Features (pros and cons)
Undoubtedly, an effective solution for decorating an apartment’s interior has both its pros and cons.
- Dust is less noticeable against a light background, but dirt is more visible;
- White color visually increases the area of the room;
- The direction of the boards will adjust the interior space, stretching or expanding it;
- White color goes well with any shades of walls and furniture;
- White laminate goes well with many interior styles.
The photo shows a light living room with white laminate, brightly filled with furniture and elements finishing.
To make the laminate last much longer, I recommend looking at the guide to choosing high-quality laminate.
Surface types and design
Glossy
An effective finishing method. Gloss will not only decorate the interior, but also visually enlarge the room due to its reflective properties. However, over time, scratches appear, which are especially noticeable on a glossy surface. When cleaning, noticeable stains may remain.
Lacquered
Lacquered coating, unlike glossy, reflects not only light, but also objects. The material also looks impressive in white, but, unfortunately, even high-class laminate will lose its appearance over time.
Matte
A more common type of finish. Matte laminate has a more durable surface and can indistinguishably imitate the relief and pattern of wood. In addition, the matte finish is more practical and suits almost any style.
The photo shows a bedroom in a modern style. The headboard and curtains of the same shade are used as bright details in the interior.
Under the tile
Laminate under the tile can be divided into two types. Individual elements in the form of tiles and large segments that contain several tiles. The coating differs in the laying process from ordinary laminate.
Aged
White laminate under the old style will look chic in a classic, Provence, loft, modern interior. The worn surface with a patina is combined with furniture of smooth shapes and straight lines.
With texture
The relief and texture of the wood applied to the surface of the laminate allows for an indistinguishable imitation of natural wood.
Seamless
The seamless coating forms an absolutely flat, smooth surface without gaps. The material is easy to install and does not require special care.
With a pattern
An interesting method is suitable for decorating the interior of a living room, bedroom or children’s room. The pattern can decorate each tile of the laminate or each element forms one pattern on the floor. In the latter case, the flooring is laid out in a certain order.
With inscriptions
Floor covering with inscriptions is suitable for decorating an interior in a modern style. Just like any other pattern, the inscriptions can be on each board or be part of one large inscription.
With veins
Veins imitate the pattern of wood in the cut. On a white background they can be colorless or, on the contrary, a contrasting dark shade.
Under the board
The most popular type of coloring of laminate boards. Technologies allow copying the pattern and texture of painted wooden boards.
Installation options
Installation “straight”
A simple way of laying, the direction starts from the door. The arrangement can be longitudinal or transverse. It can visually adjust the space, making a narrow room wider due to the transverse arrangement of the board or, conversely, longer with a longitudinal layout.
The photo shows a study in a modern style. The interior is filled with decor in blue tones.
Diagonal
With the diagonal method of laying, the material is consumed on average by 20-30%. The method of laying differs from the “straight” method; assembly begins from the center or corner of the room at an angle of 45 degrees. This finishing method makes the room more spacious.
Herringbone
This finishing method requires laminate of a special narrow shape and other locks. Laminate flooring laid in a herringbone pattern looks original and resembles parquet flooring.
The photo shows a light living room in a modern style. Laminate board laid in a herringbone pattern.
Artistic laminate
It has non-standard tile sizes and forms a pattern when assembled. Visually, the flooring looks like parquet. However, laminate is much easier to assemble and has a lower price.
The diagram shows examples of laying laminate in different ways.
With or without a chamfer
Chams are the beveled edges of the laminate. A small bevel can form U-shaped or V-shaped notches on the assembled surface. The chamfers can be located either along the long side or frame all 4 parts of the board.
Using laminate with a longitudinal chamfer, the room will seem longer. Covering with four-sided chamfers brings the resemblance to natural wood closer. There is no fundamental difference in the material, the only inconvenience may be in maintenance, dust and dirt can get into the cracks.
In the photo on the left is laminate with a chamfer, on the right – without a chamfer.
Shape of laminate
Rectangular board
Rectangular board is the most common finishing option. Laying in one direction or another helps to make the room wider or longer. The rectangular shape better imitates a wooden board and is perfect for the interior of compact spaces.
The photo shows a compact living room in the neoclassical style with white rectangular laminate and an accent wall of dark gray color.
Square board
The square shape perfectly imitates parquet flooring. The installation principle is no different from that of regular laminate, except that square laminate does not require a backing. Square laminate looks impressive and will look best in the interior of a spacious room due to the pattern.
Photo in the interior
Kitchen
Modern technologies allow using laminate as a floor covering in the kitchen, without any damage to it. White will be an excellent background, in combination with which the filling of any shade will look harmonious. The set can be either a discreet pastel shade or a deep dark color. For the kitchen interior, the best solution would be to use vinyl laminate, it is more “resistant” to moisture.
Living room
White laminate in the living room interior will look impressive and visually make the room larger. The pattern and texture of the wood on the floor, the wall decoration of a restrained color and furniture of smooth shapes will be laconically combined in a classic interior, forming a single picture.
The smooth white surface also combines well with bolder colors. Bright color of walls, brickwork or extravagant furniture, various combinations can create a unique modern interior, a fashionable loft or gentle Provence.
Bedroom
White floor combined with light wall and ceiling finishes create an incredibly open and light bedroom. Furniture can match the finish or be in a contrasting dark tone. Particularly successful solutions will be the design of the bedroom in Provence, classic, minimalist and Scandinavian styles.
The photo shows a stylish bedroom in a modern style. The minimalist design is decorated with elements of a bright yellow hue.
Children’s room
White laminate will make the interior of the children’s room brighter and will be a great solution for the background color. The laminate can be covered with a soft carpet of a playful color. In addition, laminate is easy to maintain and does not collect dust, unlike carpet.
Hallway and hallway
White flooring will definitely look impressive in the interior of a corridor or hallway. A small room will visually become more spacious and brighter, and wet cleaning will be enough to maintain cleanliness.
Color combination
White and gray
The colors are close and look harmonious together. Gray can be present as one of the colors of the pattern or in the form of veins on the board “under the tree”. The combination is suitable for interior design in a modern, classic, loft, Scandinavian style.
Black and white
Contrasting black and white combination will decorate a modern interior design. Depending on the predominant color, the appearance of the room will change. With a white base tone, the design will be light with bright accents, while a black background will make the interior brutal.
The photo shows a studio kitchen in a modern style. Black transverse stripes visually make the room wider.
White and brown
A warm combination will look good in an artistic setting. The combination is perfect for finishing in a classic interior. The colors also look harmonious in classic rectangular tiles with imitation wood.
Non-standard surfaces for finishing: walls and ceiling
In addition to the usual floor finishing, you can use your imagination and make the interior unusual and interesting. Walls finished with laminate of the same color as the floor will become its continuation, the surfaces will look like a single whole. The accent wall can also differ from the finish of the other surfaces, the result will also be spectacular and unusual.
An original interior solution will be finishing the ceiling with laminate. Unusual material can echo the floors with a common pattern or color.
What color of walls to choose? What wallpaper will suit?
The main advantage of white is the ability to combine with absolutely any shade.
- The color of the walls can be any. Depending on the nature of the shade, the interior will be filled with light or will have subdued lighting.
- White laminate looks harmonious with dark-colored wallpaper. It balances the colors, “calming them down.”
- With a white floor, wallpaper of any shade will look rich and expressive.
Combination with the ceiling color
To give the maximum amount of light to the interior of the room, the color of the floor and ceiling can be made white, and wallpaper can be chosen as a bright accent. The design will be light and airy. A dark or black ceiling will also look quite harmonious with a light floor covering, the colors will balance each other, maintaining balance.
Which skirting board to choose?
A white skirting board will become an extension of the floor and a smooth transition to the walls. The border between the surfaces will be blurred and smooth. A black skirting board will draw a visible line between the planes and delimit them. When choosing black skirting boards, it is worth considering that any unevenness will be noticeable.
What color of doors should I choose?
The color of the doors should match the overall design and stylistic direction. For example, black, wenge and dark brown doors will look harmonious in a modern interior.
White and light brown will decorate classic, Scandinavian and Provence styles. But, given the design concept, almost any shade can match the chosen style of the room.
What furniture to choose?
White furniture will blend in with the flooring, but against the contrasting background of the walls it will look quite appropriate and harmonious. Dark gray and brown furniture will contrast with the floor, while maintaining the visual area of the room.
Shades of white oak, white ash, white pear
White has many shades, when superimposed on the texture of wood of different species, a unique combination is obtained.
- Painted white oak has a cold shade with a gray tint.
- White ash, on the contrary, belongs more to the warm palette and has a yellowish tint.
- White pear resembles mother-of-pearl tints, it combines light pink, gray and blue colors.
The photo shows a modern light bedroom with white oak laminate. The design is entirely in white, with some black elements.
What styles does white laminate suit?
Modern
For modern trends, such as high-tech or minimalism, white laminate will be one of the best interior solutions. The color supports the rigor and simplicity of the design, while visually increasing the space and looking very impressive.
The photo shows the interior of a room in a modern style, the design is done in white and gray with accents of bright green.
Classic
Classic and neoclassical interior with light wood-like flooring will be an elegant and, at the same time, luxurious way of decoration. Warm shades, such as white ash, are suitable for finishing.
Scandinavian
For Scandinavian design, white can be considered an integral detail in the design. Cool shades of white flooring in combination with other light pastel details create an interior that is maximally filled with light.
The photo shows a Scandinavian style kitchen, done in white. The design has simple forms and is complemented by wooden elements.
Provence
The lightness of the gentle and romantic Provence style is best emphasized by light finishing. White laminate “under the tree” with an aging effect will perfectly fit into the picture of the style.
White laminate will be a good idea for renovation, both in a compact city apartment and in a spacious country house. The color successfully combines with different styles, colors and lighting.