The modern range of finishing materials for walls is so large that without prior preparation and monitoring of the desired options in the store your eyes are simply confused. Dozens of types of paints and wallpaper, tiles and stone, fresco and mosaic, various panels, etc. In this article we want to find out how to choose the right material for finishing walls.
Decorative finishing materials must meet several criteria:
practicality. Finishing materials must be chosen with regard to the conditions in which they will be used. If, for example, it is a bathroom or kitchen, that is a room with high humidity, the materials should be distinguished by a high resistance to moisture (paint or tile). If you are selecting options for children, it is better to pay attention to washable materials;
appearance. Walls occupy a large part of the room, so it is very important that they look aesthetically pleasing and harmoniously complement the interior;
durability. Repair — is something that you want to finish quickly and forget about it for many years. Therefore, in the selection of materials is important to pay attention to their resistance to moisture, temperature changes, pollution, etc.
Consider the most popular finishing materials for the home.
Wallpaper
Wallpaper is a classic of the genre in the world of finishing materials. They are the first thing that comes to mind when we hear the word "repair". In modern stores customers are given a huge selection of wallpaper: sellers offer hundreds of colors and designs for every taste. Such popularity over the years is due to several factors:
ease of installation. Finishing walls with wallpaper is not difficult enough. But, of course, there are difficulties in this option — the more unusual the pattern, the more difficult it is to dock the pattern;
wide opportunities for the embodiment of various design solutions. A large selection of colors and textures, the possibility of combining different wallpaper — all this allows you to create a unique, unique interior;
speed. This is one of the fastest ways of repair and finishing works;
low price. Compared to other materials wallpaper is relatively inexpensive. But the price range within this type of material is very wide.
But wallpaper has its own shortcomings:
they are easy to damage: they tear, scratch and get dirty faster than other types of finishing;
wallpaper in any case can not be used in rooms where there is no regular heating — from this they will quickly lose their aesthetic appearance.
Consider some types of wallpaper:
vinyl. Such materials are durable and dense, can be both smooth and embossed. The version with relief is excellent for walls, on which you need to hide irregularities. The main advantage of vinyl wallpaper is its durability. Such wallpaper can be washed and renewed by repainting in another color. However, they are poorly air permeable, so you should not choose them for the bedroom or nursery, but for the kitchen — it is an ideal option;
fleece. They are characterized by high strength and good air permeability. Due to its dense structure can hide small irregularities on the walls, it is worth highlighting that they are easy to glue;
acrylic. Not as strong as vinyl and vinyl wallpaper, but they allow air to circulate;
paper. The most budget option, but at low cost their range is quite wide. This option is quite safe (in the manufacture of paper wallpaper does not use chemicals), in addition, they are good air permeable. But paper is an unstable material that will not serve for long;
textile. The front part made of natural fabrics (silk, velour or linen) is imposed on the fleece or paper base. Such wallpapers have a great look, and give the interior a special luxury and style. Textile wallpaper is very difficult to glue, so it is better to immediately contact a professional.
Paint
Painting walls is a solution that allows you to implement the most daring and unusual ideas. Painted wall is like a blank sheet of paper, you can put any pictures, inscriptions, patterns, etc. on it. And if you get bored with the entourage you can simply repaint the wall and thus dramatically change the interior.
In addition, this method of wall decoration has many advantages:
a long service life. Painted walls can be easily damp-cleaned;
to carry out repair work in this way you can do yourself;
painted walls are not strongly attract pets, so there is a high probability of avoiding scratches and other nuisances. And if defects do appear, they can easily be removed with paint, and there is no need to remake the entire wall at once;
the use of paint will be a real salvation for rooms with a non-standard configuration. If the room has ledges, hollows, columns and other decorative elements, then paint is ideal for finishing walls, because wallpaper on such surfaces is unlikely to be glued.
But, of course, wall paint has its own disadvantages:
the surface must be carefully prepared for painting. After all, all the defects (irregularities, cracks, etc.) under the paint will become even more noticeable;
most of the paints on today's market accumulates dust, which can lead to allergic reactions.
To paint the walls was the safest and most practical it is necessary to choose the right paint. First you need to clearly decide on the shade. Once you have chosen a color, you should pay attention to the following parameters:
the degree of combustibility (the less, of course, the better);
the possibility of wet cleaning (especially important for rooms where contamination is especially likely, such as the kitchen or hallway);
air permeability (will the walls "breathe");
drying time (this feature depends on how soon you can finish the repair work);
safety (first of all, the absence of a pungent smell).
There are many types of paint, let's consider the most popular.
Water-soluble. This is a whole group of paints, which are optimal for the decorative finishing of walls. They adhere tightly to the surface, have good vapor permeability, are quite easy to apply. One of the types of this paint is the well-known water emulsion paint, it is the most budgetary option, but it is also less resistant to mechanical damage and moisture. Paint on a latex basis - more resistant. Well, the most practical and modern option - silicone paints: they are suitable for all types of surfaces, resistant to moisture, safe, well mask small defects. A more budget, but no less practical option would be acrylic paints - they have almost the same list of advantages, but cost much less.
Silicate. Provide a qualitatively durable coating, protect the walls from mold and steam, allow the surface to breathe. But there is one important "but": the compositions of such paints are very toxic in the liquid state, so while working with them must comply with safety rules, so as not to get chemical burns of the mucous membranes and skin. After drying such paints become harmless.
Decorative plaster
Decorative plaster finishing is a great way to create your own unique design. It is quite realistic to do it by your own forces, but if you have thought to embody something unusual, it is better to first try your hand at a small area. You can choose a single-colored coating or use a relief material, and then the finish will definitely be unique, because it is almost unreal to apply the relief in exactly the same way.
Finishing with plaster — practical and budgetary. Such a coating serves for a long time, it is resistant to temperature changes and moisture, perfectly hides irregularities on the wall and small cracks, provides excellent soundproofing. The only disadvantage — the need for careful preparation of the wall, the plaster itself is applied in several layers to obtain the desired relief. Therefore, plaster coating is quite a time-consuming process, which, however, is worth it.
As you can see, modern stores provide a wide range of materials for finishing walls and their types. We hope that this article has helped you at least a little to navigate, and now your walls will please you with an aesthetic appearance.