Laminate is a versatile and fashionable floor covering, ideal for both residential and industrial buildings or public spaces. The choice of laminate should be based on the specific requirements of the room, taking into account both its functional purpose and aesthetic preferences. Today, laminated boards are offered in a variety of colors, thicknesses, textures and surface treatments, which allows you to choose the best solution for any interior.
Laminate for the living room: which one to choose
When choosing laminate flooring for your living room, there are a number of important aspects to consider to ensure you create a stylish, harmonious and functional space. Choosing the right material can significantly affect the perception of a room, its visual appeal and comfort.
- Wood-look laminate flooring is a popular choice because it gives the living room a warm, cozy feel. For small living rooms, light shades of laminate flooring are recommended, as they visually expand the space, making it more open and spacious.
- To create an original and unique design, you can choose a laminate with non-standard imitations, for example, leather or bamboo. Bright and unusual shades of laminate should be harmoniously combined with the overall style of furniture and decor of the room, creating a holistic and complete image.
- For vintage or country style interiors, dark shades of laminate are the best choice. In loft style interiors, you can use bright shades of laminate with smooth transitions, which gives a modern and stylish look.
- In bright and well-lit rooms, too dark shades of laminate flooring should be avoided, as they can highlight dust and other small contaminants.
- Using laminate with horizontal stripes can visually expand the room, while vertical stripes will help to lengthen the living room space, making it more proportional.
- The color of the floor should contrast with the color of the furniture. If the floor is a few tones lighter or darker than the furniture, this will create an additional accent in the interior and help to emphasize the individuality of each design element.
Class is different
Laminate flooring classes vary in strength and wear resistance, which is important to consider when choosing a coating for different rooms. Laminate is classified in the range from 31 to 34 classes, with each class intended for a specific type of room and operating conditions.
- Laminate class 34 is usually used in technical and industrial premises due to its high wear resistance and durability. However, due to its high cost, it is rarely chosen for home conditions, as there are more affordable and suitable options.
- For the living room, class 32 laminate is considered the best choice. This grade strikes the perfect balance between price, strength and durability, making it most suitable for use in residential areas where there is frequent high traffic. Class 32 laminate is able to withstand regular loads without loss of appearance and quality.
The thickness of the laminated boards also plays an important role in choosing the right flooring.
In addition to class 32, it is also possible to use laminate of classes 33 and 31. Laminate of class 33 is a more durable option, but, as a rule, it does not justify its cost in conditions of normal home use, since laminate of class 32 is similar in characteristics and provides almost the same benefits.
Laminate class 31 is suitable for rooms with less traffic, such as a bedroom or study. However, given that the living room is usually one of the most active places in the house, laminate class 32 is the optimal choice, capable of providing both aesthetics and functionality for this area.
Selecting the color of the laminate
Selecting a laminate color that matches the doors and walls of the living room is a key aspect in creating a harmonious and cozy interior. It is important that the floor does not merge with the color of the walls and doors, but rather emphasizes them and creates an expressive background for furniture and other decorative elements of the room.
Principles of color selection:
- The floor and walls should not be painted the same shades. If the floor is dark, then it is advisable to make the walls light, and vice versa – with a light floor, the walls should be painted in darker colors, preferably several shades darker than the floor.
- It is important that the color of the floor and the doors harmonize with each other. In case of using dark laminate, the doors should not be white; beige or a tone close to the color of the floor will be the ideal choice.
- To avoid overload and disharmony in the interior, it is necessary to limit the color palette to three or four shades, taking into account the colors of furniture and decorative elements.
- In cases where the floor color matches the color of the furniture, it is recommended to use carpets that contrast in color with the laminate to create a visual division of space.
- If the floor is a few shades lighter than the doors, it is important that their textures match to create a harmonious look.
- Wenge color is suitable for both doors and laminate. This color creates a comfortable and calm atmosphere in the living room. In addition, wenge-colored doors go well with various shades of laminated boards.
- Dark door colors harmonize well with gray, brown and beige laminate. However, if the door color is close to red, you should avoid combining it with brown floor shades.
Let’s sum it up
Remember that the right choice of laminate plays a decisive role in creating an atmosphere of comfort and coziness in the living room. It is important to carefully select the quality and shade of laminated boards, taking into account the overall style and color scheme of the interior, including walls, doors and furniture. This will avoid disappointments associated with mismatching colors and the overall appearance of the room.
When choosing a laminate, you should not focus solely on its cost. For example, a grade 33 board may be unnecessarily expensive for a living room, where a grade 32 board with similar durability and wear resistance may be the optimal choice. A wide range of laminated boards on the market allows you to choose a coating that perfectly matches any interior.
In addition, it is important to pay attention to the choice of the laminate manufacturer. High-quality, reliable and popular brands guarantee durability and aesthetic appearance of the coating, and also provide guarantees for their products.
Thus, a careful approach to the choice of laminate, taking into account its quality characteristics and harmony with the overall interior design ensures the creation of a pleasant and cozy atmosphere in the living room.
