In some cases, you may need to refresh a room, or you may be completely renovating your office or rebranding a commercial space. Whatever the reason, there is a good chance that you are considering doing something different with the walls and the floors.
Painting a couple of walls or jazzing up the concrete floor are two easy ways to bring new life to a space while staying on budget and making a significant difference.
From the best concrete floor coatings to decorative exterior paints and architectural coatings, read on to learn everything you need to know about decorative products and flooring for your residential or commercial space.
Decorative Products
Decorative products enable you to create a unique space, whether in your home or commercial building by going beyond merely using solid paint colors and plain finishes and, instead, utilizing concrete finish paints, decorative finishes, and other coatings.
Some potential options for decorative products include paints and plasters, floorings and finishes. Whichever ones you choose to incorporate, you can be assured that these decorative products will assist you in enhancing architectural features or renovating the feel of your room.
One of the biggest benefits of utilizing these types of home products is because they give you a greater opportunity to personalize the space.
You will be amazed at the available options for interior decorative paints, exterior decorative coatings, and decorative floorings. As there is a wide range of choices regarding colors, patterns, and effects, you are guaranteed to find products you can use for the style you have in mind for your project. The only limit is your imagination!
Decorative paints on the market
The decorative paints market is vast, and it only continues to grow. There is a wide array of options for decorative paints to choose from for your interior and exterior needs. No matter how you envision the space, you can find the right decorative paint to help you achieve the look and feel that you want.
Some of the most popular decorative paint options include crackle paint, metallic paint, stone paint, suede paint, and DIY textured paint. Crackle paint can help you achieve an old and distressed look, while metallic paint is ideal for a dramatic effect as it contains real metal flakes. Some suppliers even offer an option with metallic marble flakes or pearlescent particles. For a truly dazzling option, consider a coating that contains Swarovski crystals.
Stone paints imitate granite, marble, and other similar finishes so you can achieve the appearance of these materials without having to purchase them. Additionally, you can find decorative paints that feature wood and concrete effects that can transform any space. Many of these are easy to apply and produce incredibly realistic results.
How to use interior decorative paints
Whether you are looking to use interior decorative paint in your home, office, or commercial space, there are several ways you can utilize it.
Generally, people choose to use interior decorative paints when they want to give their room a refresh, because applying a fresh coat of paint is the easiest and most inexpensive way to update a room.
One of the easiest ways to incorporate decorative paint in a room is to create an accent wall. By only choosing one wall to be painted, you are ensuring that it makes a statement without going overboard. This is certainly something to keep in mind if you are using decorative paint with stone effects or metallic marble flakes.
Moreover, by using interior decorative paints, you will be able to conceal cracks and holes in the walls or make these appear to be part of the design.
Whether you use interior decorative paint on one wall or every wall, painting with these is a fantastic way to enhance, upgrade, and transform your space. Keep in mind that painting walls can also help increase home resale value.
Painting the exterior
In addition to decorating your interior walls, you also have the option of utilizing exterior decorative coatings. These have the potential to transform your building facade, while also protecting it from the elements. These exterior coatings are a fantastic way to spruce up the outer part of your home or office on a budget.
For example, the monocouche F/R is paste-based and only requires one coat to achieve a high-quality finish. It can be used on most types of brick or block work and is water-resistant, algae-resistant, and GREENGUARD Gold Certified.
This exterior coating is available in a range of colors, ensuring it is suitable for all homes. Alternatively, monocouche render is also ideal for brick or blockwork but is a powder-based formula. It also is available in a range of colors and requires little maintenance.
Another option is fresco di calce, which aids you in creating an antique effect on your exterior walls. This water-based formula only requires one-coat and is UV resistant and washable. It can be applied to plaster, embossed wall coverings, gypsum board, concrete, cement, brickwork, and block work. Or, you can opt for a decorative exterior coating that recreates stone or other natural textures.
Decorative Flooring
Decorative flooring is mainly used in commercial spaces or office buildings when you want to create high-performance and durable floors, while still incorporating style.
In order to create a fully customizable flooring finish, some decorative options offer the chance to utilize unique pigments, ornamental paint, metallic particles, and other effects. Referred to as “liquid crystal,” this type of decorative flooring is ideal for any space where you want to make a bold, creative impression, such as in restaurants, bars, and luxury homes.
On the other hand, “urban” decorative flooring is sleeker and minimalistic. It is ideal for residential spaces and showrooms when you want the flooring to function as a canvas for the rest of the area. With no color limits and seamless application, it is ideal for any project.
Finally, there is nothing better for spaces with high foot-traffic than terrazzo flooring, which consists of a blend of glass, marble, quartz, porcelain, granite, mirror chips, and mother-of-pearl pieces. Used on the floors of hotels, airports, schools, hospitals, and theaters around the world, this decorative flooring is ideal due to its high durability, hygienic coating, and for being low-maintenance. Moreover, it is often environment-friendly, as it is made from recycled material.
The benefits of decorative concrete floor coatings
Decorative concrete is known for its beauty, strength, and affordability, which is why so many designers and contractors are opting to use it in homes and commercial spaces around the world.
After all, you no longer have to stare at dull slabs of grey concrete when you can transform them with decorative concrete floor coatings and finishes. For this reason, one of the most significant benefits of this type of decorative flooring is the design flexibility it affords users.
Not only are you able to apply decorative concrete floor coatings to new or existing concrete surfaces, but you also have the choice of an almost-limitless number of design options.
Thanks to the concrete mixing and setting process, it is possible to pick the exact color and texture you want – you can even have it made to look like natural stone. Moreover, decorative concrete coatings can be applied through acid staining, splatter texture, or thin overlays, all of which produce different decorative textural patterns or custom designs.
By opting to apply decorative concrete coatings, you are also extending the strength, durability, and longevity of surfaces. The coating helps ensure the floor is protected against heavy loads, weather, and mold growth. Additionally, it is easy to clean and maintain, and you don’t have to worry about regular polishing or coating.
How to choose the right decorative flooring
Even with all the incredible benefits, decorative flooring is still affordable and inexpensive to install. Thus, it makes perfect sense that you would want to reap the benefits of decorative flooring.
Whether you are considering using it in your home, office, or some other type of space, you first want to make sure that you are certain about the area’s interior design to be able to choose the right decorative flooring.
Is it art deco or classic and traditional? Do you want a minimalist vibe or a rustic farmhouse look? Is the space eclectic or industrial?
By considering the interior design, you will be in a better position to choose decorative flooring that makes sense for the space. After all, you need the flooring to blend aesthetics with functionality, while also fitting the area in terms of design and usability. Moreover, it would help if you also considered factors such as budget, foot traffic, and maintenance requirements.
For this reason, it is highly recommended that you speak with professionals who will be able to point you in the direction of options that have your essential key features. For example, you may be particularly concerned with the ease of application or effect, such as matt, satin and gloss finishes, and slip resistance.
Where to buy decorative products and flooring
If you are interested in purchasing decorative paint, products, or flooring material for your home, then you want to make sure you are looking at options from highly regarded stores that specialize in these products.
Ideally, you will work with a local store with years of experience providing designers, architects, contractors, and homeowners with the right products for their individual projects.
As there is a wide array of colors, patterns, and textures available on the market, it is highly recommended that you work with professionals who can help guide you to the appropriate options.
In addition to supplying high-quality decorative products, the company should also prioritize the customer experience and go above and beyond to ensure that you have everything you need to get creative and achieve your goals for your project.
Architectural Coatings
Architectural coatings help to protect both external and interior surfaces and walls. They are used widely in homes, shops, hospitals, and other commercial spaces around the world.
Architectural coatings not only can add color to a room, but they also help to stop the growth of mildew and bridge cracks. Plus, they also make the structure more durable.
Acrygloss is highly recommended for doors, windows, and trims as it is a durable, chip-resistant, non-yellowing, water-based enamel paint. With its high-coverage and flat smooth finish, C1A flat acrylic is better suited for plaster, embossed wall coverings, gypsum board, concrete, cement rendering, brickwork, and blockwork.
Cosheen has an attractive eggshell finish that makes it suitable for high-end commercial projects, as well as rooms and hallways at home.
If you are looking for a product for large-scale ceiling paint jobs, you will want to try Speedceil, which is formulated for a smooth paint job as it has minimal spatter and quick drying.
Structureshield is ideal for car parks, bridges, subways, high-rise buildings, and anywhere else that is exposed to carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, chlorides, sulfates, and UV radiation as it resists pollution, chemical attack and dirt pick-up.
Where to purchase architectural coatings
No matter what kind of architectural coatings you decide to purchase, it is imperative that you are buying them from a reputable supplier.
The last thing you want is to purchase sub-par architectural coatings as these will not be able to protect your buildings in the way that you expect. Thus, it is highly recommended that you conduct thorough research prior to choosing a store or brand to purchase these items.
Look for a company that has professional workers with extensive experience and know-how about this industry, as they will be able to provide you with the expertise you need to make the right design decisions for your project.
Have you ever considered utilizing decorative products and flooring in your home? If so, which types have you used? If not, is it something you are interested in? What about architectural coatings?
Let us know your thoughts and any relevant information or experiences in the comments below!
AUTHOR BIO
Ralph El Eid is the Business Development Manager at COLORTEK – Wall & Floor Fashion. EQUIPAINT is the franchise owner of COLORTEK in Dubai (U.A.E.) and Doha (Qatar); an international paints manufacturer specializing in the widest range of decorative paints and seamless concrete & resin flooring, with a unique showroom concept, and thus an ideal destination for homeowners, consultants, architects, interior designers and paint applicators.
