Cork in the interior: application in design, types of cork coverings, prices

Cork is a material made using a special technology from oak bark. In the process of processing, the bark goes through several stages and turns into a kind of powder, from which you can create absolutely any objects with unique properties. Recently, more and more cork in the interior is used specifically for the manufacture of finishing materials. It looks modern, stylish, in perfect harmony with any style.

The cork is made from oak bark

Cork is often used as a finishing material

Cork looks beautiful, stylish and matches many interior styles

Pros and cons of cork finishes

The main advantages of cork finishing materials include the following.

Excellent insulating qualities. The cork can serve as additional insulation of the room, provide sound insulation on the walls or ceiling. With such a coating, the house is able to become much quieter and calmer..
Simple and convenient installation. This is especially true for roll cork. To do the work with your own hands, it is enough to watch the training videos.
Environmental friendliness. In the production of finishing materials from cork, as a rule, no chemical impurities are used. That is, choosing this material for wall decoration, you can be calm about the health of all family members..
High mechanical properties – this means that no deformation of the coating is terrible. The material quickly restores its original shape on its own.
High strength. To damage this type of finish, you will have to try hard and use heavy or sharp objects. Accidental damage is virtually eliminated.
Original appearance. Cork in the design of any style looks impressive and original.
Static is achieved due to the natural composition. Cork is dust-repellent. This is especially important for people with allergies or asthma..

The plug has excellent insulating properties and is easy to install

This material is very durable and absolutely environmentally friendly.

But, despite such important advantages, the cork coating cannot be called ideal. It also has some disadvantages..

The cost of the material is quite high. This is quite understandable by the production technology, naturalness. If the budget for repair work is limited, then you will have to look for cheaper options..
Difficulty in covering maintenance. In the porous surface, dirt accumulates over time, which is rather difficult to remove. For this reason, it is worth regularly cleaning the cork..
The material perfectly absorbs all odors, this should be taken into account when choosing. If you use a cork, for example, for a kitchen, then over time the smell from the walls will be unpleasant. And nothing will help to get rid of him.

With the qualities of the material, everything became relatively clear. Now it’s worth figuring out in which rooms how can you use a cork.

The cost of this material is slightly higher than analogs.

When choosing materials, keep in mind that the cork absorbs odors well.

From time to time, the cork needs to be cleaned, dirt accumulates in it

Cork coverings in design

When choosing finishing materials, you should pay attention not only to technical characteristics, but also to decorative ones. It should be borne in mind that the cork finish is selected individually for each type of room. Somewhere the wallpaper will be more reliable, and somewhere the modules.

When choosing a cork, take into account the characteristics of the room.

Cork looks very beautiful in the interior and is combined with many styles

Living room

Decorating a wall in a living room with cork is an incredible scope for imagination. There are no special restrictions here, since there are no serious chemical or mechanical effects on the walls. The design style will depend solely on the owners of the apartment and their wishes.

It is recommended to consider the following options:

wallpaper;
wall cork panels;
sputtering.

Spraying will last a little longer. But it is worth considering that it will not be possible to apply spraying on your own, since specialized equipment is required.

The wall panel will look original. If the size of the room allows, then it is possible to use large decorations, interesting drawings. An example of such a design can be seen in the photo..

Cork-coated walls will perfectly complement the interior of the living room

In the living room, the material can last a very long time, since it is subjected to mechanical influences

The style of the room depends solely on the wishes of the owners.

Bedroom

When designing a bedroom or a children’s room, there are slightly fewer options. But cork for such rooms is an ideal choice, since the material is environmentally friendly. But the coating must be applied correctly. The advantage of using a cork finish in nurseries can also be considered safety for babies, which in this way can really be protected from many injuries. When hitting a cork, it is almost impossible to hurt yourself badly, earn an abrasion or scratch.

When choosing a coating, you need to take into account its color. Parents should know that the white color of the walls is perceived by the children as a place for drawing. But it is generally impossible to remove traces of pencils and felt-tip pens from the cork finish..

Adults should pay attention to cork when choosing finishing materials. Firstly, it provides enough room for interior design work. Secondly, such a wall decoration is a chic soundproofing material. Cork panels and thick tiles have a high level of noise absorption, but this characteristic is somewhat underestimated in wallpaper. Spraying is rightfully considered the best in this regard..

Many manufacturers also offer a cork laminate, which has very high strength and reliability..

Bedroom cork is a great option as it is an eco-friendly material.

When choosing a material, consider its color

Kitchen

The finished kitchen is considered one of the most difficult spaces. This is due to the fact that there is a difference in temperature and humidity. Most often, washable wallpaper, plastic, tiles are selected for kitchen design. But cork is also quite acceptable in the kitchen, but you should take into account its negative quality – the absorption of all odors.

If it is decided to use a cork finish in the kitchen, then a varnish coating will be necessary. Regular thick varnish will not work. Its effect will manifest itself only in the formation of a thick film, which means that the entire environmental friendliness of the coating is lost..

There is a specialized varnish that works differently. It is absorbed into the cork coating in the same way as a primer, that is, it protects from the inside, preventing the porous surface from “remembering” all kitchen aromas.

Please note that cork absorbs odors very strongly.

So that the material does not deteriorate quickly, cover it with varnish

Bathroom

The bathroom is even more complicated than the kitchen. There are no less foreign smells here. And they are also mixed with constant high humidity, temperature changes. It is naturally unrealistic to exclude these facts..

If cork is chosen for wall coverings, then it needs special protection. One layer of specialized varnish will no longer help here. It will be necessary to apply 2-3 layers, each of which dries well.

Although experts question the use of cork in the bathroom. For reliability, you will have to apply about five layers of varnish – this is a serious cost for the budget and for a long time. Dry well in a dry room (that is, the bathroom cannot be used for its intended purpose), one layer of varnish can be in two or three days.

Fastening such a finish in the bathroom differs from other rooms, since the adhesive layer becomes unreliable from high humidity..

If you decide to use cork in the bathroom, you should carefully protect it from external factors.

Cork perfectly complements the interior and creates a cozy atmosphere

To protect the material as much as possible, it is worth applying varnish in 2-3 layers

The corridor

Cork walls in a corridor or hallway are stylish, original and practical. But it is important to remember that this space is highly prone to dirt and mechanical damage. And to wash the dirt from the cork is a problem.

Types of cork coverings

There are several options for cork wall coverings that are worth considering in more detail..

Name	Description
Cork wallpaper	The most common option. Cork wallpapers are sold in rolls of ten meters. It is based on non-woven or similar non-woven coverings. The color depends solely on the shade of the veneer. The price for one square meter of cork wallpaper ranges from 500 to 1300 rubles, which cannot be called cheap. The material is quite heavy, so the choice of glue should be approached responsibly.
Roll cork	Much like cork wallpaper. It is based on cork chips covered with cork veneer. The price of the coating for one square meter can be up to 1200 rubles. At a price below 550 rubles, a roll cork cannot be found. When designing, you will need to purchase a special glue (wallpaper simply will not hold the weight). It is important to know that glue is also expensive – around 2,000 rubles per package. And it is better to entrust the procedure itself to specialists. The fact is that after attaching a piece of cork to the wall, it is literally attached tightly. Accordingly, even minor flaws and curvature can no longer be corrected..
Cork tiles	Much more convenient and reliable. Its thickness is about 6 mm. For comparison: the thickness of cork wallpaper or roll is 1-2 mm. Tiles are available in various sizes, have high reliability qualities.
Laminate flooring	Also available in cork. Naturally, it is not completely fulfilled from it. Eco-friendly coating is just the top layer.
Wall cork panels	They are reminiscent of the principle of fastening laminate flooring or lining. Each panel is formed so that it has a groove on one side and a ridge on the other for a tight joint. The panel differs from tiles by the presence of a noticeable seam.
Cork dust or liquid cork	This is the most expensive option for wall covering, but it is he who has the highest qualities of this material. Everything is applied to the wall using specialized expensive equipment by spraying. A significant plus is that the walls do not need to be leveled beforehand.
Decorative panel	Can’t be called a finishing material. It is rather a decorative design element that can become a leading one in the interior. In stores, you can really find suitable paintings already in finished form. Many manufacturers can make the desired panel to order according to a sketch..

When choosing a cork for finishing the corridor, take into account the characteristics of the room

Cork walls in the corridor or hallway are stylish, original and practical

In addition to the above types, there is also a technical plug. Of course, you cannot call this type of finishing. Rather, it is used as an underlay under the main wall or floor covering, providing additional insulating properties. It is believed that in this way it is possible to significantly extend the life of parquet or laminate..

Whichever type is chosen for interior design, professionals recommend starting wall decoration from the top, not from the bottom. This makes it easier to exclude physical flaws, deformations, deflections..

The cork is used as a backing for the laminate, this will increase the life of the flooring

There are several types of traffic jams

The finishing of the surface of walls and floors should always be approached carefully. The result of these works, as a rule, has been in operation for several years. And throughout the entire time it should please the owner of the house or apartment with an aesthetic appearance and good quality. If you decide to choose a cork covering, then do not forget about the high cost of the material and the requirement for special care. Usually, the specialists performing the repair work give detailed recommendations for maintenance..