Concrete, as part of the furnishings, began to be used quite recently - in the 20th century. The fashion for it appeared along with the emergence of the loft style in the era of industrial development. After a short period of time, the movement strengthened its position along with the popularity of minimalism and industrial.

If until this time the material was perceived only as a rough finish, now it is used to create a design that even includes interior items made of concrete - stairs, vases, tables, chairs.

Designers and architects saw in concrete the attractiveness, aesthetics and flexibility to realize creative ideas.

Main advantages of the material

We invite you to familiarize yourself with the advantages of concrete:

• The material is plastic, so it can be used to create various shapes.
• The surface allows you to create texture, patterns and relief.
• The composition includes environmentally friendly substances - crushed crushed stone, sand, water, and plasticizers that are harmless to health.
• Under the influence of the heat in the room and heating devices, it becomes warm, and in the summer it remains pleasantly cool.
• Good noise suppression.
• Resistant to moisture, despite the ability to absorb it. Even with systematic and abundant absorption, the properties long time will not change for the worse.
• Gas tightness.
• Impact resistance.
• Resistance to temperature changes and extreme temperature conditions.
• Long service life.
• Combines well with many finishing materials.
• Since the material is affordable, it can be used over large areas without significant financial expenditure.
• As a result of the designer’s work, the material can look no less attractive in the room than marble or natural stone.

Along with the advantages, we would like to mention the disadvantages.

The material strongly absorbs moisture. Therefore, if paint or plaster is applied to match the concrete in the interior, the surface is first covered with a thick layer of primer. Then less moisture will be absorbed, and the liquid composition will lie more evenly.

Another nuance is that the material is cold. Therefore, where appropriate, cushions or other lined textiles are placed on concrete furniture. The floor is heated or carpet is laid.

How is architectural concrete different from ordinary concrete?

The basic composition of both types is the same. As already mentioned in the previous section, these are crushed stone, sand, water, plasticizers.

• To obtain architectural concrete(art concrete), colored pigments are added to the raw material to give color, ceramic chips for texture or colored glass.
• To ensure that the color is uniform and consistent, special levelers are added.
• More plasticizers are also often included if the material will be created into complex shapes.

Decorative concrete in the interior is part of it; it looks complete and expressive, in harmony with the overall decor.

Options for combining concrete with other materials when arranging a home

Thanks to its versatility (color range, texture, plasticity), designers combine concrete with other materials when arranging the interior. Let's look at the most popular and successful combinations, based on design practice.

Concrete and wood

Despite the fact that both materials are natural (at least the base of concrete), this duet creates a spectacular contrast - the coolness and industrial motifs of concrete and the warmth with natural beauty tree. Based on this, the emphasis is placed on one material or another, taking into account their wishes.

The basic rule for combining concrete and wood in the interior is to make a certain type of surface with one type of material. For example, a concrete floor, and the walls and ceiling are made of wood.

If wood is the main material, the room will not seem cold. You can relax and enjoy comfort in it.

The slightly rough surface of the concrete ceiling and floor looks impressive with smooth wooden walls. The ceiling is made cream-colored or white using pigments.

Concrete and brick

Based on design experience, we can say that brick and concrete in the interior are the most harmonious combination. Their properties are similar, and the combinations are harmonious.

The combination options are different. Designers do brick walls, and the floor and ceiling are made of concrete or materials alternate on the same wall surface.

With a predominance of brick, especially artificially aged brick, interiors are created in the style medieval castle with a large fireplace, arches lined with brick, stone floors and other elements characteristic of the style.

By evenly combining materials, with an emphasis on concrete or brick, a loft is created. For example, one wall may be concrete, and the rest may be brickwork.

Concrete and steel

This duet is a tribute to modernity. It is associated with the development of industry and the trends that arose during this period.

Designers create a ceiling, floor, and concrete walls in the interior with the desired texture and color, and from metal they make, for example, stairs, crossbars that are mounted to the ceiling in the manner of wooden beams or racks attached to the walls.

You can dilute the laconicism and severity of the decor with splashes of wood or wooden furniture.

In addition to the above duets, concrete in the interior is combined with massive glazing, air ducts, as part of the loft interior, as well as with chrome or polished metal decor.

Ideas for furnishing living spaces

An interior made of concrete or interspersed with it can be created in any living space. Let's look at them separately.

Living room

In the living room, concrete will fit most harmoniously into minimalism and loft. You can also implement eclecticism and even classics.

If the living room does not have concrete walls, they can be imitated using ready-made panels or textured concrete, which is applied to the rough finish.

In a small living room, it is advisable to cover concrete walls with decorative plaster with cement fractions. Large rooms will be expressive if the material is in its original form or with a uniform color pigment.

Concrete in the kitchen interior can be the floor, walls, and ceiling. To prevent the room from merging, use different tones. For example, a white or cream ceiling, metallic walls and a dark floor.

Furniture can effectively contrast with the decoration and be, for example, red or purple with a glossy shine. Concrete furniture - table top, dining table - will also fit.

Since concrete absorbs moisture, it is advisable to finish it in the washing area with tempered glass or tiles of a similar color. This solution also makes it easy to remove dirt using detergents without harm to the coating.

In the bedroom, designers use concrete and end up with a cozy and relaxing interior. For this purpose, the decorative possibilities of using the material are used - warm shades, patterns.

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How to use concrete in the interior - solutions that you most likely did not know about

Greetings dear readers. Not long ago I decided to use decorative concrete in the interior. The fact is that the moment has come when simply painting walls seems boring, and wallpapering seems banal, and you simply want something special. It was then that the decision was made to use concrete and believe me, the result exceeded all expectations.

In this article I want to talk about the reasons to use concrete as a decorative finishing material. In addition, I will show examples of rooms decorated using concrete.

Recommendations for the use of concrete in residential design

It is traditionally believed that the concrete surface in the interior is a sign of the beginning repair work. Today, the presence of deliberately untreated surfaces is not a sign that the renovation is not completed; on the contrary, it is a fashionable way of decorating walls, floors and even ceilings.

However, decorative finishing concrete differs in many ways from conventional plastering using cement-sand mixtures.

And when using this decorative material The following should be taken into account:

• firstly, the work is done carefully so that the surface is perfectly flat;
• secondly, the surface thus finished is treated with strengthening impregnations deep penetration to eliminate the possibility of dusting;
• thirdly, decorative finishing is applied in fragments in combination with other more traditional finishing materials;
• fourthly, decoration with real concrete can be replaced with an imitation made using other materials that are easier to use.

The use of concrete-look surfaces in the interior excludes the possibility of using classic style solutions in decor.
This finishing material is relevant only in combination with modern style directions in design, such as minimalism, hi-tech, fusion, etc.

What to combine with

Now let’s look at what materials and structures the concrete decor is combined with.

Among the successful combinations, I will note the following combinations:

• with pipes(plumbing and for hidden installation of communications);
• with massive glazing;
• with decorative elements made of polished or chromed metal.

The combination of concrete surfaces with unpainted metal pipes gives the living space an industrial look, characteristic of loft and hi-tech styles. But, in addition to the advantages of styling, this design solution differs in practicality and functionality. Metal pipes- This is an excellent opportunity for hidden wiring, for arranging a heating or plumbing system.

To make pipes look more attractive as a decorative element, it is desirable that their surface be chrome-plated or simply polished.

Massive glazing goes well with concrete walls, floors or ceilings. Best result is ensured if the glazing is made over the entire wall with minimum quantity dividing frames.

An excellent combination is concrete surfaces and polished metal products. The deliberately rough gray finish of the walls and floors goes well with stainless steel furniture. In addition, you can use metal decorative elements, such as aluminum baseboards or suspended aluminum slatted ceilings.

The combination of gray and metallic shades is typical for modern styles decoration of residential premises. Such combinations are actively used in high-tech and style.

How to do it yourself

Now I’ll tell you how to make concrete walls in the interior yourself using sheet plasterboard.

The main stages of the upcoming work are listed in the diagram.

Let's take a closer look at the steps listed in the diagram:

• On initial stage install on the wall load-bearing frame. You can learn how to install sheathing under drywall from my articles;
• If the wall is perfectly flat and you are too lazy to install the sheathing, we attach the drywall directly to the wall. For the best decorative effect between adjacent sheets we leave a gap 2-3 cm wide;
• We putty the drywall and thus fill the recesses made for the screws. We sand the applied layer of putty, and then apply a primer to remove the dust;

• On top of the surface prepared in this way we apply thin layer fine-grained cement-sand mixture. In order not to waste time preparing DSP, I recommend buying tile adhesive for interior work;

• The adhesive applied to the wall will have the required grey colour. Moreover, due to its uniform consistency, cement-based adhesive can be simply applied in an even layer using a trowel or wide spatula;

• At the final stage finishing works the dried surface is treated with decorative wax to Venetian plaster. The application of a special wax mastic will reveal the texture of the dried glue and the surface thus finished will be practically indistinguishable from concrete.

Polymer self-leveling floors as a decorative element in the interior

So, now we know one of the many ways to decorate walls. What can you do with the floor?

To finish a concrete floor, you can use thin-layer self-leveling floors based on liquid polymer mixtures.

Among the features of such floors, we note the following:

• The price is not much higher than a regular concrete screed;
• Possibility of installing a “Warm Floor” system;
• Possibility of installation with your own hands using an easy-to-use tool;
• Short installation times, starting with preparing the base and ending with a completely dry coating;
• There is no need to harden the finished surface with special impregnations;
• Lack of dust due to abrasion resistance of the coating;
• Long service life (at least 20 years) in residential premises;
• Perfectly smooth concrete surface.

You can read more about laying self-leveling polymer floors in my relevant articles.

Conclusion

Now you know what decor made in an industrial style is and you know how and with what materials it can be implemented in a residential space. Check out additional information by watching the video in this article.

If you have personal thoughts about the use of concrete as a decorative material, tell us about it in the comments to what you read.

If you want to express gratitude, add a clarification or objection, or ask the author something - add a comment or say thank you!

Concrete is a material for rough finishing, but in the last few years it has begun to be used for interior design and decoration. This material looks different depending on the processing: colored, smooth, glossy, textured. Kvartblog asked its regular expert, designer Valentina Konstantinova, to talk about options for using concrete in modern interior and styles that they fit perfectly into.

- interior designer, decorator. Valentina has been working on public spaces and residential interiors for many years. He prefers to work from the very beginning - from setting tasks and thinking through the general concept - to the final decor. Currently, Valentina is a creative designer at the Kashirsky Dvor company.

Concrete in the interior of the apartment

Concrete walls in combination with wooden beams on the ceiling and modern furniture will create an interesting contrast. A room in which one part of the walls is painted, and the other shows the natural texture of the material, will look impressive. Dark coated concrete walls are perfect for your bedroom if you don't like getting up early.

The advantages of a concrete floor include ease of maintenance and durability; moreover, depending on the treatment, it looks completely different: it can be given the appearance of stone, a pattern or inscription can be applied using a stencil. Maroon 5 lead singer Adam Levine's kitchen features a high-gloss concrete floor and painted walls. White color. Shiny black chairs and modern appliances look great against this neutral backdrop.

Use concrete for the floor and walls at the same time - this solution will not look boring if they differ in color. For example, in the mansion formerly owned by American comedian Steve Martin, dark concrete walls and ceilings contrast with lighter-colored floors. Good choice for interior wooden table top with a glossy finish.

Concrete will fit most organically into loft, eclectic and minimalist interiors. In model and actress Emily Ratajkowski's Los Angeles apartment in a former factory, concrete floors and white walls complement the eclectic furniture and rugs and extensive art collection.

A good solution would be to combine several elements in the interior of a room. natural materials, for example, concrete, wood and brick, which will create a feeling of dynamics. The brick can be natural or artificial - it doesn’t matter. The use of such a combined solution is now very important.

It is not necessary to use real concrete for decoration; there are many ways to imitate it: using plaster, concrete wallpaper or putty material.

If you can't yet decide on a concrete floor or walls in your apartment, start by incorporating small elements of it into the interior. This flexible material is used to create the most different designs: columns, niches, countertops, cabinets and even dishes. Concrete countertop in the kitchen of supermodel Cindy Crawford, on the one hand, due to its size, it is convenient for cooking, and on the other hand, it creates a background against which the food looks even more appetizing.

The material was prepared by the Kashirsky Dvor agency.

You can create a modern interior in an apartment with imitation concrete walls yourself. To do this, use special wallpaper or decorative plaster.

Rough texture in apartment decoration

Concrete walls evoke a feeling of unfinished renovation; this is a popular type of interior decoration. This option is not suitable for those who prefer classic lines, a large amount of decor, furniture, bright colors in the interior.

Concrete walls in the interior of an apartment: relevance today

The loft style is popular for residential interiors. It is characterized by walls made of rough materials, including concrete. Gray surfaces with a rough texture serve as an interesting backdrop for furniture or decor. This is a current trend in modern design. This type of finishing is also used for minimalist interiors.

Concrete walls are suitable for the room large sizes, for example, a living room, a kitchen-dining room or a studio apartment. It is not necessary that the wall structure actually consists of concrete. It is possible to use a finish that imitates this material.

If the room small sizes, it is better to use a concrete finish partially, i.e. only one wall.

How to make a concrete wall in the interior: concrete finishing

You can make this finish yourself if you use:

• gray wallpaper;
• decorative plaster with imitation concrete.

The advantage of the latter option is that the surface will be resistant to various mechanical damage, the material is made of environmentally friendly, non-toxic material. You can do this decor yourself if you have experience in finishing work.

A large selection of wallpaper with imitation concrete will suit any room. They can be on a textured or thin basis. The color of the concrete is gray, but the wallpaper can be of different shades. For example, lighter or darker, with a cold bluish tint or with a warm beige tint.

Hue and saturation are selected depending on the size of the room, the selected snowstorm, the colors of other finishing materials. For example, the floor material has a warm shade, then the walls should be made in this color.

In the bathroom

It is not advisable to use wallpaper in the bathroom. Decorative plaster with imitation concrete is suitable here. It must be treated with a special coating, for example, acrylic varnish, which prevents condensation and water droplets from penetrating into the wall.

In the living room

Finishing with plaster or wallpaper imitating a pattern would be appropriate here. concrete surface. You can make such decor on just one wall, which will serve as a dominant feature in the interior.

In the bedroom

You can use all types of wallpaper in the bedroom: paper, vinyl, non-woven. Decorative plaster will also look organic here.

The hall in a spacious apartment will serve as both a place for receiving guests and a relaxation area for the whole family. Suitable for large rooms textured plasters with imitation of rough finishing.

In the kitchen

For the kitchen, washable non-woven wallpaper is more suitable. They can be textured or smooth; their main advantage is the ability to remove dirt using wet cleaning.

Decorating walls to look like concrete: features of popular decor in the Loft style for an apartment

The loft style is also called anti-glamorous, since it uses a rough texture, lack of large quantity decor, required amount furniture without frills. Concrete surface is one of the ways to form an interior. It can occupy one plane or be on most walls.

On concrete plaster To add realism, there may be streaks of rust, rough texture with cracks and protrusions. Typically this solution is used for a living room or hall. For other rooms, a smoother finish with imitation concrete is used. Too saturated walls in the bathroom, kitchen or others small rooms will visually overload the interior. Therefore, calm background colors are chosen here.

Is it possible to choose concrete wallpaper in combination?

The popularity of concrete walls in apartments has also influenced wallpaper manufacturers. Were released different collections with imitation of this material. Produced big choice different shades, there may also be a texture with a pattern of defects in the concrete surface. There is also wallpaper, where the pattern and color repeats the texture of a smooth concrete surface. Photorealistic options made from vinyl and textured ones made from non-woven fabric are popular.

Another option is paintable rolls. Their main advantage is that you can choose the color individually. But for high-quality painting it is necessary to apply the material in several stages. Depending on the type of wallpaper, they are used for interiors in the style: loft, minimalism, eclecticism.

How to care for the surface

Care depends on the room and materials:

• Washable wallpaper made of non-woven or vinyl is wiped with a damp cloth using gentle products. Paper ones are wiped with a dry cloth without using aqueous solutions;
• The plaster is washed with soapy water; moisture is not absorbed into it.

Photo examples of concrete finishing

The living room with one concrete wall is decorated with a large-sized painting. There is also a niche used for storing books. There is furniture in the room warm shades, which blends harmoniously with the background in gray tones.

Concrete plaster applied to the walls between the wide window openings. A light gray shade with a fine texture harmonizes well with a dark natural wood floor.

Concrete texture goes well with textile furniture light colors. The carpet also looks harmonious light color without pattern with short pile.

Concrete finish a good option for apartment modern layout. This will help create a unique style and diversify the interior. This solution is suitable for those who like loft or minimalism style.

Useful video

The interaction of different building materials is something that needs to be taken into account. Sometimes even the most original ideas do not have a worthy embodiment due to the appearance of inappropriate contrasts. To avoid such mistakes, let's look at what characterizes each such combination.

Concrete + wood

The interrelation of these elements forms a clear interior based on contrasts of opposites. Grayness and coldness - the emotions that concrete carries, are completely dissolved in the warmth and homeliness created by wood. Any decor and interior items, installed inside such a room, have a special accent that everyone will like.

The slightly rough surface of concrete looks great in the context of a smooth ceiling made of wood. Such a design move creates a special atmosphere that allows you to achieve the highest degree of calm and peace of mind.

Using wood as the main material for ceiling covering, the variety of which is distinguished by a light shade, allows you to relax while taking a bath and completely forget about the abundance of stone that surrounds you. That's exactly what it is combination of colors in the interior has the most positive effect.

A distinctive feature of such an interior is that specific planes are decorated using the same materials. That is, if these are walls, then they are made of concrete, if this is a ceiling, then wood is used accordingly.

It was possible to go even further and make a wooden floor, and also use this material to decorate other elements of the interior decoration, which are located in a horizontal plane. But the designers decided to limit themselves to a small percentage of visual load.

Reason for visual effect

Concrete has a neutral color that goes very well with brown shades natural materials. Well, don’t forget about the emotional interaction that occurs as a result of using these names.

Steel + wood

Steel, along with concrete, is the main building material of our time. Not a single event aimed at the construction of various buildings and structures involves the participation of these items. Therefore, it is not surprising that these two elements have similar characteristics, both physical and emotional.

Just like concrete, steel lacks visual warmth and warmth. Therefore, it is no wonder that in in this case when forming various options In interior decoration, wood comes to the rescue. All the same functions, in the form of giving comfort and a positive atmosphere, are required from wood in this case.

In addition to aesthetic properties wooden elements in this case provide high level practical side. Being a poor conductor of heat, wood interacts well with steel as an excellent insulating material that allows you to maintain optimal temperature conditions.

Also, insulation, which includes natural elements, can independently maintain a comfortable level of humidity, which eliminates the possibility of corrosion on metal products.

Here you can see an excellent combination of steel, in the form metal frame, supporting the upper tier of the building and the roof itself, as well as the wood that was used to cover this luxurious dome.

Wooden elements, unlike metal ones, have some limitations in size, so in this case an original technique was used, which created the appearance of layering of planks. Thanks to this, the resulting image turned out to be even more voluminous and bewitching, while maintaining the effect of the grandeur of the metal and the warmth of natural materials.

Reason for visual effect

An excellent combination of strict lines and correct forms, the source of which is steel, with the somewhat rough and warm surface of wood. The formed image absorbs all these characteristics, which has a positive effect on its visual perception.

Glass + bright colors

The presence of transparent glass elements with dimensions from the floor and ceiling allows you to intelligently redistribute attention in the conditions of the existing corridor. In this situation bright hues can peacefully coexist with the brighter shades with which the staircase is decorated. The screen, made of glass, in this case performs a dual function. It simultaneously separates and connects two components of one space.

Let's imagine this interior without a glass screen. A cacophony of colors that generates a strong visual load is what will necessarily accompany small rooms, which is the presented zone. It is unlikely that you will feel at least a little comfortable in such conditions. Decorating everything in a single neutral light is, of course, a way out, but it will not bring desired result, able to compare with the existing image.

Reason for visual effect

Glass smoothes out any interactions between elements decorated in different color scheme. Plus, this material itself has the ability to give the room a special style and a certain charm.

White color + white color

White color in the interior used everywhere. The reason for this phenomenon is the ability of such a design to convey a feeling of spiritual purity and expand visual space any room. Let's take a closer look at the properties of this technique using a specific example.

Light and shine are the main stylistic components of the design of this bathroom. The dynamics of the radiance of all the elements used, which fascinate and attract attention from the first seconds, are based on the alternation of materials with different surface textures.

Matte, mirror or chrome - all these are descriptions of objects that make up the image of the presented interior decoration. Therefore, it is not surprising that every person who finds himself in such a room feels quite comfortable, without fear of slipping or accidentally staining something from the surrounding idyll.

Any light that enters here is reflected many times from the white surface, creating the illusion of a huge space. By the way, such a technique is well suited for those for whom such a topic as small bathroom interior became a real punishment.

Any element of the design of this bathroom, despite certain differences in design, is in principle neutral and does not draw unnecessary attention to itself. This background, obtained by using exclusively white components, is ideal for small color accents.

The red flower located on the shelf in this case is like an explosion that completely changes the idea of ​​the formed image. That is, you can always change the direction of the design with the help of small additions, the role of which can be played not only by flowers, but also by various accessories, as well as bright decor.

Reason for visual effect

White color is a classic. In addition, it perfectly emphasizes the beauty of brighter elements.

White color + wood

This combination allows you to use a small amount of wood. Even a few natural elements are enough to revive the entire image, giving it life and special comfort.

A flight of stairs, made exclusively in white, creates the illusion that the steps are floating in the air and lead not to the top floor, but to the realm of unearthly light and the brightest emotions. With this combination of colors, only a few wooden spans are enough, the rest can be made from more cheap material. This is very relevant in cases where family budget is not limitless.

The staircase with open design, where the function of steps is performed by small wooden boards. This approach allows you to maintain the seriousness of the style of the formed interior and at the same time harmoniously weave in emotional touches home comfort, which, you see, is very important for a living space.

Reason for visual effect

White color in the interior guarantees the interior space an element of lightness and airiness, which is in no way affected by wood, which brings exceptionally warm emotional touches.

Black + white

Interior in black and white is a classic, and the images formed through the use of this stylistic device, are guaranteed to be a success. This style is able to hide any shortcomings of the room, is suitable for any scale, and creates a special mood, where the dominant feeling is refined style, unique charm, and the right, and most importantly, healthy attitude towards one’s person.

In this case, in addition to color palette, the materials that were used in interior design deserve attention. Steel and glass are the names of the elements that formed the basis of such design components as stairs and stylish furniture . Due to the presence of this factor, interior decoration the premises acquired cosmic shades, which allows us to classify the image as ultra-modern and very original.

Reason for visual effect

Everything here is like in black and white photographs, which, despite the subtleties of their thematic content, arouse keen interest among any public.

Brick + steel

Brick like construction material, has been used by humans for several hundred and even thousands of years. Steel, as a highly functional metal alloy, was invented relatively recently. That is why the combination of these elements in the construction industry almost always results in the creation of amazing designs.

The brickwork of the facade gives the entire building a somewhat vintage look, which makes the use of the metal from which the frames are made window frames and garage doors, somewhat unusual. But despite everything, all these actions are quite relevant, and the resulting image was not only able to preserve a piece of history in its appearance, but also acquired new memorable modern stylistic touches.

Reason for visual effect

Smooth mirror surfaces The steel harmonizes perfectly with the heterogeneity of the bricks that were used during the construction of the building.

Wood + stone

The combination of these natural materials in any case leads to excellent result, and the interior, in the creation of which a similar design move was used, is simply doomed to success.

In this case, the stone plays the role of a kind of stylistic anchor on which the entire design of this room is based. The choice in favor of the relief structure of the stone wall made it possible to ensure interesting game chiaroscuro, the effect of which everyone can enjoy. Wooden steps perfectly complement the design of the staircase, making the interior harmonious and visually attractive.

The combination of stone and wood in this case creates a magnificent image that has its own stylistic philosophy. It’s simply incredible how two materials that are different in all respects can complement each other, showing an example of incredible harmony, which has a special effect on the existing atmosphere, filling it with sacred meaning.