greenieS
Verified member
Interior finishes are among the last details applied inside a living space and must be chosen with the same care, whether it is a new house or apartment, or it is a redevelopment. The finishes give the desired look to the rooms, depending on their destination, and give a personal touch. The category of finishes includes tiles and tiles, all the details of interior carpentry, including flooring, painting, wallpaper, paint (from its type to color), as well as other elements of detail: baseboards, ceiling rods, decorative ceilings , decorative details for the ceiling, sconces, chandeliers, socket covers and switches and so on.
The role of finishes
In addition to the artistic role, essential for the pleasant appearance of the interiors, the finishes are important in thermal and sound insulation, are fire safety elements (interior doors have fire protection, for example), being those that give the basic note in the final interior design. .
The interior finishes must offer a balance between the practical, functional and aesthetic side, and the choice of the best solutions must be the decision of those who actually use the house, because in this way it becomes "home". In other words, the choice of finishes should be seen as an opportunity, being at the same time the most fun part of the construction process. In addition, it offers the possibility to arrange the space in the desired style, whether it is modern and creative or conservative.
If you are intimidated by the thought of choosing all the details of home finishes, consider these tips, which will inspire you and solve some dilemmas so that you can make the best choices.
Start with what you consider to be essential
The choice of finishes should start with what matters most. There are hundreds - maybe even thousands - of individual finishes in a home. From the largest items, such as bathroom and kitchen floors and countertops to small ones, such as hinges and door handles, and for each one you will have to make a choice. If you select the most important details at the beginning, all the others will follow naturally.
So, the essential finishes are: the floors, the pattern and style of the interior doors, the tiles, the kitchen and bathroom countertops and the color of the walls. Eventually, decorative details for walls and baseboards can be added to the list (they can be chosen identical to the floors).
Take these tips into account when choosing important finishes, because they are the ones that make the interior pleasant:
the color of the floors must be in harmony with the walls, for a creative, warm and intimate arrangement;
in minimalist, sober or modern arrangements, the walls must be in contrast with the floors (light-colored floors and gray walls or vice versa, for example);
the color of interior doors (and windows) should be in tune with the walls or floors (but not both);
glass mesh doors are recommended in social rooms (living room, kitchen), and compact doors in personal rooms (bedroom, bathroom), but also for closets, pantries;
the living rooms must be bright and the light-colored walls amplify the light;
the walls painted with eggshell or satin paints are more glossy and reflect light, being the ideal choice for rooms with less natural light;
the tiles for the bathroom floor must be in a dark shade, but in the same color range as the tiles for the walls;
the kitchen countertop is recommended to imitate the material used for the floors and to have the same color;
wallpaper or wall decor elements fill the space and are suitable in large and bright rooms, while in rooms with a smaller surface, the only decorative detail may be the wand that separates the wall from the ceiling;
Patterned ceilings and ornaments are only suitable for high rooms.
What type of paint do you choose
The choice of colors for the walls can be done by actually testing on a portion of the wall. The color you choose will look different when dressing an entire room. For example, a sweet shade of orange may look promising on the color swatch, but it may be unpleasant and too much for the entire living room.
The type of paint chosen also matters: matte, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss.
The matte paint is the least glossy, it is perfect for living rooms and bedrooms. It has a velvety texture, well hides imperfections on the ceiling and walls and offers depth. It can sometimes be difficult to clean;
Eggshell and satin paint (satin is a little more glossy than eggshell) have a certain shine, are durable, being ideal for bathrooms, kitchens, hallways, but also in modern arrangements or in rooms where darker shades are used;
Semi-gloss and glossy paint are great for kitchens, doors, accent walls and bathrooms. It withstands many cleanings, but highlights imperfections.
Bathroom and kitchen ideas
The tiles in the bathroom are chosen in inverse proportion to the size of the room. In small bathrooms, large tiles, with the least visible joint, in large bathrooms, smaller strips.
Light colors increase the space, but you can also succeed with tiles in duller shades (gray, blue) in the glossy version. A contrasting wall (necessarily in a dark shade) enlarges the space. It is not wrong to choose the same type of finishes for floors and walls in the bathroom. You will have an opulent decor.
The kitchen countertop will visually enlarge the space and make it very elegant, if it is chosen in contrast with the floors, the color of the walls and the pieces of furniture. In the kitchen, take into account the details of the furniture when choosing the color of the walls and go for the simplest and most effective solution (tone on tone). Match the color of the countertop, but also the type of material (tiles, granite, natural stone, wood) with the one chosen for the kitchen floors.
Floors
Choose durable and safe flooring, no matter what area of the house it is. The best choice for flooring is a durable material, and for some areas of the house, resistant to moisture.
If you choose underfloor heating, carefully select the flooring materials, as some are not compatible with this type of heating. Low-durability materials, such as carpet or vinyl, need to be replaced more often and maintenance costs are rising. The floor must be chemically neutral, so as not to contaminate the air in the house with toxic fumes.
There are several solutions:
Wooden floors - are durable, but can also be uneven. They need maintenance, need regular scraping and are relatively expensive. They are natural and biodegradable and do not affect indoor air quality;
Bamboo flooring - looks just like wood. They are stable and durable, but can emit toxic fumes if they are not of good quality;
Laminate flooring - is very resistant to traffic and pressure, does not scratch, is easy to install, has countless shades and, last but not least, is affordable;
Tiles - are natural and, depending on the texture, can be matte or glossy. The matte one is suitable even for rooms, and the glossy one is ideal for hall, bathroom, kitchen.
Take into account other materials: waterproof parquet, natural stone, but also carpet, especially in children's rooms and bedroom.
Tricks to make choices easier
Multiple options make the selection process difficult, but there are some strategies that can make the selection run faster:
select a category of products, not several (floors, for example, or wall paint, not both at once) and decide exactly what you want, only then move on to another (bathroom and kitchen tiles);
sets a maximum budget for each category or a general budget allocated to each individual;
listen to the proposals of specialists or ask for the opinion of those who know how;
gives up the prejudice that something at a good price is not of good quality;
also take into account less used alternatives (parquet in the kitchen, glass cladding instead of tiles);
clearly set a time limit for choosing finishes and do not exceed it;
choose the finishes in the order in which they are needed for the arrangement (do not buy the furniture in the bedroom, unless you have chosen the floors and the color of the walls);
make sure that there are all the materials for a certain stage (when choosing the floors, take into account the insulating materials, the adhesive, etc.).
Get inspired by magazines, ask for the opinion of specialists, look for solutions in virtual magazines and specialty stores. Don't buy in a hurry without a well-established plan. Look for material options, relate to the budget, but also to what you want and only then decide. Make a (realistic) list of everything that is needed for each room. Combine the inspiration and ideas suggested by magazines with what you like and make practical and useful choices.
Remember that the finishes you choose must be to your taste and in accordance with your personality and family. The finishes are for your home, where you will live for many years after all the work is completed.
The role of finishes
In addition to the artistic role, essential for the pleasant appearance of the interiors, the finishes are important in thermal and sound insulation, are fire safety elements (interior doors have fire protection, for example), being those that give the basic note in the final interior design. .
The interior finishes must offer a balance between the practical, functional and aesthetic side, and the choice of the best solutions must be the decision of those who actually use the house, because in this way it becomes "home". In other words, the choice of finishes should be seen as an opportunity, being at the same time the most fun part of the construction process. In addition, it offers the possibility to arrange the space in the desired style, whether it is modern and creative or conservative.
If you are intimidated by the thought of choosing all the details of home finishes, consider these tips, which will inspire you and solve some dilemmas so that you can make the best choices.
Start with what you consider to be essential
The choice of finishes should start with what matters most. There are hundreds - maybe even thousands - of individual finishes in a home. From the largest items, such as bathroom and kitchen floors and countertops to small ones, such as hinges and door handles, and for each one you will have to make a choice. If you select the most important details at the beginning, all the others will follow naturally.
So, the essential finishes are: the floors, the pattern and style of the interior doors, the tiles, the kitchen and bathroom countertops and the color of the walls. Eventually, decorative details for walls and baseboards can be added to the list (they can be chosen identical to the floors).
Take these tips into account when choosing important finishes, because they are the ones that make the interior pleasant:
the color of the floors must be in harmony with the walls, for a creative, warm and intimate arrangement;
in minimalist, sober or modern arrangements, the walls must be in contrast with the floors (light-colored floors and gray walls or vice versa, for example);
the color of interior doors (and windows) should be in tune with the walls or floors (but not both);
glass mesh doors are recommended in social rooms (living room, kitchen), and compact doors in personal rooms (bedroom, bathroom), but also for closets, pantries;
the living rooms must be bright and the light-colored walls amplify the light;
the walls painted with eggshell or satin paints are more glossy and reflect light, being the ideal choice for rooms with less natural light;
the tiles for the bathroom floor must be in a dark shade, but in the same color range as the tiles for the walls;
the kitchen countertop is recommended to imitate the material used for the floors and to have the same color;
wallpaper or wall decor elements fill the space and are suitable in large and bright rooms, while in rooms with a smaller surface, the only decorative detail may be the wand that separates the wall from the ceiling;
Patterned ceilings and ornaments are only suitable for high rooms.
What type of paint do you choose
The choice of colors for the walls can be done by actually testing on a portion of the wall. The color you choose will look different when dressing an entire room. For example, a sweet shade of orange may look promising on the color swatch, but it may be unpleasant and too much for the entire living room.
The type of paint chosen also matters: matte, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss.
The matte paint is the least glossy, it is perfect for living rooms and bedrooms. It has a velvety texture, well hides imperfections on the ceiling and walls and offers depth. It can sometimes be difficult to clean;
Eggshell and satin paint (satin is a little more glossy than eggshell) have a certain shine, are durable, being ideal for bathrooms, kitchens, hallways, but also in modern arrangements or in rooms where darker shades are used;
Semi-gloss and glossy paint are great for kitchens, doors, accent walls and bathrooms. It withstands many cleanings, but highlights imperfections.
Bathroom and kitchen ideas
The tiles in the bathroom are chosen in inverse proportion to the size of the room. In small bathrooms, large tiles, with the least visible joint, in large bathrooms, smaller strips.
Light colors increase the space, but you can also succeed with tiles in duller shades (gray, blue) in the glossy version. A contrasting wall (necessarily in a dark shade) enlarges the space. It is not wrong to choose the same type of finishes for floors and walls in the bathroom. You will have an opulent decor.
The kitchen countertop will visually enlarge the space and make it very elegant, if it is chosen in contrast with the floors, the color of the walls and the pieces of furniture. In the kitchen, take into account the details of the furniture when choosing the color of the walls and go for the simplest and most effective solution (tone on tone). Match the color of the countertop, but also the type of material (tiles, granite, natural stone, wood) with the one chosen for the kitchen floors.
Floors
Choose durable and safe flooring, no matter what area of the house it is. The best choice for flooring is a durable material, and for some areas of the house, resistant to moisture.
If you choose underfloor heating, carefully select the flooring materials, as some are not compatible with this type of heating. Low-durability materials, such as carpet or vinyl, need to be replaced more often and maintenance costs are rising. The floor must be chemically neutral, so as not to contaminate the air in the house with toxic fumes.
There are several solutions:
Wooden floors - are durable, but can also be uneven. They need maintenance, need regular scraping and are relatively expensive. They are natural and biodegradable and do not affect indoor air quality;
Bamboo flooring - looks just like wood. They are stable and durable, but can emit toxic fumes if they are not of good quality;
Laminate flooring - is very resistant to traffic and pressure, does not scratch, is easy to install, has countless shades and, last but not least, is affordable;
Tiles - are natural and, depending on the texture, can be matte or glossy. The matte one is suitable even for rooms, and the glossy one is ideal for hall, bathroom, kitchen.
Take into account other materials: waterproof parquet, natural stone, but also carpet, especially in children's rooms and bedroom.
Tricks to make choices easier
Multiple options make the selection process difficult, but there are some strategies that can make the selection run faster:
select a category of products, not several (floors, for example, or wall paint, not both at once) and decide exactly what you want, only then move on to another (bathroom and kitchen tiles);
sets a maximum budget for each category or a general budget allocated to each individual;
listen to the proposals of specialists or ask for the opinion of those who know how;
gives up the prejudice that something at a good price is not of good quality;
also take into account less used alternatives (parquet in the kitchen, glass cladding instead of tiles);
clearly set a time limit for choosing finishes and do not exceed it;
choose the finishes in the order in which they are needed for the arrangement (do not buy the furniture in the bedroom, unless you have chosen the floors and the color of the walls);
make sure that there are all the materials for a certain stage (when choosing the floors, take into account the insulating materials, the adhesive, etc.).
Get inspired by magazines, ask for the opinion of specialists, look for solutions in virtual magazines and specialty stores. Don't buy in a hurry without a well-established plan. Look for material options, relate to the budget, but also to what you want and only then decide. Make a (realistic) list of everything that is needed for each room. Combine the inspiration and ideas suggested by magazines with what you like and make practical and useful choices.
Remember that the finishes you choose must be to your taste and in accordance with your personality and family. The finishes are for your home, where you will live for many years after all the work is completed.
