What materials to choose for the interior decoration of the attic?

Laminate

This material is suitable in the decoration of the attic floor, not only as a floor, but also as a wall covering. It has many advantages:

• strength;
• light weight;
• cost;
• a wide range of.

However, there are also disadvantages: the main disadvantage of the laminate is the intolerance to temperature extremes and high humidity. This makes it impossible to use it in poorly insulated and unheated attics. But if you are placing a playroom, bedroom or living room in the attic, such a fine finish would be one of the best options.

For interior wall cladding, choose a 21-34 class laminate. The choice of color should be based on the size of the space - the smaller the attic, the lighter the walls should be. Fortunately, in stores you can find laminated boards in white, light gray, light beige shades for any style.

The panels are laid in 3 ways:

• horizontally (parallel to the floor) - this technique expands the walls;
• vertically (perpendicular to the floor) - raises the ceiling;
• diagonally or herringbone - this idea creates an unusual effect.

The photo shows an example of laminate attic finishing

Plywood

Finishing the attic with plywood is one of the most budgetary and simple options. The advantages of this material:

• strength - yours than that of OSB, MDF and drywall;
• durability - retains its original appearance and shape for 10-20 years;
• ease of processing - easily cut with a conventional saw, drilled, painted.

But due to the peculiarities of manufacturing, plywood is a health hazard in a poorly ventilated area. It releases phenol-formaldehydes, harmful to the respiratory system, into the air, so if you are not sure about the reliability of ventilation, refuse this option for lining the attic.

As a finishing material for partitions, walls and ceilings, choose one of 4 options:

1. Polished softwood plywood, class Ш1, thickness 8-10 mm.
2. Sanded birch plywood, class NSh / Sh1, 8-15 mm.
3. Plywood finished with fine wood veneer, 6-10 mm.
4. Plywood impregnated with bakelite varnish, 10-15 mm.

In the photo, plywood in a warm shade in the bedroom

Particleboard or MDF

Chipboards are not often used in interior wall decoration. And in vain, because the materials have a lot of advantages:

• strength (high, but less than that of plywood or natural wood);
• practicality;
• resistance to high temperature, ultraviolet light, fungus, mechanical stress;
• soundproofing;
• low cost.

Unfortunately, chipboard cannot be called an ideal option for finishing the attic due to shortcomings: instability to water, moisture, temperature extremes.

As a finishing finish for attic rooms, two classes of chipboard are used:

• Super E. The safest stoves that can be used in all rooms, including children's rooms.
• E1. The material is considered safe, the formaldehyde content is 10 mg per 100 g of board weight. Can also be used for children's attic rooms.

The classes below can no longer be used for the decoration of residential premises.

In the construction market, you will find MDF panels.They are environmentally friendly, practical and absolutely safe to use - they do not contain toxic chemicals. The disadvantages of the panels are the same as those of the chipboard sheets.

Thanks to various options for designer decorative coatings (enamel, veneer, PVC), attics are sheathed in various designs and styles.

PVC panels

How to decorate the attic from the inside to save money and time? Plastic panels! Pros of using them:

• versatility;
• ease of installation;
• moisture resistance;
• resistance to temperature fluctuations;
• a large assortment;
• ease of care.

Of course, they cannot be compared with wood or plywood in terms of strength or sound insulation. But with careful handling, they will last more than one year.

By the width of the panel there are:

• Narrow. 10-12 cm. The so-called plastic lining. This is a simple option for replacing painted wooden lining - it will cost less and you will not have to spend time painting.
• Standard. 25-50 cm. There are two ways to apply a picture on PVC - offset and thermal printing. The first option is more expensive, but more reliable due to varnish coating. Thermal panels are cheaper and have a wider range, but the pattern can fade or lose brightness over time.
• Wide. 80-200 cm. With the help of sheet panels, you will speed up the repair process, because their installation is much faster than any other type.

The photo shows a combination of wide and standard panels

Timber imitation

When decorating an attic in a wooden house, I would like to emphasize the naturalness of the structure inside the building - in this case, it is preferable to use natural wood.

Imitation of a bar is a decorative material from an array in the form of a thin panel with bevels, which help to achieve the desired effect. The thickness of the lamellas varies within 1.2-2 cm, the width is 10-18 cm, and the length is 3-6 m.

The interior decoration of the attic floor is carried out with narrow panels arranged horizontally, they look more harmonious inside the house.

The advantages of imitation of a bar:

• environmental friendliness;
• ease of installation;
• soundproofing;
• strength;
• a wide range of;
• the ability to change the color.

Do not forget about the shortcomings of natural wood - to protect against pests, moisture and other adverse influences, treat the boards with a special coating.

Pine is considered the most budgetary wood; it is perfect for a summer cottage. But if you have to cover the attic or attic in the house where you live permanently, choose more expensive and high-quality species - cedar, larch, oak, alder, maple. Please note that the smell of conifers disappears for a long time, so for bedrooms and nurseries it is better to give preference to deciduous trees.

Pictured is a bedroom in the attic with two windows

Wallpaper

Everything has long been known about the advantages and disadvantages of this material. When decorating the attic, something else is more important - the choice of direction and size of the picture. After all, the attic differs from all others not only in the sloped attic ceiling, short walls, but also in lighting - the windows are on the roof, not in the wall.

• Tint. The smaller and darker the attic, the lighter the wallpaper will be. With the help of a light coating, you will not only expand the space, but also add light.
• Material. Paper ones are less durable and beautiful, but more suitable for unheated attics. Vinyl and non-woven for everyone else.
• Pattern. The size of the print also depends on the dimensions of the attic - the smaller it is, the smaller the pattern you can afford.

To make the interior look harmonious, the attic walls are decorated as follows: the beveled walls are plastered and painted with light monochromatic paint, and the straight ones are pasted over with printed wallpaper. If the height of the walls allows, combine the wallpaper with the clapboard: place the wooden slats at the bottom, and glue the wallpaper over them. This version of the attic design can be made with your own hands, it looks very stylish and romantic.

Before pasting, first of all, prepare the walls: finishing the attic with plasterboard will solve the issue of an uneven base, but it will take a few centimeters away from the area of ​​the room. Plasterboard sheets are suitable for log cabins; in slab or brick structures, it is better to level the walls with plaster.

Painting

In modern design, paint is often used for interior decoration of the attic. It is universal, can be tinted in any shade, walls can be repainted more than once to suit a new interior or mood.

However, painting has one big drawback: it requires careful preparation of the walls. It is better to entrust the performance of these works to a professional, then the final result will please you for more than one year.

So that the space does not press, several shades are combined: the roof and sloping walls are painted with white or the lightest shade possible. For the rest, you can choose any palette from light (for small attics) to bright and dark (for large).

You can also create interesting effects with a brush and roller. For example, horizontal stripes will visually expand a narrow attic. Vertical - will make the ceilings higher.

In the photo, a combination of shades of paint in the bedroom

Unedged board

An interesting design of the attic with wood can be obtained as a result of the use of unedged boards. This material is obtained by sawing a log lengthwise, but at the same time its edges are not processed in any way and remain covered with bark.

For finishing, choose a joinery board: higher quality raw materials are used in its production. It is perfect for use inside a private home.

Barn board

One of the most sustainable decor methods is the use of recycled materials. Barn timber is a used board that is reused. At the same time, they have a number of advantages in comparison with fresh wood:

• Lack of pests. Bark beetles and other insects prefer a fresh tree for life, there is nothing useful in the old one for them.
• Stability. The wood has already dried up and changed as much as it could - no further deformation process is possible.
• Structure. Marks, bug moves, holes from old nails - all this gives the tree a special charm and is a wonderful decor.

Decorative rock

Decorating the attic with natural materials does not necessarily imply the use of wood, pay attention to the stone. It is not in vain that this material is considered to be the most durable and durable - it will last more than a dozen years on the walls.

However, stone walls in a bedroom or nursery will look out of place. But in the lounge area or living room, one accent wall made of beautiful stone will look elegant.

Photo gallery

We talked about alternative finishes and showed examples of attic finishes - choose the method that suits your taste and wallet!