Various Types of Wall Finishes | Interior Design and Architecture

What are Wall Finishes and the purpose of using them?As the name “Wall Finishes” itself suggests that it is finish given to the wall to enhance the interior or exterior look of the structure. Wall finishes used for the interiors are quite delicate and need maintenance. The new contemporary trend has brought about great deal of increase in the usage of various types of wall finishes for the aesthetic purpose in the interiors and exteriors.

In this article, we are going to discuss various types of wall finishes, their preparation and application process…Here is a list of different types of Wall finishes:1. Cement plastered Finish2. Cement Textured Finish3. Plaster of Paris Finish4. Gypsum Plaster Finish5. Glass Mosaic Finish6. Designer Mirror Finish7. Laminate Finish8. Marble Powder Finish

We will be discussing some more different types of Wall Finishes in our successive articles.Cement plastered Finish

It is prepared in the form of mortar with cement, sand and water in proper proportions and applied on masonry manually to achieve a smooth finish or sand faced finish.

Cement Plaster Finish | Wall Finishes

Cement Textured Finish

This is a decorative finish and its mortar is prepared in cement based material. It is applied with sand faced plaster with a trowel and after that it is coloured with paint.

Cement Textured Finish | Wall Finishes

Plaster of Paris FinishPlaster of Paris or simply plaster is a type of building material based on calcium sulphate hemihydrates. This is a smooth finish achieved by plaster of Paris generally applied on internal walls.

Plaster of Paris Finish | Wall Finishes

Gypsum Plaster FinishThis just like plaster of Paris finish but gypsum based material is used to prepare mortar. It is more durable and finer as compared to Plaster of Paris Finish.

Gypsum plaster Finish | Wall Finishes

Glass Mosaic FinishGlass mosaic tiles are small 1”x1” on a cloth to get a workable size 12”x12” and this tile is pasted with an adhesive on wall surfaces. It can also be pasted on curved surfaces.

Glass Mosaic Finish | Wall Finishes

It comes in different colours and generally used in swimming pools.

Designer Mirror Finish

Designer mirrors are obtained by small pieces on walls to create mural like design.

Designer Mirror Finish | Wall Finishes

Laminate FinishLaminate comes in various colours and designs. It comes in the form of sheet and is pasted with fevicol on Plywood.

Laminate Finish | Wall Finishes

Marble Powder FinishThis is a very smooth finish. The finish looks like Marble flooring. This finish is obtained by mortar of marble powder, white cement and water. It is applied manually.

Marble Powder Finish | Wall Finishes

What is wallpaper?

In its most basic form, wallpaper consists of large, thick sheets of paper that usually have designs printed on them. They can be pasted on walls and ceilings for decorative purposes, as well as to hide any flaws or imperfections. The styles and colours of wallpaper available are unimaginably varied and will cater to any budget or style preference.

 

What types of wallpaper are there?

When wallpaper first became popular in Renaissance Europe, they literally consisted of nothing more than large sheets of paper. In modern days, the paper is usually treated in some form to make it more durable and attractive. Of these, vinyl-based wallpapers are highly preferred due to its low maintenance and easy removal.

The most popular types of wallpaper include:

Vinyl coated paper - This is paper that has been coated with an acrylic type vinyl or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). It is washable and relatively easy to strip, making it low maintenance. It is also more grease and water-resistant than normal paper, which makes it suitable for kitchens and bathrooms.Coated fabric - Instead of paper, this consists of a fabric substrate that has been coated with an acrylic type vinyl or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). This type of wallpaper is considered more 'breathable' and is preferable for low-humidity areas such as living rooms.Paper backed vinyl/solid sheet vinyl - This is similar to vinyl coated paper, except that it is a layer of paper or pulp backed to a decorative vinyl surface instead of having liquid vinyl painted on the paper. Similarly, it is easy to maintain and able to be used in almost any type of area and climate.Fabric backed vinyl - This consists of a layer of fabric laminated to a layer of solid vinyl. There are two types of wallpaper in this category:

Solid vinyl - This type of wallpaper consists of a vinyl film laminated to a piece of paper or fabric. As the vinyl is in solid and not liquid form, it is more durable and easier to maintain.

Paper - This is a layer of decorative paper that does not necessarily have a protective layer laminated to it. The types of wallpaper classified under this category are extremely varied, so be sure to check with your manufacturer before purchasing. 

Wall cladding is a type of decorative covering intended to make a wall look like it is made of a different sort of material than it actually is. Some of the most common examples are on the outside of buildings, but cladding can also be an artistic element in interior decorating. It’s usually non-structural, which means that it doesn’t impact the stability or integrity of a building’s architectural core. In most cases it’s designed to be permanent, and it may provide benefits like insulation and waterproofing. It can be made out of almost anything, but various metals, stones, and composite materials are the most common.

Main Function

Cladding is almost always intended to be stylistic rather than functional and is usually designed to help accent a particular feature or room. Though it could conceivably cover every surface in a house or building, it’s more common to find it in just one or two key areas. A single bathroom wall might be covered in wood paneling, for instance, which could give the illusion of depth and warmth, or a single corner or side of a office building might be layered with intricate stone work. The idea is usually to add interest and vibrancy without the expense of actually re-building a wall or partition. As such, the various materials and textures are usually affixed to the top of an existing structure.

Paint is any liquid, liquefiable, or mastic composition that, after application to a substrate in a thin layer, converts to a solid film. It is most commonly used to protect, color, or provide texture to objects. Paint can be made or purchased in many colors—and in many different types, such as watercolor, artificial, etc. Paint is typically stored, sold, and applied as a liquid, but dries into a solid.

Matte paint:• is the least reflective sheen available• has a velvety texture• helps hides imperfections in walls and ceilings• offers great depth of color

• is generally considered the standard sheen for walls• can sometimes be difficult to cleanEggshell and satin paint (satin is slightly glossier than eggshell): • have some reflectivity• offer improved durability • are frequently used in demanding environments, like kitchens and bathrooms, where easy cleanup without a highly glossy finish is desiredSemi-gloss and gloss paint:• are the most reflective sheens• are highly durable and stand up to multiple cleanings• are traditionally used on baseboards, moldings, and doors• can make a statement, but also highlight imperfectionsAs durability improves across all sheen levels with newer paints, many people are finding creative ways to mix and match them. “We’ve noticed that customers are becoming more experimental in their use of paint finish, to create real impact and texture within a scheme,” says Farrow & Ball director Sarah Cole. “Try painting a stripe of full gloss on a matte wall in the same colour to create a striking, textured look,” she suggests. Gloss is also “increasingly being used to striking effect on ceilings and walls to create a contemporary look,” she says.

Sue Kim, color trend and forecast specialist at Valspar, also recommends trying an accent wall with a gloss sheen, while painting the rest of a room matte. But at the end of the day, “It’s all about how you want to set the atmosphere of your home,” she says.

“A matte sheen gives you a calm and serene feeling, because of that textural element.” On the other end of the spectrum, gloss adds energy and excitement. As for eggshell and satin, Kim likes to use them in smaller spaces with little natural light. “I always say that a satin finish is great in a powder room,” she says. “It reflects the light to bring out the color.”

 

There are several different types of interior wall paints. The more you know about appropriate paintable surfaces and the effects that paint can achieve, the easier it is to make the right choice among the varieties. It’s also feasible to mix different types of interior wall paint within a room.

Matt Paint

Matt color is the most common of interior wall paints. There’s no shine or sheen to the finish, making it ideal for walls and ceilings where you don't want any visual distractions. It’s easy to apply, although it can often take more than a single coat to create a good solid color. Matt paint can be applied with a brush or roller and works well on walls that have imperfections. This makes it ideal for older houses. On the downside, matt paint is easily marked. Although some marks can be removed with a damp cloth, matt paint needs regular retouching.

Matt Enamel

Matt enamel is very much like matt paint, but tends to be far more durable. It’s much easier to clean and rarely needs retouching, giving it a great advantage, especially if you have young children. It is also excellent for the kitchen, where you’ll regularly need to wipe walls. The visual effect is very similar to matt paint and it can be applied in the same way.

Satin

Satin finish is one of the types of interior wall paint that many people know of, but few really understand. The finish is somewhere between matt and gloss and produces a low, soft sheen. This makes it ideal for areas where you’ll need to clean

the walls regularly. However, you shouldn’t use a satin finish where you have a wall with imperfections because it will make them more apparent.

TIP: Painting professional Edward Kimble, author of Interior House Painting Blog, notes, “semi-gloss and eggshell paint go further than flat paint. One gallon of shiny paint will go a lot further than one gallon of flat paint.”

Eggshell

An eggshell finish has a shine that’s extremely subtle but without the same smoothness as a satin finish. Thus, it doesn’t highlight imperfections quite as much, making it much more suitable as an interior wall paint. It’s easy to apply and can often cover in a single coat, making it a better choice for many people.

TIP: Edward suggests, “Shiny paints bring out imperfections. Trust me on this. Spackle spots and other repairs are greatly accentuated by shiny paint, and they have to be perfect. Flat hides, shiny brings out repairs. Also, spackle spots must be primed or they will show up as flat spots in the shiny paint. The best way (this is my secret) to cover spackle and repair patches under semi gloss is to buy a quart of flat paint tinted to the color of the finish coat and spot prime the repairs.

Semi-Gloss

Semi-gloss is another common interior paint, although it’s more commonly used on trim rather than the walls. It offers a hard finish, is suitable to heavy use and is easy to clean with just soap and water. The shine produced is less than full gloss paint, but it’s usually easy to achieve a good covering with just a single coat.

Gloss Paint

Apart from matt paint, gloss paint is the most common interior wall paint. It’s one you can use on most walls, although some people use it sparingly on these surfaces and prefer to use it on woodwork because of its high shine. Gloss paint shows up all the imperfections on a wall and achieving an even coverage on a wall will often need more than a single coat of paint.

TIP: Edward reminds you, “Note that shiny paints take longer to dry, so plan your project with hours of drying time between coats. Fans will speed up drying.” Edward Kimble, professional painter and author of Interior House Painting Blog, contributed to this article.