Stone wallpaper - an innovative material in the interior
Any owner wants to give individuality to his home. He wants his house to be different from the others, and the interior to be distinguished by sophistication and unique charm, but, at the same time, reflect the character and tastes of the owner.
Along with the popular and long-tested finishing materials, such as paints, various wallpapers, PVC and MDF panels, new decoration elements have recently appeared - stone wallpapers. They are also called “flexible wallpapers”.
We will talk about the varieties of the material, its advantages and disadvantages, methods of decoration. We will provide photos of the most winning interior options using this simulation for wall cladding.
The content of the article
Types, forms, textures of wallpaper under a stone
Interest in natural stone has never faded away. The power, reliability, beauty of this material has been used for centuries in the decoration of homes. But in modern apartments, the use of heavy, bulky stone is not always appropriate. What to do if there is a desire to insert natural stone into the interior (seeWhat can be a stone trim in the interior), but not possible?
An alternative to the design with natural stone trim is the use of its imitation. Modern technologies allow the production of materials that differ in technical and operational characteristics from natural ones except in weight and thickness.
The market offers imitation stone in two forms:
- Tiles are rectangular or elongated with a length of 0.2 to 0.4 m and a width of 0.04 to 0.18 m. The thickness of the tiles varies from 6–16 mm. The weight of 1 m2 does not exceed 10 kg, for comparison - 1 m2 of natural stone weighs more than 30 kg.
- The canvas with dimensions in length from 0.6 m to 2.7 m, in width from 0.3 m to 0.95 m and a thickness of 1 to 3 mm. The weight of 1 m2 of the card is 1.3 kg.
The choice of texture of the material is very diverse, wallpapers can be imitated under various types of natural stone:
| Clay brick |  Imitation of an old brick |
| Slate |  Imitation slate |
| Wild stone |  Imitation of wild stone |
| Sandstone |  Artificial sandstone |
| Granite |  Granite Wallpaper |
| Basalt |  Basalt imitation |
| Marble |  Marble Wallpaper |
Moreover, the imitation is so natural that it’s difficult to determine that it’s not a real stone in front of you. The difference is found only when touched: the flexible wallpaper is warm to the touch, and the surface resembles a woven material. By the way, natural stone almost always remains cold, touching it causes unpleasant sensations.
The method of manufacturing stone wallpaper is different, let's look at what and how different types of material are made.
Stone look decorative tile
Its manufacture is based on ordinary gypsum, which in itself is already a natural material.
Its benefits are well known to everyone for a long time:
- High plasticity allows you to create products that are different in shape and purpose.
- Low thermal conductivity gives gypsum excellent heat-insulating properties.
- Fire safety - the material is completely non-combustible.
- Environmental friendliness.
Gypsum-based stone wallpapers can be used to decorate not only flat surfaces, but also complex structures such as arches (seeDecorating an arch with decorative stone - basic rules and requirements), fireplaces, niches, boxes and more.
Some disadvantages, such as brittleness and moisture absorption, are eliminated by introducing cement and polymer additives (for example, polypropylene) into the gypsum mixture, providing the tile with the following important parameters:
- Strength.
- Heat resistance.
- Moisture resistance.
- Durability.
- Wear resistance.
The color palette is very wide (over 300 shades), colorants are added to the base mixture during production, this ensures uniform color and high color fastness to ultraviolet.
Important! For additional protection of the surface, giving it clarity or gloss, the laid tile is covered with a matte or glossy wear-resistant varnish for 2 layers.
Some manufacturers of stone wallpapers, for example, Ecostone (Ecostone), also practice manual painting of each element after casting. Thus, the artist maximally approximates the artificial stone to its natural counterpart, makes each tile unique and individual. But at the same time, the overall pattern and style of the collection is preserved.
The price of such tiles, of course, is much higher, but in this case, the collections produced by the company correspond to it, since they satisfy the needs of the most demanding customers. In general, we must pay tribute to the manufacturers, the cost of stone wallpaper does not exceed the price of ordinary ceramic tiles (excluding exclusive, elite collections) and is available to any wallet.
Flexible wallpaper
This is a facing material with imitation of natural stone. In its production, a thin section of sandstone or pressed stone chips (marble, granite, quartz) is used, reliably connected to the elastic substrate with an acrylic binder.
The result is a canvas of a certain size with a unique pattern, durable and flexible, which can be rolled up like regular wallpaper.
Another feature of flexible wallpapers is its high light transmission. If the gypsum stone to some extent absorbs light and does not respond to light rays, then sandstone, on the contrary, in combination with various highlights or other sources plays with all its colors. This allows you to benefit from both natural and artificial lighting in the interior.
Due to the elasticity of the material, the scope of use of flexible wallpapers is wide enough, they are used for the following decorative works:
| Facing walls, ceilings. |  Interior with flexible wallpapers |
| Facade decoration. |  Facade decoration |
| Facing complex surfaces (arches, columns, domes). | Complex surface finishes |
| Fireplace decoration. |  Facing Fireplaces |
| Invoicing of steps and window sills. |  Window sill trim |
| Decoration of furniture facades and countertops. |  Furniture decor |
| Floor covering. |  Flexible bathroom floor |
| Making blinds for windows. |  Wallpaper Blinds |
In addition, flexible wallpapers are readily used by artists and other creative people. Amazing paintings, murals, portraits printed or even painted on stone canvas serve as unexpected, extraordinary decoration of the interior. And the alternation or contrasting arrangement of different, but similar in tone textures and shades helps to create individual, unusual collages or panels.
The main thing is that all this can be done with your own hands, and flexible wallpapers with their beauty and originality do not limit the flight of imagination, and often help to awaken the hidden creative possibilities of the owners.
Important positive features of flexible wallpapers are:
- Environmental friendliness.
- Ease.
- Strength.
- Moisture resistance.
- Resistance to temperature extremes.
- Fire safety.
- Wear resistance.
- Weather resistant.
- A wide palette of colors.
- A variety of textures.
All this makes flexible wallpapers a universal, indispensable material for any kind of decoration, the implementation of the most daring design ideas.
Some technical details
We will tell you about the distinctive properties of these materials, which make them indispensable elements in the interior of apartments and the design of facades.
So:
- Due to its lightness, wallpaper under a stone does not load walls or partitions and is compatible with almost any flat surfaces, it can be:
- Concrete.
- Drywall.
- Gypsum fiber.
- Plaster.
- Wood.
- Due to their special flexibility, they can be used to paste over walls of complex shape, having niches, boxes, decorative ledges and more.
- The strength and water resistance of stone wallpaper allows them to be used for cladding facades, rooms with high humidity, terraces, pools, fireplaces and chimneys.
- The material is perfectly cut with construction scissors or a hacksaw for metal, it is easy to grind and adjust.
- The following types of adhesives are suitable for mounting tiles on a wall:
- Mineral
- Super polymer.
- Tile adhesives.
- "Liquid Nails".
- Flexible wallpapers are perfectly fixed with glue for heavy paper canvases and glued using the same technology.
Important! For an even and high-quality sticker of flexible wallpapers on complex surfaces, use a building hair dryer. The fabric thus warmed takes the desired shape and adheres firmly to the base.
- Wallpaper is laid under a stone using the same technology as ceramic tiles, the only difference is in the methods of joining the tiles, which are of several types:
- In the joint, that is, almost seamless styling.
- With jointing, when a gap is left between the tiles, subsequently filled with jointing mixture.
- Lap when the next tile comes a little on the edge of the previous one, creating a more voluminous arrangement.
In more detail about each will tell the instructions on the package.
- It must be remembered that each row of tiles should go with an offset relative to the previous one, so that the vertical seams are not located one above the other.
- After gluing, the wallpaper has a durable surface that is resistant to mechanical, and some varieties, even chemical influences.
- But when installing stone wallpaper, care must be taken, since the material itself is quite fragile.
- Caring for them does not require special measures, the dirt is washed off with a damp sponge. You can use any detergents.
Interior Options
Designers believe that completely decorating the room with flexible wallpaper is ugly. Do not overload the interior with stone elements. It will be correct to use them as a decor or partial decoration along with the usual wallpaper, then the artificial stone will look advantageous and original.
We bring to your attention the most in our opinion interesting options for interiors using stone and flexible wallpapers:
- The accentuation of the central wall with brick stone wallpaper against the background of other walls painted in neutral tones does not overload the interior. The gray color does not look boring, and a not-so-clear female portrait adds lightness and depth to the space.
- A light imitation of natural slate blends harmoniously with beige wallpaper and adds room to the room. Even a small zoning partition does not interfere with the penetration of light into all corners of the room.
- Wallpaper and stone - a successful combination of colors in the frame of arched openings and mirrors in the hallway. Thin, graceful frames made of natural stone give the room a touch of antiquity, and textured wallpapers in tone serve as an organic extension of the wall.
- Here, artificial slate is intensively used in only one corner of the veranda, but the main background is light, it successfully emphasizes the decorative finish in a rustic style.
- The light colors of the central wall harmoniously blend with the decor and furniture of the country-style kitchen. Colorfulness does not tire, but charges with mood and energy.
- Flexible sandstone-imitated wallpapers are used as a decor element to highlight a niche in the wall. The light background of the remaining walls and additional lighting emphasize the beauty of the finish and highlight the texture in relief. Flexible stone and wallpaper - a winning combination of any interior.
- Drawing on flexible wallpapers visually expands the Mediterranean-style terrace and incredibly decorates it. Soft beige tones add volume and make you remember the sunrise on the shores of the warm sea.
- Studio apartment in the loft style requires space and a minimum of decoration. In this version, walls made of artificial stone perfectly emphasize the height of the ceilings, rough processing of beams, metal decor items - all that is so inherent in the industrial direction in the interior.
- The brutal classic-style living room does not look gloomy, thanks to the white walls and decor elements that dilute the darkness of the central wall and black furniture. A gray stone on a light background looks expensive and luxurious.
- Stone wallpapers imitating brickwork of white color give the room in Scandinavian style a special chic and a touch of noble antiquity. In addition, on a white background, colorful decorative elements look advantageous, of which there are not so many in this style.
- The combination of stone wallpaper and natural stone (in which case a brick is used) looks unusual in the interior, but such a design is rather difficult to perceive, although it also has a place to be.
- Two types of flexible wallpapers with different textures are applied here. But this combination looks completely different from the previous photo. In our opinion, it is much more accurate and modern, civilized or something. Although, here you can argue, everyone has different tastes.
Conclusion
Creating a custom design of your own apartment is not easy, and if you decide to update the interior or radically change it, then wallpaper and stone are a win-win option for decoration in any style. This correctly selected combination can turn your home into a masterpiece of design art, and the wrong one into a dark and gloomy basement.
Therefore, take the choice of colors, textures, the size of the wallpaper elements under the stone very seriously, as well as the selection of shades of the accompanying wallpaper. Check out the video in this article, which also talks about artificial stone.
