Laminate for hallway decoration

Pros and cons

Laminated slats have undeniable advantages:

• Laminate flooring looks expensive and is an excellent substitute for expensive parquet.
• There are many shades and patterns on sale, so everyone can choose the right one.
• The surface is easy to care for – unlike natural wood, laminate does not need to be regularly treated.
• The coating is compatible with underfloor heating. You can lay it yourself, without the help of specialists.
• Easy transportation. The boxes fit even in a small passenger elevator, are convenient for carrying by one person and transporting in a car.

Disadvantages of laminate:

• Insufficiency in moisture. In the entrance area, a rubber mat is placed on top of the laminate or combined with tiles. Otherwise, water and dirt from shoes, especially in the off-season, will penetrate the joints and the panels will swell.
• Unsafety of some coatings. For example, taking a step onto a glossy floor in the hallway in winter shoes, you can slip and fall.
• The likelihood of scratches from heels, furniture legs, animal claws. It is easy to damage the coating, but almost impossible to repair. Most likely, the part will have to be replaced, which entails removing the baseboards, disassembling the panels, and so on.

The photo shows laying the flooring in a single contour

Which laminate is better to choose?

When buying laminate, it is worth considering the features of the hallway:

1. High traffic.
2. Load from sharp heels, hard soles.
3. Constant dust, dirt.

In order for the floor in the hallway to last for more than one year, you should choose coverings with a margin of safety. These include models of classes 32, 33, 34. Since they were developed for use in commercial organizations, the classes are characterized by increased resistance to wear, washing, and also greater strength in comparison with household 21-23.

Within one class, lamellas can vary in thickness. Here the rule is simple – the thicker the board, the stronger.

The next nuance is moisture resistance. Even class 33 is not always treated with special impregnations, so look for a mark in the form of a drop of water or another similar one on the packaging, indicating this parameter.

The method of installation and service life are greatly influenced by the locking connection. There are 2 main types: Click, Lock. The click system lock is considered more modern and practical – damage to the connections, divergence of joints is 100% excluded.

High-quality laminate guarantees durability and ease of maintenance, and aesthetics are determined by appearance. Surfaces can be smooth (matte, glossy, satin), embossed. If you prefer the second option, keep in mind that dirt will clog the pores and cracks, which will not be easy to wash off (especially from the laminate in the hallway). Glossy coatings are not the most practical option, especially for walking in shoes.

The last nuance is color. Standard advice is to choose garish colors of medium tones. Any dirt and dust, which are in abundance in the hallway, will be visible on a floor that is too light or dark.

If you are not afraid of the prerogative of washing the floor in the hallway every day, choose any shade you like. For a small narrow hallway, for example, the best solution would be a light color.

How can you decorate a hallway?

Laminate on the floor is a standard application. When covering the entire surface with slats, remember the need for additional protection near the front door.

Or, during the renovation, combine laminate with tiles – to ensure that the seam is even, the thickness of the panel with the backing should be equal to the height of the tile with a layer of glue.

The photo shows a combination of different laminates on the wall and

The direction of installation, as in the case of walls, also changes the geometry of the room. In narrow long hallways, transverse flooring is recommended – the pattern will visually expand the space. Whether the laminate will lie lengthwise or crosswise in a square hallway is a completely aesthetic question, so you can choose any option.

Important! Pay special attention to the underlay – cheap foam options will become thinner over time, which will lead to damage to the locks and the appearance of creaks.

Examples in the interior

When choosing a method of laying the floor with a single contour, high-quality laminate will be an ideal option – it does not cause problems with delivery (unlike linoleum), is easy to lay and has a huge selection of designs.

A practical solution for the hallway is not to extend the laminate flooring all the way to the door, leaving 100-120 cm. This part of the hallway is covered with reliable tiles that are not afraid of water and dirt. Plus, because people step on the laminate with bare feet, it will last much longer.

The photo shows an example of a combination with tiles

To make your flooring last for many years, don’t skimp on the quality of the materials: then you can be sure that the next repair will be needed in at least 10 years.