When doing a house renovation, remodelling your restaurant or wanting to upgrade the look of your hotel, you think about new ways to enhance the space. There are so many new inventions when it comes to flooring, wall decoration and furniture options that you can never be fully aware of everything that's going on. But one of the most innovative and practical inventions is wall vinyl. This elegant solution will help you have any wall texture you want without spending thousands of dollars on the real thing.
What's an Architectural Vinyl Film?
Architectural vinyl film is a pressure-sensitive self-adhesive vinyl backing that imitates natural materials including wood, stone, stainless steel, and fabrics. It’s also known as interior vinyl wrap, architectural vinyl wrap, or interior film. It's made of 3 components, or layers:
- Decorative film;
- Adhesive;
- Release liner.
This film is used on smooth surfaces to change its texture and colour. There are architectural vinyl films in many modern designs. They're also very durable and a great solution for commercial renovations. All of these good sides combined together make it a popular choice for many new businesses and modern and contemporary homes.
Types of Textures it Has
Wood
Having wooden walls and ceilings always gives you a nice, warm and welcoming feel when you step inside a room. It's the perfect finish for a natural and effortless look. With these films, you can get the texture of many different timbers such as oak, walnut, ash, teak and bamboo in many different shades. You can get anything from white ash to black bamboo and all of them look realistic.
Linen
The linen texture looks very elegant and delicate. It comes in a gloss and matte finish depending on your interior design and preferences. You can find it in many colours such as white, lunar, silver, gold, sapphire, graphite, charcoal or noir linen. It can even be applied to uneven surfaces and give you a curvy, sophisticated look.
Leather
Leather is one of the most luxurious finishes you can get. It looks simple, yet very elegant. There's a certain shine and a smooth feel to it that’s guaranteed to make any space feel extraordinary and superior. It's a great choice for hotel lounges, restaurants, elevators, offices and even for a few walls in your house.
Abstract
The abstract textured films are a very specific category. They're a mix of shapes and shades that can flatter and enhance any space. They add richness and abstractness to the room and are very versatile. You can add a lot of character to your office, adorn the hallways or even decorate the kitchen with them.
Metallics
These vinyl films are something you use if you want to leave a good first impression. They look extravagant and very unique. You can find films with silver, rose gold, scratched copper, tarnished copper, champagne colour, brushed metal and gold, stainless steel, aged gold, gun metal, lead and many more.
Whiteboard
This is a very interesting type of film. It's basically a whiteboard that lets you write and draw on it and erase it later. It's a stain-proof material that you can easily clean and maintain. It's very interactive, practical and perfect for schools, offices, kindergartens and waiting lunges.
Benefits of Using Architectural Vinyl Film
One of the main goals for very eco-conscious companies and manufacturers is to create a safe and non-toxic environment for our children. These architectural vinyl films aren’t made of dangerous components. They're safe for children’s health and well-being. This makes them suitable for rooms where children eat, sleep, play and spend their free time.
Many of these films are also antibacterial. Manufacturers run tests to make sure the films are compliant with this requirement. They're also anti-fungal because they don’t absorb moisture, which is a perfect fungus-developing environment. This keeps the space safe and free of allergies and lung diseases. The architectural film helps to save natural resources and minimises our dependency on other waste management techniques.
Plus, it reduces the amount of garbage produced because the product can be recycled in various ways. The process of making this film requires less CO2 emissions as well. Overall, this is a great, eco-friendly product you can surround yourself with and be certain nothing bad will come of it.
Where Can You Use it?
Wall vinyl is very versatile and has many applications. It's one of the products that’s high in demand right now as many people and institutions are understanding its benefits. It can be used in apartments, condos and houses to refinish an existing piece or even create a new and unique design in your living space.
Buildings are no exception as well. This film is great for updating and renovating elevators, hallways, the gym or a lobby. Healthcare facilities also use it for their offices because it’s a material that’s easy to clean and sanitise. Schools and other educational institutions use it because it’s safe to be around children.
Retirement homes also incorporate it into their design because it creates a warm, welcoming and comfortable environment. All food service locations such as restaurants, bars and cafes can benefit from the way the film looks and retail establishments can do a quick and easy remodelling to make the store look fresh.
To avoid business interruption and a lot of waste, airports, shopping centres and train stations turn to architectural vinyl films when it’s time for an upgrade. The installation process is fast and budget-friendly, so they won’t lose a lot of money. As you can see, these films have numerous applications because of their many advantages and benefits.
What’s the Installation Process
The architectural film's installation is one of its best qualities. It's a new and creative method of remodelling or finishing since there is no waste and no large preparation is required. Plus, the installation requires only a few simple tools. You first need to decide on the pattern and texture you need.
Second, take exact measurements of the area you want to cover and calculate how much product you’ll need. If you’re not sure how to do this, you can always ask for help from the store or the manufacturer. Third, make sure the application area is clean, smooth and neat before starting your work. Also, cut the material into pieces that will fit the walls.
Fourth, you should prime the surface if that’s required. Corners, curved areas and edges need a more solid adhesion but there’s a primer for this so don’t worry. And finally, apply the film to the surface. Make sure you follow the exact directions and techniques to make a solid adhesion. If you’re not sure you can do it on your own, you can always hire professionals who will get the job done.
