To decorate the premises, they use not only the usual wallpaper and plaster, but also decorative strips. In the interior of rooms, slats will become a bright, memorable element. In order for the material to fit harmoniously into the design of the space, you need to choose the right type of raw material and finishing technology.
Decorative buffels in the interior Source rmnt.ru
Features of finishing with slats
Wooden slats, planks, lamellas and buffels - all this is the name of one universal material.
It is suitable for finishing any room: from the living room to the bathroom and is even used in landscape design. True, with some reservations. The most popular species for making decorative planks is pine. There are obvious advantages: price and durability, but there is also a disadvantage - moisture absorption. In order for the material to last a long time, it must be coated with a special impregnation. Then you can avoid drying and swelling. But designers still do not recommend using pine decor in rooms with high humidity - for example, in the bathroom.
As an alternative, you can consider MDF, it is also cheaper, as well as beech and oak - from natural analogues.
Armchair
In the case of slatted structures, it is better to immediately consider a hybrid option in the form of a chaise lounge - a beach lounger. Other design options in the interior will look too rough.
Portable, lightweight design with a fabric back is easy to assemble and convenient to transport. It is recommended to make the load-bearing elements from maple wood, and the lintels on the seat from cherry, beech, and pine.
To make a chair, you need to prepare the legs: 2 parts 20x40x800 mm and 2 parts 20x40x560 mm each. The lower crossbars are also paired, 10x50x380 mm each. Top 1, size 20x40x380 mm. The crossbar for sitting is also needed in a single copy, 20x40x300 mm. You will also need 5 slats 20x40x400 mm and a piece of fabric for the back 600x500 mm.
The assembly order will be as follows:
- jumpers are attached to a long pair of legs at the top and bottom;
- fabric for the back is stretched over the resulting part;
- The seat is assembled: a jumper is attached to the short legs at the top, then 5 prepared slats;
- chair assembly: the second pair of legs is passed between the lower jumpers of the long part and secured with a movable connection.
- You can first paint or coat the chaise lounge frame with impregnation.
Advantages and disadvantages of decorative slats
The slatted wall design attracts the attention of many designers, thanks to the many advantages that the original finish has. The obvious advantages of the material include:
- environmentally friendly and hypoallergenic;
- ease of installation of the structure with your own hands;
- sufficient level of sound insulation;
- masking wall surface defects;
- ease of installation of equipment, furniture and decorative elements;
- low cost.
However, before you decide to install decorative slats in your home, you should pay attention to some of the disadvantages of this material:
- instability to rotting and fungus formation;
- reducing the area of the room due to the frame base for decorative elements;
- fire hazard;
- twisting deformation due to drying out.
But it is worth noting that with proper care of the slatted wall design and careful treatment of it, many of the shortcomings of such material can be avoided.
Which slats are best to choose?
Before installing wooden slats on the wall in the interior, you need to choose the material from which they will be made.
- Pine is the most inexpensive and affordable wood. It is rarely attacked by fungus or damaged by insects. However, you will have to tinker with the preparation: pine requires impregnation from moisture and treatment with alkali before applying varnish.
- Beech is more expensive, but stronger than pine. The disadvantage is the possibility of rotting, so it requires treatment with a special compound.
- Oak is a durable and strong, but at the same time expensive, elite species. Solid oak is resistant to moisture, insects and mold, so surface treatment will be sufficient.
- MDF with veneer is a durable and non-deforming alternative. Due to the glue in the composition, this material is not the most environmentally friendly. In addition, even veneered MDF differs in appearance from natural wood.
- Metal is the most durable option of all. It is more expensive than wood and is less common. Can be of any color, including imitation wood structure. Gray painted lamellas look great in an interior in the style of minimalism and hi-tech, black - in a loft, white - in Scandi, colored - in modern or Provence.
The bars can be of any width and thickness. The section size is selected based on the purpose and size of the room: the smaller the room, the thinner the boards should be and vice versa. Advice: spliced wooden buffels practically do not deform, and in terms of environmental friendliness and beauty they are not inferior to solid ones.
Rare wood species
There are several more options for slats made from valuable wood. In ordinary construction stores, such products are practically not offered. Therefore, designers or home craftsmen order lamellas from professionals. Our team also has the ability to fulfill orders from rare woods.
The most popular panels are:
- Ash. The wood is light and elastic, easy to process, light yellow in color with pronounced fibers. Suitable for creating wall decor.
- Karelian birch. It is an expensive wood with intricate patterns. After special treatment it acquires a durable, marble-like surface.
- Walnut. It is characterized by strength, massiveness, and a wide range of colors - from light gray to brown-brown. It lends itself well to processing and polishing. Does not crack under the influence of sudden temperature changes.
- Mahogany. This is a whole group of tree species, including red trees of different shades. The raw materials are well processed, ground and polished. Panels are made from it for interior decoration in royal styles.
It is also acceptable to use materials from yew, sequoia, rosewood, wenge, ebony, sandalwood, bokoto and so on. Which wood to choose depends on personal desires and financial capabilities.
Selecting the material
As already mentioned, wood, metal and plastic are used to make slats. In order for the choice to meet your expectations, you should understand the differences between each of the materials, and the main types of wood used in particular.
- Pine is the most popular and inexpensive option. Slightly susceptible to fungus and insects. Disadvantages include sensitivity to moisture and temperature fluctuations. Not suitable for a bathroom, unheated loggia, or walls with radiators. Requires careful preliminary preparation with the application of several layers of protective agents.
- Beech will cost more, as it is a hard grade and is characterized by greater wear resistance. Needs pre-treatment with a special anti-rotting compound.
- Oak is an expensive, elite, reliable and durable species. It is resistant to moisture, insects and mold. A simple surface treatment will be sufficient preparation.
- MDF made of veneer does not look as noble as solid wood, and may even cost more. Stable under conditions of high humidity and temperature changes. Inferior to natural wood in terms of environmental friendliness.
- Metal is the most reliable and durable option, resistant to thermal, mechanical stress and moisture. Coated with an anti-corrosion compound. Can be painted in any color or covered with wood-look film.
- Plastic is used to produce panels with slatted corrugation, which are suitable for bathrooms, washrooms and kitchens. It is rarely used, but the pattern on the planks can also imitate the structure of wood.
Advice! It is better to choose boards with a minimum number of knots, otherwise the interior will resemble a bathhouse.
The thickness and width of the bars can be any. Designers advise linking these values in direct proportion to the size of the room, so that everything is in its place and looks organic. Thin boards are suitable for a small room, wide ones for a large one.
Color and light
Buffels are usually painted in all natural tones from light to dark. The color contrast with the main decoration of the room makes the plank decor the main accent. In this case, a difference of one or two tones is enough, since the corrugated structure itself is already expressive. If you paint the slats to match the rest of the surfaces, you can get a calmer interior.
For example, in the bedroom, the monotony and smooth lines of a low-contrast natural color relaxes and sets the mood for sleep.
Glazing compounds (glazes and impregnations) will help to obtain a beautiful shade and emphasize the texture of the wood. They form a translucent coating and protect the product from external influences.
Rhinestones, stones, and narrow mirror strips can serve as extravagant decorations for lamellas. LED strips or long lamps built between the slats will add special solemnity and deepen the zoning effect.
Well-planned lighting in the room will skillfully highlight the corrugated texture of the panel. And the soft lighting of the slats near the ceiling will add romance to the design.
Examples of using slats in the interior
Background or accent? Buffel or baffle? We tell you how you can fit a tree into different rooms.
Wall decoration with decorative slats
In the living room, wall slats are mounted behind the sofa or opposite it; in the bedroom they can serve as a headboard, and in the kitchen they can highlight the dining area.
Decorative slats are installed in two ways: with glue or with a frame. The first option is suitable if the panel is used as decoration and furniture and appliances will not be mounted on it. Step-by-step instruction:
- Treat the wall with a mold anti-mold primer and apply a decorative coating.
- Cut the boards 1 cm smaller than the desired size to allow the wood to expand freely.
- Cover the slats with a protective compound, paint or stain.
- Apply glue to the slats and attach.
If you plan to hang a TV, heavy paintings or furniture on a slatted composition, attach them to the frame:
- Treat the wall with a mold anti-mold primer and apply a decorative coating.
- Assemble the sheathing from the bars and treat it with a protective compound.
- Saw the bars to size and process them.
- Attach the buffels to the sheathing with screws or nails.
- Paint or stain the finished structure.
Ceiling decoration with slats
Decorating the ceiling with baffles allows you to hide unevenness, hide wiring and simplify the installation of lamps. In addition, such an original finish changes the geometry of the room. If you place boards crosswise in a narrow room, it will become wider.
The installation procedure for the ceiling is the same as described above: surface and wood processing, installation of sheathing, fastening of the slats themselves.
Zoning a room with slats
Wooden partitions are ideal for zoning through space: they allow light to pass through, while separating one part of the room from another. With the help of decorative slats, you can separate the kitchen and dining room, highlight an office or bedroom in the studio, and separate the bathtub and toilet.
Floor covering
A lattice false floor made of moisture-resistant wood (for example, larch) will come in handy in a steam room. Layed on top of the tiles, it will relieve steamers from the unpleasant contact of bare feet with the tiled surface.
Stair railing
Buffels are perhaps the ideal tool for constructing stair railings. By sewing up a wall from floor to ceiling with vertical slats, you can create a reliable fence and completely protect yourself from accidental falls.
Hallway design ideas
In the hallway, buffels are not only a beautiful, but also a functional element. Hang them with hooks, a mirror and shelves. This way you get a stylish and inexpensive entrance just steps from the door.
If the hallway is long and narrow, install decorative slats horizontally around or opposite the front door. In other cases, mount vertically.
Headboard
A rather original way to use slats in the interior is to create a headboard for a bed. For greater expressiveness, such a design can be illuminated using LEDs, which, by the way, will serve as a night light if the residents of the house are uncomfortable in complete darkness.
Slats can correct imperfect room geometry. Vertical planks visually “raise” a low ceiling, while horizontal planks make the room wider
Furniture facades
A simple frame, two pairs of hinges and a little imagination - and you can get an original facade for a clothes closet or kitchen unit. To be fair, it is worth noting that many housewives do not like such doors, since dust gets inside the furniture frame. And yet slatted facades have the right to life, if only because they decorate the interior and make it original.
Of course, we have listed only the main ways to use slats in the interior. This inexpensive and easy-to-handle material offers many more possibilities. For example, you can assemble an original lampshade or tabletop for a coffee table from thin wooden planks. But before you start work, you need to purchase lumber, and not make a mistake when choosing.
To protect the wooden slats from moisture and temperature changes, as well as to add decorativeness to it, it is stained or painted, and then varnished
Zoning (partitions)
Wooden buffels are ideal for zoning spacious rooms. An openwork partition, assembled from thin slats, visually divides the room into zones, and at the same time perfectly transmits light. Using this design, you can separate the dining table in the living room, fence off the office, and add comfort to the relaxation area. There are a lot of options.
Another advantage of partitions made from slats is that they are extremely simple to make. Almost everyone can do this. You just need to fix the load-bearing beams on the ceiling and floor, and attach the buffels to them using nails, screws or metal corners. After which all that remains is to cover them with stain, varnish or paint, and the work can be considered complete. And if the structure becomes boring or loses its relevance, it can be easily dismantled without leaving behind piles of construction waste.
Wooden slats with a cross section of 20×50 and 50×50 mm are strong enough so that bookshelves and even an LCD panel can be hung on the partition.
What slats look like in the interior
Many completed projects show that buffels are an excellent solution for decorating apartments and houses. We have selected options for decorating the walls with slats and photos of these interiors.
Slats on the wall in the kitchen
It must be said that wooden slats in the interior of the kitchen themselves are rarely found. It is difficult to imagine an apron or set finished in this way. Still, this is the prerogative of the combined spaces of the kitchen and dining room. And here the designers have a couple of suggestions.
The first way is as an accent in a dining room or recreation group. This technique is usually used in medium-sized spaces. In this case, the buffel performs a purely decorative function. The width of the covering is chosen based on the area of the dining room or furniture: the larger it is, the wider the decor can be.
The second is for zoning. If the kitchen is large and you want to separate the dining room from the work area, but at the same time maintain lightness and airiness, this technique is for you. The main advantage of baffles is that they do not block natural light and do not overload the room, unlike a plasterboard wall.
Slats on the wall in the hallway
If you like the idea of vertical or horizontal bars, but you are not yet ready to use them on a large area, take a closer look at the entrance panel. Wooden slats fit well into the interior of the hallway. Designers use them to highlight open space for storing things, including in a niche. Hooks fit very organically into this geometry.
If the wall is narrow, try placing the beams horizontally - this will slightly adjust the area.
Slats on the wall in the nursery
Another room into the interior of which you can successfully fit a partition made of wooden slats is a children’s room. This includes dividing space for two children and designating functional areas in a room for one. In the first case, everything is standard: a partition separates areas of the room for each child.
The second use case is more interesting. Pay attention to the photo below. The designer used a nice technique to highlight the teaching part of the room - wood around the perimeter, including the ceiling. The result was a very organic hint of a study area, plus a decorative window frame. But the height and width of the walls are important here. This technique will not look good in rooms with low ceilings; it will create the feeling of a box.
Slats on the bedroom wall
In the bedroom interior, wooden slats are usually placed on the focal wall - at the head of the bed. Natural textures are one of the brightest trends in the design of this room.
Note the combination of buffels and headboard. Designers use the simplest models with a soft or hard headboard. This way the design does not look overloaded with decor.
The second way to introduce wood trim is to focus on the opposite wall. With its help, a TV zone is allocated, if one is provided in the rest room. In addition, the external decoration of the dressing room with slats looks good when the room is combined with a bedroom.
Wooden slats in the living room interior
By analogy with zoning the work area and the dining room, using a similar wall you can separate the kitchen from the living room. We are talking about a combined room. There are no special secrets here; the partition is usually located between the sofa and the bar counter or suite. In the same way, you can divide the living room itself into zones, for example, allocate a work space or a play area for children.
In living room decor, the use of buffels has been a trend in recent years, although some designers call it fading. They look more geometric than the same panels made of wood or MDF.
If the living room is spacious, you can make the most of them. Moreover, pay attention to the color; designers do not use natural shades everywhere. If you match them to the color of the walls, the design will become even easier.
Where is this decor most often used?
- In the TV area. This way you can allocate space near the TV without overloading the wall.
- Near the sofa. A good finishing option when it stands with its back to the wall.
Slats in the interior of the balcony
The simplest, most inexpensive and fastest way to decorate walls on a balcony is with lamellas. You can cover the entire space with them, or you can make an accent.
Hang flowers on buffels to create an urban garden feel at home.
Bathroom
For a bathroom, wood must be carefully treated with moisture-proof compounds. Buffels are used to separate the toilet and shower, visually highlight the sink or decorate the ceiling.
3 basic rules for working with rack structures
1. Include them in the interior if you plan to furnish an apartment or house in a modern style.
Designers extremely rarely use slatted structures for classic settings; at most they can add baffles to the TV area in the living room or the headboard in the bedroom in a restrained, “masculine” presentation of the classics.
2. The more structures and surfaces made of slats are used in the interior, the stricter and more geometric it will be.
Frequent, rhythmic repetition of identical modules of simple forms gives us a feeling of order, harmony, and completeness. The predominance of slats over plain, clean finishing surfaces will be appropriate in the setting of an office or a small entrance area. And where you want a more relaxed atmosphere, it is better to use slats in doses.
3. Vertically located lamellas can visually stretch out the space, horizontally - on the contrary, they can “eat up” a little of the height.
Be careful with finishing the ceiling with baffles in compact apartments and houses with low ceilings: the technique will visually make the room even lower.
Reiki in the interior: for which styles
The high demand for buffels is due to the popularity of a number of styles that gravitate toward similar elements.
Wooden planks, slats, lamellas are organic in the industrial setting. And loft motifs are still relevant. In such interiors, buffels are most often found.
Their presence is also characteristic of the modern Scandinavian style. Here the buffels are usually light, with an imitation of minimal processing. They are usually placed on a white background and not too often.
Buffels are also used in modern classics - light and not too formal. Here slats are used to create and emphasize the symmetry inherent in the classical scheme.
Ceiling decoration
Slatted ceilings have not lost their popularity for many years, and there are good reasons for this. A sheet of thin wooden planks effectively hides the unevenness of the floor slab. Under it you can hide electrical wiring and other communications. It is especially important that all engineering components will be well ventilated, they can be inspected at any time for damage, and access for repairs is always open. After all, removing several slats and then putting them back costs nothing.
DIY installation
First, markings of elements are applied to a flat, already painted wall. At the same time, we must not forget about hidden communications and electrical wiring that can pass through the places where the boards are fixed. For express leveling of walls with defects, waterproof plywood is used, which is glued with parquet glue and additionally fixed with self-tapping screws. This base simplifies the installation of slats.
1 cm of the total length is sawn off from the boards. Installation requires a mandatory technological gap of 5 mm at the top and bottom for free expansion of the wood. It should be taken into account that the finished structure does not hide the junction of the wall and floor in the spaces between the slats. They try to make it as neat as possible.
It is convenient to select a 5 mm backing for the floor bars according to the width of the decor. And after finishing the work, simply pull it out from under the slats. Decorative slats are installed after they have been properly prepared and painted. Installation is possible in two ways. Both will require liquid nails or parquet glue.
Easy way
Suitable for small cross-section planks 20×30, 20×40, 20×60 mm.
- The back side of the lamella is glued with double-sided tape. This will free you from the need to hold the surfaces together until the glue sets.
- Glue is applied to the tape according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- Mounted on the wall.
Typically, the distance between the slats is equal to the width of one bar. It is convenient to measure the gaps by inserting scraps of the same material into them.
Hidden fasteners
Applicable to large cross-section slats with grooves for embedded parts (mounting strips) included in the kit.
- Fix the mounting strips on the wall with screws according to the markings.
- Slats are placed on top of them, having previously coated all contacting surfaces with glue (liquid nails).
- On the sides, the lath is additionally fastened to the embedded part with finishing nails with a countersunk head.
If the decor will act as a basis for mounting household appliances or hanging furniture, you can resort to alternative methods for greater reliability:
- fastening with self-tapping screws with a hidden head, followed by masking them with putty and color-matched plugs;
- fixing with screws or nails to a pre-assembled wooden sheathing.
These methods will provide good strength, but have their drawbacks. The disadvantage of the first is that it is not always possible to match the color of the plugs. In addition, over time they come unstuck. And in the second method, a protruding frame with slats will reduce the area of the room.
What is important to consider when working with this material?
Firstly, the design style. Slats are good in modern spaces, suitable for Scandinavian and loft spaces. They can be used in doses in minimalism. But in neoclassical designs they are used less often, rather as an exception.
Secondly, the coverage area. The larger it is, the stricter the architecture of the space will be. In relaxed designs, it is better not to get carried away with such accents.
Finally, thirdly, determine how you will use the slats: vertically or horizontally. Their geometry can visually adjust the proportions of the room. Vertical wooden slats in the interior will make the walls and ceiling higher, and horizontal ones wider.
Another advantage of the material is its diversity. And it’s not only the shape, wide or thin, but also the color. In most cases, designers prefer natural tones, both light and dark. They add the softness typical of wood to the design. But in more formal or “characteristic” rooms, painted buffels also look great. Just these can fit well into neoclassical or eclectic spaces.
Rack
The simplest storage system from wooden slats is quite easy to make with your own hands. You can first draw a diagram and figure out the desired dimensions of the future rack. Mounting rails with dimensions of 20×40 or 15×30 mm are suitable for use, depending on the planned loads.
Tools you will need:
- wood saw or jigsaw;
- drill;
- screwdriver;
- roulette;
- file.
Having a sanding machine will allow you to quickly refine the finished product and give it a shine, but this is not a prerequisite.
The production of racks occurs in a certain order.
- Sawing parts to size. It is better to cut for all elements at once, taking into account their quantity.
- End processing. The cut is ground with a large file, the edge is removed at an angle of 45° to avoid chipping.
- Grinding. This can be done manually with fine sandpaper, but it will be much faster to do it with a grinding machine. The edges can be rounded or left sharp.
- Assembly. The easiest way to do it is with a screw or self-tapping screw. In the first case, you will need to additionally drill holes with a drill. Their diameter should be smaller than that of the hardware. First, shelves and other horizontal lintels are assembled, then they are fixed to the frame.
- To strengthen the structure, secure the lower and upper levels with corners.
The finished rack is painted or varnished. You can tint the wood with stain or treat it with an impregnation with protective properties. Decorative finishing must be applied carefully, without haste, and dried under conditions recommended by the manufacturer.
Secrets of successful room design
To create an attractive room design, you should consider some nuances:
- The direction of laying the lamellas.
- Color. In small rooms, the lightest types of wood should be used. Dark colors will be psychologically oppressive in small rooms.
- Surfaces covered with wooden slats can themselves accentuate attention, or be used to highlight some other architectural element. For example, an arch or an original window.
- Slatted walls go well with niches and shelves.
- Wooden buffels soften the transition between different finishes. They provide a smooth transition from floor to wall, harmonizing with laminate or parquet.
- The vertical arrangement visually raises the ceiling. Horizontal slats visually increase the space.
- Slatted interiors make it possible to use a variety of lighting.
Budget options
For interior decoration, parquet boards, aged boards, small bars and saw cuts from various wood species, log boards, lining, eurolining, laminate, and oriented strand board are often used.
They are no worse than expensive types of finishing. Excellent for subsequent painting and varnishing. Some products can be combined with each other: for example, parquet boards and laminate, aged and log boards. Their disadvantage is a shorter service life, as some types may have already been used, or have several connections, and may be poorly assembled.
