Self-sufficient decor or a budget alternative to wood flooring? ratatum.com found out the most important characteristics of laminate flooring for the average person.
Do you think inexpensive materials are not the best option for flooring? Don't promise! After all, there are situations when buying laminate flooring is perhaps the most optimal solution. And this does not mean at all that you need to choose cheap laminate in the nearest hypermarket. Contrary to prevailing stereotypes, today we will tell you how to find the best material on the market - choose a reliable and beautiful laminate.
A few words about laminate
Laminate is a multi-layer floor covering. It is based on fiberboard and chipboard with facing paper impregnated with synthetic resins. The layers are pressed under pressure and high temperature.
Laminate is often chosen as an alternative to parquet. In the same way, it is an excellent analogue of stone, porcelain stoneware or tile. After all, on top of the paper layer you can print any imitations and designs - be it parquet or tiles.
Compatibility of the baseboard with other decorative elements
Laminate and baseboard
Skirting boards and laminate do not have to be the same color. However, a similar palette is desirable, since a sharp contrast between these elements will create unnecessary accents and reduce the attractiveness of the flooring.
Advice! The color of the baseboard should be between the darkest and lightest in the room.
The color of the plinth is selected according to the following criteria:
- plinth of the same shade with laminate;
- baseboards and doors in the same color tone, but contrasting with the floor;
- baseboards and furniture of the same color in contrast with doors and laminate.
Laminate and doors
Most often, laminate is selected not to match the furniture, walls or ceiling, but to match the color of the door.
Rules for compatibility of laminate and doors:
- It is not advisable to match the colors of the laminate and doors. However, this approach is acceptable if the room has other contrasting interior elements. Typically, doors and laminate flooring of the same color are used in small rooms (entrance hall, corridor).
- Light laminate with the same light doors allows you to visually make the room more voluminous.
Below are the rules for harmonious combinations of door colors and floor coverings:
- Brown. Shades vary from light brown to dark chocolate. The rule is: match a darker-colored floor with a door that is 1-2 shades lighter and vice versa. The trim and slopes must match the door. It is recommended to choose furniture a couple of shades lighter. Brown fits perfectly into the classic interior style and Provence.
- Beige. A common color for doors. Suitable for light laminate flooring. A milky beige or white-golden floor color is recommended. In this case, you should not use doors with a reddish tint.
- Walnut. Walnut-colored doors are combined with lighter laminate. In combination with light beech or oak, these doors look sophisticated thanks to the contrast of colors. Dark walnut perfectly emphasizes classic interior solutions.
Laminate in the interior in the photo
What is laminate made of?
When purchasing a laminate, it doesn’t hurt to know about the functions of a particular layer, which will make the choice easier and more meaningful.
- The protective layer is acrylic or melamine film, sometimes with the addition of aluminum dioxide. Gives strength and improves antistatic characteristics.
- The damper is impregnated kraft cardboard. An intermediate layer responsible for impact resistance and sound insulation.
- The main layer is chipboard or fiberboard. The base load falls on it.
- Stabilizer – paraffin impregnated paper. Basic protection against humidity and temperature changes.
- The decorative layer is paper impregnated with melamine. Responsible for the appearance of the laminate.
Preferences in choosing an interior
When deciding what color laminate to choose for your apartment, you should decide which color palette you will be comfortable in. First of all, you need to understand which floor you like best - dark, light or with a textured pattern.
The next factor concerns the interior style and the mood given to the room:
- cozy;
- light;
- warm;
- charged with energy;
- spacious;
- playful;
- classic elegant.
If you cannot decide exactly, then simply select the laminate based on the color of wooden furniture and interior doors. At the same time, do not forget that the floor covering should be a little lighter.
To ensure that the overall interior of the apartment is harmonious, it is better to select coatings that are compatible in texture. In particular, laminate works well with tiles and carpet, however, it is completely incompatible with parquet flooring.
It is also worth considering the fact that a floor that is too dark, as well as a floor that is too light, will need more frequent cleaning, because dust on it is much more noticeable.
When choosing a laminate, you need to pay attention to its texture. For example, a square room can be visually given a more rectangular shape using long, narrow strips of laminate flooring. But a corridor that is too narrow can be visually expanded if you lay the material in sheets across the passage, thereby making the floor in the corridor three-dimensional.
Another important nuance concerns too bright and unusual colors. Since the service life of such a coating can be quite long, there can be no talk of quickly replacing the wallpaper for which it was selected.
The main advantages of laminate
Low price is far from the main advantage of laminate. We value it most of all for its ability to perfectly imitate expensive luxury coatings. The paper surface of the laminate allows you to print not only any designs and patterns, but also natural textures. So, the roughness of the tile or the fibrous texture of the board will look very realistic.
As for the size of the dies, manufacturers, of course, took into account the characteristics of the simulated material. For example, laminate flooring for tiles can be rectangular, square, or in any other aspect ratio: if these are wooden planks, then 1:9 or 1:6.
Lighting
To know how to choose the color of laminate for an apartment, you should decide on the level of illumination of the rooms, that is, its location on the sunny or shaded side.
If the rooms get a lot of sunlight, you should not use the following shades of laminate:
- American walnut;
- Asian nut;
- wenge;
- rosewood
This warning is due to the fact that under direct sunlight on a dark floor, dust microparticles will be especially clearly visible. If you neglect this warning, the coating will end up looking sloppy, no matter how well you clean your apartment.
When deciding what color to choose laminate for hallways, you need to take into account that the shade of the floor and walls should not be the same, otherwise everything will merge and the beauty and texture of the floor covering will not be noticeable.
Therefore, if a light laminate is laid on the floor, it is better to choose wallpaper colors that are 3-4 shades darker.
This rule applies to such laminate shades as:
- white oak;
- birch;
- beech.
An important principle of laying flooring for small apartments is that in such conditions you should not choose different colors of laminate flooring in different rooms. Such a breakdown can only visually further reduce the space by dividing it into small zones. Read also: “Floor coverings for an apartment - types of materials, their pros and cons.”
Serious choice: adhesive or interlocking laminate?
Laminate flooring is laid using the edge joining method. The profile can be presented in the form of a tongue and groove structure, when the joints are additionally glued. And sometimes the profile is locking and simply snaps into place, in which case glue is not required.
The adhesive type is cheaper, but you will have to buy high-quality glue for sealing the joints. In addition to the fact that this option is more difficult to install, you will also have to pay more to specialists per square meter of work done. Plus, if there are temperature changes and dry air in the house, cracks form at the joints.
Finishing made from interlocking laminate is not much different in appearance from tongue and groove: it can have the same chamfers and the same decor. Although the material costs a little more, you will save significantly on the work of specialists and glue. Interlocking laminate is almost impossible to damage during installation and is easy to install yourself.
And more about the advantages: already during the installation process you can immediately walk on the interlocking laminate. In fact, it is simply disassembled and reassembled, and in the event of a point defect, it is enough to replace only a few dies.
The most popular color combinations
If you don’t have your own idea on how best to choose doors for laminate, any designer will offer you standard, traditional complementary combinations that have already been successfully implemented in the interiors of houses and apartments.
Light laminate and wenge doors
The wenge color is only gaining popularity. The color got its name in honor of a tree growing in Africa. There are more than 40 shades of it in nature. In general, it is characterized as brown, with thin dark streaks.
Against the background of a light floor covering, such doors will be a real decoration of the room, its bright accent and the most noticeable detail. Such interiors look gorgeous if the plinth framing the pastel, neutral floor is also chosen in wenge colors. This combination is most suitable for spacious living rooms, halls and bedrooms.
Brown and gray
This is the combination option when you need to apply contrast: gray can be dark and cold, and brown, on the contrary, warm and light. Using this range, you can beat up the hallway, bath or kitchen by covering the floor with brown laminate, and choosing gray walls and kitchen furniture.
White under gray
Gray belongs to the category of cool colors and has several tones: dirty gray, milky, smoky. A combination with a light laminate will be successful if the gray is naturally soft, and the white is creamy, sweet, for example: coffee with milk, clarified caramel, milky and creamy white. Such combinations are typical for interior designs in the Art Nouveau, high-tech, pop art, and loft styles.
Gray and beige
The shades also combine well if you choose gray that is not cold, but smoky, with elements of brown, beige, and light walnut. The color of wet asphalt will be appropriate if you shade the baseboards, doors and furniture with beige.
White and brown
A universal combination that can be found most often. These are combinations of warm, sunny shades that create maximum comfort. At the same time, white should not be cold, gray, snowy, but creme brulee, creamy, closer to beige.
Laminate in the kitchen: design options
The kitchen is one of those rooms where laminate takes pride of place. Not surprising, because this practical and reliable material also fits perfectly into any design style. It is difficult to overestimate the decorative characteristics of laminate flooring. It is so versatile that it can replicate any pattern and texture, and the color scheme successfully matches the most demanding taste preferences.
Doors of the same color with laminate
A complete color match between the door and the laminate is appropriate for a kitchen, hallway, small room, or room with limited lighting. To do this, you need to choose a universal floor covering that can easily be matched with furniture and doors. For example: white, acacia, honey birch, light alder, ash, light oak or pine.
It is better to choose a laminate with a matte finish and a pronounced structure - it will help create a warm and cozy atmosphere.
What about fire resistance?
Indeed, it can be argued that laminate does not catch fire. Moreover, if you throw a lit cigarette on the floor, not a trace will remain on it!
If we talk about moisture resistance, then laminated coatings are resistant to high humidity in the bathroom or kitchen. Just don’t confuse this concept with water resistance! If you immerse laminate flooring in water for a day, then, according to standards, it will expand by no more than 20%. The figure is impressive, but if you compare laminate and parquet, the latter will suffer no less under the same conditions. But at the same time, laying laminate is much easier and faster.
Types of white laminate
Laminated panels are often made to imitate wood of various species. This also applies to white laminate, which, when installed, looks as if wooden boards were laid on the floor and covered with a thin layer of white paint.
White pine laminate combined with vertical striped wallpaper
Light laminate can be of various shades. These can be natural or more original unusual colors. Professional designers consider white oak laminate in the interior, a photo of which you can see, or pine as a classic. White pear and ash are very popular in various interior styles.
White laminate in the interior of the office
White laminated panels can be plain or decorated with patterns. The latter option looks especially good in children's rooms, as well as in many other rooms that require creating the most comfortable atmosphere.
Cozy atmosphere in the bedroom thanks to white laminate flooring
Separately, it is worth mentioning the combination of white and black laminate. These colors in the interior can be considered classics that will never lose their relevance. A floor covering that combines several contrasting colors at once is perfect for giving a room modernity and chic.
The combination of white and black in a classic interior
Laminate “under tiles”
Oak laminate in the interior
Ask any person - what is the best flooring material? Most will answer - of course, oak. Unconditionally, oak boards personify elegance, nobility and classics, add luxury to the interior, and emphasize the excellent taste and status of the owners of the house. But not everyone can afford to purchase natural solid wood, while high-quality laminate will cost much less, and will also look solid and expensive.
In the most interesting, beautiful interiors in light colors, a newfangled laminate is often found - bleached oak. It is used not only for finishing the floor, but also for walls, ceilings and doors.
As for the color palette, bleached oak is produced in a wide range - from light gray, sand and pinkish to artificially aged and lilac. Both warm shades for the home and cooler office options are relevant.
Differences in laminate colors
Harmony in the interior will be created by the correct choice of color palette of the laminated coating. On the modern building materials market, products from different companies are offered, which differ not only in color, but also in texture.
The entire mass of shades of laminated panels is grouped by primary colors:
- light, including white, is not often used for flooring due to impracticality in use;
- brown visually expands a small space in combination with neutral coloring of wall surfaces;
- red, the main reason for its popularity is the good combination of dark red laminate with the color of the walls in bright colors, which gives the interior contrast and expressiveness;
- Of all the colors, neutral, gray laminate - the color of the walls is well set off by it, and with the right selection of accessories, this combination can create an unforgettable style for the room;
- dark, up to black wenge, is considered the most traditional floor design, capable of creating a modern urban style in the interior with neutral wall panels.
When choosing laminated panels based on color, it is important to pay attention to the quality of the texture and pattern, which can imitate not only boards, solid wood, but stone, tiles and other materials.
Light laminate in the interior in the photo
Upside down: when laminate goes onto the wall
We see an unusual and interesting solution to using laminate in the example of the following design project. The laminated coating here is not only on the floor, but also partially extends to the walls.
This technique is a great way to visually deceive the perception of space in a small room. It seems as if one of the walls is being erased.
In the bathroom, laminate flooring was used to the maximum. Here it can be seen not only on the wall, but also on the ceiling. This top-class coating is not afraid of moisture and is resistant to active use. In wet areas, laminate replaces porcelain stoneware.
So, if your choice is laminate, all that remains is to decide on the design and type. As you can see, there are more than enough options. And in order for the laminate floor to fit into the interior as harmoniously as possible and serve for decades, we advise you to contact an experienced specialist.
The influence of floor color on the appearance of a room
You need to think about flooring at the initial stages of renovating a room. A lot depends on the right choice of color, as it can affect the mood and well-being of the person in the room.
White laminate for more space
For example, gray shades of laminate are well suited for rooms in a classic style. This floor will perfectly set off dark and bulky furniture. Dark floors are chosen when you want to give the room more chic, and the golden shades of natural wood make you feel more comfortable.
Cozy room interior using white laminate
As for white laminate in the interior, a photo of which can be seen, experts recommend using them with great care. An excess of white in the interior can create a feeling of too much space, as a result of which a person simply gets lost in such a room. It becomes uncomfortable, and you cannot feel protected in it.
Living room interior completely in white colors
To avoid discomfort, you should use darker wallpaper and contrasting pieces of furniture along with white floors. For example, you can choose white pear laminate as the floor covering in the interior, and decorate the walls in gray tones. Everything can be complemented with high-tech furniture, that is, objects with a lot of glass and metal.
White laminate gives a feeling of lightness
With the right approach to decorating a room, you can achieve an airy effect. Often white oak laminate is used in ethnic and minimalist interiors. It will be the perfect solution for creating futuristic glamor and shabby chic. It’s hard to imagine French country style without a light floor.
White oak laminate in the living room interior
In any case, when working with white floors, you need to know when to stop. Under no circumstances is it recommended to use laminate of this color to decorate the entire apartment.
White laminate flooring in a country style living room
In this case, a person will not be able to relax in his home, since he will be disturbed by the obsessive sterility of the environment.
But white laminate is very suitable for a children's room. Bright pieces of furniture and colorful toys will look great on this floor. As a result, the room will glow with positivity. And in the adult bedroom, white laminate will create a romantic atmosphere.
White laminate in a children's room
As for the kitchen, the feeling of sterility is welcome. However, you need to take the color white in moderation. For example, you can use white ash laminate in the interior, but choose finishing materials for the walls that are at least 3 shades darker. This applies not only to wallpaper, but also to door paint.
White laminate in the kitchen interior
