light in - hang light curtains or beige blinds on the window and fill the room with the charm of enchanting white.
When it comes to decor, everything is very simple. Animal images on posters, pillows, photographs, along with a large bouquet of wildflowers or indoor plants can create the feeling that you are in a wooden house surrounded by a beautiful forest or meadow.
White color
Shades of white combined with wood create a perfect, light and airy duet. The interior looks very natural and clean.
Depending on your wishes, select the temperature of the color combination. This can be a warm color scheme - use milky colors in combination with light wood. This design will fit perfectly into a Scandinavian-style room.
Or you can go the other way - rely on unavailable white and wood colors with a gray undertone. If you want to decorate your bedroom this way, be sure to add soft, textured fabrics to make the room feel cozier.
Design ideas in different styles
To design the bedroom walls, you need a laminate that will harmonize perfectly with different finishing styles. This includes strict and elegant classics, slightly sloppy country, as well as Provence.
The demand for this material is explained by its low cost, because for finishing walls you don’t have to purchase panels of the highest level of strength, which are used for the floor.
Nowadays, building materials stores sell a wide range of laminated boards. Varieties of material differ in styles and colors.
This material does not release toxic or harmful substances to human health. In fact, laminate can be used to create durable and harmless bedroom floors for adults and children.
Directions for board placement
Is the direction of laying laminate important or not? Similar to a natural board, this material can influence our perception of a room.
Not only the height of the walls and the square footage of the room, this can be significantly changed.
Diagonal arrangement
This approach allows you to lay laminate flooring in any room. This is a tedious and uneconomical method as it requires precise calculations and cutting the material at an angle.
Only a master with sufficient experience can lay laminate flooring beautifully. This method is rarely used in decoration.
Horizontal and vertical installation
Horizontal method. The joints form a single line, which should be covered with a plinth and secured to the wall with a dowel. Skirting boards should be located at a distance of no more than 1.5 m from each other. To make the floor durable and distribute the load evenly, cut the laminate into strips before starting work.
When laying slabs horizontally in the interior (as in the photo), the room will appear wider, and when installed vertically, it will appear taller.
Vertical method. Laminate flooring on the wall is laid vertically on a flat surface using glue; there are many layout options; you can combine leftovers from different batches and colors to create a unique interior design.
Tools for working with laminate
Source: //dekoriko.ru
If you are going to install laminate on the walls yourself, you will need to stock up on the following types of tools (you can discard some or replace them with simplified versions of available tools):
- Jigsaw. Necessary for trimming elements. You need to trim to fix it in the corners.
- Files can replace a jigsaw. They are more difficult to use; the endings may not be particularly smooth without experience in the construction industry.
- Hammer. It is used to achieve a certain level of penetration, as well as to level the surface, to achieve fastening in hard-to-reach places.
- Wedges for adjusting and creating indentations.
- A tape measure and a pencil are needed for changes and markings.
- Plastic block for tamping.
- Staples for padding panels.
- A hammer drill, a hacksaw, a corner cutter, a drill are tools that simplify the work of installing laminate flooring.
Laying laminate flooring is easy. It looks good in the bedroom, lasts a long time, but is not extremely durable if you buy a thin coating.
Decoration and decoration of walls
You can make wall decorations yourself or have a professional do it for you. It's your choice, we just have some ideas on how to do it.
Black and white
The classics of the genre are white decorative plaster or matte wallpaper and black laminate. This combination is always winning. The floor can be lined with long-pile fabric, and the headboard can be upholstered in leather. There are many possible combinations, but if you want to choose white laminate flooring for your bedroom, then black or dark brown will suit you.
An interesting option is to lay long sections of laminate vertically, so that there is a gap between them. The material should preferably be light, but the walls should be darker. If you place the spotlight correctly, the effect will be amazing.
Black will highlight, creating an even flow of light on black fabric, while white will give a cool and balanced effect.
A highlight in the light
Lighting can be varied. There are several popular options:
Installing classic lighting away from the wall where the laminate is laid. This is especially important when using non-solid materials. In the case of a solid pastel color, wall sconces installed in pairs are suitable.
A wall light can resemble a lamp or a candle. Another option is spotlights placed horizontally at the edge of the ceiling.
If the laminate is laid on a recess, then the spotlight is placed vertically on both sides of the recess. Such lighting will attract attention and optically enlarge the bedroom, creating a feeling of spaciousness and comfort.
One wall
What types of bedroom designs are suitable for laying single-color laminate flooring on an entire wall:
- predominance of one color;
- Maximum three colors;
- Avoid installing large chandeliers close to the wall;
- The main wall design should contrast with the shade of the laminate (dark-light or light-light);
- the ceiling and wall selected can be the same as the floor and wall;
- The smallest wall or the wall adjacent to the head of the bed is usually finished with laminate.
If you decide to highlight only one part of the room, it is best to start from the top. Ceiling plinths are not used.
Decorative vinyl laminate
Vinyl (PVC) is an excellent decorative material that can be laid on the surface of absolutely any room. It is moisture resistant and self-adhesive.
Panel
To add variety to the design, you can make a wall panel from laminate. You can play with colors. The panels can be laid lengthwise or crosswise.
Behind the sofa
The wall behind the sofa can be accented with laminate. It is ideal for accentuating a room and making it the main point of interest.
How to beat the decoration in the hallway?
The corridor is a space without natural light. And for this reason, it is wrong to lay dark-colored material there. Choose light colors to add light and coziness.
And you don’t have to cover the entire wall completely. Sometimes decorating one niche or section of the wall is enough - for example, to zone a room or allocate space for shoes.
Photo: Instagram metrix_design
Photo: Instagram metrix_design
- Hallway
Design of a small hallway in Khrushchev: secrets of proper design
Ideas for using laminate flooring in various styles
There are a surprising number of ways to use laminate flooring in a variety of styles:
If a country style is required, a darker texture is chosen. Preferred are imitation logs, boards with a clear wood texture, natural beams
If the room is dominated by high-tech style, then pay attention to options made of glossy materials.
For modern classics, the most suitable material is imitation of light noble wood.
For an eclectic style, you can use different textures and the most unexpected shades. It is important to be organic and not overdo it with show.
Functionalism. The complete opposite of minimalism.
A combination of different elements from several interior design styles and a wide variety of decorative elements.
Bright and laconic living room interior in Scandinavian style.
- In a room decorated in the style of a Swiss chalet, laminate flooring with imitation walnut and ash will look good. If preference is given to a pleasant, sophisticated Provence style, then light, unobtrusive colors are needed, for example, bleached oak.
- Japanese style is characterized by muted accents that help emphasize the minimalism of the overall interior design, elegance and restraint. There should be no more than three shades. The preferred color is grey.
The color and texture of natural wood in the interior will transform any room.
The pop art style, which tends toward maximalism, dynamism, and boldness, allows you to pay attention to the laminate with green splashes on a blue background. This material will go well with the colorful designs of creative furniture.
If the interior is avant-garde, you can use rich shades in wall decoration. Achromatic black and white options also work well.
For a modern style, you can use beige or mustard tones. You can also use imitation plants.
Modern Art Deco interiors are characterized by sinuous lines, so choose laminate flooring with a similar pattern.
Eco-style is popular among people of all ages and interests. Natural materials, living plants and flowers calm the bustle of the city.
Mediterranean style interior design accents are combined with matching blue and purple tones. Modeling of gravel and sand is also possible.
Is installation possible in the bathroom?
A question that causes a lot of controversy. After all, laminate is an artificial tree. And it is no less afraid of large amounts of moisture than natural ones - which is typical for toilets and bathrooms.
However, the use of this material in the bathroom is still possible. If several conditions are met. The first is good ventilation. Today there are modern sensors that turn on the fan when the humidity level reaches a set point. And the second condition is accuracy. You still can’t pour water on the laminate, so in the bathtub or shower area it’s better to choose wood-look porcelain tiles.
Photo: Instagram iceramic.moldova
Photo: Instagram iceramic.moldova
Laminate in the interior - fashionable and practical
Thanks to the unique design qualities of laminate, it can harmoniously fit into the walls of any room if you choose the right shade and fastening.
A laminate wall becomes an accent in any room and attracts a lot of attention.
Living room
Any room can be transformed thanks to the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of laminate flooring. As in any room, you can use inlay to create an accent wall or small area. If your apartment has a modest living room, panels in light wood tones will help to optically enlarge it.
If you use your imagination, you can use several different types of panels, both in color and texture. This will make the design more complex and interesting. Typically, laminate is used for the TV area or the main sofa in the living room.
Kitchen
Laminate on the wall in the kitchen interior can be used as an accent wall and an apron on the countertop, which will protect against splashes and is easy to keep clean. The color should match the kitchen facades. To highlight the dining area, you can make a dark wood laminate wall.
Children's
With the help of light panels decorated with wood, you will give the property of young owners more light and warmth.
They also help tone the space. You can secure them in the crib area or designate an area for play or work. Since children love bright colors, laminate flooring with colorful inserts and prints will also help decorate the room.
In general, the texture and shade of the material for this room varies greatly, and how it looks depends on the overall design concept and the chosen color scheme.
Hallway and corridor
For the hallway, choose panels that differ from the color of the floor. The ideal choice should be a light or medium shade of wood, which will make the interior look warm and cozy. If you want to make dark walls, make sure that they are combined with large mirrors so as not to “steal” precious meters of the already narrow space.
For the same reason, you can use glued laminate, fixed directly to the concrete floor. A great idea is to build a recess for a small seating area, a shelf for shoes or a bicycle.
Bedroom
Laminate on a bedroom wall can be used as an insert above the head of the bed. If the bedroom is large, you can cover the entire wall with laminate and whitewash it, hang colorful accessories and framed photographs. A laminated wall at the headboard in the color of the bed will create a cozy atmosphere.
The photo shows an example of an interior with walls and floors finished in the same color. It looks impressive and creates a sense of timelessness.
Bathroom and toilet
Unfortunately, people still don't take laminate seriously as a material that can be used in areas with extreme temperatures.
The high level of humidity in bathrooms causes justified skepticism - and in vain, because in any hardware store you can always find a waterproof laminate floor that will serve faithfully for many years and delight the eye with perfect harmony with the rest of the interior.
Decorating a balcony or loggia
Laminate floors have become a standard element of the interior of balconies. It protects the wall insulation from moisture and can be used for balcony shelves and enclosing balcony cabinets. This is a great option if you are using it as an office.
Laminate flooring in rooms with panoramic windows
Large panoramic windows should not be framed with laminate - such finishing is best placed on the wall. For rooms with panoramic windows, you should choose brown panels that look like natural wood.
Laminate on the walls can be used if the bedroom has painted or glossy doors and large metal objects.
Glass or mirrors should not be placed next to or in front of a pamellato wall, and it is also not recommended to place this type of decoration in front of a panoramic window. Reflections in glass or glossy surfaces will reduce the beauty of accents in the interior. It is also better to decorate the ceiling in a bedroom with panoramic windows with a matte canvas.
Advantages of finishing a bedroom with laminate
Some advantages of this material can be highlighted:
- durability. It is durable and wear-resistant, not susceptible to mechanical stress;
- environmental friendliness. Does not emit harmful substances that affect the human body;
- hygiene. Mold and mildew do not appear on the surface of the laminate;
- ease of care. To care for it, just use a damp cloth;
- soundproof. It is recommended to install laminate in apartments with thin walls, which will increase their soundproofing properties;
- ease of installation. Repairs can be made without resorting to the services of specialists;
- wide price range. The stores offer options of varying prices - from fairly cheap to expensive, which depends on the strength class of the laminate;
- huge selection of colors and textures.
The buyer can choose from samples of various colors and patterns (wood, stone, brick), which allows the use of various stylistic trends in the bedroom interior: classic (slats in natural wood shades), country (imitation of natural wood, lining), Provence (laminate in pastel colors ), in the Art Nouveau style (bright colored panels, varnished).
The possibility of zoning the room is important. By finishing part of the room with laminate, you can achieve the effect of dividing the space into zones without walls. This finishing option is suitable for studio apartments or bedrooms combined with a living room or study.
All these positive properties of laminate allow it to be used in a residential area, including the bedroom, children's room, and living room.
Vertical laminate visually increases the height of the bedroom
Types of laminate
Laminates vary in abrasion resistance class and pattern, as well as in the type and texture of the surface of the top layer on the panels. It is important to choose the right option for each floor. There is no universal solution for all interiors and premises.
By surface type
Laminate planks, depending on the number of “boards” in the lamellas, are divided into:
- one lane;
- two stripes
- with three stripes;
- multi-band;
- tile (stone).
There is no direct relationship between the number of stripes and the width of the plate. It all depends on the idea of the designer of a particular collection.
Laminate floor structure
Wide single-lane strips work best in large open spaces. Laying a laminate with such a structure more than 20 centimeters wide in a room of 10-15 square meters is not recommended. It will not look good on such a floor, especially if it is filled with furniture.
Planks with three or more stripes resemble narrow parquet boards of different shades. They are ideal for small rooms and corridors. Their two-way counterparts are a versatile choice for medium-sized living rooms, bedrooms and kitchens.
By design and surface structure
The texture of the surface layer of the laminate can be different:
- Classic - matte wood feel and lacquered finish;
- Corrugated - imitation of wood texture with a relief surface;
- Glossy, semi-gloss and matte (with wax coating);
- With or without chamfer.
If you want something natural and authentic, grooved laminate is the way to go. The texture of the wood on it is not only visible in all its glory, but also felt by bare feet and hands.
The choice between glossy and matte surfaces is more a matter of personal preference for the homeowner. Some people love gloss and shine in their interiors, while others definitely don't like it.
The beveled edge gives the laminate planks the appearance of massive parquet planks. This makes the floor look more chic and interesting than a simple beveled version.
If you are laying laminate on a base that is not perfectly level, it is better to choose a laminate with a chamfer along the entire perimeter of the board. This way, unevenness will be less noticeable.
By wear resistance class
Depending on the strength and degree of abrasion resistance, laminated boards are divided into several quality classes, which can be identified by markings.
Numbers 21-23 indicate that these products are intended for use in low traffic residential areas.
Classes 31-33 indicate the high level of abrasion resistance offered by laminate floors for use in public buildings and high-density apartments. This is the most durable floor covering and is usually purchased as a topcoat.
In the case of wall cladding, it makes sense to save money, since the load on such finishing is much lower. As a result, class 21-23 is best suited, and if such a product is not available, you can choose boards with a protection degree of 31.
Boards of domestic or European production are considered the most reliable. However, it is better not to buy Chinese ones, as they contain a high content of harmful substances. Good quality lining from the USA, but too expensive.
Advantages and disadvantages
Laminate is a relatively inexpensive and accessible material that will cost much less than real wood panels. At the same time, it is in no way inferior in quality to them if you choose the right wear resistance class. Even outwardly, it is quite difficult to distinguish a high-quality laminate from the wood under which it is made.
Decor
The collections of major manufacturers delight with a variety of shades and textures. In addition to the classic wood-look laminate, there are entire series of stone, masonry, monolithic colored coatings and other interesting solutions.
Wear resistance and insulation
Wear-resistant laminate is a practical coating that does not require complex maintenance, unlike natural boards. It can be wiped with a regular cloth and polished with special products.
Finishing walls with laminate improves the heat and sound insulation characteristics of the room. And if necessary, there are special moisture-resistant, fire-resistant and impact-resistant collections.
Application
You can even handle laminate installation yourself thanks to convenient locks. Of course, when laying a coating on a wall, there are some nuances regarding laying laminate on the floor. But even this can be dealt with if you approach the issue carefully and carefully.
Laminate is a lightweight material, compared to heavy types of wood, ceramic tiles or natural stone. Due to this, it does not overload the base and can even be used to cover decorative plasterboard structures.
Flaws
When laying laminate, the wall must be perfectly flat and without drops, otherwise you will need lathing. The material is sensitive to humidity and temperature changes, so only specialized series are suitable for kitchens and bathrooms. Such cladding requires space and takes up valuable centimeters, which is why it is not the best option for small rooms.
Laminate types
Laying laminate on walls is carried out in several ways, depending on the type of material.
Sheet pile
For this method, a laminate with a tongue and groove connection is suitable, which connects the panels to each other. No glue is used and joints must be clean and dry. The slats are connected to each other using tongues and grooves, similar to slatted panels.
The panels are fixed to a special wooden sheathing installed earlier. For this, small nails or staples (paper clips) are used. The latter can even support laminate panels on a metal backing.
Tongue and groove laminate is often used as wall finishing
Clicky
This is a modern laminate of improved quality with an improved locking mechanism. The installation principle is similar to that of tongue and groove installation. When assembled, the panels are tilted approximately 20°, aligned and snapped into place. To ensure that adjacent panels are pressed tightly, they should be lightly pressed against each other.
Glue and small nails are used to attach the panels to the wood structure.
This type of laminate is more modern and easier to use. Buy laminate in small, low-density panels. Such panels will be easy to install.
Adhesive
These panels do not have special locks, and after fixing, the slats are connected by edges next to each other. Finishing requires a flat surface, since even small errors will lead to installation errors. Laminate floors are attached using liquid nails or special glue.
The reverse side of the slab is stitched with a zigzag stitch, then applied to the wall and pressed. Removing stripes can be difficult and panels do not always remain intact. Sometimes the wall surface itself can be damaged.
The most common laminate flooring is a flexible vinyl laminate with an adhesive backing.
Installation of laminate with glue or screws
A vacuum cleaner is used to clean the wall surface, then a primer is applied to the base. If the walls are made of wood, laminate boards are attached with self-tapping screws. Otherwise, if cement plaster is used, adhesive is applied. Thermal insulating material can be used as a primer; it will perform a shock-absorbing function and hide irregularities.
Information! Laminate can be glued if the wall surface is sufficiently smooth.
The weight of laminate flooring should not be underestimated, so after pouring, underlayment should be applied to the wall to ensure better adhesion between the adhesive and the laminate flooring. It is important to give the glue time to weather so that it has time to “set”; if this is not done, the panels may move under the weight of the upper rows.
