Walls covered with laminate.

Pros and cons

Advantages of finishing walls with laminate:

• stronger than MDF and PVC panels, will not break upon impact;
• there are models that do not absorb moisture due to their dense structure and protection by a polymer layer;
• easy to care for with ordinary soap detergent;
• wide selection of colors and textures, imitation of natural wood;
• laminate is environmentally friendly;
• easy and convenient to install.

Disadvantages:

• the cost is higher than that of painting or wallpaper;
• the material requires a durable surface and reliable fastening due to its heavy weight;
• suitable for finishing rooms with a constant low humidity level and without temperature changes.

To create an accent in the interior, as in the photo, you can cover part of the wall and ceiling, and also complement the design with lighting.

How does it look in different colors?

Laminate colors can be divided into cold and warm groups, and when renovating, you need to stick to one color scheme. It comes in shades of green, blue, white, red, brown.

You can choose a color to match the furniture and floor, or you can make a contrasting wall in the interior, both options are appropriate depending on the design. You should also pay attention to the brightness of the planks, which determines the fusion of colors, or the contrast in one group of shades. The color can be matched to the doors or the floor color.

Light tones of laminate will look great in a country interior. One of the most popular colors is light brown. This color emphasizes the naturalness of the interior, and the walls look quite realistic. You can decorate one wall or the entire room.

White is also chosen. Shabby models fit perfectly into the Scandinavian style or Provence. But solid ones are more suitable for modern styles.

Gray is a universal option that will suit almost any interior. The wood texture stands out perfectly, but does not overload the interior.

The dark color range is represented by a wide variety – from brown to black. Dark brown laminate looks especially interesting. This effect is very similar to brushed wood. I recommend using this solution in moderation in finishing, so as not to create a gloomy atmosphere. It is enough to create an accent wall behind the sofa or at the head of the bed.

To create an original design, use multi-colored laminate with the effect of old boards.

The combination of laminate flooring requires harmony with the main finish:

• When laying a whole wall with dark laminate, it is better to cover the rest with plain and light wallpaper;
• Dark plaster in the interior will look good in contrast with white laminate;
• To create an endless space, you can finish the wall and floor in the same color.

Examples in the interior

Living room

Laminate finishing is appropriate in rooms of any purpose, it is important in each case to combine the color of the panels with the main color of the finishing.

Laminate in the living room can be mounted both vertically and horizontally, it depends on the size of the room. For example, horizontal panels are suitable only for high living rooms and will make it visually wider. Vertical installation is suitable for small spaces and will make the ceilings visually higher.

The photo shows an accent wall of horizontal panels with mirror inserts, which creates a sense of depth in the room.

Kitchen

In the kitchen, laminate can be used as an accent contrasting wall and apron for the work surface, which will protect against splashes and is easy to clean. The color should be in harmony with the facade of the kitchen set. To highlight the dining area, you can choose contrasting colors or make a border from moldings.

Bedroom

In the bedroom, laminate can be used as inserts above the headboard. If the bedroom is large, you can cover the entire wall and hang colored accessories and framed photographs. A wooden headboard in the same color as the bed or bedside tables will create coziness.

The photo shows an example of an interior with wall decoration and floor finishing in one color. It looks impressive and creates a sense of infinity.

The photo shows the wall decoration at the head of the bed, which matches the overall country style of the bedroom interior.

Hallway

The walls in the hallway should be especially practical. You can decorate only the entrance area or the door slopes. A small hallway can be visually expanded with horizontal masonry.

In the photo, the hallway corner is paneled with natural wood color panels and matches the neutral shades of the interior.

Bathroom

Only moisture-resistant laminate can be used for finishing the walls in the bathroom and only if there is high-quality ventilation, which is important for the durability of the structure. I do not recommend using it in a shower stall or on the wall near the bathtub. But in other places, please – the interior will become much more comfortable.

Balcony or loggia

Laminate has become a common material for covering balconies. It protects the wall insulation from moisture, and can also be used to make shelves and cover cabinets on the balcony. This is a great option if the balcony serves as a study.

Use laminate only in heated rooms.

Choosing the class and method of fastening

When choosing laminate, it is worth considering that:

• the wall will not be exposed to heavy loads;
• the choice of the locking system depends on the fastening method;
• laminate has a wide range of colors and textures, so you can design the interior to suit almost any of your desires.

Mounting methods

• Adhesive. This is a system without locks, installation is carried out only with the help of glue, which is applied to the side and back. The glue should be silicone-based, or “liquid nails”. The panels are glued one after another, and any glue that comes out should be removed immediately with a wet sponge.
• Click. To fasten two parts, they are tilted at an angle of 20 degrees to each other and the laminate is inserted into the grooves. The lock snaps easily and firmly connects the panels. It can be attached to the lathing with glue; this option is resistant to mechanical impacts.
• Tongue and groove. Fastening based on the tongue and groove lock principle, which does not require additional gluing. Fastening to the frame, the panel is fixed in the groove with the help of clamps-clamps.

Which class to choose?

To lay laminate on the wall, it is not necessary to use the highest durable class (from 33 to 34), a material of low strength from 21 to 31 classes is enough.

In the photo, the white color makes the living room interior lighter, and the wood texture adds coziness.

Which direction of installation should I choose?

With the horizontal method, the joints converge into one line, which should be covered with baseboards, and they are attached to the surface with dowel nails. The baseboard is installed no more than every 1.5 meters. To ensure that the installation is durable and the load is distributed evenly, the laminate should be cut into strips before starting.

Horizontal placement of boards in the interior (as in the photo) will make the room wider, and vertical placement will make it higher.

The vertical method implies that the panels are vertically attached to a flat wall. There are many installation options, you can combine leftovers from different batches and colors to create a unique interior design.

How to attach? (video)

In practice, only two common methods of attaching to the wall are used: adhesive and lathing.

Adhesive method

It requires a flat surface to which the laminate will be attached, otherwise gaps will appear and the service life will be shorter. Installing laminate boards using this method does not require special knowledge and can be done by yourself. You can glue any type of panels, with or without locks.

When installing with glue, in addition to liquid nails, you can use a special glue on silicone, then the panel is pressed. For reliability, the lock can be glued.

Metal or wood lathing

This method does not require creating a flat wall surface using plaster or drywall, since a frame is created. The lathing makes additional insulation and soundproofing of the room. Here the panel is attached with nails or clamps. This method is longer, but will help save on leveling the surface.

To create a wooden lathing, you need 2-4 cm slats, which are attached to the wall at a distance of 20-50 cm parallel to the future panels. The metal frame is made of drywall profiles, and some manufacturers also offer a ready-made frame.