Options for sandblasting patterns for sliding wardrobe mirrors, photo examples

Merlin June 15, 2018

An illuminated mirror looks incredibly impressive

Sandblasting is a popular design innovation. With its help, furniture takes on an original, elegant look. Let's talk about application technologies, combinations, choice of images, and rules for caring for such decor.

What is sandblasting?

Spraying sand or abrasive powder with a stream of air or water creates a roughness/notch on the surface of glass, metal, stone. Using sandblasting technology, a matte decorative surface appears on glass and mirrors.

The wardrobe in the living room is in perfect harmony with the decor

In the production of furniture, mirrors and glass with sandblasting patterns are used. The image is obtained using stencils. After sanding, a glossy pattern remains underneath, which stands out effectively against the matte surface.

The matte finish of the surface depends on the grain size of the sand fractions and the amount of pressure. Images can be mirrored, matte and color. The cost does not depend on the type of pattern and material, but on the size of the area being processed.

Elegant wardrobe in the hallway

Durability and safety.

Here you need to pay attention to the materials from which the cabinet is made. For the cabinet body, laminated chipboard (chipboard) with a thickness of about 16 mm is usually used.

The color palette of laminated chipboard is huge; it all depends on the range used by the manufacturer. Someone will offer you 5-7 standard colors. Others will be able to choose almost any wood textures and shades or solid colors, from natural to bright.

The quality of laminated chipboard is determined by its structure; single-layer, three-layer, and five-layer boards are distinguished. For reliable furniture, three-layer chipboard is most often used. The safety class of the material is also important; for laminated chipboard this is the level of formaldehyde emission, which must be at least E1.

It is better to evaluate the quality of fittings and fastenings in advance using the samples available in the store, then there will be no unpleasant surprises when installing and using the furniture, and the cabinet will serve you for many years. By the way, the standard warranty for furniture is 2 years, but in fact the service life of a quality product is more than 10 years.

Peculiarities

Sliding wardrobes are distinguished by a massive facade, which weighs down the interior. The use of a matted image transforms the cabinet, making it elegant and original. Such furniture decorates any room: living room, corridor, children's room, bedroom.

With different lighting, the pattern changes, so there is no obsessive pressure of monotony and annoyance. Decorative lighting gives a special chic: the design takes on three-dimensionality.

Floral pattern in the bedroom

Advantages and disadvantages

Cabinets with sandblasted patterns attract the eye and become the highlight of the interior. The technology allows you to create non-standard images, including graphic masterpieces. The flight of fancy is unlimited.

There is a huge selection of ready-made pictures. In the catalogs they are divided into groups:

• ornaments;
• animals;
• plant elements;
• oriental patterns;
• abstraction.

The finished image is durable: it is not afraid of UV rays, does not crumble, and does not lose its original appearance. Disadvantages include vulnerability to impacts, difficulties in dealing with greasy marks and fingerprints. Care must be taken during transportation, as glass becomes more fragile after processing.

When ordering sandblasting, include silicone treatment in the price list. This eliminates the risk of damage to the structure and prevents contamination

What is sandblasting?

A sandblasted canvas is a smooth mirror or glass surface with a pattern applied to it. This can be a matte image on a mirror or transparent background. Or, on the contrary, the matte field is decorated with a reflective pattern. Another option is a colored sandblasting design.

Matte image on a mirror or transparent background.

Sandblasting techniques

Masters of sandblasting design use different application techniques. All of them have features that affect the perception of the drawing:

Sliding wardrobes with a sandblasted pattern on the mirror are always elegant and unobtrusive. The pattern can be across the entire canvas, in the middle, diagonally or angular (pattern elements are in the corners).

How to choose

Floral pattern is a popular pattern on wardrobes

In the manufacturers' catalog you can find any image or order a drawing based on an illustration or a homemade sketch. The stencils are not difficult to prepare and the price does not change much.

The choice of sandblasting depends on your financial capabilities and other factors:

• cabinet location;
• interior style;
• compartment dimensions;
• room size;
• from the surface on which the drawing will be (glass, mirror);
• from application technique.

Designers recommend leaving one door panel intact or with small fragments in the upper corners on the facade of a mirrored cabinet. This will allow you to fully use the mirror and see your reflection.

Urban themes and city attractions - classics of the genre

Which sandblasted wardrobe should you choose? A few example tips will help you decide:

1. For the bedroom , choose a natural theme: silhouettes of birds, leaves, lace edging like frosty frost, floral patterns.
2. For the corridor - the choice is not limited, any theme is appropriate here, but there should be a piece of clean mirror left to evaluate your appearance before leaving the house. The pattern, ornament and partial engraving look good here.
3. For a study , a small abstraction or a simple drawing is suitable. They will not be distracting and will make your closet look sophisticated.
4. In the living room , everything should be festive and beautiful. Choose floral and plant compositions, plant motifs, complex ornaments, thematic paintings.
5. For lovers of minimalism , it is better to take a clean mirror canvas with a frame made of openwork elements.
6. In a children's room - you need a bewitching/fairy-tale drawing. Execution should be simple and understandable to the child. Nature, animals, butterflies, fairy-tale characters, cartoon characters are suitable.
7. For a teenager’s room - panoramic views of streets, cities, images of logos, abstraction, three-dimensional objects, using deep sandblasting technology.

Simple drawing for a children's room

When choosing a pattern for many years to come, try to find a balance between fashion and your taste. The image shouldn’t get boring after a year, so don’t make flashy, provocative pictures. Sandblasting should be a calm and beautiful addition to the room.

Current patterns

There are a lot of beautiful drawings. It is worth choosing so that the new furniture is in harmony with the rest of the interior details. It is necessary to take into account the area of ​​the room and the height of the ceilings, because with the help of the right design you can achieve a visual expansion of the space. In addition, the ceilings of the room will appear higher. The choice also depends on where the closet will be located.

1. Abstract drawings will suit any setting. Doors with horizontal wavy lines or ovals will visually raise the ceiling. Circles and squares will expand the room. Broken lines will add a graphic touch to the interior.
2. Motifs of flora and fauna will allow you to enjoy the graceful forms of animals and birds, plant patterns, and exotic flowers. They will fit perfectly into a classic interior. Such designs on the closet are usually chosen for the bedroom. Often they order not the whole painting, but small fragments. In this case, the main surface area remains mirror or matte.
3. Oriental or African motifs - cherry blossoms, an ancient pagoda or a hut with a palm tree - are also popular. They are popular with people who prefer ethnic style in the interior, or who like to travel.
4. Sliding wardrobes are often placed in children's rooms. Then on the doors you can see characters from your favorite cartoons or fairy tales, funny animals, and dolls. Children usually really like this kind of furniture. Especially if it is a bright color image. Drawings for cabinets are chosen taking into account the child’s gender or interests.
5. The urban style, when images of famous city landmarks are painted on cabinet doors, is also relevant. On the surface of the furniture you can see New York skyscrapers, the Eiffel Tower or the Brooklyn Bridge. Such elements serve as decoration for the living room or hallway. Racing cars or motorcycles can decorate the austere interior of a man's bedroom or hallway.
6. Pop art and art deco style cabinet designs are popular. They turn out alive and voluminous due to the varying degrees of sand impact on the glass and the depth of the strokes. These styles are characterized by the most unexpected images - from graceful female heads to elements of beautiful antique columns. Colored drawings in a similar style will decorate a living room or bedroom.

Laconic geometric images are suitable for a simple interior and will fit perfectly into the design of the office.

Popular prints

When planning to purchase a sandblasting cabinet, everyone roughly knows the theme of the future picture. The catalogs of drawings are huge. For the convenience of users, they are divided into categories - this makes selection easier. Let's look at the most popular ones:

What to exclude

• contact with scratching objects;
• contact/treatment with aggressive compounds containing acids, acetone, alkali, gasoline, solvent;
• possibility of impacts;
• ingestion of fats;
• during installation and repair, do not allow contact with glue, polyurethane foam, or sealant;
• Children's pranks involving drawing on the surface with markers and felt-tip pens are unacceptable;
• Do not clean the surface with fluffy colored fabrics or powder abrasives;
• never use washing powder.

By following basic care and maintenance recommendations, your beautiful cabinet will last for decades.

Recommendations for cleaning the sandblasting cabinet

• remove dust only with natural fabric (linen, cotton);
• wash with products intended for glass;
• Remove the greasy stain locally, followed by washing the entire fabric. First, the stain can be washed with dishwashing liquid-gel;
• After wet cleaning, be sure to wipe dry;
• cleaning takes place without pressing on the drawing;
• It is advisable to operate in a dry room with humidity within 70%.

Sudden changes in temperature, parkiness, and high humidity can damage the mirror.

Interesting solutions in interior design

Several examples of the use of drawings will help you navigate the decor of the cabinet and its location.

• Sandblasting in brownish, coffee tones with floral abstraction will add an elegant look to the living room interior. A good arrangement of the pattern is obtained on the three-door version.
• For a two-door wardrobe installed in a modern room, you can choose an image of a girl or a silhouette of a bird.
• In the room where you relax and spend a lot of time, you can use peaceful landscapes, for example, graceful trees, a forest stream, a mountain lake, a birch grove.
• In a two-door wardrobe installed in the bedroom, one panel remains a clean mirror, on the second there are birds and plants.
• A large wardrobe with 3-4 doors will lose its bulkiness when applied with colored sandblasting. For example, red flowers in a beige setting.
• Pictures with a Japanese theme (house, boat on the river, sakura branch, tiger) are ideal for the bedroom.
• Bold designs include bright colors and large objects: a radiant sunset on three doors, a pair of swans on a blue background.

Japanese motifs on a four-door coupe

What are sandblasted designs combined with?

The popularity of sandblasting equipment is explained by its universal use. Moreover, glass and mirrors with patterns dilute the overabundance of wooden furniture and add lightness. Sandblasting designs can be combined with stained glass and painting.

It is better to leave one mirror clean in the hallway and bedroom

Sandblasting is combined with any interior elements: furniture upholstery, curtains, wall panels, paintings, photo printing, etc. A harmonious look with antique elements and modern styles. The processed glass does not discord with the technology.

Combination of materials

Along with the design of solid fabric models, furniture with combined facades is very popular. The placement of blind doors made of chipboard and a facade with sandblasted images in a different sequence creates a non-trivial image and originality of the visual effect. In addition, the sandblasting technique is successfully used not only on straight models, but also on corner versions.

Cabinets that combine a combination of processing with elements of vintage art or engraving, tinted glass and wood inserts will not go unnoticed. To complete the look, they are equipped with lighting fixtures.

This type of technique can be combined with artistic sandblasting. In this case, the sketch drawn by the artist is transferred to glass or a mirror, and dye is added to the mixture itself, resulting in a colored pattern.