Sometimes you get tired of boring renovations in your apartment, and you really want to change something. At the same time, there is often no desire to do major repairs. Self-adhesive film for different surfaces will help transform and change the interior of your apartment beyond recognition. The types of this material and their varying structure allow each owner of an apartment or house to transform it according to personal preferences and tastes.
Types of material by structure
Self-adhesive film for walls, furniture or door leaves varies in type and structure. The basis of such material can be polyester, polyvinyl chloride, propylene. Preference should be given to self-adhesive film suitable for the type of surface on which the material will be attached.
There are the following types of film:
- Consisting of one layer (single-layer). The composition of such a film includes multicomponent mixtures, PVC, and also contains resin and plasticizers. The drawing is created using pigments and stabilizers. All components are mixed to obtain a homogeneous mass. Then heat treatment is done, after which the composition is formed into a thin film. The hardness and properties of the finished material depend on how many plasticizers are added.
- Consisting of two layers. For such a film, separate sheets are produced, one of which is the base and the other the cover. The base can be made of fabric or paper. And the cover is made of resin and plasticizers with the addition of pigments to color the surface. The fabric of such a self-adhesive film is more flexible and easier to use, and its durability and strength are slightly lower than those of a single-layer film.
It is important before choosing self-adhesive film for furniture, doors, walls, to decide on its intended purpose. The service life of the material and its appearance directly depend on this issue. Reviews from people who have used both types of materials say that single-layer film is more durable.
Types of material by surface type
In addition to the fact that self-adhesive film differs in structure, it also comes with different types of surfaces. Each option has a different appearance and is suitable for different rooms. The following types of self-adhesive film are distinguished by surface type:
- Matte. Best suited for bright rooms with good lighting.
- Glossy. Due to its structure and appearance, such a film will ideally fit into rooms on the shady side of the apartment.
- Mirror. This coating is perfect for rooms with any level of illumination. And mirrored self-adhesive film will look especially great in small rooms.
- Self-adhesive transparent film is used when decorating glass surfaces.
- Holographic film will create an incredible effect and an interesting solution in interior design.
It is worth first thinking about what type of coating will be optimal for a particular room. This directly determines how effective and bright the interior transformation will be.
Common mistakes
Those who are faced with gluing film for the first time often make the same mistakes.
Firstly, before purchasing film, you need to take accurate measurements of the furniture being restored and calculate the required material. Taking into account the fact that self-adhesive is sold by the cut, it is better to include additional centimeters in reserve in the calculations.
The choice of film in construction stores is large, you will definitely find the right option.
Secondly, the preparation of the surface to be glued must be carried out taking into account the material from which it is made. If it is enough to wipe a plastic surface from dust with a damp cloth, then wood products must be cleaned and sanded.
You should not remove the protective layer from the self-adhesive immediately, especially if you plan to cover a large area. It is better to do this gradually, step by step, not forgetting to moisturize the film itself and the product being pasted with a soap solution.
Thanks to the canvas, you can realistically recreate a marble or stone pattern, as well as imitate natural tiles.
In order to smooth the film over the surface of the product, use a roller, silicone spatula or a dry cloth without using any physical effort. Under no circumstances should you pull the film with your bare hands - this will only lead to tearing it. It is impossible to glue a torn film.
Scope of application
Self-adhesive film has a wide range of applications. Therefore, it can be used in different rooms and on different surfaces. This material is most popular for the following missions:
- Pasting kitchen furniture.
- Self-adhesive film for bathroom furniture.
- In the hallway, film is also used to decorate various surfaces.
- Some types of film are used to transform the space in the bedroom, as well as decorate furniture.
- A variety of printing on self-adhesive film allows you to transform interior items in the living room beyond recognition, creating an incredible effect. The room takes on a completely new look.
- Often, self-adhesive film on a door, bedside table and other interior items advantageously decorates and makes a child’s room bright.
It is possible to use such material in almost any room of an apartment or house. The main thing is that the colors and type of material are chosen correctly. Based on the reviews of those who have already used such material, one can understand that after pasting the surfaces of the room, they take on a different look.
Color spectrum
When choosing a laminating film, you must take into account what color or texture it has. The choice of color depends on what kind of furniture needs to be covered, in what room it is located and what kind of furnishings need to be made in the room. When choosing colors, certain recommendations are taken into account:
- if it is necessary to cover items located in the children's room, then they must have bright and interesting colors or designs, as they must appeal to children;
- For a bedroom or living room, cut-to-length material with a brown or beige color is perfect;
- Glossy film for furniture is even available in textures that imitate natural wood or other expensive and specific materials, and these are most often used in the kitchen.
When choosing self-adhesive films and their colors, the painter who acts as the owner of the premises must additionally take into account his own preferences when creating a color scheme.
The advantages of such material when transforming an apartment
Self-adhesive film has many positive aspects. This is stated in numerous reviews from those who used such material to transform their nest. From the responses we can conclude that the film has the following advantages:
- Affordable price. This allows you to decorate and transform the interior of a room for little money.
- A large palette of colors, which makes it possible to bring any design ideas into reality.
- Also in reviews you can find stories that the film allows you to extend the life of interior items and protects coatings from damage.
- Significant savings that allow you to give pieces of furniture a new look without buying an expensive set.
- The material has a good structure that easily takes on the impact of moisture and temperature changes without losing its appearance.
- Does not require hiring specialists. Self-adhesive film can be used independently for its intended purpose.
- Despite the low price of the material, it is of high quality.
- Adhesive film has a wide range of applications. It can be used in a variety of rooms in an apartment or house.
"Self-adhesive" for furniture
Thanks to the fact that printing on self-adhesive film can be done, it is possible to transform both entire furniture and decorate individual parts of an interior item. It is important to do the following before you start gluing the surface of the furniture:
- Clean the surface from dirt.
- Remove moisture from the coating.
- If necessary, rub the surface to remove protruding particles.
This preparation will help to attach the film perfectly, without bumps or blisters.
It is important to glue the film slowly, carefully attaching every millimeter to avoid the formation of unevenness.
Questions and answers
How to remove old film?
Usually the old film is easily removed from the surface. If the glue sticks very tightly, you can remove it with a scraper; if necessary, the surface can be polished.
What can be used to degrease surfaces other than alcohol?
Any organic or non-organic solvent can be used, but care must be taken that the solvent does not affect the top layer of the furniture.
How long can such a film last?
On average, film can last for 2-3 years without loss of external qualities.
Is it safe to use baby film?
The film should only be of high quality. Poor quality materials may release unsafe compounds.
How to wash film to remove dirt?
Only with a damp cloth using regular detergents. Aggressive agents can damage its surface.
How to glue film to different surfaces
Depending on the type of coating to which the film will be attached, some rules should be followed:
- It is important to prepare the surface before starting work.
- Then you need to measure the size of the sheet that will be attached to the furniture or wall. Usually the film has markings indicating centimeters and meters for ease of use.
- It is better to stick the film from the top of the covering. Having fixed a piece of canvas exactly, move smoothly downwards, leveling and erasing bubbles, not allowing air to remain under the film.
The correct sequence of actions and accuracy when gluing surfaces will help to qualitatively and brightly transform the space of the apartment.
Useful tips
To prevent the transformation process from being spoiled due to incorrect actions, you should follow these tips:
- If the coating has noticeable roughness, you should first apply a primer. This will create a perfectly flat surface, thanks to which the film will be fixed neatly.
- To glue the film, use a soft towel made of natural material.
- In order for the canvas to fit perfectly, you should leave a margin of three centimeters on the segment.
- If the sheet of self-adhesive film has patterns, then cut the piece along the outside.
- It is worth choosing the color scheme of the material, starting from the overall picture of the interior. This will create a harmonious and cozy atmosphere in the room.
- It is important to carefully consider what type of material to purchase. This will make the transformation durable and of high quality.
Decorative self-adhesive film will allow you to easily transform your space. It will not require a lot of money and will decorate the interior favorably. It is worth paying attention to this option for changing the space and furniture in a house or apartment.
Restoration of facades with decorative film
The appearance of the kitchen largely depends on the cladding of the facades. If your kitchen has smooth doors without a relief made of chipboard, then they can be easily covered with vinyl film.
Updating kitchen MDF facades with convexes will be easier if you use an industrial hair dryer. Only a well-heated film can take the desired shape. If there are decorative details on the facades, they must be removed before pasting.
Replacement of the old film is carried out only after removing the previous layer. Remember that decorative film is only applied to prepared surfaces.
It should be taken into account that in production, MDF film facades pass through a special press, which makes it possible to obtain a smooth surface without flaws. At home, MDF can only be covered with self-adhesive.
