Types and methods of using decorative bricks for interior decoration

The modern design of housing is represented by finishing from various materials, among which decorative bricks are very popular. Beautifully executed masonry transforms the interior of any room in an original way. To create the atmosphere of a village house or a princely castle, it is enough to choose the right color scheme and texture of the brick.

Facing (decorative) brick is a unique building material that has recently appeared on the market, but has already been widely used. It is chosen both for interior decoration of apartments and country houses. Working with such a brick is simple, so it is often done independently, without the help of specialists. Due to the fact that this facing product has high strength, durability and environmental friendliness, it is recommended to use it in the design of any premises, including children's rooms. Decorative panels are available in a variety of colors, ranging from delicate white to bright yellow and brown.

By its structure, decorative brick resembles a certain combination of tiles with artificial stone. To date, manufacturers produce this material using clay, cement and gypsum as the main component. In contrast to artificial stone, facing brick is characterized by a relief surface. It has a rectangular shape, there are also models with slightly rounded corners.

The main advantages of the product include:

• ease of installation;
• durability and reliability in operation;
• high wear resistance;
• absence of components harmful to human health;
• excellent sound insulation;
• fire resistance;
• a wide range of models.

As for the shortcomings, there are none, except for the high cost. But manufacturers have recently begun to produce budget versions of the material that are in no way inferior in quality and are available for purchase to families with an average financial income. In addition, a huge selection of material formats allows you to save on finishing work. Traditionally, the product has the dimensions of an ordinary brick, but its height can be from 6 to 15 cm, and the length is 16-24 cm, while the thickness of the tiles is unchanged and equal to 2.5 cm.

The construction market is represented by a wide range of facing bricks, each model range of which differs not only in price, external design, but also in the material of manufacture. Given the latter indicator, the following types of products are most often found on sale.

It is produced by the molding method, in which a gypsum or cement mixture is poured into special molds. After that, painting is carried out (if the color was not previously introduced into the solution) and processing. This production technology is in many ways similar to the production of decorative stone, only the relief outline of the slabs differs in it. At the same time, the material obtained from cement is characterized by greater strength and moisture resistance than those made on the basis of gypsum. With such a brick, they can be used to decorate rooms with high humidity.

This is the most expensive type of brick that has improved physical properties. Facing material is produced from clay using a special technology, by exposure to high temperatures. Therefore, the product is durable and resistant to external influences. It can be used for both interior and exterior decoration. Thanks to their solid structure and variety of colors, the slabs are ideal for decorating fireplace areas, kitchens and corridors. The width of such slabs ranges from 160 to 190 mm, the height is 60 mm, and the thickness is 20 mm.

This type of product has good performance properties, since the boards are strong and very light. Finishing bricks are produced in rich color schemes from polyurethane and acrylic components. To decorate the interior with such plates in an original way does not require a lot of time and money. In addition, recently on sale you can find products that imitate the 3D effect in finishing. Polyurethane boards are ideal for cladding surfaces in the bathroom, kitchen, balcony and veranda, as they are characterized by high noise and heat insulation, and are also not afraid of moisture.

This decorative brick is considered classic, as it has been used in the decoration of premises for more than a dozen years. In terms of its physical and chemical characteristics, it is in many ways similar to a ceramic tile. Most often it is installed in bathrooms and kitchens. A facing product is made from low-melting types of clay, with the addition of dyes, carbonates and quartz sand. Thanks to this composition, the material is durable and can acquire different shades, ranging from snow-white to black.

Unlike the above types, this brick has the highest strength indicators. This is due to its special production technologies, in which the material is not produced from clay batch, but a special solution is prepared, consisting of natural stone chips. In addition, the slabs undergo double heat treatment, which increases their wear resistance. The disadvantage of porcelain stoneware bricks is its high price.

Recently, most homeowners prefer to lay decorative bricks indoors with their own hands, since the workflow is simple and does not require special skills. For surface finishing, in this case, most often they use such masonry methods as spoons (plates are placed with a long edge), butt or poke (when the material is laid with a short edge). In addition to the classic masonry methods, the following are also used.

• Gothic. The peculiarity of decorative cladding is that the slabs in each row alternate, the short sides are replaced by long ones or vice versa. In this case, a small offset must be made between the rows.

• Silesian. The placement of the elements in this case resembles a Gothic masonry, where a row is formed in 1 poke and 2 spoon, but the vertical seams through each row should ideally match.

• Cross. It is a complex type of cladding, in which it is necessary first of all to lay the butt row, and then the spoon row.

• Track. Finishing must be done with the long side of the brick, shifting each row by 1/2 or 1/4 block.

• Dutch. This type of cladding is in great demand in Holland. The first row is formed by alternating spoons and pokes, and in the second, only one poke is used.

• Brandenburg. The walls are pasted over, alternating two long and one short sides of the slab. In each subsequent row, they need to be changed in position.

• Bavarian. An interesting design option for the surface, where the long and short sides of the brick are unevenly placed. The end result is an original decor and an unusual color pattern.

Before proceeding with the decorative facing of the walls with bricks, you need to carefully consider the overall design of the room and only then select the material.The main criterion in choosing a product is considered not only its appearance, but also its quality characteristics. The room should turn out to be beautiful, stylish and full of home comfort. Dark brick is not recommended for balconies and walls in small rooms, as it visually makes them look gloomy. This is especially true for narrow rooms, in which it is necessary to alternate masonry with wallpaper or plaster.

White or gray brick, on the contrary, will give the room an interesting design and freshness. The decor looks beautiful "antique" or in the loft style. If the family budget is limited, then you can buy foam bricks for painting and it is easy to choose a shade for finishing. For kitchen and bathroom cladding, it is advisable to choose panels made on the basis of cement, they have different sizes, have a low weight and are produced in an interesting texture. In living rooms and bedrooms, the decoration can be done with plaster bricks, which looks expressive and stylish, but is afraid of moisture.

As for the performance indicators, when buying it is necessary to give preference to products with such characteristics.

• Strength and durability. A high-quality product can reliably serve for more than one decade. The most durable is porcelain stoneware bricks, and the most susceptible to mechanical stress is gypsum.
• Environmental friendliness. Despite the fact that in most cases only natural ingredients are used for the manufacture of decorative bricks, there are models in which harmful impurities are added.
• Styling features. For boards with significant weight, good surface preparation and a reinforced adhesive are required. Lightweight bricks are easy to install, since they are easily glued to walls and have high adhesion.
• Price. The construction market is represented by decorative bricks of various prices. At the same time, gypsum is the budget option, and the most expensive is clinker.

Decorating indoor interiors using decorative bricks has become popular in recent years. This is due to the rich color of the material, its beautiful appearance and ease of installation. In addition, facing plates can be used to decorate not only flat surfaces, but also non-standard architectural elements, highlighting the shape of window openings and arches in the design. For wall decoration in residential premises, it is recommended to use bricks in natural and restrained colors. Brickwork looks good in cream, white, gray, black and beige shades. At the same time, you can choose a special design for each room.

• Living room. Walls lined with bricks, in this case, will be an original addition to the interior and will be an excellent background for placing a TV. In addition, panels can be used to lay out individual compositions in the form of panels. Such decor is most often chosen for living rooms decorated in grunge, modern and loft styles. Depending on which colors prevail in the room, you can make an interesting layout of the walls with both snow-white and dark brown bricks. The main thing is that the cladding is in harmony with textiles, flooring and furniture.

• Kitchen or dining room. In this room, the decoration should fulfill not only an aesthetic, but also a practical function.Masonry can be used to decorate a kitchen apron or to decorate one of the walls. An excellent choice is brick for classic and modern kitchens. The white cladding will be in harmony with the glossy surface of the headset and technology. Light brown or beige finishes also look interesting in the kitchen; in this case, you can emphasize the beauty of the texture with the help of light curtains and decorative elements made of wood.

• Bedroom. To decorate this room, in which an atmosphere of romance and solitude should be created, you need to choose light brick colors. At the same time, glass and wooden objects will have to be additionally placed in the room. Gray laminate is suitable for the flooring, for the ceiling - a suspended structure in pastel shades, and it is advisable to purchase furniture from a natural solid wood. A great addition to the interior will be a large bed with numerous crystal pendants or a canopy. In addition, good lighting should be provided in the bedroom, thanks to the bright backlighting, it will be possible to favorably emphasize the patterns and colors of the brickwork.

You will learn about the types of brick wall decoration from the video below.