How to choose a plinth for the interior

Plinth - one of the finishing elements, which is attached to the bottom of the wall. Thin plates closed the gaps in ancient times. Then the manufacture of one strip of plinth took a lot of time and effort. In the Middle Ages, this element became part of the decor of the room. It was decorated with carvings, inlays and inlays of precious metals. When a special machine was invented, it was possible to remove thin, smooth sheets (veneers) from an array of wood, plinths became multi-layered, that is, the base was made of ordinary wood, and the top was covered with a thin layer of precious rocks. In the most secured houses, rooms were decorated with slats with mosaic veneer surfaces. The plinth has a "twin brother" - fillet. If the first is attached to the wall, then the second is decorated with a joint with the ceiling. Plinths in the interior play an important role, since without this minor detail, the repair in the room will look incomplete. In the article we will talk about what types it is classified into and how to choose this element correctly for a certain situation.

Role in the interior

Initially, the plinth was used exclusively for protective purposes. He covered an unprotected gap between the floor and the wall, from which the wind blew and was drawn by cold. Also, this element allows you to hide the builders' flaws: irregularities or curved slots. To finish the walls do not always use moisture-resistant materials that calmly maintain contact with household chemicals (paper wallpaper, plaster). During wet cleaning of floors without plinth, it is easy to hook the unprotected piece with a mop and spoil a part of the coating. Inside the hollow models there is a special gutter into which the wiring is placed. Skirting - a great disguise for ugly communication lines.


    

In modern variants, even a heating system can be placed inside the traction (the architectural designation of the relief “belt”), which will warm up the room along the perimeter in parallel with the batteries. For decorative purposes, some models are equipped with light bulbs or sockets. An organically matched pair of floor baseboard-ceiling fillets gently emphasize the height of the walls.

Skirting will help to complete the design concept, because this element also corresponds to certain styles. For example, a neat stucco will suit the classics, an imitation of a steel surface will emphasize high tech, and a white strip of decor will add careless refinement to the Provence.


    

Types and materials

Classify plinth on the materials from which they are made. The largest group consists of elements of wood and its derivatives. They in turn are subdivided into the following subtypes:

  • Massive. These plinths are made entirely of solid wood of precious or ordinary wood. Such models are attached to nails or screws, as a solid piece of wood may over time crumble and lose its shape. Headgear caps are carefully masked with putty. This option has a high cost and highlight the beauty of expensive parquet. It is not advisable to buy a wooden plinth, if it is planned to further painting. Of the shortcomings of these models, only scant color gamut is noted within shades of brown.

  • Veneered. They are a two-layer combination of a simple wooden base and a front veneer sheet with a beautiful natural pattern.

  • From MDF. The material has become a budget replacement for natural wood. MDF is made of wood pulp (sawdust) with the addition of a special resin-bonding compound. Such plinths have a rich range of colors, but are much inferior in strength to massive ones. They do not recommend decorating passage rooms with them.

  • From LDF. Material similar to MDF, which has a lower density and weight. To the wall is attached with screws, glue or clips. It has a low cost, easy to cut, but can not withstand the systematic wet cleaning.

  • Suberic. The original model, which, unfortunately, has a set of flaws. Cork plinths have a pleasant shade, texture and bend well. They are made either entirely from cork, or from a wooden base and porous veneer. Such a floor belt permits moisture and does not withstand mechanical impact: with a strong kick with a foot, the material will simply burst. The main advantages of cork - softness, pleasant roughness and elasticity when touched, are absolutely useless if this element is made of it.

  • Liquid tree. A relatively new material, which is a combination of wood waste with synthetic fastening additives. Such plinths are painted, veneered and laminated. They bend well and can repeat the contours of rounded walls. By the service life is much inferior to natural wood. Externally, the composite material is similar to a potpourri of wooden pattern and a smooth stone base. Wood and its derivatives are considered the most environmentally friendly and safe materials because of their naturalness.

  • Plastic. Plinths made of plastic have a small weight, they follow the contours of rounded walls quite well and can boast a rich color range: from dark black to acid shades that are not typical of natural materials. However, plastic has one significant disadvantage. Plastic should not be heated. At high temperatures, it begins to emit toxic and dangerous substances to humans. For this reason, it is not recommended to decorate with plastic elements rooms where the temperature rises strongly or electrical appliances will be present located in the immediate vicinity of the element. Plastics are also represented by a wide range: polyurethane, duropolymer, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride.

  • Plinth stone and ceramics. Both materials are distinguished by monumentality and overstrength. Such an element will stand the test of time. Ceramic and porcelain stoneware baseboards are suitable for decorating tiled floors (in the bathroom and in the kitchen). The most durable items are considered to be made of marble. Because of the high cost, they are used only in luxury interiors.

  • Metallic. A rare type that can withstand heavy loads. Metal elements are made to order and pre-fitted to the contour of rounded walls. Such plinths can decorate not only the interior of the house, but also the exterior. Suitable for modern styles: loft, high-tech, minimalism.

Separately, note a special group of metal plinths for drywall. They are fixed before the installation of the construction of this material and perform the role of support, on which the main load rests.

There is another classification by degree of flexibility. The materials that reluctantly repeat the rounding of walls or columns include wood, ceramics, metal. Here we are talking about "unscheduled" bends, because in advance you can make a special baseboard. The tree is permissible to slightly adjust with steam. With ease only plastic plinths will bend at any angle, and cork elements will slightly change their shape.


    

Mounting methods

Depending on the type of plinth, use the following methods of fastening:

  • Screws and ordinary nails are used for wood and some of its derivatives.
  • For fastening elements from MDF and LDF use special brackets and clips, which are sold with them in the kit. Then they are masked with special decorative strips.
  • Plastic fixed with liquid nails. Unfortunately, because of them the element can not be carefully dismantled, so after the repair you will have to buy a new plinth.


    

Although the detail is traditionally fixed on the wall, in some rooms this rule will have to be neglected. If the house is made of timber, the plinth is attached as expected. If the apartment has concrete or brick walls, then it is better to fix the part on the floor.


    

How to choose

Skirting can not act as an independent interior parts. They are always chosen with an eye on some larger element, which is located next door. For example, they are guided by the color of the door, window, furniture, shade of the floor. Material matters also. The tree is universal and can be combined with any walls and floor. Low cost plastic suitable for linoleum, laminate and carpet. Ceramic and stone plinth organically look only with marble, granite and tile.


    

Under the color of the walls

Skirting the color of the walls allows you to erase or emphasize the boundary between them and the floor. In the first case, so that the surfaces do not merge completely, select the "belt" to a shade lighter or darker. This technique is a favorite among designers, as the combination of similar in tone tones is considered a win-win.

In rare cases, walls, door panels and baseboards match one color. The solution is very fresh and extravagant, therefore it is suitable for bold modern styles. To emphasize the border between the floor and the wall, choose either a neutral shade of the plinth or a bright one. The latter is rare, since in the color scheme of the element, they still prefer nut, beige, chocolate and coffee with milk. It is not recommended to choose a plinth to match the wall, decorated with a coating with variegated patterns. The border between the flooring and floral wallpaper should be strict and neat.

Under the color of the floor

According to traditional canons, the plinth is matched to the shade of the floor covering. Ideally, it should be a couple of tones lighter or darker, depending on the color transition to the wall. The combination of the same shade is considered to be a win-win. It is not so important whether the baseboard is combined with the tone of the wall covering or window and door openings. Anything higher must be combined with a fillet, and a neat, solid bottom will stand aside.


    

The color of the doors and windows

Designers recommend choosing the plinth to match the color of the door and window liners only if they are made of wood. This element will help to gently integrate into the interior openings of a different shade that look unbalanced in the overall color palette. For example, in a room where a dark flooring and walls, white doors will find support in the form of a plinth of the same color.


    

White edging in the interior

The white plinth improves the interior, making it more sophisticated and elegant. It is universal and organically merges into any stylistic decision. Neutral color allows you to harmoniously add white doors or windows to a dark atmosphere. With such a plinth any interior will look airy and easy. White edging highlight the high walls. The effect of such reception doubles if the ceiling is decorated with the same fillet. Although the white plinth is a novelty, it seemed to have been created for the classic style. The element will add a sophisticated touch to the luxury of the interior. However, it should be borne in mind that the bright edging will have to be systematically washed, as the surface is branded, and the floor is not the cleanest place in the house.


    

Color Contrasting Floor Frames

Contrast colors in the plinth panels - a bold novelty of recent years. They are ideal for creative, creative interiors, decorated in modern styles. Since the flooring is usually performed in a neutral range (shades of brown, black, gray), then the plinth is chosen for the furniture and individual details of the decor. In strict classics, it is difficult to imagine such an option, and flexible with respect to innovations of fusion, futurism, eclecticism, ethnic people will easily accept such a vivid experiment. The living room in a mixed style with orange-violet colors will accentuate the defiant lilac baseboard. A dark situation will be enlivened by a contrasting strip of red, yellow or green. Bright black-and-blue panel curtains on the background of light walls and a neutral floor will find support in the blue plinth.


    

Conclusion

In addition to the color scale and material, it is necessary to pay attention to the width of the plinth. In rooms with high ceilings, the strip of the lower border should be massive. Narrow baseboards just get lost in such rooms. Broad elements are also used to visually increase the space in the elongated rooms.


    

There is a joke among professional designers that the plinth is a real test for a beginner in the design business, since it is very difficult for an inexperienced master to link it with all the composite elements. If doubts arise and the color schemes of the door-window-wall are already dizzy, then rely on the shade of the floor. This traditional version did not know defeat.

Watch the video: 3 Awesome Baseboard Ideas! (March 2024).

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