Laminate of different colors (Lamina) is a beautiful type of flooring, the basis of which is a high-density fiberboard and a top layer in the form of a protective and decorative wear-resistant film.
Light laminate flooring has a very significant number of advantages
Criteria for choosing a light laminate
Dark laminate is gradually being replaced by light types, when choosing which you should pay attention to the following basic parameters:
- manufacturer rating and consumer reviews;
- wear resistance indicators;
- exterior design features;
- material cost;
- level of resistance to mechanical stress;
- moisture resistance indicators;
- environmental characteristics.
The optimal thickness of the finishing material is within 7-8 mm with dimensions of 400x1200 mm. It should be noted that high-quality laminates are made on the basis of HDF boards. The best characteristics are provided by materials produced by European manufacturers, including Krontex and Tarkett.
In apartment conditions, flooring of 21-23 classes is most often used, and in offices and public spaces with high traffic rates it is advisable to use material of 31-33 classes. The “AC” parameter indicates the level of wear resistance, and environmental friendliness can be assessed using the “E1” marking. You can evaluate the quality of finishing panels by carefully examining product samples from different manufacturers.
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Flaws
Despite many positive qualities, light laminate also has a number of disadvantages. Some of them are related to operation, some are due to design limitations. More details about each of them:
- Increased soilability of the coating. Naturally, coatings of any light shades have increased requirements for the cleanliness of the room. Dirt on light colors is much more visible, and therefore requires more careful care. For laminate flooring, the situation is complicated by intolerance to wet cleaning up to class 33-34.
- Some lighting features can create an unnatural effect on the coating. Most often, they try to make the laminate as similar as possible to a natural covering made of wood or stone, but the shine can give away its artificial origin;
- Requires a competent selection of accompanying decorative elements: baseboards, window frames and doors must match in shade, which is the task of the designer;
- A light shade can simplify the appearance of a room.
Each of these shortcomings can be worked out and with a competent approach to the design of the room, you can work with them. Thus, most buyers today are initially looking for a moisture-resistant laminate, which allows for wet cleaning.
In addition, a steam mop can perfectly replace cleaning with a damp cloth and will easily remove all dirt from the surface. Such cleaning will be even better, since a powerful jet of steam knocks all the dirt off the surface with a force inaccessible to conventional wet cleaning.
Important! Modern laminate often has an antistatic coating, the presence of which is indicated on the packaging. In this case, dust settles less on the surface and does not stick or eat into it. With regular cleaning with a steam mop, it is very easy to remove dirt from such a surface.
The problem of glare is much more pressing. However, you should not think that light laminate is a uniform light shade. Effects with shade transitions and even small dark highlights “like painted wood” are often used. Moreover, thanks to the high quality of production technologies of the largest European laminate manufacturers, such a problem most often does not occur.
Of course, it’s worth understanding that the effect of self-sufficiency and sophistication of the room for light and dark laminate are significantly different. The effect of dark laminate is closer to the classic, monolithic and heavy, familiar perception, and corresponds to design styles such as classic, baroque or even gothic style.
Light laminate gives a slightly different effect - spacious and light, unobtrusive and a little rustic, closer to such design trends as high-tech, Provence, minimalism or Scandinavian interior style. Which style to choose is purely a matter of taste.
Pros and cons of using light laminate in the interior
Light laminate flooring has a very significant number of advantages, but it is not without some disadvantages that must be taken into account in the process of selecting and purchasing finishing materials.
The advantages of light finishing materials are presented:
- the ability to visually expand space in small spaces, including modern studio apartments;
- the ability to create the effect of fully filling the entire room with a sufficient amount of light, including apartments with windows facing north;
- lower levels of dustiness and soiling of the floor covering compared to the indicators of any dark, including brown, laminate;
- the ability to create interiors with a rather interesting and original, sometimes complex appearance, including the contrasting design of “light walnut - black oak”.
Selection rules depending on the room
There are certain recommendations that depend on the specific room. Among them:
- Kitchen. It is a difficult space in terms of choosing the wear resistance class of the material. Match the appearance to the overall design. There is high humidity in the kitchen, and there is a possibility of greasy drops falling on the floor. Therefore, a material with a high degree of resistance to the negative influence of these factors is ideal.
- Bathroom. Experts do not recommend using such a coating in this room. Stone or tile is considered the most suitable. If you are only considering a laminate option, be sure to choose one with high water resistance. It is expensive, but copes with steam, moisture and condensation.
- Living room or bedroom. In addition to wear resistance and beauty, other indicators need to be taken into account. It matters how well the material absorbs noise, especially for the bedroom. Therefore, a high-quality product that will not creak when walking is suitable. For children, it is necessary to consider the safety of the material, whether it causes allergies, and how warm it is. Rough surfaces are better suited instead of smooth.
- Hallway. The corridor has a high traffic level. The floor is more exposed to contamination and is washed more often. Therefore, models with resistance to moisture and good wear resistance are suitable.
The tips listed will help you choose the right covering for your room. Thanks to this, you will be able to avoid many errors during registration.
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Color and texture options for light wood laminate
Laminated wood-look flooring in light colors, thanks to its sophistication and sophistication, is an ideal option for installation in small spaces, as well as for decorating spaces with such stylistic solutions as “Ethnic”, “Country” and “Minimalism”:
- Tarkett laminart “white specks”;
- Tarkett laminart “white chic”;
- Richflоор classic «teak parquet»;
- Richflоор classic “beech parquet”;
- Richflower classic “light sequoia”;
- Richflower classic “cognac oak”;
- Praktik promotion synchro “Meursault oak”;
- Praktik promotion synchro “champagne oak”;
- Praktik promotion lak “oak terra-gloss”;
- Praktik promotion gloss “oak smoky gloss”;
- Praktik melody “Alaska oak”;
- Platinum standard “elm”;
- Platinum standard “Siberian ash”;
- Kronostar superior “mountain oak”;
- Kronostar superior “natural oak”;
- Kronostar superior “Stockholm ash”;
- Kronostar superior “retouched oak”;
- Kronostar superior “waveless white oak”;
- Kronostar superiorior “bleached oak”;
- Grundе solid with Tuscan oak bevel;
- Grundе solid with imperial oak bevel;
- Grunde massive "teak iceberg";
- Grundе massive "champagne oak";
- Grunde ecotica "Santana oak";
- Grunde ehotica “Arctic oak”;
- Grunda carbonon “vintage oak”;
- Grunde carbonon "Avignon oak";
- Grundе сarbon “polar oak”;
- Grundе admirаl lux “bleached oak”;
- Velflower universal “ice oak”;
- Velflooor universal “bleached pine”;
- Velflооr universal "oak lounge".
“Palace Oak” and “Imperial Oak” are especially well combined with modern interior design.
It is very important to observe the combinatorial nature of all finishing materials used.
Design tips
To get the most attractive visual effect, it is very important to observe the combinatorial nature of all finishing materials used.
How to choose wallpaper for light laminate flooring
In order to visually expand the space in the room, it is advisable to complement light wallpaper with dark flooring and light furniture. The light finish of the floor, on the contrary, looks very harmonious with wallpaper in relatively dark, sandy tones or the color of milk chocolate.
Flooring in white and beige, as well as various pastel shades, goes well with wenge-style wallpaper. Yellowish and golden laminated boards can be very successfully complemented with wallpaper in green, terracotta, brownish and orange tones. It is advisable to combine gray floor finishing with shades of wall materials that are as close in tone as possible.
White floor. How to avoid mistakes?
First of all, when choosing white floors, carefully consider the color theme of the entire room decoration. As we said above, you should not make the floor lighter than the walls - in rare cases it looks good, but rather you will achieve the opposite effect.
In addition, it is also important to choose the right shade of the board. It is well known that there are “cold white” and “warm white” colors. As you might guess, a cold shade will go better with cold finishing colors: blue, blue, lilac, etc., and a warm shade will go better with brown, yellow, orange, etc.
You should not choose a cold white laminate for beige wallpaper; it is better to choose a board with a brown tint or streaks. But for gray or snow-white wallpaper, snow-white floors would be the ideal solution.
Another common issue that customers face is: what is better, matte or glossy laminate? It's a matter of taste here. Designers note that the matte finish is more wear-resistant and looks more natural than glossy laminate. Although, in some cases, gloss will be more appropriate - for example, in a high-tech style finish.
Try, fantasize, experiment. You shouldn’t be afraid of the fair sex, as our ancestors were afraid of. Today, such floors are made all over the world, because they really look very vintage, impressive and stylish.
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Gallery: light laminate in the interior (50 photos)
Of particular interest is the “minimalism” style, which has become especially promising in recent years, in which the most ideal and harmonious floor covering is in almost any light shade.
, made in coral or wine shades, can be a successful addition In any case, you should completely abandon the brightest accessories and decorative elements. A good result is also achieved by adding any indoor plants to the interior, grown in stylish flower pots made from natural materials or durable, high-strength plastic.
You should completely abandon the brightest accessories and decorative elements.
Combination with other colors
The interior, made in white tones, looks original, stylish and noble. White furniture sets off the color of the flooring. But an abundance of white can drown out other colors. To prevent this from happening, laminate flooring is used in different tones, and structures and decor are used in richer or darker colors. This harmonizes the environment.
White, sand or beige shades of laminate perfectly complement the interior, made in a classic style. Laminate that imitates oak wood can be gray in color. Purple and lilac tones used in a minimalist style are combined with gray flooring. The shade “gray oak” emphasizes the antique nature of furniture and things when creating an interior in a vintage style.
A successful combination of colors in the interior with White Oak
Rooms with white walls and bleached oak laminate floors provide a bright accent. White color softens and dilutes the richness of cherry or purple, focusing attention on them. The living room looks elegant and stylish, the interior of which combines light colors on the floors and walls with dark rich “spots” in the form of a carpet, curtains, and picture frames.
Laminate in the interior of the apartment
A light laminated floorboard in a room expands, enlarges the space, and also makes it lighter, more comfortable and voluminous.
Combination of light laminate flooring with colored laminate in the interior of rooms
The light tone of the floor design helps to use completely different color and shade combinations in the interior. It is best to combine one shade that belongs to a cold color scheme, and another to a warm one, which allows you to advantageously emphasize the interior of the room.
What is laminate
Laminate flooring resembles wooden parquet. But it cannot be completely attributed to wood products. The top layer is made of resin, acrylic or melamine. It is a protective coating that preserves the beauty of the decorative finish. The first layer is followed by a film. It is decorative and imitates wood. Then comes a slab made of fiberboard or chipboard, which makes the product tougher and stronger.
The manufactured products have various consumer properties. You can choose the most suitable one for a particular room.
The top layer of the laminate is made of resin
You can choose the appropriate laminate for a specific room.
See alsoDesign features of a classic American interior
Light floor in the interior (video)
By choosing the basic tone of the laminated board, you can finish the floor in a similar range, but a few shades darker, choose complete contrast, and also recreate a combined multi-color effect or a smooth transition. It should be remembered that sharp color transitions look good on loggias and in children's or playrooms. It is advisable to first make a sketch in which all contrasting combinations will be taken into account, transition areas will be indicated and other parameters of the floor cladding will be taken into account. As the practice of using laminates shows and designers advise, it is categorically not recommended to get carried away with excessive diversity, since in this case all the sophistication and decorative appeal of the finished floor covering is lost.
Advantages of white laminate
Such flooring should be used in rooms where there is a lack of natural light. In this case, the room will become lighter and more spacious.
According to reviews, white laminate in the interior, photos of which are presented, in addition to its external qualities, is famous for its high level of wear resistance and ease of installation. If you choose a really high-quality laminate, it will last a very long time without the need for replacement. Moreover, unlike many other flooring options, this type perfectly withstands mechanical damage, for example, the claws of dogs and cats. In addition, a good laminate will not crack if a heavy object is suddenly dropped on it.
High-quality white laminate in the living room interior
This applies to laminated panels of any color. Moreover, the white laminate in the interior, a photo of which has already been presented, also has such positive qualities as resistance to fading and normal perception of ultraviolet radiation. As a result, the floors will retain their original appearance for many years.
White laminate in the bathroom interior
The moisture resistance of laminate is much higher than that of many popular types of flooring. The panels are easy to clean and are not afraid of various cleaning agents. For this reason, laminate flooring is very popular for use in kitchens and hallways.
White laminate in the bedroom interior combined with black curtains
