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.
We also recommend reading:
How to choose New Year's gifts for school Features of boiler rooms and descriptions of varieties How to build a gazebo out of wood with your own hands? Quarantine at home! How not to get sick?
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”.
Practicality of finishing
When choosing flooring and wallpaper, it is worth considering the practicality of finishing coatings. If the windows face the sunny side, the floor illumination will be maximum. In such cases, you should avoid using dark-colored laminate. Otherwise, the floor covering will look dusty. This will make cleaning the room much more difficult.
Also, dark floors should not be used in rooms where there is very little natural light. Here, installing such a laminate will create a gloomy and boring atmosphere.
White laminate is especially popular among consumers. With its help, they create a luxurious floor that will color the entire room. But, there are cases when it is better to refuse such finishing. If there are animals or small children in the house, then a white floor is not the best solution. The fact is that in such conditions the risk of contamination of the floor covering is very high. As a result, the floor will quickly lose its original shine. It is better to opt for beige flooring material.
When choosing a floor, it is worth considering the cardinal directions to which the room’s windows face. If the windows face north, then it is better to choose light and warm colors for the floor. You should not use a gray shade here, as it will create a feeling of eternal cold. The warm wood texture will create a cozy homely atmosphere.
On the southern sunny side, it is better to use a cool palette for decoration. This will create a feeling of lightness and coolness.
On video: combination of laminate in the interior.
Related article: Wallpaper combination in the living room: choice of colors (+48 photos)
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.
Features of a white floor
When combining finishing materials, it is worth considering that the atmosphere of the room and the style of the interior will depend on this. The main role here is played by the floor and walls. Therefore, you need to approach their finishing very carefully. This is especially true when using white laminate.
This material will fit perfectly into a modern and minimalist style. It is also used to decorate a room in a high-tech style. When laying such a floor covering, it is worth considering that it is very demanding on the design of the surrounding interior. So, the walls should not be finished in white. Otherwise, light laminate and wallpaper are a fairly easy-to-understand combination.
Among the main combinations are the following:
- In combination with green wallpaper, white laminate will be an ideal solution for decorating a relaxation room. This combination will create a feeling of freshness and peace.
- The combination of white and purple can be used in almost any style.
- The combination of white and crimson colors also has some features. So, if a white laminate is used for decoration, then its effect can be enhanced by a furniture set of the same color. It is also appropriate to use light stucco molding and figurines here. Otherwise, the design will look unfinished.
- In a small room, it is best to use a combination of white flooring and blue wallpaper. This will create a feeling of weightlessness and lightness.
- White flooring and red wallpaper create a play of contrasts. Therefore, this combination must be used carefully. It is better to carry out such finishing in the kitchen and living room. White and red design allows you to visually enlarge the room.
- The classic option is yellow and white design. Such rooms will create a feeling of spaciousness and lightness. This style uses a combination of white floors and brown walls.
Do not forget that in homes where there are animals and children, such material will not be the most suitable option. A heavy load will cause the light laminate to quickly lose its original appearance.
Related article: Photo wallpaper for modern kitchens: varieties and tips for choosing
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.
How to choose the right laminate flooring for your living room
There are a number of traditional mistakes that almost all buyers make. To avoid them, it is worth studying some recommendations:
- For a sunny living room, you should not choose laminate in shades of wenge, American walnut, Asian walnut, rosewood. On dark shades, dust is very noticeable. Most often, rooms with such flooring look untidy.
- If the room is not saturated with sunlight, then do not choose a laminate that matches the tone of the walls. You risk getting a room where everything merges. For such rooms, choose laminate in shades of white oak, beech, and birch. With such a floor, wallpaper 3-4 shades darker than the floor would look appropriate.
- To decorate a small apartment, the laminate should be the same everywhere.
- The interior door in the living room should match the shade of the floor. Black-brown laminate does not go well with red and dark red shades of doors. The doors should be darker than the floor, but at the same time repeat the texture and texture of the floor covering. It is not recommended to choose laminate and interior doors in the same color. Otherwise, both of these elements will get lost in the living room.
- If you want to make the floor white or milky, then do not overdo it with light shades in other decorative elements.
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.
Advantages
Light laminate in the interior of an apartment is the best option for decorating the floor. Moreover, it goes well with other colors of the room design and fills the room with light, while hiding the room’s shortcomings.
The main thing is to choose the right combinations with other shades and textures. If you are not careful in the combination, you can end up with an absurd, surreal interior.
Let's consider the main advantages of light laminate as a floor covering:
- Visually increases the space. You can safely use light-colored laminate in a small room.
- Filling with light. If the windows in the room are not on the sunny side, then there is no natural light in the room. Therefore, in this case, it is simply necessary to choose a light-colored laminate to make the space more spacious and illuminated.
- It gets less dirty compared to dark laminate flooring. Dust is almost invisible on light laminate. This option is the most practical and less capricious.
- Thanks to the light shade of the laminate, you can create a complex, original interior design. On a white background, details look more expressive.
Therefore, when creating a room design that involves a combination of contrasting elements, you can safely use light laminate.
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.
Features of light laminate
Before you start working with light-colored material, you need to understand its features. First of all, it is worth highlighting the color. Usually they try to make laminate to imitate wood, which is why all shades of brown are so popular. But light colors, such as gray, beige, milky, white, stand a little further from this ideal. However, it has many advantages, thanks to which it has gained popularity among a certain circle of craftsmen and amateurs.
Advantages and disadvantages
To begin with, it’s worth mentioning which models we are considering. These are colors such as beige, milky, white, gray and light brown. Some consumers refer to this concept only as gray and white, but the shades we have listed also have common characteristics with the primary colors.
On a note! Contrary to popular belief, scratches on light-colored laminate are less visible.
So, the advantages include:
- Unusual appearance. We are all accustomed to the fact that the floor is made to look like wood, however, these models will add an unusual atmosphere.
- Markedness. In fact, such a surface can hide minor damage, which is especially useful for families with children or animals. Also, dust is not very visible on such a coating.
- Visual increase in space. A dark floor will make the room smaller, while a light floor will give a feeling of spaciousness.
- Adding light. With the help of bleached laminate, you can create the impression of being filled with light, which makes the entire interior brighter.
As you can see, the models under consideration have many advantages. But there are also shortcomings. These include the following:
- Unnaturalness. In some cases, white and gray laminate looks unnatural, that is, it does not imitate real wood. For example, white or grey.
- The difficulty is in creating harmony. For a dark floor, it is easier to choose baseboards and doors, as well as the color of walls, curtains and ceilings, because the color of natural wood is compatible with almost everything. And for light shades, you need to be scrupulous in choosing elements that are in close contact with the floor.
- Cold. Most light shades are cool tones, while brown is warm. Accordingly, with such a laminate you will create the basis for a cold interior.
- Pollution. Despite the fact that scratches and marks are less visible on such a laminate, dirt appears on it instantly.
However, the listed disadvantages cannot be considered completely disadvantages. This is a subjective assessment and lists shortcomings that may cause buyer dissatisfaction. But they are more a matter of taste than real shortcomings.
Which rooms should I use it in?
Is light laminate suitable for all rooms? The answer depends on the existing characteristics of the material, as well as on the method of caring for it.
On a note! It is better not to use light laminate in the kitchen.
In general, such models can be laid in any room if you properly care for the floor. However, in some parts of the apartment it is still better to refuse it. The risk zone includes:
- Kitchen. There is a high level of pollution here. Water may periodically drip or small debris fall onto the floor. Especially if the housewife does not sweep and wash the floor every day, then it is better to refuse light laminate in the kitchen.
- Children's room. Children often love to draw on the walls and floor. And if on a dark laminate the imperfect marks from the marker are not very visible, then on a light laminate they will become very noticeable.
- Hallway. In general, you can choose a light model for the hallway, but in a place where shoes are constantly placed, it is better to lay darker boards.
- Bathroom. You can't lay laminate flooring in the bathroom at all, as there is high humidity in this room.
So, light laminate is better suited for the bedroom and living room. But with proper care, it can be used in the kitchen, in the hallway, and in the nursery.
What styles is light laminate suitable for?
Light laminate can already be considered universal. It suits many styles, even learning to imitate marble. But it will best take root in the next ones.
- Minimalism. White and gray with a faint pattern are suitable here.
- High tech. Cool tones are what you need for high-tech. They will maintain the metallic shine and gloss of other interior parts.
- Provence. Being a rustic style, it has absorbed the warmth and tenderness passed down through generations. Therefore, beige, milky and light brown are perfect here. Considering that the basis of this style is beige, a suitable laminate is selected.
- Scandinavian. Speaking of light colors, choose white and gray. They best emphasize the coldness of the style. Light brown tones will look faceless and out of place. For the Scandinavian style, you need either a very light floor, close to white, to create an almost monochromatic base, diluting it with bright details. Or create contrast by making the floor as dark as possible.
This option is not suitable except for classics and baroque, where you need a naturally dark wood that will create a luxurious look.
But its versatility is amazing. It's even suitable for Gothic. If you choose a laminate that imitates marble or concrete, then it can be applied to the Roman style and even Gothic.