Starting finishing work in a new apartment or starting to repair in an old one, the owners think about the interior of the premises. Some areas of the home are often left unattended. In particular, it is a balcony. It is noteworthy that experts recommend starting repair work with him. The explanation is simple. If you first finish the room, and then proceed to the balcony, then all the dirt from it will spread through the clean room. There is a risk of staining new wallpaper or scratching the floor. In the end, something will even have to be redone. Further in the article we will consider some options for finishing a balcony, loggia or terrace.
General information
Before telling the reader what options exist for the interior decoration of the balcony, it should be noted that this small area can actually be turned into a cozy corner. Here you can, for example, equip a recreation area where it is pleasant to relax and breathe fresh air. Also, a work area is often arranged there. Before choosing the options for finishing the balcony inside, you should decide what temperature will be in this room. If you plan to equip an office or a recreation area here, then it should not be cold. There are various options for finishing and warming the balcony.
Windows installation
Glazing a balcony is the very first job to be done. If the room is open, then the choice of materials must be approached with particular care. In this case, it can only be used in the warm season.
Plastic paneling
If insulation on the balcony will not be made, then there are not many options. Today, plastic panels are considered the most common type of cladding. Considering the various options for decorating the walls of the balcony, I want to note this method as the most simple and economical today. To fix the plastic panels, a crate is pre-arranged. As elements of the frame acts a metal profile. Experts do not recommend collecting the crate from wooden blocks. Even if they are treated with an antiseptic, then over time they will still undergo deformation under temperature and humidity differences.
Plastering
Considering the options for decorating the balcony with your own hands, you can not help but stop at this method of elevating the room. Experts recommend the use of compositions on a cement rather than gypsum basis. The first are most resistant to moisture. If the room will not be heated, then for rough finishing you can use stucco compositions for outdoor work, both decorative and simple. Finishing decoration is usually carried out with paint (latex or acrylic). Such a coating is not afraid of UV rays, humidity and other factors that have a detrimental effect on other materials.
If the balcony is insulated, then plastering is somewhat more difficult. For strong retention of the solution on the surfaces, it is necessary to first fix the reinforcing mesh. In this case, of course, the cost of finishing increases, since it is necessary to purchase additional materials.
Siding
Considering what options for finishing the balcony, there should be talk about this material. Siding is perfect for cladding. At the same time, paneling can be carried out both inside and outside the balcony. The undoubted advantage of siding is the ease of installation. The panels have sections for fasteners, as well as special latches. From siding is going to cover any size. The decorative design of the panels can be monophonic or imitate the surface of stone or wood.
Frameless glazing
Often, various balcony trim options are combined. It should be said that this is a relatively new technology. In this case, glass without frames is used for decor. It acts as a fence and decoration material. At the same time, glass is installed that can withstand severe wind loads. The frame is a profile system made of aluminum or stainless steel. Rollers are mounted on the glass. This option involves finishing only the wall, which is adjacent to the adjacent room. Such frameless glazing is advisable to use in structures of complex configuration.
Finishing insulated balconies
In this case, it is necessary to carefully choose the insulating material. If the balcony is supposed to be converted into a study or a winter garden, then insulation should be equipped from all sides. Polystyrene or mineral wool can become a heater. As a ceiling coating, it is recommended to use a drywall design, a stained-glass window, a stretch canvas or a combination of several materials. As a rule, a concrete screed is laid on the floor, and on top - tile or laminate.
Wood cladding
This type of skin is considered the most popular. There are the following options for decorating the balcony with wood: the use of MDF panels, lining, types of battens, etc. To add variety to the design, you can combine different materials and installation directions. As a decor for wood, not only traditional coloring and varnishing is used. You can decorate the surface by burning, carving, framing with contrasting skirting boards.
Stone decoration
This material is used for flooring and walls. The latter are not always fully lined, since the cost of natural stone is quite high. However, today you can find artificial analogues. For wall cladding use cobblestone, sandstone, limestone.
Bamboo
This material has recently become increasingly popular. Bamboo is resistant to moisture, it is natural and environmentally friendly. Its undoubted advantage is its attractive appearance. Material can be used to decorate walls in any room, not only on the balcony. There are several options for laying the cladding. For example, a bamboo canvas is often used. It is presented in the form of strips fixed on the technical gauze. The bamboo cloth is simply glued to the surface. It blends perfectly with wood panels.
There is another type of material. It is a bamboo panel, which can be ceiling or wall. In the latter category, the elements are somewhat wider, which significantly accelerates their installation. Bamboo flooring is also available. For a change, they can also trim the walls. As practice shows, combined coatings look most advantageous. With the help of bamboo paintings or panels you can realize the most daring design ideas. The interior as a result will be very attractive and original.
Cork
This material has unique properties. It can be used on almost all surfaces. It is allowed to lay cork even in rooms with high humidity. In this case, a coating impregnated with wax is used. For walls, cork wallpapers and plates are suitable. The former are considered exclusively decorative material.
The wallpaper is a sheet of paper on which a thin cork is pasted. In rooms with high humidity, such a coating is not used.
Cork is distinguished by external attractiveness. However, contrary to general opinion, its surface is not always brown. Depending on the period of exposure of different temperatures to the material, the shades will change. In addition, the surface is tinted, whitened, covered with golden or silver paint. It should be noted that cork coating creates an additional thermal insulation layer.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are a lot of options for finishing the loggia or balcony. When choosing one or another material, you should decide on the purpose of the room. In addition, ease of installation is also important.