Features of flooring
Flooring is an extremely important element of any interior, as it has a huge impact on the character of the entire room. Which flooring to choose? How to combine different types of flooring, and how to combine different heights?
The allocation of certain zones in the house is an extremely important element, since it allows residents to provide comfortable living conditions. Interiors are usually divided according to the function that a given area of the room should perform – living, night and utility areas.
There are several ways to divide an apartment into certain zones. The simplest solution is separation using gender.
However, a thoughtful choice will make the combination of floors not only aesthetic, but also functional.
Zones in the house using flooring
The division of zones can be done in different ways. One of them is using the floor. Combined floors are recommended for large rooms where the divisions will not optically “cut” the interior or reduce it. Moreover, interesting compositions that combine different tiles or stone with wood are decoration in themselves, but even in this case a sense of style is necessary.
Note! In small apartments, uniform surfaces are better because they create the impression of spaciousness and visual enlargement. Such an open area allows you to make the most of the arrangement, and at the same time looks stylish and modern.
Thanks to the wide choice of materials, there are several ways to separate the kitchen area from the living area using two completely different materials.
In this case, it is worth combining building materials that go well with each other (for example, wood and stone). The floor in the kitchen area should also match the kitchen furniture.
What materials to choose?
First of all, you should think about choosing a flooring that will separate the living area from the kitchen area, or one type that will connect them. The final effect of the entire composition will depend on this.
The most popular combination is a wooden floor in the living room combined with ceramic tiles or stone in the kitchen. In the kitchen, the floor is especially susceptible to damage. The tile guarantees durability, high resistance to damage and moisture.
Using the same type of flooring in the living room and kitchen allows you to visually enlarge the space and perceive it as larger. This solution also makes it possible to avoid unpleasant transitions between the living room and kitchen tiles.
The most commonly chosen type of floor for a living room with a kitchen
Some wood-effect tiles are difficult to distinguish from real boards. Wood-look porcelain tiles have all the physical properties of tiles, and also perfectly imitate wood.
The perfect imitation of texture makes this type of tile almost identical to the board. By choosing wood-look porcelain tiles, we get tiles throughout the entire space, as well as the possibility of separating zones with stone tiles,
Vinyl panels are similar to natural boards. One of their biggest advantages is durability. Vinyl floors are highly resistant to damage, scratches and fading. In addition, they are resistant to moisture. Some vinyl panels can be successfully installed even in the bathroom.
Additional Information! When choosing different types of floors in one apartment, it is worth remembering one rule – moderation. Therefore, the best solution is to combine different types of finishes of similar colors and with a delicate pattern. This will avoid optically reducing space
Joint joint of floor covering
In modern layouts, they try to avoid thresholds and protruding seams between rooms. Integrity and aesthetics come first. When choosing different types of flooring, it is worth finding solutions that will not spoil the final effect of the arrangement. The junction between the edge of the board and the edge of the tile should be as flat and inconspicuous as possible.
Such a connection may be problematic, for example due to different heights of the material, or improper connection between different types of floors. The connection should be invisible and ensure safe movement on the surface. Therefore, you should make sure that it is as even as possible.
The choice of different products implies their different thicknesses. The best solution, of course, is to pre-prepare the floor for various types of surfaces. A concrete screed or self-leveling mixture is perfect for this purpose.
You can level tiles with a wood floor using a wide aluminum or stainless steel floor strip. Stripes come in a variety of patterns and colors and often mimic the look of flooring, such as wood paneling.
Pay attention ! When combining natural wood floors with stone tiles, the first thing to remember is that the floor expands and contracts in response to changes in temperature and humidity. Therefore, it is recommended to leave an expansion gap in the floor. This treatment is designed to increase the durability and proper functioning of the floor. The gap allows free movement without the risk of cracks and deformations.
The joint, in addition, if positioned correctly, can become a decorative element of the floor. Most often, cork, steel or aluminum strips are used for this purpose.
Corking floors is a method used primarily to join wood floors to stone tiles. The cork contracts and relaxes, allowing the natural movement of the wood to occur freely,
The stripes are thin, invisible, creating the effect of a uniform surface. The plug is supplied as tape or spray-on sealant. Cork allows you to achieve an effect that is difficult to achieve with other expansion joints, especially in the case of complex patterns or combining different types of substrates. Its natural brown color matches well with most laminate floors.
