Decorative wall decoration will help you create a unique designer design in your apartment. Today, many technologies have been developed that make it possible to approach this matter creatively. To make the interior design exclusive, they use ready-made prints and sketches for drawings in various techniques, decorative panels and mosaic inserts, mirror tiles and synthetic materials imitating wood and stone. The most interesting thing is wall decoration using homemade decorative panels. The self-taught decorator will come to the aid of ready-made ideas from famous designers, master classes by decorators and tips from technologists on decorating walls with modern materials.
Where to start in decorative wall decoration?
You should not start a quality renovation if there is no stylistic solution, otherwise the money will be wasted. Before starting an interior renovation, it is worth considering not only the decision on individual decorative elements, but also deciding which interior style is preferable for renovation:
- Art Deco;
- modern;
- classic;
- avant-garde;
- high tech;
- techno;
- country;
- ecostyle;
- ethnicity;
- historical style.
It’s not difficult to create an original decorative finish for an external or internal wall without much effort. New building materials appear on the construction market every year, which are successfully used for original cladding in residential or non-residential premises. Previously, one could only dream of unusual materials and finishing technologies. Today, everyone has access to marble-effect tiles at the price of regular porcelain stoneware or veneered wallpaper with mosaic inserts in the marquetry style. For example, imitation wood in decorative wall decoration, photo:
Tip: To make a decision on wall decoration, it is important to consider:
- what the modern construction market offers;
- what are the latest trends in fashion for designer decoration and decoration of residential premises;
- what technologists and finishing craftsmen offer.
When using ready-made plastic panels with imitation of natural materials, it is easy to achieve maximum results at minimal cost. For those city residents who are not limited in funds for repairs, there is no need to decorate the walls with decorative panels or cut porcelain tiles for mosaic panels. Wealthy people trust only specialists with Venetian plaster or a multi-level ceiling with stained glass and LED lighting. An interesting effect can be achieved in another way - by experimenting with inexpensive materials and their combination.
The simplest wall decor - stencils
The use of original stencil designs is an excellent solution for those who do not know how to draw, but want to make exclusive decorative wall decoration, photo:
Sketches and silhouette drawings are easy to find, then these outlines are transferred to dense material. By holding the stencil or fixing it on the wall, it is easy to obtain the desired image of any color. Paints can be:
- spray with a spray gun or spray can;
- roll out with a roller with attachments;
- paint over with a wide paint brush or art brush.
Natural materials are also used to create a beautiful stencil design. For example, lightly rolling a roller over a large maple leaf can easily produce a naturalistic impression, including the veins. The contours are outlined by spot spraying paint of a different color. And the maple leaf itself can be impregnated with paints of different colors to get colored leaves.
Using a simple example, it is easy to see that it is very easy to make original decor yourself, without the talent of an artist. It is enough to have desire, good taste and creative inclinations. This method is suitable for different techniques:
- shadow silhouettes;
- recognizable two-color images (Tsoi, Che Guevara, Marilyn Monroe and other cult personalities);
- color template contrasts.
Tip: Use crumpled foil, a coarse sponge, faux fur, and different roller attachments with expressive textures to achieve an interesting effect. In this case, the paint in the stencil gap is applied in fragments.
Other decorating methods for those who cannot draw
There are many techniques to get an interesting drawing without the skills of an artist. For example, together with your child it’s easy to make a fairy-tale tree on the wall for decorative decoration of interior walls.
1. It’s easy to cut out the silhouette of a tree trunk with a hollow and branches from colored paper or cardboard. And it is proposed to draw the leaves using prints of children's palms dipped in gouache. These improvised leaves are then corrected with a brush. And in the hollow you can “plant” an owl printed on a printer. The fairytale tree can easily be supplemented with other birds.
2. For finished images, use the appliqué or collage method, when a small image or a whole panel is laid out from several fragments.
3. Ready-made puzzles are also suitable - the upper part of the picture is folded and pasted on the wall, and the lower part or corner seems to crumble and blow away in the wind.
4. Vinyl stickers, which were purchased at the nearest stationery store, will help you get a finished drawing on the wall. They also decorate furniture and other interior items. The only wish is that the theme of the stickers should match both the style and seasonality.
5. Using volumetric applique from:
- paper;
- thin plastic;
- polystyrene foam;
- cotton wool;
- dry plants, spikelets and other natural materials.
6. Classic decorative wall decoration - photos - framed, in the form of collages or an entire installation. Designers have proposed many original methods for decorating walls with photographic images, including printing enlarged images with industrial prints.
The only drawback is that after some time these elements will have to be replaced, since dust accumulates on them.
Tip: If you are not confident in your ability to decorate walls yourself, first experiment with applique on any other smooth surface. The fragments can be easily secured to the door with double-sided tape to evaluate the results. If it turns out beautifully, transfer the decor to the wall and secure it firmly.
Some people like to change the decor of their room frequently, for example, depending on the season. Then you should not mount the elements on the wall. Then the tree drawn in the children’s room will be able to “grow” with a new “robe” every 3 months:
- young spring leaves with flowers;
- large leaves with summer fruits;
- colorful autumn foliage;
- snowflakes or “cotton” frost.
Attention: An interesting effect can be achieved if the wall is decorated not only with single images, but also with repeating ones. For example, flying butterflies or birds, leaves or snowflakes.
Textured and decorative plaster
Another way to decorate the walls in an apartment is to decorate the walls with decorative plaster. The construction market has many interesting offers for original wall decoration. The method is also good because it solves several problems at once:
- we do repairs;
- getting rid of wall defects;
- updating the design of the apartment;
- decorate the walls.
Tip: This is the final cladding of walls over a prepared surface. But you should not choose this method if the wall being treated often gets dirty. The cellular texture quickly becomes clogged with dust, kitchen fumes and other contaminants.
Not every technology for applying decorative plaster is easy to master for the first time, for example, layer-by-layer “Venetian”, which only a professional can handle. Simpler varieties are obtained “by themselves”, thanks to the special chemical composition and original methods of obtaining a volumetric texture. We suggest watching a video on the technique of working with decorative plaster, which is located at the end of the article.
Decorative panels and mosaics made of broken tiles
An excellent decorative material for wall decoration is ceramic tiles and porcelain stoneware, especially imported ones. For original panels use:
- mosaic soft tiles;
- porcelain tiles imitating marble and gems;
- elite imported tiles;
- cameos and other three-dimensional drawings;
- special decorative inserts;
- broken ceramic tiles for mosaic panels.
Decorative inserts and rosettes are sold in finished form, where a print or relief design is applied to one or more tiles. Looks impressive on a solid wall lined with uniform tiles or porcelain stoneware. Suitable for decorative finishing of walls in residential and non-residential premises. For the bathroom, functional fragments are produced, that is, tiles with a towel hook or soap stand.
A picturesque panel is often used to decorate a wall in an apartment. It can be small in size or occupy the entire wall in the bathroom, hallway or bedroom. It looks beautiful when the theme of the decor has something in common on the floor, walls, ceiling and furniture. For example, picturesque paintings with Japanese cherry blossoms in bloom echo the “open sky” of the stretch ceiling, complementing the exoticism of the country with a mosaic pattern of a geisha on the floor.
To ensure that the decorative canvas fills the entire wall of a large room, special frieze panels are produced, with the main element in the center. Next, the image is complemented by tiles in all directions with or without a specific pattern.
The relief tile panel is not inferior in beauty to the decorative decoration of walls with wallpaper with a 3D effect. Sometimes the volume is so realistic that you want to go down these steps onto a Parisian street or into the forest right from the hallway or kitchen!
These are ready-made images, but making a panel from broken tiles with your own hands is a fascinating process, an opportunity to show your imagination. There are a lot of similar sketches, so you don’t have to figure out where to put them:
- fragments of ceramic tiles;
- porcelain stoneware trimmings;
- ornamental stone;
- fragments of broken colored glass and mirror tiles.
Wall decor with natural and “wild” stone and facing bricks
Original wall decoration with decorative bricks and bare masonry has been used for a long time. In some interior styles this is the main facing material:
- urbanism;
- brutalism;
- techno;
- high tech;
- avant-garde;
- disco;
- minimalism, etc.
Decorative natural stone is the oldest wall cladding known to mankind. But today the synthetic analogue and “soft stone” are most widespread. Some types of such wall decoration are easy to make yourself - based on gypsum or cement mixture, with the addition of pigment and texture inclusions. But the most impressive finishes involve natural materials:
- colored sandstone;
- shell rock;
- marble and granite;
- slate, etc.
Inserts made from cut ornamental stones look very beautiful:
- jasper;
- agate;
- malachite;
- sardonyx;
- chalcedony;
- cornelian;
- milky amber, etc.
Colored marble is an indispensable finishing material, but it is very expensive and is considered an elite cladding. That is why it is proposed to replace it with harder and cheaper porcelain stoneware with a similar texture and pattern. Today it is possible to obtain the most picturesque analogues of rare varieties of marble, the reserves of which, unfortunately, have almost been depleted in most deposits. Now decorating walls with decorative stone of natural origin is becoming a thing of the past, and it is being successfully replaced with a synthetic analogue.
The crystalline texture of natural stone looks great in good lighting, while porcelain tiles fade in artificial light. Decorating walls with artificial analogues is duller, but accessible to most city dwellers.
Decorating walls with plastic and other synthetic materials
Affordable price tags and ease of installation are the main reasons for the displacement of natural materials by artificial analogues. The most commonly used wall cladding is:
- natural wood and its replacement;
- mirror and plastic panels;
- non-woven wallpaper for painting with a voluminous decorative pattern or jacquard fiberglass;
- original rolls with a texture imitating fabric, suede and leather.
Decorative panels made of plastic with imitation of natural materials are affordable, easy to install, clean or wash. Laminated “wood-like” plastic looks good, and it cannot always be distinguished from wood. It harmonizes perfectly with natural parquet and woodwork.
Finished wall panels are mounted on the prepared surface. This finish simultaneously serves as decoration and insulation, and also hides some wall defects. From fragments of cut plastic panels you can also lay out panels and mosaics on any theme.
Covering the walls with wallpaper or painting them in a single color are finishing solutions that have already become traditional. But what if these options seem boring and outdated? We offer an impressive way to decorate walls that have not yet become boring.
1. From the ceiling to the wall
Intricate stucco molding is rarely able to fit into a modern interior. But ceiling rosettes mounted on the walls and painted in their color look very trendy. A wall with such decoration becomes a real highlight of the interior.
2. Eco-style
Decorating walls with cork is not yet very common. This is most likely due to the widespread belief that cork is an impractical material. But this is not true at all. Modern cork panels are resistant to negative external factors, such as humidity and mechanical damage.
3. Fresh press
Paper on the walls in the form of wallpaper is a common solution, so the idea of decorating with newspapers will not be shocking. But keep in mind that newsprint is thinner, so after drying we recommend covering the wall with a protective varnish.
4. A little brick
A wall completely lined with bricks is found quite often in modern interiors and has already become a little boring. We offer an alternative solution - to lay only part of the wall with bricks. This finish harmoniously combines with snow-white plaster, creating an interesting game of contrasts.
5. Reliving vacation memories
River or sea pebbles are a reliable and durable material for wall decoration that is easy to work with. Using small stones, you can lay out either an entire wall or a separate section of it, for example, the area of a kitchen apron.
6. Cheap and cheerful
If decorating walls with natural wood becomes a serious blow to the family budget, we recommend that you pay attention to other options. For example, finishing walls using OSB boards. But be careful: in order for the interior to look creative, you will have to carefully think through all its details. Otherwise, there is a high risk of crossing the boundaries of good taste.
7. Soft walls made of eco-leather
Eco-leather wall panels look truly luxurious. But in order for the interior not to look too pretentious, we recommend paying attention to non-standard colors. Eco-leather panels will look modern in laconic interiors.
8. Tension… walls
The practice of finishing with tension walls is not yet very widespread. They are a canvas mounted on a frame. The advantages of this finish are high installation speed and the ability to apply any image in decent quality.
9. Brutal finishing with large stones
Large stones are rarely found in wall decoration, although they look more impressive than small ones. In order for such decoration to really decorate the interior, we recommend laying the entire wall with them, leaving free space between adjacent stones.
10. Exquisite shine of glass
Glass panels can have a variety of colors and textures. Therefore, choosing a model that will harmoniously fit into the interior will not be difficult. Often, glass panels are mounted on top of a wall with another type of finish, such as brick or stone. This allows you to create an impressive 3D effect in the interior.
11. Soft inner light
This type of finishing is technically difficult to implement. But the result is really worth the effort. Light sources, for example, LED strip, are attached to the wall. Then, at a short distance from them, there are wall panels.
12. Paint + 3D panels
In the vast majority of cases, 3D gypsum panels are sold in white and are used for finishing in their original form. But when painted they look much more interesting. In addition, the process of their harmonious integration into the color scheme of a particular interior is facilitated.
13. Everything is the other way around: frames... in the image
A wall covered with bright wallpaper can be filled with identical frames from floor to ceiling. This way, many different paintings will appear on the wall, all united by a common plot.
14. Democratic plastic
Plastic wall panels are usually not pleasing with aesthetic characteristics, and are perceived as a material for temporary wall decoration. Therefore, we recommend spending a little more time than planned and finding high-quality plastic panels. Then the chances of creating a dynamic and stylish interior will increase significantly.
15. Plasterboard structures are not always bad
Complex wall structures made of plasterboard are a finish that most designers condemn. But there are examples when plasterboard in the interior looks stylish. To remain within the bounds of good taste, we recommend that you consult with professionals when choosing a design shape.
16. New in the world of finishing materials - flexible stone
This material consists of stone chips or a polymer layer attached to a flexible base. Bending stone allows you to recreate the texture of natural stone even on uneven surfaces of complex shape. At the same time, its cost is quite affordable.
Once a general understanding of unusual wall finishing methods has been obtained, you may want to return to familiar and proven solutions. In this case, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with how
Good day! My name is Kirill. In this article I will tell you what types of wall decoration exist. I hope that this article will be useful to you. You can also find many interesting things about renovation and decoration, interior design and our services by going to our official site.
Walls are an indispensable element in a room. They cannot be replaced even with a strong desire. From this we can conclude that the walls should be finished with very high quality, because it will serve its owner for a long time. It is necessary to seriously approach the choice of colors that will complement the overall interior of the room, as well as select professional teams of craftsmen to carry out finishing and repair work. You can also get acquainted with the prices for the design and decoration of apartments and houses in Moscow and Moscow Region by clicking on this links .
There are several types of wall decoration, each of which can be considered separately.
PAINTING
One of the most economical and simplest options for wall decoration is still painting. In addition, it significantly saves time. Depending on the texture, the paintwork can be applied in one or two layers, with a specific stencil pattern, curly and voluminous texture. It is very important to choose the right color scheme, then the room will look more advantageous in the overall interior. Light shades will help to visually increase the space - this can be useful for finishing and renovation work in small apartments. Dark shades, on the contrary, will make the room smaller. When applied to walls, different paints are used. It can be water-based, acrylic or dispersion. Such paints not only provide high-quality results, but also prevent disruption of the microclimate and moisture exchange.
WALLPAPERING
Today, wallpapering is also a fairly common type of wall decoration. No special effort or special knowledge is required here. The main thing is to do everything efficiently, selecting the elements of the drawing, if any. Currently, stores offer a huge selection of a wide variety of wallpapers.
- The standard and most budget-friendly are paper wallpapers, which are unlikely to be applied with perfect quality and an even overlap. Often, some defects still remain.
- Non-woven wallpaper is more common. Instead of regular paper, a special non-woven backing consisting of cellulose and synthetic fibers is used. This type of wallpaper gained its popularity for its convenience and ease of application and subsequent use. In this case, the glue must be applied directly to the wall. There are ready-made wallpapers with patterns, as well as special ones for painting.
- Another fairly budget option is glass wallpaper. Mainly used in office premises with subsequent painting. They are applied overlapping, and then the excess is cut off.
- Vinyl wallpapers are of high quality and an order of magnitude higher in the price category. Their service life is quite long (some manufacturers claim up to 15 years of service) and allows them to maintain quality for a long time. They can be easily washed and various types of cleaning if necessary; the paint does not fade in the sun. Such wallpaper is quite elastic and dense, which ensures reliability and longevity. If you properly prepare the coating and apply wallpaper, the effect of the integrity of the canvas will be visually visible.
- Another very interesting and modern type of wall covering is liquid wallpaper. This is a special solution that is applied to the surface in liquid form. With its help you can get not only smooth walls, but also a certain relief and a three-dimensional pattern without any joints or seams. The solution is environmentally friendly, can be applied and removed without difficulty, holds color well and does not fade in the sun. They can be used in almost any room.
CORK COATING
This coating is supplied in rolls or tiles. It is intended exclusively for finishing the interior surfaces of the room. Manufacturers mainly offer light and dark brown colors, which are closest to natural shades. The most important advantages of cork coating are excellent noise and heat insulation, as well as convenience and ease of application.
DECORATIVE PLASTER
This coating is quite an original and modern finishing option. With its help, all repairs will be quick and easy. It is a special coating with texture. The appearance of the coating depends on the filler of the plaster, as well as the method of application and tools. Decorative plaster has its advantages:
- Moisture-resistant, durable coating that does not lose its color and does not fade in the sun;
- Environmentally friendly, can be used in children's premises;
- A wide range of colors allows it to be used in any interior;
- In addition to its decorative appearance, plaster can be used to easily remove small cracks, unevenness and other defects;
- Resistant to wet cleaning;
- Can be applied to any surface - brick, concrete, foam concrete.
CERAMIC TILES
A fairly common and durable type of wall covering. Often used in the renovation of bathrooms, bathrooms and kitchens. The main advantages are aesthetic beauty, practicality, moisture resistance, convenience and ease of care and washing. Stores offer a wide selection of colors, patterns and even textured tiles for any interior. It can be combined with additional elements, such as borders.
ARTIFICIAL AND NATURAL STONE
Artificial stone is a special facing material that looks very similar to the texture of natural stone. It is made from a mixture of sand and cement, as well as other materials with the addition of dyes. Its application is quite wide - from cladding the external facades of buildings to interior spaces and living rooms. This is a fairly popular and budget alternative to finishing with natural stone, notable for its lightness and ease of installation.
Natural stone is also very common, but it has a higher cost. Walls decorated with natural stone are distinguished by a special warm and noble atmosphere. In addition, a distinctive feature is resistance to external mechanical and atmospheric influences, durability and high performance indicators. Like artificial stone, natural stone can be used as a finishing material for external facades of buildings and for interior decoration. A wide selection of different textures and types of stone gives imagination for creativity and the opportunity to choose the finish to suit any interior.
DECORATIVE PONELS
Modern finishing technologies provide another type of finishing material for walls - decorative panels. They are an excellent solution for kitchens, bathrooms or washrooms. A rich range of colors and different types of textures allow you to choose the necessary panels for any interior. In addition, their use will greatly speed up the entire repair process, and subsequently significantly simplify maintenance and operation. The panels can perfectly hide any uneven walls and other existing defects. On sale you can find this type of finishing from a wide variety of materials: plastic, plasterboard, cork, chipboard/fibreboard, wood and others.
I told you about the main types of wall decoration. More clearly you can see some types of walls made by our craftsmen in our portfolio .
Thank you for your attention! Best regards, Kirill!
October 9, 2016Specialization: facade finishing, interior finishing, construction of summer houses, garages. Experience of an amateur gardener and gardener. We also have experience in repairing cars and motorcycles. Hobbies: playing the guitar and many other things that I don’t have time for :)
Interior wall decoration is an operation that every home craftsman has to face in the process of performing home renovations. Currently, there are many finishing technologies and a wide selection of materials for these purposes, which often confuses people when choosing. To help you understand this issue, below I will try to tell you in detail about the most common modern materials and interior finishing technologies.
First of all, I note that there are two types of interior decoration:
- roughing – ensures the preparation of walls for finishing. As a rule, preparation consists of leveling the surface and removing all kinds of defects;
- finishing – performs a decorative function.
Rough wall finishing
Rough wall finishing can be done in two ways:
- by plastering;
- wall sheet materials.
Each type of finish has its pros and cons, which we will discuss below.
Plaster
Plaster is a time-tested method of rough finishing, which is still relevant in our time. Among its advantages the following points can be highlighted:
- high strength, thanks to which heavy finishing materials can be mounted on top of the plaster, as well as furniture can be attached to the walls;
- low cost - the price of a bag of cement plaster weighing 25 kg starts from 150 rubles;
- wear resistance;
- the ability to use any finishing materials;
- resistance to moisture and temperature changes. Therefore, plaster is an excellent solution for use in the bathroom.
However, plaster also has some disadvantages:
- fragility;
- The process of plastering walls is very labor-intensive. If you turn to specialists for help, the cost of finishing increases sharply;
- the layer thickness should not exceed 50-70 mm.
For these reasons, recently they have been trying to use plaster only where it is really needed. In other cases, a more modern finishing material, such as drywall, is used.
As for the installation technology, it includes several stages:
Preparing the walls consists of removing the old finishing coating, cleaning the walls from dirt and priming. After completing these procedures, work is carried out in the following sequence:
- if the thickness of the plaster layer is several centimeters, a metal mesh is attached to the wall. To fix it, you can use self-tapping screws with wide washers or even dowel nails;
- then the guides are installed. This is the most difficult stage on which the quality of the finish depends..
As beacons, a special beacon profile is used, which is fixed to the wall using lumps of plaster mortar or special fasteners. The main difficulty in installing the guides is that they must be positioned strictly vertically and in the same plane. Therefore, first, the beacons that are outermost from the walls are installed according to the level, after which threads are stretched between them, allowing intermediate guides to be placed in the same plane.
The distance from the corner to the beacon should be 20-30 cm, while the step of the guides should be less than the length of the rule. As a rule, it is 1.5-2 m;
- Next, spraying is carried out - a plaster solution of a creamy consistency is thrown onto the walls manually or mechanically. The thickness of the spray should not exceed one centimeter;
- After the spray has set, the main layers are applied with a thicker solution. The thickness of each layer should not exceed 5-7 mm. In the process of applying plaster, the surface of the walls is leveled with your own hands using a rule that is stretched along the beacons from the bottom up;
- During the process of applying the base layer, metal corners are glued to the outer corners to protect the corners from chipping. Internal corners are formed using a corner spatula;
- the final layer is the covering - this is a liquid layer of plaster, the thickness of which does not exceed 2 mm;
- After the top layer of plaster has set, the beacons are removed, and traces of them are filled with mortar. At the same time, grouting is carried out - the surface is leveled with a smooth trowel, as in the photo above. To do this, the tool makes circular movements.
This completes the process of plastering the walls.
Wall covering with sheet materials
This method of rough finishing has a number of advantages over plaster:
- simplicity and high speed of installation;
- no dirty work;
- there is no restriction on , i.e. you can level even the most crooked walls;
- it is possible to insulate the walls by placing insulation under the sheathing;
- the ability to give walls complex shapes, for example, to create niches, arches, etc.
The disadvantage of this finish is its low strength. True, this does not apply to all materials. For example, OSB boards are a very durable coating.
The cost of these coatings depends on their type:
- First of all, the ceiling and floor are marked for installation of guides, which should be located at the same vertical level;
- then, following the markings, the guide profiles themselves are attached to the ceiling and floor;
- then brackets for PP profiles are attached to the wall, taking into account that the step between them should be 50 cm;
- after this, PP profiles are inserted into the guides, which are then fixed with self-tapping screws in the brackets;
- to increase the strength of the frame, the cross members should be staggered;
- then sheets of drywall are attached to the frame using self-tapping screws;
- then a 5 mm chamfer is cut from the joints of the sheets, after which a sickle mesh is glued onto them;
- after this, the surface of the walls is primed with two layers of acrylic primer using a paint roller;
- then the joints of the sheets and the heads of the screws are puttied;
- after the composition has dried, the starting putty is applied to the entire surface of the walls;
- the hardened putty is sanded with a coarse mesh or sandpaper;
- after sanding is completed, the walls should be wiped and primed again;
- then a starting layer of putty is applied and carefully sanded with a fine mesh.
If the walls of the house are smooth, installation of drywall can be done without a frame. In this case, the sheets are glued with starting putty.
After completing all these steps, the walls are ready.
Finishing the walls
Once the rough finishing is complete, you can begin finishing. There are simply a huge number of options for decorating walls. Therefore, we will not consider traditional coverings, such as wallpaper or tiles, but will touch only on the most modern and popular materials.
So, in my opinion, the following coatings deserve special attention:
All of these finishing and decorative materials have different performance properties, which I will discuss below.
Decorative rock
Decorative stone is the name given to tiles made from natural stone or other materials, for example, gypsum or plastic. It should be noted that artificial stone is practically indistinguishable from natural stone in appearance.
In the interior, such material looks very impressive and modern. Moreover, it can be used for a variety of styles.
True, decorative stone is rarely used as the main material. Usually it is combined with other coatings - wallpaper, plaster, etc., while individual areas of the room are finished with stone, corners, doorways, etc. are highlighted.
Among its advantages, in addition to its attractive appearance, the following points can be highlighted:
- high strength;
- practicality - the stone can withstand high humidity (with the exception of gypsum) and is easy to clean. Therefore, it can be used as an apron in the kitchen;
- easy to install - ordinary tile adhesive is used to cover walls with stone. Moreover, during the installation process there is no need to ensure uniformity of seams and level the tiles. Therefore, even a beginner can cope with this task.
As for the cost of decorative stone, this material cannot be called budget:
Clinker tiles
Another modern material that has recently become very popular is clinker tiles. Let me remind you that clinker is a ceramic material that is made from shale clay using a special technology.
As for decorative qualities, this material is a tile made in the form of a brick. Thus, it allows you to imitate brickwork in the interior.
Among the advantages of clinker tiles are:
- attractive appearance;
- resistance to moisture, detergents and other negative influences. Therefore, clinker tiles are also excellent for finishing an apron;
- durability - the material is able to retain its original appearance for decades.
As for installation, this process looks the same as laying regular tiles. Therefore, to do the job well, you need to have some skills.
Clinker tiles exist not only for walls, but also for floors. Moreover, you can even find kits for finishing staircase steps on sale.
It should be noted that clinker is also a fairly expensive material:
Decorative plaster
Until recently, decorative plaster was perceived exclusively as a facade material. However, in our time there is a fashion for its use in the interior.
It must be said that decorative plaster is not only the familiar “bark beetle”, as many people think. In fact, this concept includes wall coverings of different appearance.
The most common among them are the following:
- marble chips - as you might guess, the decorative coating in this case is formed by marble chips glued together with a binder;
- Venetian plaster - is a glossy coating that looks like marble. It should be noted that applying Venetian plaster is a complex and expensive procedure;
- textured plaster - is an elastic coating that can be given any texture, for example, with a special textured roller.
Like any other materials for finishing walls inside a house, plaster has its own advantages:
- easy and quick to apply;
- You can cover surfaces of even the most complex shapes;
- suitable for interiors of any style;
- the coating can hide small unevenness of the surface being finished;
- can be used in any room, as the coating is resistant to moisture and temperature changes.
As for applying decorative plaster, the instructions most often look like this:
- before applying the composition, the prepared wall surface must be covered with two layers of primer;
- if the plaster was purchased in the form of a dry mixture, it must be diluted in water according to the instructions on the package;
- then the coating is applied to the surface of the walls in a thin layer using a spatula or trowel;
- If the plaster is textured, after its application the texture is immediately formed with a roller or other devices. After setting, compositions such as “bark beetle” are rubbed with mala;
- To complete the work, painting of the plaster may be required. To do this, you can use any interior water-dispersion paint.
The price of plasters depends on the composition of the mixture and the manufacturer:
Liquid wallpaper
When considering modern wall finishing materials for interior work, one cannot fail to mention liquid wallpaper. I’ll say right away that the name “wallpaper” in this case is very arbitrary, since this material is applied in liquid form and, accordingly, is much more reminiscent of decorative plaster.
The composition of liquid wallpaper can be very different. As a rule, it contains:
- cotton and silk fibers;
- cellulose;
- acrylic dispersion, which serves as a binding component;
- dyes;
- all kinds of plasticizers
Due to the presence of silk and other fibers, this coating, after drying, vaguely resembles fabric wallpaper. Hence the name.
As for the advantages, they are the same as those of decorative plaster. The only thing that should be noted is that liquid wallpaper is susceptible to moisture, but it can be reused. In this case, they are soaked and carefully removed from the walls.
To make liquid wallpaper moisture-resistant, they need to be varnished. In this case, their repeated use is, of course, excluded.
The disadvantage of this material is its high cost:
| Brand | Price |
| Silk Plaster | From 130 rub. 1m2 |
| Bayramix Koza | From 1000 rub. kg |
| Bioplast | 250-350 rub. 1m2 |
| Silkcoat | 1100 rub. 1 kg |
Water dispersion paints
Modern finishing of the interior walls of the house can be done with water-dispersion paint. Of course, the idea of painting walls is far from new. Even in Soviet times, the walls of the kitchen and bathroom were often painted, however, the result of such finishing left much to be desired.
Modern water-based coatings are on a qualitatively different level. Among their advantages the following points can be highlighted:
- form an attractive matte, sometimes even silky film on the surface;
- dry within a few hours;
- have no odor;
- There are moisture-resistant water-dispersion paints;
- are tinted, so you can get any desired shade and not waste time looking for the right paint;
- durability is significantly higher than that of oil paints that were used in Soviet times. In addition, water-dispersed coatings do not fade in the sun;
- the painted surface can be repainted without removing the old coating layer.
The disadvantage of this solution is the need for careful preparation of the base. The fact is that even the smallest flaws on the wall become more noticeable after painting.
As for the cost, water-dispersion paints can be both cheap and very expensive:
| Brand | Price |
| LAKRA | 600 rub. 14kg |
| Dulux Easy BW | 1250 rub. 2.5kg |
| Tikkurila euro power 7 | 1000 rub. 1.7kg |
| Tex | 880 rub. 14kg |
Plastic panels
Wall decoration inside a private house or apartment can be done with plastic panels. This is a practical moisture-resistant material, which is usually used for corridors, kitchens and bathrooms.
It must be said that modern plastic panels can imitate different materials, such as:
- tree;
- tile;
- marble, etc.
Thanks to this, they are suitable for almost any interior. In addition, the panels have some other advantages:
- do not require rough finishing of walls;
- easy to install;
- easy to clean
- They are a budget material and yet have an attractive appearance. The price starts from 50 rubles for a panel measuring 3000x100 mm.
To install panels without rough finishing, it is necessary to construct a frame. It can be made in the same way as a drywall frame. The only thing keep in mind is that the profiles must be positioned across the panels.
Often the frame is made of wooden slats. However, this does not change the principle of its design.
As an example, consider the vertical installation of panels:
- U-shaped guides should be installed on the ceiling and floor. Special corner profiles are installed in the corners. The profiles are fixed with self-tapping screws.
Keep in mind that all guides must be level; - the first panel is inserted into the horizontal guides and inserted into the corner profile;
- on the groove side, the panel is fixed to the frame with self-tapping screws;
- then a second panel is inserted, which is connected to the first, and secured to the frame with self-tapping screws in the same way. The entire wall is sheathed according to this principle;
- the penultimate panel is cut lengthwise from the groove side, after which it is connected to the penultimate panel. To tuck it into the corner profile, the outer edge needs to be bent slightly.
If the walls are smooth, you can install the panels on mounting strips and clamps. Mounting strips are attached directly to the wall with self-tapping screws or dowel nails. Clamps are clips that are inserted into mounting strips and secure the panels, as shown in the diagram below.
Here, perhaps, are all the modern finishing materials for interior walls that I wanted to tell you about. Of course, there are a huge number of other coatings, but it is the products described above that are most popular.
Conclusion
All of the above materials and technologies for interior wall decoration have their own advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, each homeowner must decide for himself “which path to take.” In this case, of course, it is necessary to take into account the future design of the room and financial possibilities, since the cost of these materials is also different.
By watching the video in this article, you can gain additional information. If you have not found answers to any of your questions regarding wall decoration, ask them in the comments, and I will be happy to answer you.
Decorative wall decoration is a creative process in all respects. Depending on the type of material and technique chosen, you will need the skills of an artist, designer, painter and builder. Of course, you can hire a specialist who will develop a unique project and bring it to life, but it is much more exciting to become a creator yourself. Let us examine in more detail the main types of decoration, materials for work, their advantages and disadvantages.
Painting the walls
Decorative painting of walls is a worthy competitor to wallpaper, because it allows you to participate in the creation of a background canvas, rather than gluing a ready-made one. In addition, this method of decoration has a number of advantages:
- Paint will last longer than wallpaper.
- The surface will be solid without seams and joints, the formation of which cannot be avoided when using other materials.
- The paint will adhere to any base.
- To re-repair, you will not need to carry out complex manipulations over the old layer of paint, but the wallpaper will have to be scraped, moistened with water and again scraped off the most stubborn remnants tightly adhered to the glue.
- If you use special types of moisture-resistant paints, then this decoration can be done in the kitchen and bathroom.
Before painting directly, the wall is prepared. The remnants of the previous coating are removed from it and primed. Irregularities and recesses are puttied and sanded after drying. Then an additional layer of primer is applied and only after complete drying begin painting. When choosing a paint, they are guided by its composition and characteristic features that allow it to be used in certain rooms. The product range is classified into:
| Acrylic | They are environmentally friendly, lie on any surface, and after drying form a durable film that can withstand strong temperature fluctuations. |
| Water-based | They are considered “veterans” of the construction and repair market. Paints are inexpensive, dry quickly, allow moisture to pass through, but require special temperature conditions during the drying process and are washed off with water over time. |
| Latex | This modern type of paint can be diluted even with plain water. They are suitable for rooms with high humidity, are absolutely resistant to moisture, are odorless and dry quickly. The only downside is the rather high cost. |
| Oil and alkyd based paints | They fit well on the surface, but take a long time to dry, while emitting a sharp, unpleasant odor. They last a long time and are not washed off with water, but for the same reason they are expensive. |
There are a number of ways to apply paint. Regular paint rollers and brushes will lay it in an even, dense layer on drywall, plaster or concrete. A drawing or pattern is applied to the surface using a stencil, but this is the simplest option. A lot of more original methods have been developed, which require only available means. To get the effect of a “crumpled” canvas, simply wrap the roller with a piece of waste fabric, which is tied to the foam rubber with a coarse thread. The more folds it forms, the more original and interesting the pattern will be. A more sophisticated design will be achieved if you decide to create the illusion of Venetian plaster. This type of finishing was previously used exclusively for cladding facades, but over time it fit into the design of interior walls. For this method you will have to perform a number of actions:
- Take a can of latex paint and pour its contents into a wider container.
- Then pigment is spilled onto one half, which will darken the original color.
- It is carefully stirred so as not to touch the second part of the paint.
- With a simple spatula it is applied to the surface, like plaster. In this case, spots of dark and light tones alternate to create a beautiful picture of two shades, chaotically transforming into each other.
If it is difficult for you to work with one container for two different shades, then pour the paint into two different cans and work with them. These are just the simplest methods that exist. With the help of little tricks and patience, a simple wall can be transformed and decorated beyond recognition both outside and inside the house.
Using acrylic paint, a new surface can be artificially aged (stippling), which is perfect for rooms in retro or Provence styles. In the office they create the “businesslike” effect of expensive leather, for which you only need a homemade suede brush. Using sponges, pieces of fabric, bags, sponges and washcloths, designers create not only texture, but also relief.
Decorative plaster for interior work
The main purpose of plaster is to level walls, smooth out roughness and mask defects. That was until designers paid close attention to this finishing material, which, as it turned out, could play a more important role in interior design. At first, decorative plaster began to be used only for cladding external walls, until this experience was transferred to the interior design of apartments and houses. The decoration of the premises ceased to be pompous and pompous, giving preference to rougher and more practical materials. Plaster is based on various dispersions that determine its characteristics. Depending on the type of binding ingredients, plaster is divided into:
- Acrylic;
- Silicone;
- Silicate;
- Mineral.
The mineral base includes lime and cement. It boasts a long service life and relative cheapness. Before work, this particular plaster is diluted with water. The acrylic mixture is tinted and is resistant to mechanical damage. Among the disadvantages, its poor vapor permeability is noted, so it is recommended to use plaster only inside the house for walls and ceilings. Silicone material has a high cost, which is due to its excellent quality: the material is vapor-permeable, can withstand temperature fluctuations, is not washed off with water and will last for many years. Silicone plaster is used for facing work both outside and inside the house. But silicate glass is made on the basis of potassium glass, which can be toxic, so this option is best left for facade work. The mixtures also differ in the size of the granules, which will determine the texture and relief of the treated surface. Before finishing work, the base is treated with a primer, and in rooms with high humidity, also with antifungal solutions. It should be remembered that at the preliminary stage you cannot use mixtures based on glue, oil or alabaster, which will only interfere with the absorption of plaster granules or painting the wall.
If it is not possible to buy ready-made plaster, then you can prepare it at home using the original “recipe” from putty. Pay attention to the composition of the latter; some types will produce a mixture that will paint a section of the wall only after applying several layers.
Wallpapers and photo wallpapers
The wallpaper market offers a wide range of goods. Among the most popular are:
- Non-woven;
- Paper;
- Acrylic;
- Liquid;
- Textile;
- Metal;
- Vinyl;
- Glass wallpaper.
Paper and non-woven ones are among the simplest and cheapest. The former have been generally used for centuries, while the latter differ only in the addition of fabric fibers. Both types are used as a base for paint; they are environmentally friendly, have a wide range of colors, but are short-lived (cannot even be washed). The surface of such wallpaper is usually smooth, but there are options with a relief pattern. Acrylic and vinyl wallpapers are durable and resistant to moisture and ultraviolet radiation. The paper or non-woven base is covered with a special “foam”, which forms a durable top layer. The only downside is breathability; therefore, this material should not be used to glue walls in a child’s room. Textile wallpaper is made from a paper base and a second layer of natural fabric. The material looks very elegant, but it is expensive, fades, is easily damaged by moisture and quickly collects dust (they can even be vacuumed). In metal wallpaper, the top layer is made of thin aluminum foil. They look impressive, do not fade and are not afraid of water, but you will have to pay dearly for all these advantages. And finally, the last word in the world of wallpaper is liquid coating. It is sold in powder form and after application vaguely resembles decorative plaster. Liquid wallpaper contains cellulose fibers and glitter, which create a rich, elegant look.
Photo wallpapers are made from the same materials as regular ones. They represent a panorama from floor to ceiling. Images can be very diverse: from bright landscapes with “rich” colors to neutral abstract paintings with calm shades. Before gluing photo wallpaper, you need to clearly demarcate the finishing area so that later your design does not go into a corner or become askew. Paintings are purchased in special stores or made to order according to the selected design using special printing materials.
In a children's room, when choosing the type of wallpaper, focus on its environmental friendliness, and in the kitchen and bathroom you will have to choose a moisture-resistant material that can also withstand temperature changes.
Drywall
Drywall is used mainly to obtain an original wall relief. Using this fairly inexpensive material, you can create decorative niches, shelves, arches, tiers and partitions. It is also often used in rooms where it is necessary to hide communications beautifully and neatly. The top of this covering is decorated with wallpaper, paint, plaster, tiles, artificial brick or wood. You can veneer a room with your own hands without the help of professionals. You will have to choose material from several types:
- Ordinary;
- Moisture resistant
- With increased fire resistance;
- Fireproof and moisture resistant.
Regular drywall is suitable for residential premises. In the bathroom they use a moisture-resistant one, and for the kitchen you can “splurge” on a fireproof one to protect your family in case of force majeure with an overheated stove.
The material bends easily. If you need a “shaped” sheet, you can buy special drywall for arches or gradually moisten the regular one with water. At the same time, it is laid under pressure in the shape that you want to get as a result. 12 hours is enough for the sheet to “set” and retain its bends.
Laminate
Finishing walls with laminate is perhaps the most recent and non-trivial design move. Many have seen this material exclusively on the floor, but not on the walls, but such cladding looks rich and original. Laminate perfectly imitates various surfaces and textures: from natural wood to marble patterns. The basis of the material is fiberboard, which bends easily, and the top layer of protection ensures the durability of the coating. Laminate is chosen not by type, but by class. Each of them has certain characteristics according to GOST, based on which the material is suitable only for a certain type of premises.
Clinker tiles
Clinker tiles are made from clay with the addition of fluxes and dyes. During production it is fired once. The material came to us from Western Europe, where it was used to line houses and lay roads. The tile is highly durable, easy to clean, permeable to water, and not susceptible to temperature changes and ultraviolet radiation. The only disadvantages noted are the extreme fragility of the material and the high price, especially when compared with conventional ceramics. It is for this reason that it is rarely used in home decoration. It is much easier to hang wallpaper or paint a wall instead of fiddling with a material that easily cracks. But clinker tiles look noble and elegant. It combines well with other materials and is ideal for decorating kitchen splashbacks or sections of walls in the bathroom.
Fake diamond
Artificial stone is actively used in the production of sinks, countertops and window sills, but designers have gone further and began to use this material in wall decoration. The stone can be of different textures and colors. It is divided into several types:
- Acrylic;
- Quartz;
- Polyester;
- Cast marble.
Acrylic is considered the most common. It exemplifies good value for money. In polyester, the main binding substance is an ether resin, and not an acrylic one, as in its close “relative”. It has a sharp, unpleasant odor that dissipates over time. Polyester stone does not bend, so it cannot be used to create shaped elements. Quartz material is more fragile, so this surface is quite sensitive to mechanical damage. Cast stone is also called liquid stone. Purchasing the material, as they say, will cost a pretty penny, but it is ideal for creating complex compositions with smooth lines and curves. It is strong, durable and does not crumble.
A natural stone
Natural stone has many varieties. Among the most commonly used in wall decoration are:
- Granite;
- Marble;
- Sandstone;
- Slate;
- Zlatolite;
- Lemesit.
Stone chips, river pebbles and specially hewn blocks are also used. We will talk about sandstone below, because it goes well with an artificial base. The result of such experiments became the material of the “new generation”. Granite and marble are considered the most durable and popular, but such coatings can “foul” and affect the health of the apartment owners. Before purchasing stone supplies for finishing, inquire about their origin. In some quarries, granite or marble is more radioactive. This property directly depends on the area of production. In terms of strength, it is unlikely that any other finishing coating can compare with such a material. He is not afraid of anything: temperature, humidity, mechanical damage. To be convinced of this, it is enough to remember the marble and granite memorials that have stood in the open air for decades and retain their beauty. Natural stone is used to make bathtubs, work surfaces, and lay out floors or paths in the garden. This material is fireproof and is even used in fireplace linings.
Flexible stone
Sandstone is used not only in its “natural” form. It is a plastic sedimentary rock. It is “cut” into thin slices - layers that are attached to fiberglass. This stone bends well and, depending on its thinness, is used to create designer wallpaper or tiles. The material is considered the most successful combination of natural and artificial. It is lightweight, environmentally friendly, fireproof, moisture resistant and can withstand the most aggressive conditions. Flexible stone is universal; it can even be used to cover walls in children’s rooms and bathrooms. According to manufacturers, the average service life of the material is about 30-35 years.
Natural wood
Wood is a unique material that combines beauty and excellent performance characteristics. The range of wood is wide and rich. The most accessible and cheapest are:
- Pine;
- Birch;
- Cedar;
More rare and expensive ones include:
- Cherry;
- Ash;
- Karelian birch;
- Manchurian walnut;
- Crimean mahogany;
- Maple.
And of course, the most “exclusive” type of wood is rightfully considered ebony, better known as “black”. For wall decoration, already prepared wooden materials are used. The most popular include:
- Lining;
- Panels;
- Block house;
- Gusvarblok.
The lining consists of processed narrow boards. Block house is the same material that has rounded ends imitating a Russian log house. The panels are created both from solid wood and from its remains (using a press and a special adhesive base), which greatly reduces the cost. The name gusvarblok hides wooden wallpaper, which is distinguished by filigree work in production and a high price. These are not the paper rolls that we are all accustomed to, but rather thick wooden panels fastened together through grooves. Coniferous, deciduous or rare tree species are taken as raw materials for any of the above facing materials.
Decorative painting
If you do not have artistic talent, you will have to contact a specialist to paint the walls in your apartment. This is delicate, painstaking work, which directly depends on the complexity of the chosen pattern. A room with painted walls will acquire an impressive flavor. The furnishings and furniture will have to match it. Three types of paints are used for artistic wall painting:
- Acrylic;
- Tempera;
- Oil.
Acrylic is durable and not afraid of moisture and temperature changes. Tempera is used to correct the smallest details, as the paint applies more gracefully. To obtain a relief pattern, it is applied to Venetian plaster. The paintings become voluminous and abstract with blurred features. Rooms were painted with oil back in the Middle Ages. Now the composition of oil paints has changed, and it is unlikely that your masterpiece will live as long as the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, but we do not pretend to compete with the great masters of painting of the past. Recently, airbrushing has been considered a popular type of paint application. The can contains compressed powder or liquid dye that is sprayed over the surface. But such work requires special training: it is quite difficult to adapt to non-standard “writing” equipment. You can practice on any smooth surface that you don’t mind: a door from an unnecessary cabinet, an old mirror, a wall of a building to be demolished.
Cork
Cork is obtained from the outer bark of certain types of trees. Most often it is obtained from the cork tree of the same name, which gave the name to the material. Due to the complex processing technology, the material is quite expensive, which is compensated by the durability and moisture resistance of the coating. Cork is available in two types:
- Rolls;
- Sheets.
Depending on the area of the wall they are going to cover with it, the type of material is chosen. Cork is pleasant to the touch: it is both strong and pliable. The material is resistant to mechanical damage. With a slight impact, it will simply bend and then return to its previous state, so it is quite difficult to scratch the cork coating. The only downside is the “poor” color scheme, which is limited to all shades of brown.
Decorative panels
To install decorative wall panels, you will need a special design: metal or wood lathing. The components are “slung” onto it. Panels are classified into three types:
The second ones are much smaller, and it is easier to lay out an original drawing from them. Typically, tiles of different sizes and colors are used within the same range. Slatted ones vaguely resemble lining: long, narrow planks. Sheet panels are used to cover large areas. The materials used are plastic, glass, gypsum vinyl, wood and its derivatives (MDF, chipboard, fiberboard).
Wooden panels
Chipboard panels are made from chips that are hot pressed. The material is less durable compared to wood, and is susceptible to high humidity and temperature changes. It cannot be used for the bathroom or kitchen, so you will have to confine it to the living room, hallway or bedroom. Fiberboard is produced using the same technology, but instead of shavings, plant and wood fibers are used, which are more resistant to kitchen conditions, for example. However, this material should be protected from direct contact with water on the surface, so the bath remains taboo.
MDF is dry pressed, causing the chips to release lignin. It also forms a durable “film” that holds it together and improves performance. MDF is not afraid of water, ultraviolet radiation, or elevated temperatures. The material is also able to withstand heavy loads, so it is often used to create shelves. MDF panels are suitable for absolutely any room in an apartment or house. OSB boards are made from shavings, resins and synthetic wax. They have a rather unprepossessing appearance, which is compensated by their pleasant price and durability in all respects. The material in interior painting is used mainly for flooring, but this option is also suitable for walls.
Plastic panels
PVC has long established itself as a durable artificial material. Surprisingly, his formula was the result of an accident. The French scientist received it during an experiment and simply could not characterize his invention. PVC is made from polyvinyl chloride and a softener. The latter is added in minimal concentrations. PVC is actively used to create windows, window sills, doors and other products vital for residential premises. Plastic is fireproof, not afraid of water, temperature changes, it is easy to wash and difficult to scratch. PVC is relatively cheap and safe for health. The release of harmful substances is accompanied only by its production.
Conclusion
Repairs are not always an overwhelming burden that you want to get rid of as quickly as possible. This process can be enjoyable and bring a lot of pleasure. Don't forget that walls are the background of your apartment: bright, provocative or calm. The furniture and “box” of the house must be “tied” into a complex composition of the design project, which maintains internal harmony. That is why the walls are decorated in accordance with the rules of the general interior concept.