What is the best paint for walls? Emulsion paint mixtures for walls

If you are undergoing renovations, but you don’t want to put up wallpaper, the question inevitably arises: how to cover the walls in your apartment instead of wallpaper. There are two options: decorative plaster and painting. To work with plaster, it is desirable to have experience, but painting the walls in an apartment can be done at a fairly high level without experience. You need desire, time and careful execution of operations. By the way, there is paint that imitates some plasters quite well, but costs less.

Paints for living rooms

The most important thing in choosing paints for this group of rooms is their harmlessness. There are also high demands on the decorativeness of coatings and resistance to sunlight. Such a characteristic as cleaning ability is not the most popular, except that it may be necessary in a children's room. It is very good if the paints do not smell, or almost no smell, during application, and it is also desirable that they dry quickly.

Water based paints

More than others, these requirements are met by compositions based on water based. The binding component in them may be different, which is why some qualities change, but they have one thing in common: they are harmless to people, do not harm the environment, dry quickly and have almost no odor.

Water-based

The most popular in this group are water-based paints. These are compositions based on polyvinyl acetate (more familiar to us as PVA). This paint is easy to apply and has good coverage - usually two coats are enough to get an even color. After drying, they create a dense film on the surface that allows water vapor to pass through; they also say that such a wall “breathes.” It can be tinted very well - any color can have dozens of shades.

Water-based paint from the famous Tikkurila brand and a tinting card of just one color

One of its main advantages is its low price. And this is probably decisive factor, which makes water-based emulsions top sellers, even despite their rather serious shortcomings.

The first serious disadvantage is that it is not very resistant to mechanical or abrasive influences (it is easy to scratch). Secondly, it does not hide surface imperfections and requires careful preparation. For the wall to look good, it must be absolutely smooth. The third drawback is the fear of water. A wall coated with water-based emulsion can be wiped several times with a damp cloth, but not all shades. On some, the stripes will be clearly visible. But the walls can be tinted - leave a little “in reserve” to eliminate stains and abrasions that appear after a while in the most “loaded” areas.

Water-dispersible silicone

These colors are almost perfect. They are easy to apply, and are able to heal even quite decent cracks - up to 2 mm. The film that remains after drying does not fade, is not afraid of moisture, and is easily damaged (you can wash it as much as you like). Painting the walls in an apartment with silicone paint allows you to get a very smooth surface even without ideal preparation and careful leveling.

After drying, the film is so smooth that even microparticles do not linger on it and dust does not accumulate. What is important is that the paint is vapor-permeable, which makes it possible to use it in wet areas. High UV resistance allows it to be used for exterior finishing(its main application).

Water-based silicone paint - excellent quality coating

It has essentially one drawback: its high price. This is the most expensive paint today (not counting textured ones). This explains the fact that they are not very popular. But if you want to have a durable, beautiful coating for the walls in your apartment or house, choose silicone paint. In any case, it can be used in the hallway and kitchen.

Acrylic water-dispersible

This type of paint is perhaps ideal: it tinters well, does not fade, applies well, even paints over cracks, albeit smaller ones - up to 0.7-1 mm. It has average vapor permeability, the coating is difficult to damage, and can be washed even with detergents. She has no particular shortcomings. In some parameters (vapor permeability) it is slightly worse than water-based paints, in others (hiding power) it is slightly inferior to silicone paints, but in general it gives a very good result.

Painting the walls in an apartment with this paint will not be too expensive: the price is average. So if we take the price/quality ratio, this is best paint, both for walls and ceilings.

Decorative textured paints

This is a relatively new direction. Painting the walls in an apartment using textured paints allows you to get not a smooth, evenly painted surface, but one with a certain or chaotic relief. The basis of textured paints is an acrylic water dispersion with pigment and various additives - sand of different fractions, mineral fibers and other similar substances that form the relief.

These paints differ in thickness; accordingly, they can be applied with a spatula, brush or roller. Some types allow you to use a spray gun. The texture can vary depending on the type of application, and significantly. For example, in the photo below, you see the result of applying one paint with different tools - a brush, various rollers and a spatula. The photo shows decorative paint for walls and ceilings from the German company JOBI. It's called PUTZEFFEKTFARBE (PutzEffectFarbe).

This composition can be painted in any color from the palette, so there are a lot of options. Can be applied to drywall, concrete, fiberboard, plastered surfaces. For best results, preliminary priming is recommended.

There are decorative paints with imitation fabric, suede, with pearlescent stains, aged surfaces and many others. The application is sometimes multi-layered - three layers or more - using different tools. Usually such compositions are accompanied detailed instructions on application and operating procedures, as well as recommendations for choosing a tool.

You will see several ways to apply decorative paint in the video.

Paints for bathrooms, kitchens and hallways

For kitchens and corridors, the decorative acrylic paints described above and water-based silicone paints are suitable. They have sufficient abrasion resistance and can be washed frequently. The use of paints with a pronounced relief in kitchens is not entirely justified - it will be difficult to keep the walls clean. But pearlescent stains can make a small room visually more spacious, especially if the base color is light.

But there are also several moisture- and temperature-resistant paints that can be used in wet rooms - kitchens and bathrooms - but are undesirable in living rooms.

Alkyd compositions

Alkyd paints in their consistency they are very similar to oil ones, but they have a significant difference both in the base (alkyd resins) and in performance characteristics. The surface painted with them tolerates well high humidity, elevated temperatures, exposure to ultraviolet radiation. It has average vapor permeability, and therefore can be used in damp rooms. It applies well to wood and metal surfaces. What is also attractive about these paints is that painting walls does not require significant investments - they are inexpensive. However, a well-prepared surface is required for a normal appearance. Depending on the type of surface created, alkyd paint can be glossy, matte, or semi-matte.

There is only one serious drawback - they are diluted with organic solvents - white spirit, gasoline, turpentine. Therefore, when painting and drying, there is a persistent characteristic odor in the room. Another minus is that over time they lose their color brightness and a yellowish coating appears. The option is inexpensive, but not the best in terms of durability. They are very good for painting radiators and heating pipes - they can be heat-resistant - but for walls it is worth using a different composition.

Paints based on silicates (liquid glass)

If we talk about the specific properties of silicate coating, then this is a good choice for the bathroom: chemical composition such that fungus or mold never appears on painted walls. If there is such a problem, this is one of the options for solving it. The coating is very strong and durable, and vapor permeability is the highest among all paint and varnish compositions existing today. Therefore, you can use these paints both in the kitchen and in the bathroom.

Silicate paint - prevents the development of fungi and mold

But there are significant disadvantages. Firstly, until it dries, the composition is very harmful to health. You need to work with it in protective clothing and respiratory protection (a good respirator). After drying, the film is absolutely harmless, but it cannot be kept indoors until it crystallizes. Secondly, silicates are not compatible with other types of coatings. They do not apply to surfaces previously painted with any other paint. In the same way, no other surface will “lie” on a surface painted with silicate paint. In both cases, complete removal of the previous layer is required. Thirdly, the compositions are tinted only with mineral pigments, and this significantly narrows the number of colors and shades.

Wall painting design

There are a lot of options for painting walls, because there are no restrictions on quantity. It's important to find the right one suitable combination colors when painting walls. The easiest way to do this is to select shades according to the tables that designers use. They contain groups of shades that can be used in one room, while the interior will be harmonious.

Now about the methods of combined painting of walls. There are quite a lot of them, they will look different in the interior. Choose the one you like.

Horizontal division into two or three zones

This method is traditional. Usually the room is divided into two zones. At the bottom they paint with darker shades, at the top with lighter shades. The classic version is divided into three parts by height - the lower third is painted with a dark shade, the upper two are lighter. But this is just a classic; in reality, the dark paint can end in the middle or almost at the ceiling. You just need to be careful with this technique: it visually makes the ceilings lower. The exception is a light strip almost under the ceiling.

The border between two colors, if you paint the walls in an apartment yourself, is rarely ideal. To decorate the imperfections, you can glue some even strips. Another option is to apply masking tape evenly along the border before applying the second shade. After painting, remove it, you will get a perfect line (if you applied the tape evenly).

The molding can be left white - it goes with any colors, or it can be painted in one of the suitable colors

This technique can be used in premises of any purpose, and the style can be of any kind. Only with moldings - this is more of a classic, it is acceptable for country style, for one of the ethnic styles. Just a clear border or a division decorated with a shiny stripe is already minimalism or hi-tech.

Accentuating a wall

A fashionable trend in decorating rooms is highlighting a wall with color. There are two options here:

• a darker shade of the same color;
• another color from a compatible palette.

With well-chosen details in the interior, both methods look attractive. This is the easiest way to make the interior more memorable and vibrant.

A bright color from the same palette is the easiest way to brighten up your interior.

Just keep in mind that in bedrooms, for example, it is better to use less harsh combinations - the atmosphere in such rooms should be softer. Sharp contrasts are good in living rooms and children's rooms. Children generally like bright combinations.

Horizontal stripe

This is a fairly wide strip that runs approximately at eye level. Most often, this type of painting of a room is used if it is necessary to pay attention to some decorative elements - paintings, for example.

This technique looks good in corridors - by lowering the height of the ceiling, it makes it seem wider. Another popular application is children's rooms: children's drawings look very good against a prominent background.

The stripe does not have to be monochromatic - a slight gradient is also good

Striped walls

An interesting technique, but it’s not worth using it for the entire room. This way you can decorate one wall - one of the varieties of an accent wall - or just part of it.

Horizontal stripes can be multi-colored. The main thing is that they are repeated in the interior

An interesting effect is achieved by combining stripes of the same color, but with different textures - matte and glossy. Strictly speaking, these are not two colors, but they look exactly like that.

Highlighting some interior details

Often, some details are emphasized with a different color - brighter or calmer. For example, niches, frames, placement interesting shelf, and so on.

Highlighting some elements is another way to combine painting a room.

One option is to outline the walls with a stripe of a darker color, thus highlighting all the corners. This method will help you do small room more spacious: it will appear taller and wider.

How to paint the walls in an apartment with your own hands: video

Choosing the type of paint is good, but you also need to know how to work with it. Each paint has its own characteristics of application and surface preparation. But in general, the following steps are almost always present:

1. Removing old coating, if any. The thoroughness of this stage depends on the compatibility of the old finishing layer and the new layer. If they are compatible, only the loose or poorly adhering fragments need to be removed. If the coatings are incompatible, you will have to remove everything completely.
2. Wall putty. The technology is standard: take a suitable composition and apply it with a spatula, covering cracks and irregularities.
3. Surface grinding. Use either sandpaper or a special mesh attached to a holder or wooden block. Using circular movements, remove all excess, leveling the walls.
4. Dust removal from the sanded surface. It is better to use a vacuum cleaner, but you can wipe everything with a dry cloth several times, but each time it is clean.
5. Primer. The primer for each surface and paint must be selected separately. It is advisable to purchase it together with paint. Priming performs two tasks: it improves the adhesion of paint to the surface (it will not peel off) and reduces paint consumption.
6. Painting. Usually painting in several layers, applying the composition in different directions. if we talk about walls, then from top to bottom, and then from right to left. Each layer is applied after the first has dried. The instructions usually indicate this time and it is advisable to maintain it.

That's all. The painting of the walls in the apartment is finished. But a verbal description cannot convey some of the features of working with paints or putties. Watch the video tutorial, some subtleties will become more clear. After watching it, painting walls with water-based paint yourself will not be a problem.

Watch the video to see how to create the effect of decorative paint on walls using simple means.

Decorative paint and varnish coatings do not lose their relevance; for a very affordable price you get a beautiful and durable coating, and the choice of shades and textures is very large. Even just plain walls they look beautiful, let alone the options for combining shades, accent fabrics, drawings, stencils and much more!

Advantages and disadvantages of painted walls:

• Long service life;
• Wide range of colors and textures;
• Easy to maintain, minimal cleaning;
• Does not attract pets (cannot be compared with wallpaper or fabrics);
• Easy to apply - even a novice master can handle the job;
• It is easier to decorate rooms with complex elements - arches, columns, niches and so on;
• Possibility of minor repairs - defects that appear can always be painted over;
• If you want a change, you can easily repaint the surface with minimal preparation.

A few words about the shortcomings . There is also a fly in the ointment: before applying paint, the wall must be well plastered, since all the flaws will be very noticeable. The paint is less resistant to physical stress - scratches and chips easily appear on the coating.

How to choose wall paint? - briefly about the main thing

Type of surface and purpose of the room. When choosing a mixture, make sure it is suitable for your walls (concrete, plasterboard, brick, etc.). In addition, consider the purpose of the room: naturally, moisture-resistant paints are preferable for the bathroom and kitchen, and washable ones for the hallway.

Important qualities . Vapor permeability is an important quality for living rooms; the composition must also be environmentally friendly and resistant to abrasion and sunlight. Pay attention to the consistency: the paint should not flow from the brush, form a uniform coating without drips or streaks, consider the material consumption (as a rule, it is better to take 10-15% more paint than indicated by the manufacturer).

Appearance. The paint can be not only matte, but also embossed - in order to get a beautiful texture, all kinds of fillers are used - sawdust, fine sand, pieces of paper, quartz and much more. Useful trick: in dimly lit rooms, light glossy paints are actively used - they add additional volume and lightness; in “southern” rooms, dark, rich tones will play differently, matte finishes look good - they absorb excess light and create a pleasant atmosphere.

Texture. There are three types of compositions - glossy, matte and semi-matte. Glossy ones give the surface shine, but at the same time show even the slightest flaw. Matte ones do not shine, but mask roughness well; semi-matte ones are often highly wear- and moisture-resistant.

Manufacturer information. Make sure that the container has the release date, batch number and all information about the manufacturer; buy paint from trusted sellers.

Important!Avoid construction markets - most often, no one pays attention to the storage conditions of building materials, and paint that has been “overwintered” in an unheated warehouse loses all its decorative and protective properties.

What types of paints are there?

Water-based- dry quickly, environmentally friendly, suitable for residential premises, mix well with most pigments. The main thing is not to apply them indoors at temperatures below 5 degrees Celsius. They have one peculiarity: the color in the jar and on the wall after drying may differ in tone, so over time, choosing a shade to mask the defect can be problematic.

Acrylic- the composition includes acrylic resins, so the finished surface resists moisture and abrasion well. An excellent option for the kitchen, bathroom or hallway, acrylic paints adhere well to all types of surfaces.

Silicone- are produced with silicone additives, they are thicker and denser, mask defects well and are resistant to moisture, their properties are very similar to acrylic ones.

Silicate. Dense, easy to apply, thick, but the resistance to moisture is low; when water drops get in, streaks and drips may appear, so these paints are chosen for dry residential areas.

We hope our article will be useful to you and you can easily make the right choice!

Fashion trends in the design of walls in an apartment during renovations tend to fluctuate periodically. Suffice it to remember that not so long ago the undivided “masters” in this area were wallpaper, which relegated all other finishing materials to the background. However, paint was never abandoned - not a single repair was carried out without it. And now, thanks to the emergence of new developments and production technologies, paint is actively regaining its lost positions, and an increasing number of apartment owners give it preference when decorating walls. Moreover, it became possible to combine two types of finishes. An example of this is wallpaper specifically designed for painting.

The use of paints significantly expands the possibilities of homeowners to decorate premises in the chosen style. Even a simply shaded wall is a field for the manifestation of imagination: it can be decorated with drawings, patterns, artistic compositions and other decorative elements. And if suddenly the design style becomes boring or begins to cause irritation (this also happens quite often), the walls can be repainted without resorting to large-scale repair work.

But all of the above will be fair if it is actually used for work quality material. When an inexperienced person comes to a specialized store, he may get “lost” due to the abundance of samples on offer, differing in color, composition, basic purpose, and performance. How not to get confused, if you choose exactly the paint for the walls in the apartment, how to choose one in order to achieve the desired beauty of the room’s design, and not nullify your efforts preliminary preparation surfaces for decoration? This publication is devoted to these issues.

Advantages and disadvantages of painting walls

First, let's figure out why decorating walls with paint is attractive, and whether this method of decoration has any disadvantages.

Benefits A similar method of decorating walls can be called the following:

• A variety of wall finishing options - you can bring to life the most daring projects, with a combination various shades, textures, with the application of picturesque drawings, etc. Modern paints and varnishes allow you to “play” with basic colors, achieving an almost limitless number of different shades.

• High-quality paint, subject to careful surface preparation, creates a coating that will not lose its decorative qualities for a very long time.
• Unlike other finishing materials, a painted wall is not particularly attractive to pets, that is, the likelihood of scratches or gnawed corners with such a finish is significantly less.

• High-quality paint coatings can be cleaned regularly, including wet ones, without losing their appearance.
• Painting the walls is a much more convenient way of finishing if the room has a complex configuration - it has niches, columns, figured ledges, etc. With wallpaper or decorative panels In such a situation one has to suffer a lot.

Painting a complex room is much easier than wallpapering it

• It will always be possible to eliminate minor defects if you have a small amount of paint of the desired shade in stock. Indelible mint, a scratch or chip can simply be touched up.
• Changing partially or even completely the style of a room is much easier than with any other finishing material.

Now let’s focus on shortcomings this finishing method.

• High-quality painting will require very careful preparation of surfaces. Paint can not hide, but rather even emphasize, seemingly almost invisible wall defects.
• The dyeing process is not at all as simple as it might seem at first glance. In the absence of experience or in non-compliance with recommended technologies, and even more so when using cheap, low-quality material, the coating can be very uneven in color or external texture.

The eternal problem of inexperienced painters is paint drips.

• The paint does not like point mechanical impact and pronounced abrasive load. If you use residential premises carelessly, it will be difficult to avoid scuffs, chips, and scratches. However, this applies equally to most wall finishing materials.
• Most wall paints, with the exception of glossy coatings, tend to accumulate dust on the surface from the air in the room.

Basic physical, technological and operational properties of paints

When going to the salon to choose paint, the apartment owner, of course, Firstly thinks about its decorativeness, keeping in mind the chosen shade. However, if you do not take into account other important properties of the material, it is easy to make a mistake, and the result obtained will be strikingly different from what was intended.

• Of course, decorative qualities are briefly the determining criterion for selection - this is clear simply from the intended purpose of the material.

Paint is an opportunity for color variety

By the way, an inexperienced consumer may even be surprised that despite the variety, not as many shades will be presented in the salon as he would like. It’s not surprising - there are technologies for creating the necessary colors - this will be discussed a little later.

Regardless of color, paint can create a surface with varying degrees of gloss. So, the compositions are divided into matte, semi-matte, glossy. There are paints related to high gloss, creating an almost mirror-like surface, but they are practically not used in apartment conditions.

— Paints that create a glossy surface are attractive because they are easy to maintain - they are less susceptible to abrasive loads and moisture, and it is easy to wipe off dust or remove stains from such painted walls. But there is an important drawback - gloss will only look on a perfectly flat surface. Even very subtle defects from the play of light will instantly come out.

Glossy paints are used very rarely to completely cover walls. They are more likely to be suitable for additional decoration or for highlighting individual elements of a room’s decoration. In addition, they can be used for painting walls in rooms with high humidity - for example, in the kitchen.

— Matte paints are used much more often for decorating the walls of living rooms. They create a smooth surface and are able to visually hide minor flaws. In addition, the matte finish makes the room visually more spacious.

Matte paints for residential premises are preferable

The disadvantage is that stains placed on such a surface will be much more difficult to remove, and most likely you will have to resort to touch-up.

— Semi-matte paints, of course, occupy an intermediate position, having approximately equal “pros” and “cons” of the types already mentioned above.

• The most important quality of any paint is its hiding power. This is an ability material to create a smooth, monochromatic surface that completely hides the base background of the base. As a rule, hiding power is determined by the minimum number of layers required for such an effect.

In most cases, high-quality paintwork materials require two layers. In advertising brochures there are assurances from manufacturers that one-time staining is sufficient, but this should be treated with reasonable skepticism.

An important factor in this matter, of course, is the color of the base. That's why experienced painters recommend not to trust advertising, but to try the hiding power of the paint in practice, on a small scale surface fragment. Usually, when checking a material, several methods are used - a smear is applied to a black surface, to a completely white surface, and to one that has already been tinted in the desired color. After the prototypes have dried, it will be clearly visible whether several layers will be required.

Special experimental cards of the “chessboard” type are also used. Below the letter “a” is the card itself. After the first pass of paint (“b”), it is clear that contrasting spots appear through the coating. And after applying the second layer (“c”), the painted surface turns out absolutely smooth.

• Inextricably linked with hiding power is the consistency, viscosity of the paint composition, its ability to spread and adhere to the surface. If the paint is too thick, the painted surface may be uneven in color. In addition, this always leads to waste of material. However, thick paint can be brought to the desired state using a base solvent. It is much worse if the composition is excessively liquid - this will give a lot of drips, poor coverage, and it is very difficult to deal with this.

From this point of view, paints that are given the property of thixotropy become a very profitable purchase. Such compositions change their thickness depending on conditions. When mixing the paint, it becomes more liquid, and in a calm state it quickly gains viscosity.

Usually the manufacturer indicates this quality of paint on the factory packaging - it’s worth looking for, since such compositions practically do not drip, creating a smooth painted surface. True, you need to be prepared for the increased cost of such paints and varnishes.

• When choosing, it is worth paying attention to the available methods of applying paint to the surface of the walls. This is usually indicated in the form of pictograms depicting a brush, roller or spray gun. In some cases, painting large surfaces using aerosol spraying technology can be much more profitable and faster.
• When choosing a paint, you should pay attention to the declared qualities of resistance to wet cleaning. This is especially important for rooms where the likelihood of spills hitting the walls is high, for example, in the kitchen.

True, we should think here from a different point of view. Washable paints are significantly more expensive than regular paints, and it is quite possible that it would be more justified to periodically update the surface with cheaper compounds.

• If we consider paint specifically for walls, then one more quality should be noted - the uniformity of the composition. Paint can be not only “smooth” - there are varieties with special inclusions that create a micro-relief of the surface they cover, for example, with the effect of sand or silk.

Sandy effect paint

Such textured coatings look very original, however, in order to apply them efficiently, some experience in painting work is still required.

• For residential premises, an important parameter of paint is its vapor permeability. The decorative coating of the walls should not interfere with the natural exchange of moisture, so as not to cause condensation drops on the surface. In a word, paint should not prevent the walls from “breathing.”
• The paint must be safe for the health of people and pets. All its components - the pigment dispersed composition itself, the binder, the solvent, and certain additives after drying should not emit unpleasant odors, release toxic substances. It will be very good if the paint also has antiseptic properties = prevents the development of all forms of microflora. Another important requirement is the safety of the paint coating in terms of flammability and smoke generation.
• And finally, any person carrying out repairs wants the work to be done as quickly as possible. Therefore, they try to give preference to paint and varnish compositions with a minimum drying and polymerization time - with them, the productivity of painting operations increases sharply. As a rule, paint hardening times are indicated by manufacturers on the packaging. But it should be borne in mind that these periods are determined for normal temperature and humidity conditions.

By the way, if, when choosing paint, the buyer comes across a jar with instructions on an unfamiliar foreign language, then, of course, you should ask the seller for a sheet with the translation. But the pictograms on the packaging can also say a lot. The most common ones are those presented in the table below:

Pictogram	Symbol meaning	Pictogram	Symbol meaning
	Pictograms for the degree of glossiness-mattness of paint		Pictograms for areas of paint application
	Absolute, 100% matte paint.		The highest degree of versatility - the paint is suitable for all surfaces, for interior and exterior use.
	Matte paint.		Roofing paint.
	Semi-matte paint gloss level.		The paint for the external walls of the building is façade.
	Semi-gloss paint.		The paint for the external walls of the building is base paint.
	Glossy paint.		Paint for flooring only.
	The highest degree of gloss is super gloss paint.		Paint for ceilings only.
-	-		Paint only for interior walls of the house.
-	-		The paint can be used for interior walls and ceilings.
			Pictograms indicating the technological features of the paint
	A brush is used for application.		Before use, the paint must be stirred (usually for toxicotropic compositions).
	A roller is used for application.		The period required for drying to a level that is safe from touching and dust.
	It is allowed to use aerosol spraying using a spray gun.		The minimum period required for drying before applying the next layer.
	Paint consumption on a smooth or primed surface (in this case – 1 liter per 7 ÷ 9 m² of wall area).		When storing paint, negative temperatures are not allowed.
	Paint consumption on a rough, absorbent, cut or sawn surface (in this case – 1 liter per 3 ÷ 5 m² area).		A pictogram indicating the technology of tinting to the required shade. In this case, the MoniColor system.

Which paint should I choose?

Now it's worth focus attention on paint types in terms of their components chemical structure. The difference here can be significant, and not all varieties are suitable for interior work, especially in the residential premises of an apartment.

Oil based paints

Coloring compositions in which vegetable or mineral oils are solvents once completely dominated, due to the lack of competitors. Today, their scope of application is constantly narrowing. The demand for them is falling, and, apparently, they will be completely forced out of the paint and coatings market in the field of construction and repair.

After applying paint to the surface, the oil component oxidizes and dries, leaving a tinted film coating. But this process usually takes a long time. Moreover, the durability of the coating is very low. Under the influence of external factors, just a few years later the film coating cracks, peeling begins, and the surface loses its appearance. And one more circumstance - the resulting film is practically impenetrable to water vapor, which is completely unacceptable for a normal indoor microclimate.

The only advantage of such compositions is their low cost. But it is unlikely that anyone would think of using inexpensive paint to decorate walls in residential premises for the sake of this quality. In addition, it will not be easy to “refresh” the surface - it is necessary completely. Clean off the old layer down to the base, since none of the existing types of paint will lay well over oil paint.

In a word, we don’t even consider oil paint for walls in an apartment.

Alkyd resin paints

Alkyd paints are sometimes mistakenly confused with oil paints due to their similar initial consistency, but the difference between them is very significant. The binder in them is alkyd resins obtained by processing vegetable oils (soybean, linseed and others) according to special technology using acidic components. And volatile organic compounds are used as solvents - gasoline, white spirit, turpentine, etc.

After applying paint to the wall, solvents evaporate quickly enough, and alkyd resins form a fairly strong film on the surface, tinted with coloring pigments. Due to the properties of the binding resins, such a coating has good elasticity, resistance to moisture, ultraviolet rays, and temperature fluctuations. Alkyd paints are distinguished by high hiding power. They also have vapor permeability, but it is not clearly expressed, so this is not the best option for residential premises. Another disadvantage is that working with paint indoors is accompanied by a persistent sharp the smell of solvent, which doesn't last long enough. There are complaints about alkyd paints from the point of view of fire safety.

For the walls of a kitchen or bathroom, such a coating may be suitable, however, if we consider it from the point of view of economy - the cost of alkyd paints is not too high. But you need to know that over time the coating begins to fade and a yellowish tint appears.

Alkyd paints are also not the best choice for apartment walls

Alkyd paints can be produced in a different range - from matte finishes to glossy enamels. They are still best used for painting wooden or metal parts and devices. For example, for heating radiators, for window frames, doors, slopes this is a great option. But for the walls of the apartment you should look more suitable solution.

Silicate based paints

These compositions belong to a fairly limited group in which exclusively mineral components are used. The base is liquid silicate, which is often called “liquid glass”.

After drying and crystallization of the silicate paint, an extremely durable coating is created on the surface, resistant to abrasive loads. At the same time, it is characterized by high vapor permeability - this indicator for silicate paints is the highest compared to all other paintwork materials. Walls painted with this composition are not afraid of dampness, and in addition, they have another distinct advantage - the chemical components are such that they will never allow the formation of mold or mildew, since any microflora simply dies, even without the use of special antiseptic primers.

It would seem that this is it, optimal solution for residential walls! However, do not rush to conclusions, since silicate paint has a whole bunch of disadvantages:

• The paint is in working, liquid condition due to its high alkaline concentrationscomponents has an aggressive effect on the skin and mucous membranes. When carrying out painting work, it is necessary to take special precautions and use protective equipment for hands, face, eyes, and respiratory organs. True, after crystallization the coating becomes harmless.
• Coloring pigments for such compositions must be exclusively alkaline based. This predetermines a rather narrow framework in matters of independent tinting, and the silicate paints themselves, available for sale, do not differ in a wide variety of colors and shades.
• Silicate paint will only fit well on a mineral surface. If walls have previously been painted with other compounds using organic basis, then you don’t even have to try to apply silicate until the surface of the base itself is completely cleaned. Metal parts or polymers cannot be painted at all.
• Such “selfishness” of silicate paint also has a downside. If the wall was painted with it once, then no other paint will work well on top of the silicate coating. That is, if there is a desire to repaint the walls, you will either have to resort to silicate paint again, or engage in the labor-intensive process of completely washing off and cleaning the old coating.

Family of water-soluble paints

Let's move on to a large group of paints, among which you should probably look for the best option for decorating the walls in your apartment. All these compounds have one thing in common important feature– the solvent in them is ordinary water. Well, it contains all the necessary components in a suspended state (emulsion or dispersed):

1. First of all, these are binders, the same ones that, after evaporation of water and polymerization, will create a durable film layer. These components may have a different base, which determines the final classification of water-soluble paint, but they have the same function - the tightest possible fit to the surface being painted, high adhesion to it, and reliable retention of all other ingredients of the composition.

2. Tint pigments - they determine the decorative qualities of the paint.

3. Special fillers that can perform various functions. Thus, they are not able to improve paint resistance to mechanical abrasive influences, increase protective qualities from other unfavorable factors. In addition, fillers can also serve as additional decoration, creating a special surface texture. Quartz or marble dust, talc, stone chips, and other substances of mineral or organic origin are used as fillers.

4. Technological additives that simplify the painting process, improve plasticity, increase adhesion, optimize the processes of water evaporation and simultaneous polymerization of the film, etc.

As already mentioned, the type of paint determines film-forming component. But here there are already different options.

Polyvinyl acetate based paints

Such compositions are direct “relatives” to all familiar PVA-based adhesives and primers. Most often in common parlance they are called ordinary water-based emulsion. They have gained wide popularity due to their affordability - these are the most inexpensive paints of all water-soluble varieties.

Such compositions are convenient to work with - they are easy to apply, show good adhesion, but at the same time it is very easy to wash from hands or painting tool. The paint does not emit unpleasant persistent odors, is harmless to humans and environment, does not decompose into toxic components.

As a rule, it is sold in white, but can be tinted very easily. Surface covered water-based emulsion, can be easily repainted with other water-based compounds - there are no restrictions in this matter.

However, the low price is a consequence of the significant disadvantages of water-based paint. So, it is not resistant enough to abrasive load. The moisture resistance indicators are not very good - after wiping the surface with a damp cloth, quite noticeable streaks may remain on it.

So, from the point of view of economy, the choice is not bad, from the point of view of practicality, not so much.

Paints butadiene-styrene

Such paints are rare. And they should be treated with a certain amount of caution. Although it would seem that styrene butadiene is a form of synthetic latex (artificial rubber), its characteristics in terms of use for paint and varnish coatings are low.

This paint is in many ways similar to the one already mentioned water-based emulsion, but it has significantly higher abrasion resistance and there is no “phobia of water”. But there is a very significant drawback - it does not tolerate light exposure, quickly turns yellow and loses its decorative qualities.

Butadiene-styrene the compositions are more suitable as a primer - in this “role” their advantages are most fully demonstrated. But it is better not to purchase them for final painting of walls.

Water-dispersed latex paints

A family of paints that use durable latex components as a film-forming substance. After polymerization, the painted surface is covered with a thin, durable film that is not afraid of water and abrasion.

It has moderate vapor permeability and, if painted correctly, is not prone to formation.

drops of condensation on the surface. The paint adheres well to the surface, has excellent hiding power, and is even capable of smoothing out minor surface defects - the latex film covers small cracks up to 1 mm wide. Painting in two layers will completely hide the flaws, giving the walls an even coating with a silky effect.

Latex paints also have disadvantages. Whatever you say, their UV resistance is seriously inferior to acrylic or silicone. At the same time, the price for them is considerable, so you need to think carefully about whether to opt for better quality compounds. And one more thing - latex compounds are quite difficult to wash off the surfaces of tools or the skin of your hands if this is not done immediately after finishing work.

Silicone based paints

These water-dispersible compositions are the most modern available. They fully combine the advantages of all other types, and therefore have almost complete versatility - they are suitable for walls and ceilings of any residential and special premises.

The hiding power of the paint is excellent. Even cracks with a width of 1.5 ÷ 2 mm are completely healed with double application. The thin silicone film is not at all afraid of water or abrasive loads, that is, the walls can be freely subjected to regular wet cleaning. However, dust practically does not fall on such a coating - it is not retained on a smooth vertical surface, so contamination will be minimal. At the same time, this silicone “membrane” is vapor-permeable, and the walls retain the ability to “breathe”.

In terms of durability of use without loss of decorative qualities, silicone paints simply have no rivals. The compositions are absolutely harmless in any state - both in liquid and after polymerization. It is very easy to work with, as it does not cause skin irritation and is easy to wash.

All these advantages predetermine a high price - among all paints and varnishes, silicone paints are the most expensive. Probably, only this conditional drawback becomes the reason for their insufficiently wide popularity among average consumers.

By the way, unique properties silicone paints are more in demand for exterior finishing, and if the owners already go to similar expenses, which is more often for painting the facades of houses. And for the walls in an apartment, it is quite possible to choose a more reasonable option, which will practically not differ in quality - we are talking about acrylic-based paints.

Acrylic water-dispersion paints

Acrylic paints can safely be called leaders in the evaluation criterion “price - quality”. Their cost has now become quite acceptable, and a number of other important advantages are the reason for the high popularity of these compositions among professionals and home craftsmen.

Acrylic water-dispersion paints are leaders on the price-quality scale

• Firstly, no other paints and varnishes lend themselves to such varied and persistent tinting. Acrylic resins are absolutely not afraid of the effects of pigments, and here the widest field for imagination opens up.
• Secondly, acrylic water-soluble paints are not at all afraid of ultraviolet light exposure and practically do not fade over time.
• Thirdly, in terms of resistance to abrasion, they are not inferior to latex ones. True, their covering ability is slightly lower (they can only cover a thin crack of no more than 0.5 mm), but this is fully compensated by the affordable cost.
• IN– fourth, this paint for interior decoration has versatility - it is equally good for all rooms, for walls and ceilings. The paint will adhere easily and firmly to almost any leveled surface.

It has no particular disadvantages, and insignificant lags in any parameters from other paintwork materials are completely insignificant for the conditions of interior decoration of apartments.

So, acrylic water-dispersion paint for apartment walls is most optimal choice.

Which manufacturer should you prefer?

The assortment presented in specialized stores is very wide. But don’t rush to buy the first thing you like at the price - it’s worth looking among the available samples for products from well-known companies that always guarantee quality.

Everyone has hearing always the Finnish company Tikkurila. Its interior paint “Euro-2” based on acrylic copolymers is ideally suited for wall decoration. The development of advantages is embodied in “Euro-7” paint - this composition has much higher resistance to abrasive abrasion. It can be produced both in a “flat” composition and with a textured filling.

Dufa paints - the highest quality standards

Excellent results are shown by painting walls and ceilings with water-dispersion paints from the German company Dufa. Particularly popular among professionals are the “Superweiss” and “Wandfarbe” compositions, specially developed for finishing residential premises.

Without any doubt You can purchase paints from German companies.

British manufacturers are recognized participants in the “race of leaders”. For example, among professional painters, the products of Johnstone’s deserve an excellent rating. » , producing compositions in a wide variety of textures, and Dulux, representing the transnational corporation AkzoNobel.

The familiar “Snowball” is always popular

MӦKKE acrylic paints are ideal for interior work on wood, brick and concrete; with their help, a professional or ordinary consumer can paint walls and ceilings in residential premises. MӦKKE interior paints are absolutely environmentally friendly and do not contain solvents. Easy application and a short time drying of paints provides a smooth painted surface, which is free of smudges and cracks. MӦKKE white paint is individually tinted and has a long shelf life (36 months).

Among Russian consumers, one of the leaders in popularity is the products of the Polish company Sniezka. This - clear example High Quality and reasonable price.

Trying to keep up with leading companies and domestic producers. Every year the number of types of high-quality paint from Russian companies is growing.

“Nevskiye Krasny” is already competing with imported samples

The Nevskie Paints company appeared not so long ago, but is already fully competing with other manufacturers. Unfortunately, its range in the field of water-dispersion paints is not yet very wide and is represented by only two samples, but the quality of the material is very good. It is hoped that the development of new formulations will continue.

Wall paints from Russian manufacturers— every year the quality is getting higher

The Yaroslavl Paints company has a long and glorious history. Paintwork materials from Russian companies Eurolux, Admiral and some others deserve the best reviews.

The choice is great, but only a good specialized store can guarantee the quality of the purchased products. Buying paint in dubious “shops” or on the market may well result in disappointment - criminals have long learned to make containers and beautiful stickers almost indistinguishable. In any case, you should always ask the seller to present documents for the shipment of goods to ensure the authenticity of the branded products.

By the way, in serious salons the visitor will be offered assistance in selecting the right paint colors or in preparing shades. This issue requires special consideration.

How to choose the right paint color?

It would seem like a funny question: go to the store and choose what you like best. However, to your considerable surprise, you may find that the assortment of interior wall paints displayed on the counters does not offer much variety in shades. The vast majority will find one or another basic white color. But this does not mean that manufacturers do not think about the “whims” of buyers - it’s just that the entire available range cannot be placed on shelves or even stored in warehouses. It is much easier to create the desired shade from a base paint using special pigments.

The best option is for the apartment owner who is planning a renovation to come to the salon, already having a complete idea of ​​what he wants to see on his walls. He will be offered several catalogs (depending on the manufacturer of the paint itself), where the most suitable one is selected from among countless options.

It is important to know that there are many color catalogs - these are the well-known RAL, Tikkurila catalogs adapted for their own products - Monicolor Nova and Symphony Orus, separate catalogs from Beckers NCS, Dulux and others. There is also a Russian development in this series - “Moscow Palette”. Very often, information is printed directly on the paint can with a pictogram indicating which color palette should be used when tinting (an example is given in the table above).

The most important point is that you should never trust the first impression received from viewing such catalogs on a monitor screen or in a glossy advertising brochure - the color perception there is completely different, and you can make a mistake. To select, you should use only special catalogs - fans, the color of the samples on which is applied using a special technology that maximally conveys the real picture. It is necessary to view samples, varying the level of illumination and the direction of light, since its play can quite distort the shade - it will look completely different in the shade and in open light.

A knowledgeable specialist consultant usually will not immediately offer a bunch of catalogs that will dazzle the buyer’s eyes. To begin with, a preliminary selection according to a special fan in which Only approximate colors are reflected, and only then can we proceed to the exact selection of subtle shades.

Why is this being done? Good salons are sure to have special computer-controlled mixing devices - they will ideally accurately reproduce the required amount of paint of the selected shade. For this, basic compositions are used - they may also differ. So, for matte shades, use a white opaque base No. 1, for bright and saturated shades, use a translucent base No. 2, and for gloss or pronounced dark colors, use a transparent base No. 3. The selection of pigments is carried out with an accuracy of milligrams, so we are guaranteed to receive exactly what the client chose.

If the store offers such an opportunity, you should definitely take advantage of it. You can, of course, try to do the tinting yourself - there is also a wide range of necessary pigment dyes on sale. But you should be prepared for the fact that many difficulties will arise in this matter:

• Firstly, you will need to prepare the entire volume of paint that is required for a certain area. If suddenly the material , Although It would be quite a bit, but it won’t be enough; it is almost impossible to achieve “manually” an exact match of the second batch in shade.
• When working with many dyes, the “laws of mixing” do not always work. For example, owners know that the combination of red and yellow tones should give an orange tint. However, when using two or more pigments, they can behave completely unpredictably, and the end result will suddenly and unpleasantly surprise an inexperienced painter.
• Intuitively adding pigment to paint, without experience in such work, is always a high probability of overshooting the line that was originally intended. It seems that a little more needs to be added - and now the resulting paint is darker or more saturated than intended.

Mixing paints is not as simple as it may seem

In a word, mixing colors is an art that not everyone can do. And if you nevertheless make a bold decision to carry out tinting yourself, you should adhere to several rules that will help minimize possible flaws:

• Tinting pigments are not universal material, and they are only suitable for a certain type and type of paint. This point should definitely be clarified when purchasing.
• When choosing a shade, you should not be “sprayed” by their huge variety. It is best to work from short catalogs - the perception of the color of the painted wall will suffer little from this, and possible disappointments will certainly be reduced.
• Always evaluate the chosen color in advance on the scale of the entire wall or room. It is quite possible that a bright warm shade in a fan looks very attractive. But a wall completely painted in this color can cause irritation or headache. The rule is simple - the lower the saturation, the more comfortable the room will be.
• Craftsmen always advise doing a test painting, even with several colors at the same time on limited areas of the wall. Buying a small amount of paint for experiments is always cheaper than, being disappointed, having to re-decorate an unsuccessful room all over again. It is very important to see in advance how the chosen color will behave in real conditions - in a specific room with the lighting available in it.
• Carrying out the experiment is all the more necessary if the wall has a relief texture (for example, special wallpaper is pasted for painting). The play of shadows from micro-relief irregularities when lighting changes can give a completely unexpected, sometimes undesirable result.
• It should be remembered that the resulting shade and texture of the wall can be objectively assessed only when the last applied layer has completely dried. There is no need to rely on the specification of paint drying time - the wall will take its final form after a day, or even two.

How much paint will be needed?

The consumption of paint for wall decoration directly depends on the area to be covered, the hiding power of the material, the number of layers applied, the quality of surface preparation, and compliance with recommended working methods.

It is easy to determine the area of ​​the walls of the room to be decorated by measuring the height, perimeter (or length of a specific area), without forgetting to subtract the area of ​​the existing window and door openings.

The weighted average paint consumption must be indicated by the manufacturer. There is a subtlety here - the indicator can be expressed in square meters per liter, or vice versa, in milliliters per m². There are data indicated in kg, but a kilogram of paint and a liter are not at all the same thing. It is important not to get confused and to carry out the calculation correctly.

The number of layers is usually determined in advance experimentally. It should be taken into account that the primary layer usually consumes 10 ÷ 15% more paint.

Apply paint to porous, unprimed surface- this is just sloppiness, waste of materials. And it is almost impossible to carry out calculations for such conditions - the absorption of the wall can be unpredictable.

Simple arithmetic calculations will give the desired result. And to make the work easier, we invite readers to take advantage of the built-in calculator. It contains data on the average consumption of the main types of wall paints. All that remains is to provide the requested data and get the result.

Calculator for calculating the required amount of paint for walls

Please note that the final result will be shown in kilograms. The net weight of paint is always indicated on any of the packaging, and the required number of cans will not be difficult to determine.

Today we have to decide which paint is best to paint the walls in the apartment. We will take a look at the key properties of some of the offered modern market dyes, and also find out how to properly prepare the surface for their application and how to apply paint to obtain the most uniform and high-quality coating.

What are the benefits of painted walls in an apartment against the background of wallpaper? Cheap coverage. High-quality paint is obviously cheaper than equally high-quality wallpaper.

At a comparable cost - service life. Wear-resistant, washable paint will certainly last longer than paper wallpaper.

Easy to repair if walls are damaged. Puttying the defect and touching it up is clearly easier than changing the damaged strip of wallpaper (often in pain when combining the pattern with adjacent sections of the wall).

Easy change of room design. To change the color of the walls, just prime them and paint them again. (which is not always done easily and quickly) is not necessary.

Dark side

Let's dilute the flow of delight and adoration for paint with a fly in the ointment.

Painting requires much more thorough preparation of the base. Embossed wallpaper can mask small (within 1-2 mm) wall defects, while paint will leave them visible.

Captain Obvious suggests: the exception is structural paints, which are applied without dilution and form a thick coating with artificial irregularities.

Paint requirements

To decide what to paint the walls in the apartment with, let's formulate our requirements for paint.

She must be:

• Resistant to dry abrasion. You will inevitably touch the walls with your clothes, and it is advisable that neither the clothes nor the decoration suffer;

• Odorless - both during operation and during application. Obviously no one will like breathing in the fumes of an organic solvent for several days or weeks, and the weather and noise level on the street do not always allow keeping the windows open around the clock;
• Quick-drying. Waiting several days for the coating to fully harden in a small city apartment is, to put it mildly, inconvenient;

Practical consequence: we paint the walls in the apartment with water-dispersion paint. It combines fast drying (1-2 hours “touch-free” with complete polymerization within 24 hours) with the absence of odor.

• In wet rooms (bathroom, toilet, kitchen), and where the walls will be subject to intense contamination (hallway, children's room), the coating should be washable. Splashes are an inevitable attribute of the bathroom and kitchen, and children's love for active games leaves no chance for the coating to remain clean;

• Finally, a great bonus for the buyer will be the reasonable price of a kilogram of dye. It is advisable that the homeowner does not have to incur exorbitant costs for repairs.

Point your finger

So, what kind of paint should be used to paint the walls in an apartment, taking into account all the requirements?

In order not to list all possible options, we will simply point out a few of the most reasonable solutions:

You can’t even imagine how easily and quickly you can create a unique interior by painting the walls in your apartment! Of course, this method is not as popular as wallpaper, and often people do not consider paint as an option for wall decoration. But in vain! We will tell you how and what paint to paint the walls in your apartment and give your home a sophisticated and fashionable character.

Paint for walls in an apartment: choosing a composition

Painting the walls in a room is a fairly popular alternative to wallpaper. This does not require special skills - the process of covering walls is quite simple and convenient. And the result obtained is very beautiful appearance. If you approach the design of an apartment using modern designer ideas, you will get an entirely exclusive and beautiful interior.

When starting to renovate your home and deciding to use paint as the main finishing material for the walls, it is important to determine which paint is best to paint the walls in the apartment. One of the decisive criteria for choosing is which room you have identified for painting:

• For the bathroom, it is best to purchase moisture-resistant materials.
• In the kitchen, it is advisable to use a washable and wear-resistant coating.
• In the living room and bedroom, environmental friendliness and safety of paint are an important factor.

Important! Matte varnish paint will visually improve the condition of the wall surface, but glossy material is applied only to a completely flat surface.

So, what paint should you use to paint the walls in your apartment, and what types of paint are there?

Water-based paints

The composition of such materials includes the substance polyvinyl acetate, better known as PVA. This paint is relatively inexpensive and easily available to the buyer.

The advantages of this finishing material include:

• Easy to apply.
• There is no need for multi-layer wall coverings. It is optimal to paint the surface twice.
• Thanks to its characteristics, it can be used in residential areas - bedrooms and children's rooms.
• The paint has excellent vapor permeability and is considered “breathable”.
• A huge range of color palettes to suit every taste.
• If necessary, the walls can be “touched up” to hide any scuffs and stains that have appeared.

The disadvantages include:

• Susceptibility to mechanical damage. The paint scratches easily.
• The water-based emulsion can only be applied to carefully prepared walls that are perfectly flat and smooth.
• Do not wash with water or detergents, especially aggressive and abrasive substances.

Water-dispersed compositions

Painting the walls in a room can be done using this type of paint, which is divided into the following types:

• Based acrylic resins. This type of material has excellent performance qualities. First of all, the paint is easily and conveniently applied to the surface, tinted perfectly, has a long service life and does not fade. Unlike the water-based composition, it is more immune to mechanical damage, but is inferior in vapor permeability. The surface can be washed and detergents can be used.

Important! Using this paint you can hide small cracks up to 0.7-1 mm in size.

• Silicone based. They have the same excellent properties, but to a greater extent compared to acrylic ones. Separately, we can highlight the paint’s ability to mask cracks up to 2 mm. The paint is not affected by ultraviolet radiation, so it can also be used for exterior decoration. The only downside is its high price, but the excellent quality is worth it.

Alkyd compositions

The composition of such materials includes alkyd resins. The consistency of the paints resembles oil mixtures.

Let's look at the advantages of this option:

• Moisture resistance.
• Unaffected by ultraviolet radiation.
• Not afraid of high temperatures.
• Affordable price.
• Average level of vapor permeability.
• You can paint a wooden or metal surface.

Important! This finishing material can give walls a matte, glossy or semi-matte look.

There are a number of disadvantages of alkyd compositions:

• Mandatory preparation of the wall surface.
• To apply this type of paint, it is necessary to dilute the composition with a solvent, which, in turn, leads to the appearance of a sharp, specific odor during the process of painting the walls.
• Relatively short-lived service life; color saturation is lost over time.

Latex paints

In order to understand how to paint the walls in a room latex composition, you need to know its features.

The clear advantages of this material are its ease of use, high wear resistance, moisture resistance and the ability to smooth out minor surface imperfections - cracks and irregularities.

Important! Latex paints are used only for interior decoration, as they react to exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

Silicate based paints

The main constituent element of the material is liquid glass with various additives. This type of paint successfully copes with both interior and exterior decoration.

Advantages of this coating:

• High degree of hygiene of the material. The mixture is not subject to the appearance and proliferation of harmful bacteria and mold.
• Excellent wear resistance of the coating, long service life of about 15-20 years.
• Simplicity and ease of use.
• Does not react to ultraviolet light.
• “Breathing” surface. The degree of vapor permeability is the highest for this type of paint.
• Fire resistance.

In addition to the obvious advantages, one cannot fail to note some disadvantages of silicate compounds:

• Silicates are completely incompatible with any other coating. Before applying it, the wall surface must be thoroughly cleaned of previous paint. The same is true in the opposite situation: other coloring compounds cannot be applied over silicate.

Important! It is very difficult to remove a layer of silicate paint. If you prefer to periodically update your interior, then this paint is unlikely to suit you.

• Silicate paints can only be tinted using mineral pigments, which rather limits the color range.
• Harmful to health when applied to the surface. Painting work can only be carried out in protective clothing, with the obligatory use of a respirator.

Important! Until the composition is completely dry, it is dangerous to stay in the room. A dry surface is absolutely harmless.

Textured paint

A fashion trend in modern design and a fairly young finishing material among paints. Its essence is to give the surface a different texture, a certain relief or chaotic textures. Forget about a completely flat and smooth wall!

This paint contains an aqueous acrylic dispersion, supplemented with ingredients that create a relief on the surface. These may be mineral fibers, sand or other substances.

Important! A characteristic feature of textured paint is its thick consistency. In this regard, it is best to cover walls using a spatula, brush or roller.

This decorative painting has a number of advantages:

1. Interesting appearance, unusual design. It will give the room its own special personality and style.
2. Depending on the method of applying paint, its texture changes. There are quite a lot of design options.
3. Wide color palette shades.
4. Versatility. Textured paint can be applied to almost any type of surface: concrete, plaster, drywall, chipboard, fiberboard. To achieve the most maximum effect, it is recommended to treat the walls with a primer.

Important! Textured paint requires careful and multi-layer application, moreover, during the creation process textured surface You will need various construction tools.

Residential paints

What paint to paint the walls in the apartment in the living rooms? What to pay attention to and what features need to be taken into account?

• The main criterion is their absolute harmlessness.
• The washing surface, on the contrary, is not considered in demand, except, perhaps, in a children's room.
• When decorating living rooms in a house, such paints are subject to increased demands on their decorativeness and design. They should have a spectacular appearance, have a wide range of colors and saturation.

Performance characteristics include:

• Resistance to ultraviolet radiation.
• Fast drying.
• No pungent odors during the painting process.

Important! Above we looked at the types of interior paints, their properties and features. The most suitable for living rooms are:

• Water based paints.
• Textured decorative materials.

Paints for the bathroom, kitchen and corridor

Depending on the type of room, the requirements for finishing also depend:

• Kitchen. Due to its purpose, this room has conditions high humidity and temperature changes. It is based on these factors that it is necessary to choose the appropriate paint. In addition, it must be washable and not subject to mechanical damage. Have a high degree of hygiene.

Important! Thus, to the most suitable options include: water-based silicone, alkyd mixtures, acrylic, silicate paints.

• Bathroom. At its core, finishing a bathroom is comparable to the requirements for a kitchen. Therefore, the same paints are chosen for covering the walls in the bathroom.
• The corridor is less susceptible to the influence of temperature and moisture, however, they still occur, since cold air can penetrate through the front door, and moisture gets from wet clothes and shoes. In addition, the walls of the hall must be wear-resistant and as resistant to damage as possible. What paints are optimal in such conditions? Alkyd paints, acrylic, silicone.

Once you have decided which paint is best to paint the walls in your apartment, you can move on to the interior aspects of the renovation. Now you should pay attention to color schemes, design ideas and adding completeness to the interior.

What color is best to paint a room?

Most paints give us unlimited possibilities in choosing colors. And depending on the proportion of the color, you can adjust the saturation of the shade.

To select the tones most harmoniously, you can use special design tables that combine consonant shades.

• Be sure to consider the size of the room. The golden rule says: bright hues visually increase the space, while dark ones reduce it.
• Another important principle: the placement of the room relative to the cardinal direction. South side - choose cool shades. Optimally blue, blue, turquoise color. The northern part is warm, such as: orange, red, yellow.
• Maintain a holistic picture of the interior of your home.
• Consider the purpose of the room. Residential or commercial premises also matter. And also the presence and number of windows in the room.

Here are some tips for painting walls:

1. Living room. Experts recommend using neutral wall colors, which can effectively set off bright decorative elements, luxurious furniture in rich colors, etc. pastel shades. And vice versa - dark furniture can be accentuated with bright surfaces.
2. Bedroom. Since this room is intended for relaxation, it is best to paint the walls in pleasant pastel or cool colors. This will definitely create a comfortable, calming environment. For example, light green, blue.
3. Children's room. This is the territory bright colors and fun ideas. However, do not overdo it, as there are often enough saturated colors in a given room. Multi-colored toys, bright furniture, colorful textiles! In this case, it is better to make the walls a light neutral shade.
4. It is recommended to use green shades in a student’s office or room, since, according to psychologists, it greatly improves performance.

It is absolutely not necessary to paint the entire surface of the walls in one color. The design of the room with the help of such finishing is not limited to this.

Wall painting design

Painting the walls in a room can be very original and unusual! Let's look at some interior ideas.

Horizontal division of the wall surface into zones

This design method is quite traditional. Most often, the wall is divided into two parts. The lower one is colored more dark color, and the top one is in light. Three divisions are possible, then the color change occurs from bottom to top from dark to light. But this is not a mandatory principle; you can experiment and combine any options you like.

Important! You should not apply dark shades of paint under the ceiling, as this makes it appear lower. But the light strip, on the contrary, will “push” the room upward.

An important nuance is the design of the border between colors:

• For these purposes, you can use molding. But its use is justified in the interior classic style, Country and Ethno.
• A clear and even border can be marked using masking tape, the main thing is to glue it evenly.
• It would be best to use a ruler. After applying the paint and drying, remove the tape and you will get perfect shade differentiation.

Important! A shiny strip, evenly glued along the border between colors, is suitable for decoration in the style of High-Tech and Minimalism.

Accentuating a wall

There are two ways to place emphasis on any one wall:

1. More dark tone the same color as the rest of the walls.
2. A different color that harmoniously matches the interior.

Important! This technique is fashionable in modern design. Creating an accent is quite simple, and the effect is incredible. Bold contrasts are especially suitable for living rooms and children's rooms.

Horizontal stripe

What is this design solution? It's simple! This is a fairly wide strip on the surface of the walls, which is located at eye level. This technique is used to draw attention to interior details and decor.

Important! In the corridor, this method of design will help to visually expand it. And in a children's room, such a strip will be a great place to display children's drawings.

Striped walls

An unusual method, but you shouldn’t decorate the entire plane of the room with it. Rather, this option is a kind of wall accentuation. Or a separate part of it.

Important! A striking effect can be achieved by combining stripes of the same color, but different in texture.

DIY painting of walls in a room

How to paint the walls in a room with your own hands? First of all, you need to stock up on the appropriate tools.

Necessary materials and tools for painting walls in an apartment

So, painting the walls in the room should be done using the following tools:

• Masking tape.
• Brushes: fine and basic. The width of the working brush is 5-10 cm.
• Roller with medium pile.
• Putty knife.
• Sandpaper for sanding walls.
• Paint container - tray.
• A bucket for mixing paint, as well as a drill and a mixer attachment.
• Film to protect the floor, or old newspapers.
• Ladder.

Important! An alternative to brush and roller is automatic device- spray gun. This is a very convenient means of applying paint, but its use in an apartment is not justified.

Materials required for painting:

• Primer suitable for the type of surface.
• Putty.
• Matching paint.
• A tint used to give paint the desired color.
• Solvent.

Armed with these items, we move on to the initial stage - preparing the surface.

Technology for preparing walls for painting

This stage is the most labor-intensive and painstaking, since the result depends on the prepared surface. Let's get started:

1. Dismantling the previous coating, if any. If the old layer is compatible with the new coating, then only surface cleaning of the peeled parts is required. Otherwise - old finish is completely removed.
2. Putty. Standard construction procedure for processing walls to level them.
3. Grinding. Using sandpaper, smooth the entire surface of the walls after puttying.
4. Dust removal. You can carry out these activities using a vacuum cleaner or wipe the treated surface several times with a dry cloth. The main thing is that it is clean every time.
5. Primer. Provides high-quality adhesion of paint to the wall.

Important! If there are traces of mold on the wall, be sure to remove it from the surface of the walls and treat it with a special antibacterial agent before painting.

And only after careful treatment of the walls can you proceed directly to the painting process. Painting the walls in a room is usually done in several layers. Apply paint in different directions: from top to bottom, and then from right to left.

Important! Each new layer is applied only after the previous one has dried.

Marking walls before decorative painting

If you decide to paint the walls in an original way, then you need to take the time to mark the walls. What needs to be done in this case:

1. Isolate those areas of the surface that do not need painting. Masking tape will help with this.
2. Depending on the intended design, draw out the stripes using a ruler and a simple pencil. Use a square to check the clarity of the lines.
3. Then apply masking tape along the edge of the outlined stripes.
4. Alternately paint the stripes first with one color, and after the paint has dried, with a different shade.

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