Many practical materials are used to decorate the floor. Laminate is one of the most reliable. The right color can make the atmosphere cozy. Gray laminate in the interior is a great choice that suits many styles. Its features are described in the article.
What is laminate flooring?
This is a long laminated board including 4 bonded layers. Each of them has its own function:
- The bottom layer is called balancing. With it, the lamella has some strength and rigidity, as well as resistance to moisture.
- Then comes the carrier layer, which is usually made from fiberboard. It is able to cope with the mechanical stress of the coating.
- The decorative layer is responsible for the appearance of the coating. It is presented in the form of plain paper with a printed pattern. Therefore, the material is able to imitate different materials, as well as be of any color.
- The top layer is presented in the form of a protective film created from melamine or acrylate resin. It does not allow moisture penetration and other external factors. The layer has a wear-resistant property.
Advantages and disadvantages
The material is in great demand. It has many advantages over other types of coatings:
- Many flowers. Laminate flooring can be chosen for a different type of interior.
- Easy installation and fast manufacturing. The cover can accommodate even 1 person.
- The material is able to cope with external factors.
- The cover is easy to clean and does not require further treatment after installation.
White-gray laminate, dark and light gray are now on sale. Such material is able to emphasize other elements of the interior. But laminate flooring also has disadvantages:
- The coating does not like water, so it is not chosen for rooms where high humidity.
- Laminate is not dangerous to human he alth, but everything is not considered environmentally friendly.
- Compared to linoleum, carpet, laminate has a low level of sound insulation.
Influence on the interior
Dark gray material is able to visually reduce the space, and light has the opposite effect. The floor is not very dark tones, making the atmosphere airy and soothing. The air in this room will feel cooler and fresher. The owners of such a room strengthen their self-control, people gain peace of mind.
Some tones of gray and combination with beige lead to a strong relaxation, so it will be difficult for a person to concentrate on important work. Therefore, the gray laminate in the interior is not suitable for all rooms. It should not be chosen for rooms where labor activities are carried out. But it is perfect for dining rooms, living rooms, bedrooms.
Monochrome gray is cold, so the room can look lifeless. Not everyone will like this environment, but then you can choose an excellent combination of tone with other shades, for example, in harmony with beige wallpaper. To make the interior more comfortable, warm colors of wood or accents of yellow, orange, terracotta shades.
Features of the gray floor
Such a coating as "gray oak" laminate in the interior is suitable for rooms where there is a lot of heat. For example, if the room is located in the sunny part or warm colors predominate in its design. Then the interior will be harmonious.
It is undesirable to use a dark gray coating in rooms where there is not enough lighting. Then the room will be even darker, besides it has a dull look. Not everyone will like being there.
Excess of this color can make a room depressive, so it should not be too much. If there is a gray laminate in the interior, then the wallpaper should be of a different shade. Accessories of warm bright colors are suitable for this.
Gray laminate is not considered an accent because of its neutrality. With it, it will be possible to emphasize other design elements: walls, windows, furniture. The skillful combination of all the details can make the room cozy.
Choice
When choosing a laminate, attention must be paid to mechanical and chemical resistance. The coating must be resistant to temperature changes. Also, the material should not slip, burn out. It is important that it is easy to install.
For a bedroom or a children's room, you can choose a low-class coverage - 21 or 22. For a corridor, you should not purchase material below class 23. In order for the service life to be long, you should choose a material of at least 31 classes. For the kitchen, choose a material that is protected from moisture. This also applies to the bathroom - 33 class will be the most suitable.
It is important to consider the manufacturer. You should not purchase material from little-known and unreliable companies. It is better to buy a more expensive laminate, but you will be sure of its quality.
When choosing, you need to look at the dimensions of the slats. If the floor is subjected to heavy loads, then thick slats should be chosen. This affects the reliability of the floor covering, durability. If the floor is under heavy load, then lamellas 9-12 mm thick are needed, and if it is small, then a thickness of 6-9 mm will do.
The value is the width and length of the slats, this affects the speed of installation. A width of 17-20 cm is perfect, which will imitate a wooden floor, as well as a width of 9 cm, which creates the appearance of parquet. The highest figure is 33 cm. You can choose boards 128-136 cm in length.
You need to select the type of interlock. For beginners, click-locks are suitable. The assembly of such a floor is easier, and in case of an error it is not difficult to disassemble it. An important factor is moisture resistance, especially if the repair will beperformed in the bathroom or kitchen.
It is important that laminate flooring is sustainable. For this, the presence of a certificate and marking is checked. You need material marked E1 or E0. Coating density is important.
Use in different styles
Gray laminate in the interior of any room can look beautiful. But most suitable for:
- Minimalism. Gray color cannot attract attention. That is why the floor is perfect for minimalism, which is characterized by free space, airiness and a minimum of accents. It is better to choose a light gray coating. In this style, you can decorate the bedroom, living room, kitchen. Dark gray tones look conservative, with them the interior will be strict and restrained.
- Urban style and loft. The first type of design is characterized by the presence of cold tones. The loft usually has bare concrete surfaces or brickwork. Therefore, the gray-brown color in this interior looks natural. The gray finish goes well with glass, white gloss, metal.
- Kitch. In this direction, which rejects interior styles, a gray floor will be a great base to apply different colors.
- Hi-tech. Gray flooring would be the best choice as there are many shiny metallic or plated pieces that go well with gray tones.
- Neoclassical style. This laminate is in perfect harmony with furniture fittings made of shiny metal.
- Rustic and vintage style. There is flooringthe gray color of which is similar to worn and darkened old wood. Such materials are considered an excellent choice for inclusion in rustic or vintage interiors - Provence, country, retro classic. The flooring in this case will emphasize the originality of the stone, stucco, brickwork texture.
The gray laminate in the interior of the apartment makes the atmosphere cozy and comfortable. The main thing is to choose the right details for him so that the design looks harmonious.
What to pair with?
Only the right combination of gray laminate in the interior with other shades makes the atmosphere luxurious. It is an intermediate monochrome color between white and black. Therefore, gray harmonizes perfectly with them. It is great for monochrome interiors, reduces contrast. For a gray laminate, not only white and gray wallpapers are suitable. Allowed use:
- cream;
- beige;
- yellow;
- blue;
- purple.
Thanks to purple, yellow, blue, it will be possible to put bright accents for a variety of gray floor backgrounds or wallpapers. In a room where there is gray laminate, furniture of the same color can be installed, but it can be white or black.
Walls
In the room, all the details should be in harmony. For walls, it is not necessary to choose gray wallpaper. It is desirable that they have a gray color, while its shade may be different. The walls can be light blue or blue as the colors harmonize perfectly.
It will be somewhat easier to choose wallpaper for laminate not in pure gray, but with the addition of other tones: beige or brown. In this case, you can also stick similar wallpapers, creating a smooth transition between the walls and the floor.
Grey laminate and wallpaper in the right color can create a neat design. Often on one of the walls they make the transition of the laminate to the wall. In the bedroom, it will turn out to decorate the wall at the head, and in the living room, allocate an area near the TV. If the floor is dark gray, then the “cool” tone will be ideal for the walls. Shades are diluted with bright furniture, as well as flowers, paintings and other accessories.
Doors
It is important to choose the right combination of gray laminate and doors. It is advisable to choose white doors. But dark gray designs and a light gray floor are also suitable. You should not choose an exact match of shades, on the contrary, the discrepancy will look beautiful.
If the color of the door is not in harmony with the color of the floor, then it can be combined with furniture or window frames. For example, if wenge-colored furniture is installed, then it is better to choose a similar shade for the entrance structure, and make the floor neutral gray. The color of the doors is also linked to the color of the walls. For example, with beige walls and gray laminate, the doors should be beige.
Furniture
Bright and rich furniture goes well with a gray floor, especially if the walls are muted and calm. Perfectly fits into the interior of red, yellow, purple, blue and orange. To refresh the room, you should choose white furniture. And forlow-key design needs black interior items.
Lighting
Lighting is important. It should be sufficient, especially if you choose a dark gray floor. But light shades also need to be recharged with light, and then the room will be light. You should choose diffused lighting, not central. To expand the space, you can make a multi-level composition - combine devices not only on the ceiling, but also on walls, floors, furniture.
Need accessories to keep laminate flooring from looking boring. They must be placed on the floor. Carpets help freshen up the floor. Contrasting vinyl stickers, panels, paintings harmoniously look on the walls. It is important to use textiles, it makes the atmosphere cozy. Lamps are suitable as decor. Figurines, flowers can be installed on the floor and furniture.
Details
There are details that should not be combined with a gray floor:
- It is not necessary to make the interior uniform in shades and texture, on the contrary, a play of textures is needed.
- Wooden floors look great with stucco walls, glossy or lacquered furniture, and fabric upholstery on upholstered furniture.
- You can choose smooth transitions from light to dark shades.
Proper use of gray allows you to make the interior original. Many resort to the help of professionals. The completed work looks beautiful and modern.
