Wood is a natural material that warms well and ennobles a home. Wooden panels make the interior stylish, but at the same time cozy. However, this material is considered quite expensive, so not all citizens will be able to purchase it for interior or exterior decoration. In this case, imitation timber comes to the rescue. This is an inexpensive facing material that, in its external characteristics, resembles natural wooden beams .
Interior finishing with false beams
Imitation of timber in the interior is a popular decoration material. It fits well into traditional styles as well as modern ones. Imitation timber for interior decoration is used in two versions:
- monolithic. In this case all walls indoors are sheathed with false timber. The result is a monolithic solid panel. This coating is characterized by high strength and reliability;
- combined. Combined wall cladding is combination imitation timber as in the photo with other finishing materials: wallpaper, fabric, tiles.
Combined finishing is an opportunity to let your imagination run wild and come up with stylish solutions for the interior of your premises. She is more popular.
It is also useful to read: Bamboo in the interior.
Current design styles with imitation timber
False beams are used in the following design directions:
- Art Deco. The main emphasis of the style is on multi-level ceilings made of imitation timber, geometric patterns, expensive fabrics, and an abundance of light;
- minimalism. The interior features simplicity, conciseness, multi-level lighting;
- country. Country is wood, comfort, homely atmosphere. The main elements of the interior are rural flavor, old furniture, and discreet shades.
It is also useful to read : Decor in Provence style.
Decorating different rooms with imitation timber
For each room, designers advise choosing your own false timber:
- living room. The living room is a spacious and bright room, for which the color and texture of the chosen material are important. Its mechanical characteristics in this case play a second role. For the living room, you can use boards of both light and dark shades. It is better to decorate small rooms with light timber with a monosyllabic pattern, spacious ones with dark materials with pronounced patterns;
- kitchen. Meals are prepared regularly in the kitchen, causing the room to fill with fumes. Therefore, for its cladding it is necessary to choose durable blocks that will not deform under the influence of fat, moisture, or steam. Designers advise choosing a plain, light-colored timber with a subtle pattern to make the kitchen more harmonious;
- bedroom. Here you can use various options for false beams in colors, strength and patterns. In the bedroom, almost all solutions look restrained and impressive.
- corridor. For cladding passage rooms, it is better to choose a light-colored material without a complex pattern.
It is worth carefully studying the photo of interior decoration with imitation timber in order to choose the best option for decorating your home.
Arrangement of wooden furniture in the interior of the living room
The arrangement of furniture in the interior largely depends on the design style. In the classic one, there is a table and chairs in the center, and along the walls there are display cases, cupboards, and shelves for the TV. Coffee or coffee tables with armchairs are placed near the fireplaces.
In a classic interior, a symmetrical arrangement of furniture is welcome
For a modern interior, it is important that there is a wide space between pieces of furniture
Modern styles with a minimum of furniture in the center of the room include a spacious sofa or soft corner with a small wall or cabinets, shelves along the wall.
External finishing of premises with imitation timber
Cladding a house with imitation timber is not inferior in quality to cladding with natural materials. The elements used are made from environmentally friendly and durable components, resulting in reliable panels that do not harm human health and the environment. Artificial timber is easy to install, it provides high levels of sound/heat insulation and does not require special maintenance. Builders claim that with the help of false beams you can transform even the most unclaimed looking premises.
It is also useful to read: Decor of the facade of the house.
Decorating the facade of a house with false beams
When decorating the façade of a house, various design solutions are also used. Walls with imitation timber are often faced with a monolithic layer without the use of auxiliary building materials. Such houses look restrained and laconic.
If you want to make a more interesting design, you can add a little decorative stone, which will be used to process the basement area.
Imitation timber for exterior decoration is combined with natural stone, ceramic brick, and facade tiles. The choice of auxiliary materials depends on the climate in the area of residence, the location of the house, as well as the personal preferences of the owners.
Decoration of balconies, loggias
Artificial timber is used for cladding the balcony. Repair work in this case follows the same pattern: initially the type of finishing is selected (monolithic or combined), then the material is purchased and construction work is carried out. To decorate loggias and balconies, you can combine false beams with artificial stone and ceramic tiles .
Since this area is small, it is better to focus on panels of light shades with a subtle wood pattern. They will help to visually enlarge the balcony and make it more spacious. Dark color schemes also look great on large loggias.
It is also useful to read: Decorative beams for the ceiling.
Best solutions
Designers named the best combinations of materials for exterior decoration of a house with imitation timber:
- false beam and stone. It is believed that stone helps to emphasize the naturalness of wood
; - different types of wood. The combination of different types of beams in their texture looks interesting. However, this solution is suitable for large and tall houses
; - timber and brick. This combination of materials not only creates a stylish look, but also provides reliable fire safety.
Attention! Also today, imitation timber is combined with lining, glass, and imitation half-timber.
Wall decoration with brick-like wallpaper: advantages and disadvantages
For owners of brick homes, decorating interior walls is simple; just clean the seams, treat the existing surface with primer and paint. For residents of block and panel multi-storey buildings, it is better to use finishing that imitates brick. And although some designers express the opinion that it is difficult to find an alternative to the original building material, in many cases wallpaper is the only possible solution. For example, it is impossible to use artificial stone:
- In small rooms, since bulky material eats up space;
- In the case where load-bearing partitions are unable to withstand the significant load exerted by the building material;
- With a limited budget, the cost of facing raw materials, as well as the price of work, is very high;
- With short installation times. The installation process is very long and labor-intensive.
The advantages of using wallpaper that imitates brickwork include the following:
- Low weight, which allows them to be glued to partitions and structures of any strength;
- Ease of finishing work;
- Easy dismantling;
- Low cost of facing material;
- Significant selection of colors and images;
- Saving usable space.
The disadvantages include:
- A flat surface that indicates imitation, fake;
- Low water resistance, which does not allow their use in the bathroom or in rooms with high humidity;
- Some species accumulate dust;
- Weak resistance to mechanical damage.
Is it possible to make an imitation of timber with your own hands?
Owners can make an imitation of timber on their own, even without special construction skills. To do this, you need to purchase ready-made boards with a natural wood grain and without visible knots or cracks. Next, using a special tool, you will need to remove the chamfer . During the work process, it is better to use an automatic router with various attachments to create recesses.
After processing the boards, you should begin cutting the tongue-and-groove joint elements . To do this, fix the beam in a stationary position and make markings and, using a router with an appropriate attachment, cut out a tenon about 4.5 mm and 7.5 mm on one side, and on the other - a groove-groove that will be symmetrical thorn. After this, the timber must be treated with an antiseptic solution .
Installation of timber
Installation work is carried out in several stages:
- Initially, the materials are cleaned of contaminants.
- Then they create a vertical sheathing of their wooden blocks.
- The wall is covered with a moisture-proof film, as well as additional rolls for better thermal insulation.
- The panels are fastened using the tongue-and-groove principle; in some places the panels are additionally fixed with nails.
Reference! The final stage is treating the walls with paint and varnish solutions.
Features of the material and its care
Despite the fact that false timber is considered a strong and durable material, it will have to be periodically treated to extend its service life, protect it from rotting, mold, and the formation of fungi. To prevent the possibility of rotting, you need to treat the walls with copper sulfate , water-soluble antiseptic solutions containing chlorine, fluorine, ammonium, and sunflower oil.
Copper sulfate, potassium biochromate, and water-soluble antiseptic can save the walls from mold and fungal formations. If you live in regions with hot or cold climates, you will need to periodically treat the false beams with professional tinting solutions or enamels that prevent the negative effects of ultraviolet rays.
Carefully! If you plan to live in mountainous or forest areas, additional treatment of the panels against insects will be required.
How to combine brick wallpaper correctly
Many people associate rooms completely covered with brick-like wallpaper with a garage. To eliminate the oppressive atmosphere and get rid of the feeling of awkwardness in the interior, canvases are used to highlight certain areas. The remaining walls are decorated with any other finishing material.
You can combine ordinary paper sheets of suitable shades or other finishing materials with brick wallpaper. Natural, artificial stone, glass, wood, and chrome elements will look good with imitation masonry.
Photo wallpapers and convex 3D wallpapers can be successfully combined with wall panels of various modifications, moldings, plastic and stone inserts, and painting. Whitewashed brick wallpaper looks good with plastered surfaces.
When choosing shades of wallpaper as an additional design, it is necessary to take into account the level of lighting, the set of furniture, and the material of the floor and ceiling.
