Today, stretch ceilings are increasingly being used for interior decoration of various premises. And this is not at all accidental, because they are distinguished by ease of installation and aesthetic appeal, and are also presented in a wide range of materials and colors. In this regard, everyone will be able to choose for themselves this element of decor in accordance with their tastes and financial capabilities. We will talk today about what stretch ceilings are, how to choose the appropriate option and how much money you will have to spend on it.
Description of Stretch Ceilings
The ceilings began to decorate with fabrics in the era of antiquity. However, they quickly lost their attractive appearance, and also could not protect the room from leaks. In the last century, many high-quality materials appeared, which gave impetus to the mass production of suspended ceilings. For the first time they began to make them in Sweden on the basis of PVC films. Today, French- made stretch ceilings are considered the highest quality. So, if in Europe this element of decor appeared in the 60s, and became widely used in the 80s of the last century, then domestic consumers could get to know it only 20 years ago. However, during this time, the popularity of suspended ceilings has grown significantly and continues to increase.
Benefits of Stretch Ceilings
The indisputable advantages of this element of decor can be considered:
- water tightness, resistance to moisture and mechanical damage;
- durability and aesthetics, allowing not only to decorate the room, but also to hide any imperfections in the base ceiling;
- environmental friendliness and durability of the materials used;
- the ability to color them in almost any color and create the necessary design.
By the way, questions often arise about whether it is possible to install a suspended ceiling in the kitchen. As a rule, people believe that it will quickly get dirty, saturated with moisture, and generally lose its attractive appearance. Experts say that you should not worry about this. You can safely install a suspended ceiling in the kitchen, if it is based on quality material. Of course, for these purposes it is more practical to use this decor element from PVC film, and not from fabric.
Stretch ceilings: how to choose a material
If you decide to decorate your home or office with this modern and fashionable element of decor, then first of all you should think about what material it should be made of. Today, for the manufacture of suspended ceilings, PVC film is most often used. As a rule, the width of paintings made from this material is one and a half meters. For ceiling installation, it is necessary to fasten these sheets in a special way. PVC film has a lot of advantages that do not need to be listed, and only one drawback is exposure to cold. So, if the room temperature drops below zero, the material will lose its flexibility and become brittle. Of course, not all homes and offices can be so cold, but still this factor should not be overlooked if you decide to install suspended ceilings.
How to choose a more reliable material? An excellent alternative to PVC sheets is polyester fabrics. Stretch ceilings made from this material look very aesthetically pleasing and will decorate any interior. In addition, some manufacturers of fabrics impregnate them with a special flame retardant, so you can not worry about the danger of fire.
Choose the texture of the stretch ceiling
We all know that this element of decor allows you to create a unique interior. Therefore, it is worth remembering that the design of stretch ceilings is affected not only by the type of material from which they are made (fabric, PVC), but also by color and texture. So, for example, you want a perfectly flat surface. In this case, the best option would be to install a matte stretch ceiling. By the way, this texture is considered classic. In case you want to decorate a small, cramped and low room, it makes sense to resort to glossy stretch ceilings. They reflect about 60% of the light, which allows you to visually increase the space and make the room larger and brighter.
Stretch ceilings: how to choose a color
In order for this decor element to fit perfectly into your interior and make it unique and unique, you should carefully approach the issue of choosing its shade. We bring to your attention the characteristics of the primary colors.
White
The ceiling of this color is traditional and familiar, it will also suit any interior style. In addition, it will give the room lightness, airiness and cleanliness. White stretch ceiling is very popular in both glossy and matte textures. This is due to the fact that it does not bother over time, does not attract eyes, and also makes the room visually more spacious and lighter.
Gray
Due to the fact that this color is neutral, located, as it were, on the border of white and black and does not interfere with other colors in the interior, it can be called an ideal choice. If you liked the stretch ceiling of a light gray shade, then it can be installed on the entire surface. But if you prefer a dark shade of gray, it makes sense to use it as an insert in a white box made of drywall. The gray ceiling matches the interior perfectly with colors such as red, lilac, light pink, blue, white and black.
Beige
Various shades of this color are one of the most popular among fans of stretch ceilings. This color is perfectly combined with all shades in the interior, suitable for a classic and restrained style. The beige ceiling will become neutral, but at the same time harmonizing and unifying link for the interior of the room. In addition, he is able to perfectly emphasize the snow-white box made of drywall.
Yellow
Stretch ceilings of this color are associated with the sun, light, celebration, optimism and hospitality. Golden, amber, lemon or other shades are able to cheer up and contribute to a relaxed and fun communication and pastime. However, choosing this color of the ceiling, it is important not to overdo it: preference should be given to less saturated shades. So, if the yellow color is too bright, it will not relax, but rather “crush”. In the interior, a stretch ceiling of this shade will look great as an insert in a box in a living room, a nursery or a bathroom.
Orange
This color is perfect for active, creative people who love everything new. The orange stretch ceiling symbolizes spontaneity, celebration and brightness. Since this color contains many shades (orange, carrot, red, peach and others), you can easily choose the suitable option for the kitchen, living room, bathroom or children's playroom. The orange ceiling will be perfectly combined with some object of the same color in the interior (for example, a sofa, an armchair, a furniture facade, etc.).
Red
This color has recently become more and more popular with people who want to make their home or office stylish and modern. Red stretch ceiling will certainly become a decoration of any room. But if it is too much, then people will be uncomfortable in such a room. Be sure to keep in mind that such a stretch ceiling is not suitable for all rooms. So, it is advisable to decorate with red the kitchen, dining room, bathroom, sometimes a living room, but in no case a bedroom, a relaxation room or a nursery.
Blue, turquoise
Decor elements of these shades can be safely called as follows: stretch ceilings "sky". Indeed, due to their gentle bluish or turquoise hue, they give the impression that you are not locked in four walls, but are outdoors. Stretch ceilings of this color will look great in almost any room, whether it is a living room, bedroom, study or children's room. The one exception is the kitchen.
Stretch Ceilings Manufacturers
Since both the quality and the price depend on the manufacturer of these interior items, we suggest that you learn more about those who represent this product in our market. Today we have access to stretch ceilings of European, Chinese, as well as Russian production. Let us dwell on each option in more detail.
European stretch ceilings
This product is mainly produced in countries such as Germany, France and Italy. PVC film made in Europe is of very high quality, meets all international standards, has fire resistance and has a wide color palette. Due to the fact that, as a rule, strips have a width of 1.3 to 2.7 meters, small joints remain during installation. Be sure that you will not lose by choosing European stretch ceilings. The prices for them, by the way, range from 500 to 800 rubles per square meter.
Chinese-made PVC film
If you decide to purchase Chinese suspended ceilings, the prices of which are seriously inferior to European counterparts (from 300 to 600 rubles per square meter), then keep in mind that materials from the Middle Kingdom do not have such a wide color gamut. However, if you were able to choose the right shade, then you will certainly appreciate a seamless canvas up to five meters wide, elasticity, minimal sag, and also excellent shrink properties of the film. Of the minuses, we can only note the likelihood of slightly noticeable wrinkles appearing on the canvas, which in most cases are smoothed over time.
Russian-made PVC film
Domestic stretch ceilings, the cost of which is inferior even to Chinese counterparts (about 200-250 rubles per square meter), still do not meet all quality standards for this product. Their disadvantages include the possibility of the appearance of stains and glare on the film surface, increased sag and a lot of seams. However, Russian-made materials have several advantages: environmental friendliness, low price and a wide selection of colors.
Other varieties of suspended ceilings
As we have already found out, stretch ceilings based on PVC film are the most common. They are affordable, have a wide selection of shades and are easy to install. One of the varieties of such a decor element can be called a stretch ceiling with photo printing. In this case, the desired image is specially applied to the standard PVC film (in this case, the cost of the canvas, depending on the manufacturer, increases to about 2 thousand rubles per square meter). In addition, recently, LED stretch ceilings have become increasingly popular. They allow you to create a pleasant diffused light in the room and additional comfort.