Natural wood as a material for finishing and interior decoration

Features of wood

You should not think that wood is only suitable for the construction of private houses and cottages, or associate it with an outdated interior or creaking floors. Designers have long come up with a number of interesting techniques on how to introduce wood into the interior and give it a stylish, modern look and luxury.

Using natural wood in interior design

The properties of wood and the specifics of its use depend on the type of raw material. Most often, coniferous wood is used for construction, and hardwood is considered the most suitable for finishing work. It does not have a resinous aroma, but the wood is characterized by high strength and density. It is easily processed manually or mechanized. Wood is suitable for making designer “things” and structural buildings.

Wood has high thermal insulation abilities. It is environmentally friendly and practical, and goes well with other finishes:

• metal;
• glass;
• ceramics;
• skin;
• cloth;
• stone;
• bricks, etc.

Combination of wood with other materials when decorating a room in a loft style

Oak is considered the most popular. It has a huge service life, high flexibility and density, but is characterized by significant cost. Also, beech, birch, walnut, acacia, and some conifers can be used for interior cladding.

Types and types of wood for furniture, their properties

In order for the furniture to serve for as long as possible, maintain a presentable appearance and not require frequent repairs, for its different elements it is important to correctly select the density of the rock - the ratio of mass to volume.

The strength, wear resistance and susceptibility of furniture to deformation directly depend on the density of wood. Softwood with an expressive texture is used for facades and other decorative elements. Hardwood - for load-bearing structures. Extra-hard woods are suitable for furnishing rooms with significant fluctuations in humidity and temperature. Medium-hard wood is a universal furniture material for decorative and load-bearing elements. When choosing a species, the prevalence and complexity of processing solid wood are also taken into account - this affects the final cost of the furniture.

Wood in the interior

Wooden items for the home are sold in stores. You can make many decorative items yourself. Depending on the type of room, expert recommendations vary, but in any case, every wooden detail will become an interesting and eye-catching accent in the room.

Living room

Light wooden items or decorations look especially impressive in a living room decorated in a Scandinavian style. They emphasize the closeness to nature and make the room lighter and airier in appearance. Wood is also suitable for Provence and minimalism: here designers recommend using pine, beech, alder, and birch. Classic design, on the contrary, goes better with wood of dark shades - wenge, walnut, oak. The following can be made from wood in the living room:

• floor coverings (deck board, solid wood, parquet);
• furniture;
• fireplace trim;
• doors, windows.

Wooden furniture and solid parquet in the living room

Bedroom

Using wood in your bedroom design will help create a pleasant, relaxing atmosphere. In small rooms it is worth choosing materials in light shades, complementing them with bright accents. Matte finishes look most natural, while varnish finishes will have to be updated regularly, but they visually expand the room and raise the ceilings.

It is better to choose oversized but functional furniture. It will not take up extra space and will not overload the room. Decorating the walls with wood also looks attractive. Often the entire wall or the area at the head of the room is covered with clapboard or panels, which will fit perfectly into the eco-style. Wood can be painted with water-based paints. The best shades for this purpose are beige, pistachio, mustard, and milky. The interior will be complemented by knitted blankets, curtains and textiles made of cloth, linen, and wool.

Natural wood wall in the bedroom

Children's

For a child's room, wood is the best choice. This material is the most environmentally friendly, therefore it is suitable for finishing walls, floors, ceilings, and for decorating a room. Furniture should also be made of wood. Modern synthetic materials are often of low quality. The following are used as accents and decorations in the nursery:

• carpets and small rugs;
• rope ladders and horizontal bars;
• herbal compositions;
• photos, pictures;
• wall shelves;
• light curtains;
• racks for toys.

Wooden house-crib in the nursery

Kitchen

Typically, wood is used in the kitchen in the form of furniture - kitchen units, dining areas. In a small room, the furniture should be made light, complementing it with glass and mirror inserts. Dark sets are used mainly in large rooms that have large windows. At the same time, the tabletop can be made bright, like household appliances, although classic, pastel shades also go well with wood.

Solid wood kitchen set

To cover the floor here, it is better to choose more practical materials - linoleum, tiles, which are easy to wash and wipe off stains. Wooden beams will look good on the kitchen ceiling, giving the feeling of a country house. For country and rustic styles, wooden dishes with an interesting pattern are also perfect.

Balcony and loggia

Wooden lining for a balcony is a very popular option. It looks noble, natural, characterized by environmental friendliness and beauty. It is not difficult to decorate the walls of a room with clapboard, because it has a tongue-and-groove type of connection. The following options for covering balconies and loggias are usually used:

• vertical;
• horizontal;
• diagonal.

Finishing the loggia with clapboard
To save money, many use PVC panels with wood-like colors. They are also easy to install, have soundproofing properties and reduce the thermal conductivity of the structure. MDF panels, which are made from compressed lumber processing waste, look no worse than natural wood. But in terms of environmental friendliness, the panels cannot be compared with wood, so if possible, you need to buy the highest quality material.

Bathroom

Wood is not often used in the bathroom, because it needs special treatment against rotting, mold, and moisture penetration. If you are already tired of ceramic tiles, it can be replaced with special types of wood that will last a long time and become a real decoration of the room. Typically, in a humid microclimate, materials that have undergone antiseptic impregnation are used:

• edged boards of valuable species;
• imitation timber;
• block house.

Using natural wood when decorating a bathroom

This decoration will give the room the appearance of a real sauna, especially in combination with a stone floor and original furniture. Instead of wood, you can use tiles of appropriate colors, slabs made of wood chips, which have higher moisture resistance and look fresh and luxurious.

Bath

Traditionally, a bathhouse is a completely wooden room, consisting of a steam room, a main room and a dressing room. Usually the walls here are trimmed with wood in a horizontal order to imitate masonry. Most often, lining, imitation timber, slab, and block house are purchased for this purpose. An original option would be wicker wicker or bamboo. In the dressing room you should place a table with chairs or armchairs, and decorate the walls with paintings and carvings.

Antique wooden furniture for baths

Which types of wood are best to choose this or that furniture from?

What to consider when choosing

• Furniture made of maple wood fits perfectly into the Scandinavian and Provence style.
• Oak furniture looks impressive in different interior styles, including loft.
• When properly processed, cherry successfully imitates mahogany.
• Conifers create a healthy ecosystem in nurseries.
• Beech is great for allergy sufferers.
• Cedar is used to make luxury outdoor furniture - verandas, terraces and patios - as well as spectacular carved elements.
• Larch becomes even harder when exposed to moisture, so it is suitable for long-term unheated country cottages. It is used to make furniture for swimming pools, showers, saunas, loggias and terraces, as well as kitchen units, including countertops and space elements near sinks. Larch furniture looks great in Alpine style.
• Alder does not absorb foreign odors, so it is suitable for furnishing kitchens. Its moisture resistance is comparable to ceramic tiles. Alder wood has anti-allergenic and antibacterial properties, making it suitable for children's bedrooms and bedrooms.
• At dusk, pine furniture looks much lighter than other types. Wood releases phytoncides, which create a favorable indoor microclimate.
• Mahogany and other exotic types of wood are used for finishing because of their exceptional cost.
• Over time, any natural wood changes its color to a greater or lesser extent - dark wood becomes lighter, and light wood becomes darker.

The best wood for furniture is the one that suits you in terms of technical, aesthetic and price characteristics. To consult an expert in St. Petersburg, contact us in any convenient way.

Wood finish

Wood is a high-quality material for decoration or finishing of premises. It can be used even without special processing. Wood is suitable for different styles and spaces, but has some specific uses.

Wooden columns and ceilings

Such elements are ideal for loft, industrial, and country. They are useful for large rooms with high ceilings in country houses and cottages. An excellent option is to combine wood with stone and brick when creating columns and beams. This technique enhances the style focus. For apartments, such interior elements are not always appropriate, because they greatly conceal the space.

Wooden beams on the ceiling in a loft interior

Walls and partitions made of wood

Wood dilutes the cold atmosphere of rooms with paint, concrete, and brick. It looks luxurious, unusual, and fills the room with a forest aroma. To increase service life, all finishing elements are treated with varnishes, waxes, impregnations, stains, as well as oils and glazes. Here are popular options for decorating walls with wood:

• sewing up a small part of the wall with clapboard;
• filling the space behind the sofa;
• arrangement of a small partition for zoning the room;
• complete covering of the wall with artificially aged boards.

Zoning a room using a wooden partition

Lattice partitions can be decorated in an original way with flowers and climbing plants. This will give the room the appearance of a winter garden and fill it with homely warmth.

Wallpaper

Wooden wallpaper is an unusual option for covering the walls of a house or apartment. They are made from cork, veneer in the form of rolls or small planks that are attached to each other using a locking method. Wall preparation for such materials may be minimal; careful leveling is not required. To prevent wallpaper from deteriorating from moisture and to serve for a long time, it is treated with protective compounds on top.

Spruce and pine wallpapers are inexpensive. For the wettest rooms, it is worth choosing larch material. Abash wood panels from Africa are expensive but high quality. In any case, this finish is environmentally friendly, does not emit toxins, and the finished coating looks seamless and very stylish.

Combination of wood with stone and brick

Wood goes well with other materials in the interior, which only increases its popularity. For example, with stone they complement each other perfectly, especially in country, eco, and Provence styles. Stone and wood look best in floor coverings, when decorating the fireplace area, as well as walls in the corridor, hall, and office.

The use of wood and natural stone when decorating a kitchen in a modern style

Wood effect tiles

Ceramic tiles in wood colors are a good alternative to natural wood. It has excellent technical characteristics, which is why it is popular in the renovation of houses and apartments. Tiles will replace wood in the bathroom, where there is always dampness and the natural material will be susceptible to rotting. Fungus, mold, and germs will not settle on the tiles, and it will be easier and faster to clean. During use, ceramics do not absorb dirt, stains, odors, and can withstand heavy loads, which is why they are in demand everywhere.

Wood-look ceramic tiles for bathroom floors

Wooden doors

Doors made of solid wood or veneer look expensive and stylish, while the wooden base goes well with glass, plastic inserts, and stained glass. The best doors are made from oak, beech, birch, cherry, merbau, because these species are highly durable. Usually, to extend the service life, the canvases and platbands are coated with wax or stain. It is advisable to buy products with high-quality polishing, without cracks or irregularities, with a perfectly smooth finish.

Solid wood interior doors

Beams

The use of ceiling beams creates a special rustic style in the room, evokes thoughts of antiquity, and brings you closer to nature. If the beams are placed close to each other, they should have a light shade.

Products that are far apart can be made more massive and darker in color. It is advisable to leave the walls white or pastel so that the room does not look gloomy. Typically, in apartments with high ceilings, imitation beams are used, and in cottages and country houses, full-fledged load-bearing structures are used.

Room interior with wooden columns and beams

Tree cuts

The cuts of the end part of the tree are round dies of different diameters, which can also be used in the interior. With special installation, you can recreate a “woodpile”, which is perfect for decorating a fireplace, kitchen, or office. Tables and tabletops are made from large cuts of wood. Rectangular cuts are used to make wall panels.

Wood cuts for bedroom decor

Picturesque little things

In Scandinavian, eco-style, country and many other styles, decorating rooms with various wooden objects is very popular:

• chandeliers made of driftwood;
• stumps as tables;
• decorations for the mantelpiece;
• curved branches on the walls;
• wooden trinkets;
• vases;
• figurines;
• flowerpot;
• tueskas;
• sets of wooden utensils;
• candlesticks;
• chess.

Designer chandelier made of driftwood

Decorating walls with wood

Using wood, you can decorate walls with slats, saw cuts, and dies from edged timber with different sections and thicknesses. There is another option for decorating the walls - placing wooden panels, paintings, lamps, various inserts and stripes on them.

Decorating a wall with painted clapboard

Wooden furniture

Wood, like no other material, is suitable for the manufacture of cabinet and upholstered furniture. Now the trend is furniture with knots, cracks, artificially aged, and with a “craquelure” effect. Some items are even cut out of solid pieces of wood, but the cost of such products is usually high. They also make furniture from old stumps and bark, and combine wood with leather and velor. Such household items last a long time, creating a special, beneficial microclimate in the house and allowing you to feel a unique aroma.

Original coffee table made from tree trunks

Pros and cons of wood in the interior

The advantages of wood in the interior are:

• strength, durability;
• wear resistance;
• easy cleaning;
• beauty;
• possibility of combination;
• environmental friendliness.

The material also has disadvantages. He is afraid of water, dampness, and often has mold and bugs in him. Wood catches fire easily and is susceptible to rotting. Carrying out special processing eliminates these disadvantages and makes wood the most popular raw material for construction, finishing and decorating homes!