Linoleum in the interior: choosing a coating based on color and quality

Advantages and disadvantages

Construction stores offer collections of linoleum from different brands. They are different in structure, purpose, specialization, not to mention shade and design. The parameters vary, but the properties of the coatings, which determine their general advantages and disadvantages, do not change.

A variety of modern linoleums help solve any design problems. The material is surprisingly varied in surface type; There are glossy and matte, smooth and embossed, rough, plain or patterned options. Collections are produced with imitation wood, paving stones, and parquet. Premium varieties reliably imitate laminate, tile, and natural stone.

Coating with imitation tiles for the kitchen Source aviarydecor.com

Knowing the strengths and weaknesses of a material will allow you to understand how suitable it is for a particular room. The coating is valued for the following qualities:

• Versatility. The material can be used without restrictions in premises of any purpose and of any size.
• Pleasant value for money. The cost is determined by the composition of the canvas and the external design.
• Wear resistance. Depends on the purpose of the material. If the spruce canvas is chosen correctly, it retains its original appearance and performance characteristics for years.
• Moisture resistant and easy to care for. The coating repels moisture and is suitable for use in rooms with high humidity levels. Thanks to this feature, wet cleaning using household chemicals is not limited.

In an elegant interior Source dom.by
The following qualities are valuable for construction and repair work

• Quick installation. The fabric is available in different widths, which allows it to be laid without visible joints or seams.
• High thermal conductivity. The material conducts heat well and evenly; It is convenient to combine it with a heated floor system.

Some features of linoleum can be considered its weaknesses:

• Most types of coating contain synthetic components.
• An additional protective layer simultaneously increases wear resistance and increases the cost of the product.
• The canvas is quite difficult to transport. During transportation it must be protected from deformation and damage.
• Budget material has a poor choice of colors; It's hard to make a room truly stylish with it.
• If installation rules are not followed, the coating will have uneven joints, and over time it may swell or ripple.

Variety of shades Source wp.com

Using glossy linoleum

Suitable model for dark rooms. It allows you to increase the height of the ceilings and visually expand the area. It is important to remember that gloss makes all scratches, stains and dirt visible. It can only be washed with special products. It should not be used in the hallway or other high-traffic areas; it can quickly wear out.

Bright sunny kitchen with glossy linoleum

Dark gloss looks great in a high-tech or modern style room

See also: What are the rules for the design of a small balcony?

Variety of coatings

To choose a beautiful linoleum that will fit perfectly into the interior, it is not enough to focus only on the color and texture of the surface. It is important to understand what materials are offered on the construction market and be able to select the most suitable one. The easiest way to classify linoleum is by area of ​​application, where the following options are distinguished:

• Domestic. It is characterized by a thickness in the range of 1-4 mm, is distinguished by its affordable cost, varied appearance, softness and easy installation. Not designed for intensive use, will last a maximum of 2-3 years.
• Commercial. It is laid in rooms with increased load. It is particularly resistant to abrasion, but the choice of colors and textures is limited, which limits design possibilities.

In warm colors Source brunoberger.at

• Semi-commercial. It has the structure of household samples and a reinforced protective layer, the thickness of which reaches 0.7 mm. Suitable for use both in the office and in the walk-through living room.
• Special. It has a structure and coating that perform highly specialized tasks. There are materials with bactericidal properties (for medical institutions), with a relief anti-slip coating (with quartz chips), and with a sports polyurethane coating.

The industry produces linoleum of different compositions, but in construction (including private construction) two types are more often used: natural (based on linseed oil and pine resin) and polyvinyl chloride. Natural coating is environmentally friendly and safe for people, retains its original properties for 15-20 years. However, it cannot be called budget, and the color range is very limited, so it is chosen mainly for a child’s room, bathroom or kitchen.

In the bedroom interior Source pinimg.com

PVC coating is a more practical and therefore often used version of linoleum; its colors are more varied and leave room for imagination. It can be baseless, have a foam base or a pile base made of polyester. Also, PVC linoleum differs in structure, and is produced in two versions:

• Homogeneous. Made from PVC granules with the addition of dyes. Its structure is uniform throughout its thickness (homo is a prefix meaning “identical”), so the pattern does not wear out over time. Homogeneous linoleum is appropriate where there is constant intense load on the floor, for example, in the corridor.
• Heterogeneous. Multilayer material in which the number of layers reaches six, and the thickness reaches 6-9 mm. Most of the layers are PVC; the base can be felt or jute, fiberglass is used as a sizing. A multi-layer product is advantageous to use in living rooms; it is quite durable and soft.

Differences in the structure of PVC linoleum Source conceptualhouseplans.com
See also: Catalog of companies that specialize in finishing materials and related work

The process of laying linoleum

Installation requires compliance with certain rules:

1. You should start with cutting. It is important to do everything so that the pattern matches, subject to its availability. Leave 10mm allowance on each side.
2. The finished sliced ​​products are left indoors for 3 days. Then the material will straighten completely.
3. The product can be installed in several ways. Each depends on the substance used to hold the linoleum and floor together.

Cutting linoleum to size

The marked methods are listed in the table.

Skirting boards are fixed only after the linoleum is completely straightened

See alsoDark doors in the interior: advantages and disadvantages

How to evaluate material characteristics

Companies regularly update collections, and they always include popular colors and textures. In the collections of European manufacturers, from year to year, light-colored material turns out to be fashionable linoleum. White and its variations, from warm beige to cold pearl, are considered universal.

When choosing a coating, you can focus on the brand and shades that are popular this season. It is also important to pay attention to the class of use, which indicates the level of wear resistance (abrasion).

There are several systems for indicating the wear resistance of linoleum. The European classification is considered the most convenient. It includes two numbers:

• The first indicates the type of premises for which the coating is suitable: number 2 means housing, 3 – office premises, 4 – industrial premises.

In the combined space of the hallway-living room Source stroy-remo.ru

• The second number, from 1 to 4, indicates the permissible load: the higher the number, the more intense it can be.

Thus, materials with the following markings are suitable for private construction:

• Class 21. Suitable for a bedroom or nursery for one child.
• Class 22. The canvas is laid in the living room, children's room, and, with moderate load, in the hallway or kitchen (if the family is small).
• Class 23. Can be used in the hallway and kitchen without any problems. It can be replaced with more wear-resistant class 31 linoleum, suitable for medical institutions and hotels.

The kitchen needs especially wear-resistant linoleum Source ahre.se

Basic rules for choosing colors

Choosing the right linoleum in light colors is much more difficult than choosing dark ones. The fact is that if you do not pay due attention to this issue, your floor may look cheap and simple in the interior. Therefore, finally, I will tell you several important rules for choosing the color of the material, which will certainly help you decorate the room harmoniously and beautifully.

So, when choosing, you need to consider the following points:

• Before deciding on the floor color, create a complete picture of the room . In this case, a 3D project will come to the rescue, which you can do yourself in specialized programs, or order from specialists. True, the price of this service is quite high - about 500 rubles per square meter;
• To prevent the floor from looking simple and cheap, give preference to sophisticated shades, or give preference to models with an unusual texture . In this case, of course, it is necessary to adhere to a color palette that is in harmony with the other colors of your interior;
• You should not use a canvas of muted tones in the hallway;
• and, of course, you and your family members should like the chosen color , because you do any repairs, first of all, for yourself.

Here, in fact, are all the basic instructions for choosing light linoleum, which I wanted to introduce you to.

Light shades are fashion favorites

Light linoleum in the interior has quite valuable advantages. In addition to the ability to fill space with light and volume, it has other strengths:

• Draws attention to original furniture and accessories.
• Makes the interior easier to perceive, which is especially valuable if the room has a lot of massive furniture.
• Pairs well with most other trim colors and appliances.

Retro style Source retrodlazby.sk

Briefly about the main thing

Linoleum has remained a practical and versatile coating in residential design for decades. There are various material options on the market intended for household, commercial and special uses. Among its characteristics, wear resistance (abrasion resistance) is significant. It is different for different types of coating, which is reflected in the markings.

Linoleum in the right color palette will become the basis for high-quality interior design. You can choose a color to match or contrast with the wall decoration. You should also take into account the style of the room, the color of furniture, textiles and accessories. In modern design, light-colored linoleum is especially popular; it is used in the decor of any room.

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