Introduction to Interior Design Finishes
Here you will find every aspect of interior design finishes. Below is an introduction to get you thinking about interior decorating finishes.
What they are? Where they go and why we select them? Additional pages will feature the different types of finishes available, ranging from floor finishes, wall finishes and decorative paint finishes, fabrics and metals. You name it we cover it here at interiordezine.com.
Introduction to interior decorating finishes for the home
Here we will cover the majority of finishes and products that you will come across in the world of design. It is important to have an understanding of what they are, what they are used for, when and where to use them and why.
The why is important, as you must always be able to justify WHY you have selected a finish or a product to use.
Because “I like the look of it” is not enough. This is the part of Interior Decoration that we get assessed on, as it is what the public “sees”. It is a complex process of continual questions that we need to ask to ensure that the product will do what we expect of it.
We will talk in generic terms, no brand names will be mentioned but obviously the best way to gain knowledge of these products is by assessing supplier and manufacturers information and specifications. They freely distribute these and some are happy to provide samples, so that you can physically compare different products.
Be careful when checking for flame resistance. I once naively put a match to a small swatch of fabric to see if it could withstand flame. A split second later I had a hot black gooey melted fabric over my finger. It hurt and I came to the conclusion that the fabric was not what I was looking for and it wasn’t specified for the project. It pays to read the back of the label for the properties and used their tried and tested information.
We will go over as many interior finishes as possible, but there are always new products being released.
Interior Finishes includes floor, walls, ceilings, internal joinery and soft furnishings.
Multiple interior design finishes used in this kitchen
Selecting product, as discussed requires accessing the products performance capabilities. The following items should be considered:
Economic and budgetary issues. Does the budget allow for the initial purchase cost of the material as well as the installation? Does the product require long-term maintenance, which may impact on the weekly household budget?
Durability considerations. Will the product withstand daily wear and tear –water spillage, foot traffic, pets, and children with artistic flair, furniture movement? Is the product able to be easily maintained? Is it easily broken, or scratched, prone to changing temperatures?
Safety issues. Is it slippery when wet (flooring)? Is it a fire hazard? Does it have hard or sharp edges? Does it provide a surface for glare? I.e. is it highly polished and reflective. Is the product dull and dark and impede vision without the lights on?
Comfort and Aesthetic considerations. Does it look great? Does it fit in with your scheme, texturally, colour wise, patterned items? Does it meet the acoustic and thermal insulation requirements of the local building authority? Do the tactile properties live up to the look? I.e. is it soft to touch, silky to run your fingers over, or cool underfoot?
Keeping all these items in mind, read on to have your interior finishes knowledge increased, and a way to remember the product and its properties and functions is to consider where you would put each and why as you read along.
Enjoy increasing you interior design and decorating knowledge.
Interior Design Finishes
How to Select Types of Wallpaper or Wall Hangings and Different Types of Floor Coverings for Interior Design and Decorating
The walls and floors of the home take up a large area of the interior decorating canvas.
They often dictate the theme and colors as well as style of the room. There are so many options and combinations to choose from that it can be difficult to make decisions on one, let alone two!
But armed with some basic information on what wallpaper is and how it is used will provide you with the confidence to perhaps move with the sudden swing back to using wallpaper or wall hangings on the walls once more.
Then comes the tricky area of floor coverings! These are a very tactile selection. You need to walk on them, put your samples on the floor and see them in the natural light of your room.
Stand on them in bare feet, feel the sensation of the floor product on your feet. Personally, I can’t stand my feet touching cold ceramic tiles, whilst others hate to think what might me hiding in a carpet under their feet, it makes their toes curl! It is a very personal selection process, and armed with all the basic facts on the types of flooring systems below, you will be able to make better informed decisions on floor products.
Timber Flooring – Some of the types of timber flooring available.
Hard Flooring – Some hard flooring options.
Stone Flooring – definitions of stone based flooring.
Semi Hard Flooring – cork, linoleum, vinyl.
Clay Based Flooring – The different types of tiles.
Wall Hangings – A description of the different types styles and types of Wallpaper.
Modern Wall Hanging Features and Adhesives – learn about the different features of wallpapers and the adhesives used to hang them.
Decorative Painting, Faux Finishes, Decorative Finishes
Find Types of Timber or Wood by the Country of Origin
This menu provides timber or wood classed by country and defines their uses for home interiors. Search below for types of timber by their country of origin – South America,Canada / Usa, Europe, Africa, Pakistan / India / Burma / Sri Lanka / Malaysia / Indonesia, Australia / New Zealand / Pacific Island.There you will find out the characteristics of each type of timber, what it looks like, the type of grain, whether it is a hard wood or a soft wood, the timber’s color, and what it is generally used for.
South America timbers form this geographical region include the following woods and timbers: Mahogany, Rosewood, Greenheart and Parana Pine.
Canada / USA find timbers produced by this timber region including: Douglas Fir, Canadian Oregon, British Columbian Pine, Hemlock, Western Red Cedar, American Red Oak, American White Oak and Black Walnut.
Europe learn about the timbers from this large region, they include Ash, Chestnut, Elm, Oak, Beech, Larch, Scots Pine, Birch, Walnut and Yew.
Africa find the following timbers from this large continent: Sepele Mahogany, Iroko, Obeche, Mahogany and Afromosia.
Pakistan / India / Burma / Sri Lanka / Malaysia / Indonesia this region is a large producer of hardwoods, find information on the following timbers: Teak, Padauk, Kerving, Vitex, Balau and Taun.
Australia / New Zealand / Pacific Island find a variation of timbers from these areas including the following: Fijian Kauri, Black Butt, Ironbark, Jarrah, Tallowwood, Rimu, Kahikatea, Kauri, Matai, Rewa Rewa, Tawa, Totara, Silver Beech, Red Beech and Hard Beech,
Timber and wood have been used as far back as we can date in the use of home construction.
Now techniques have been refined and we can use timber more economically with the use of timber veneer, helping save the amount of timber we use for home decorating and making timber more environmentally sustainable.
Most countries now have laws protecting endangered species of trees and these are no longer available for us to indulge in decoration with.
This is necessary for protecting some very old and endangered spieces of trees that had been in danger with major felling of forests.
We cover in this area of interior decoration finishes timber and wood and starts at the beginning by looking at how the tree grows and then following through on the different types of timber, the properties of wood and timber and how to recognise the differing types and what to use it for. This covers the different types of timber based boards available.
Learn about one of the most used products in interior decorating – timber.
Timber / Wood – What it is and how it is used in interior design.
Timber/Wood – Trees and how we get timber.
Properties of Timber – flexibility, colour, strength and more.
Timber Deviations – grain and figure.
Timber Based Boards – different types of boards made from timber.
Uses for Timber – flooring, panelling, veneer.
Timber Moldings– different types of moldings made from timber.
Fabric Finishes
Different types of fabrics, their definitions, the fibers used in making fabrics
Types of Metals
