Wall decoration is the most important step in the process of creating a beautiful interior. Among the wide variety of materials that are used in this task, wall panels for interior decoration occupy a special place. This type of cladding allows you to transform any room in a matter of hours, while avoiding building dust, dirt and chemical odors that invariably accompany painting, wallpapering or decorative plastering. High aesthetics and durability of the panels makes them a very attractive design option and makes it possible to translate any artistic ideas into the environment.
What are wall panels?
Panels for interior wall decoration are sheet cladding material, which is usually attached to the crate of wooden or metal battens. Elements are joined end-to-end or overlapped, according to the spike-groove pattern. This type of installation easily hides the initial flaws of the surface - the wall does not even have to be plastered, but in return you will have to sacrifice a few centimeters of room space. Some types of plates are glued to the base with special adhesives.
The range of decorative wall panels is very wide: a lot of colors, textures, reliefs, including 3D voluminous drawings and patterns. A correctly selected version gives the interior a modern and original look, emphasizing favorably one or another part of the room. The panels look best in combination with other types of finishes - wallpaper complementary in shades and texture, plain coloring, brickwork.
Types of wall panels, their pros and cons
Modern technologies and many types of raw materials are actively used for the production of wall modules. Wood, bamboo stems, gypsum, cellulose, cork, leather and fabric are environmentally friendly coatings that can be recommended for use in living rooms - the living room, bedroom or children's room, but polyurethane (PVC) panels are more suitable for decorating the corridor, kitchen and bathroom .
Solid wood wall panels highly appreciated for respectable appearance, durability and excellent heat-insulating qualities. As a completely natural material, wood passes air and moisture well, providing natural ventilation and creating a healthy microclimate in the room. The disadvantage of such a finish may be the high cost, but numerous advantages fully justify all costs.
MDF panels in terms of quality, they are almost not inferior to boards and even surpass them, since they are more resistant to moisture and do not deform with time. However, a beautiful cut pattern in this case will not be real, but obtained by veneering, which slightly reduces the elitism of the finish. From an environmental point of view, finely dispersed boards are absolutely safe, as they do not contain harmful resins.
Particleboard panels They are available due to their low cost and a huge range of external coatings, but they evaporate unhealthy formaldehydes. Particle blocks are very afraid of damp, so in the immediate vicinity of the walls they can quickly swell and lose their aesthetics.
Hardboard panels thin and light, have a low price. If necessary, it is very easy to cut the sheet with a clerical knife, and ordinary glue will be enough for fastening to the wall. The wrong side of this material is rough, the front in the case of decorating the walls is laminated with a film with some pattern or texture.Fiber boards bend quickly and soak with high humidity.
Gypsum panels have a high density and weight. Due to the increased fragility, they should be handled with care. Plasticity of gypsum allows you to create unusual reliefs and three-dimensional 3D-effects. Heavy blocks are attached to the walls mainly with glue, since any other fasteners can simply destroy the integrity of the modules.
Bamboo panels Harmoniously fit into exotic design trends - Japanese, African, Hawaiian, although there is also nothing stopping you from making them a highlight of modern minimalism. As a rule, these plates consist of dried bamboo stems bonded together, glued to a fabric base. Natural material can be of various thicknesses and shades, and its strength, environmental friendliness and moisture resistance make it an optimal coating for walls in any room.
Soft panels made in the same way as, for example, the head of the beds. A packing is placed on the base of fiberboard or plywood - a thin layer of foam rubber, synthetic winterizer or felt, which is then sheathed with fabric or leather (sometimes leatherette).
In the interior, such solutions look unusually original and expensive. However, a soft plate usually decorates only one area in the room - the area behind the bed or the wall above the sofa in the living room. Very appropriate this type of decoration looks in the lounge cafe and other places of evening relaxation.
Plastic (polyurethane, vinyl, PVC) panels - one of the most inexpensive and versatile materials for wall cladding. The simplicity of drawing a picture on the front side of these plates gives a huge scope for the embodiment of all design ideas. Plastic is most resistant to humidity, temperature extremes and mechanical damage, but with all the positive qualities, it can create a greenhouse effect in the rooms, preventing normal air circulation.
Types of wall panel designs
According to the type of design, wall panels are rack, tile and sheet. The first two varieties look a little monotonous, because they consist of interchangeable typesetting blocks that fill the surface of the walls. Sheet ones are presented in a wide variety of design options, so they can be a successful addition to the most sophisticated interiors.
Rack panels They are made up of slats from 2 to 4 m long, 12-30 cm wide and up to 10-12 mm thick. They are mounted on the crate according to the spike-groove system, and look like an ordinary wooden lining (although they can also be made from other materials).
Tiled Panels resemble ceramic cladding for the kitchen or bathroom. Most often these are square blocks ranging in size from 30 to 100 cm, which are attached to the wall with glue, and snap into place with each other. With their help, you can create monophonic coatings, as well as all kinds of chess, patchwork and mosaic-style finishes.
Sheet panels can be made in the form of connecting elements (like a puzzle or wallpaper) or can be one complete picture. The dimensions of such plates are different, so that you can always choose the appropriate sizes for a particular room.
How to choose wall panels
In addition to aesthetic properties, which are usually the determining factor when buying wall decorative plates, it is important to take into account their operational characteristics. In particular, toxicity, flammability, combustibility and smoke are considered significant parameters. The most safe for health natural materials - wood, bamboo, glass, gypsum, but with polyurethane, vinyl and soft-build structures, great care should be taken.
If the decoration will consist of a certain number of elements, it is advisable to purchase a set of one batch or series, it is possible with a margin, since in different issues insignificant differences in shades or patterns sometimes appear.
The reputation of the store and the manufacturing company can tell a lot about the quality of products, so it never hurts to read reviews on the Internet or take into account the experience of other people. The material itself, even before its acquisition, must be inspected for chips, scratches, swelling, and contamination. Joints and fasteners should ideally fit each other, and the drawings on them should coincide in lines and colors.
Wall panels for interior decoration - photo
Below on this page is a collection of photos with examples of the use of different types of decorative plates in interior design. Numerous images will help you decide which wall panels for interior decoration are suitable for a particular room, whether they should be used, and if so, how. We wish you a pleasant viewing and inspiration for the implementation of the most creative design projects!
