Types of decorative brick tiles

Traditionally bricked the facades of buildings. Other, more aesthetically beautiful materials were used for interior decoration, the simplest of which is plaster. But with the advent of new trends in design, brick in the interior began to pay more and more attention. His carelessness and original texture organically merge into a number of stylistic trends. It is costly to make walls with real bricks, and a full-scale masonry "eats" a lot of excess space. A number of high-quality imitations were created that are visually difficult to distinguish from the original. Decorative brick tiles are used to decorate homes both inside and outside. Depending on the type of material that was used to make it, it can be as strong as the original. Let's talk about how to properly perform the installation of tiles and consider the fashionable options for decorating walls.

Varieties of material

The tile for a decor, imitating a brick, is made of different materials. Some of them turn out to be durable, while others have a more presentable and unusual look. The main classification includes five types:

• Ceramic tile. The traditional timeless option that has passed a long test of time and showed excellent results in durability.
• Clinker. Frost-resistant material, which is often used to finish the facades of houses.
• Gypsum tile. Beautiful, amenable to adjustment at the stage of manufacturing material.
• Concrete tile. It is made according to the technology of pouring a liquid composition into a form until it is completely set. Concrete is strong, durable, easy to paint, but the room “cools” very much. In general, it relates to materials for rough finishing and is used to create another type of tile - paving.
• Flexible. Innovative version, which has a small thickness, but reliably protects the wall surface.

To create decorative bricks using not only these materials. Various solidifying mixtures are used, which can be made from natural, synthetic components.

Flexible tile

Flexible tile really bends well and its name is not at all an advertising move for attracting customers. By the degree of plasticity, it resembles foam rubber. Make a material from sand and acrylic with the addition of pigments. The main advantage of flexible tiles lies in the possibility of laying in the corners without breaking the integrity of the fragments, that is, they are simply bent and fixed on the wall. When it is necessary to cut off some part for processing edges, the material is easy to cut. Flexible tile reliably imitates brick, and reliably protects the surface of the wall. It can be used as a finishing material and for decorating the facade of a house, but the difficulty in removing dirt from the surface becomes a serious obstacle to such decoration. Flexible tile is environmentally friendly and does not ignite, but it can not be treated with detergents with alkalis in the composition.

Despite its external "unreliability" material will last for many years, and its installation will seem easy, even for beginners.

Of plaster

The option is popular because of its cheapness, but in terms of quality it is much inferior to ceramics and clinker. Gypsum tiles can be made with your own hands, after purchasing the forms for casting. The surface of each fragment will have to handle a special composition. Unfortunately, the protective layer will not be able to save the material from the damaging effects of moisture for a long time. In addition, any mechanical effect (up to a punch) will cause splintering of fragments. Gypsum is beautiful, but completely impractical. It can only be used as a decor for interior decoration in areas where there is always dry air. Due to the fragility of the material, its surface after fabrication can be decorated with chines and roughness, which are characteristic of real brickwork.

Clinker

Clinker belongs to the bricks. It is based on a mixture of refractory shale clays and feldspar, which after firing at extremely high temperatures become incredibly solid. The original name for the material was given by the Germans because of the special sound that elements emit when they collide with each other. The brick tile is universal and is applied both to external, and to internal finishing works. The material is characterized by all the advantages of ceramics, but it is stronger and more durable.

Ceramic

Ceramic tiles are no different from ordinary tiles, which trim kitchens and bathrooms, except for a rectangular brick shape, rather than the standard square one. The material is made from a special type of clay, which is mixed with quartz particles, pigments and carbonates. Ceramic tile has a relatively small weight, retains color even with constant contact with sunlight, does not respond to changes in humidity in the room. The material is durable and durable. Ceramics may have a different texture, but the most popular options are matte and glossy surfaces. The color range allows you to choose tiles for a specific range of interior.

Brick Style

The brickwork is suitable not to all directions. She became a kind of loft business card. The “combed” industrial style due to this decor emphasizes the conciseness of the interior and the close “relationship” of the room with the workshop. The tile usually has a rough surface and imitates a rough brown brick. In minimalism, such facing will be a decoration for a practical, no-nonsense setting. For this direction choose materials of calm tones (gray, white) with a smooth surface. The high-tech also uses neutral shades. A stylish solution will be a brick tile with a glossy surface, imitating metal. With country and Provence, the option is combined "with a scratch." In the style of the French hinterland, only bricks of gentle tones are used, and country music accepts a coarse texture, as in a loft. In the Gothic direction, tiles with the effect of Venetian plaster are used, that is, with a surface that looks like marble in chaotic divorces.

Brick Tile Ideas

Brick tiles decorate only certain sections of the walls in the rooms. If you cover the entire surface with this material, the design will put pressure on the household and cause psychological discomfort. In rare exceptions, decorative tiles are used to decorate the entire room when it is necessary to realistically recreate the medieval interior. This decor would be appropriate to look only in specific areas, for example, in the fireplace.

In the hallway and corridor

In the hallway or corridor with the help of decorative bricks focus on individual elements. Most often it is a doorway or a large mirror. Also, the material decorates the open corners. The technique of “ragged edge” is very popular, with the edges of the masonry looking sloppy. This "negligence" is perfectly combined with strict interiors, diluting the atmosphere. If the hallway or corridor is cramped, it is recommended to use the material of light shades.

In the living room

A fireplace is considered a stylish and cozy element in the living room. To make this area of ​​the room look more colorful, it is decorated with brickwork. You can only use ceramics or clinker, as the material must be refractory. If the fireplace is located in the corner, partially adjacent walls adorn the tiles. The original solution will be the decoration of two surfaces located opposite each other. So that even a dark brick does not create a gloomy atmosphere, a large, bulky mirror is hung behind the sofa, but instead they install a wide television set. With such a decoration will be in harmony with a snow-white sofa, a coffee table made of glass and a soft carpet that completely covers the floor. Also, tiles adorn the accent wall, which is placed on the TV and a group of paintings, photographs, posters. In rare cases, the bricks are narrow vertical strip from the ceiling to the floor. Effectively this solution in combination with a simple plaster. Non-standard looks like a combination of a real brick with its imitation. At the same time, the rough texture of the first contrasts with the smooth surface and well-groomed appearance of the second. Decorate the top of the wall with a genuine brick, and starting from the line at the eye level, it is revetted with decorative tiles.

In the kitchen

Decorative tiles most often adorn the wall, which is located in the kitchen. If such a design would “push” too much on a person, then they are limited only to an apron, which is traditionally made of ceramics. The original option would be to create a “niche” under the hood, which will imitate a similar element above the furnace. Its surface is trimmed with aged brick tiles. If the kitchen is combined with a dining area, then the room can be zoned using false walls. In order not to spoil the visual perception of space, it is recommended to build this partition not up to the ceiling, but height to the height of a person. To decorate the kitchen can not use plaster, as the material will quickly come into complete disrepair. In spacious rooms with an island layout, it is recommended to use black bricks with bright seams in the masonry, which will contrast with the gloss of the white bar counter and be combined with a dark suite. With the help of decorative tiles, you can emphasize the features of the kitchen of irregular shape. To decorate small rooms, they resort to a sly move: they use mirror bricks, which visually enlarge the space, expanding its boundaries. A similar option is suitable for loft and high-tech. If the interior is supplemented with elements made of metal (chrome-plated surfaces), then this effect can be doubled.

In the bedroom

The bedroom is not advised to use the bricks bright colors. In a room that is designed for rest and sleep, it is better to use pastel colors and white. Masonry trim accent wall at the head of the bed or in front of it. Complement the design of a pair of paintings, stylish sconces or stone letters. White brick in harmony with plaster or delicate wallpaper, decorated with floral ornaments. If a material with a relief surface with roughness is used, it is emphasized with an additional system of decorative lighting. For a modern bedroom with a suspended bed, white brick tiles are used, which are used to finish the wall at the head of the bed. The decor is complemented by a long open-type shelf for books and tinted panel curtains. In minimalist bedrooms, an abstract picture is hung on the wall, and plastered surfaces are decorated with hanging plants in hanging pots. In rare cases, when a fireplace is planned to be installed in a room, it is placed between the windows. This section of the wall is decorated with dark brick, which contrasts with light curtains, but is combined with wood ceiling beams. This design solution is close to the style of the chalet. To emphasize the negligence of design, you can not buy paintings, and depict graffiti directly on the wall.

The brick surface can be directly involved in the zoning of the combined room. In this case, a stylish addition to the partition of frosted glass or plastic.

In the bathroom

Traditionally for the bathroom use tiles. Ceramic tile under the brick is not inferior to this material in its characteristics. In the bathroom, usually only one wall is finished, which will become accent. In small rooms can not use the material of dark shades. Organically complement the tile tile, imitating the texture of plaster. In this room is not advised to use the laying of "torn edge". A combination of two types of tiles will look stylish:

• Imitating a simple brick.
• With a mirror surface.

Reflective fragments "intertwine" in the laying of the usual tiles above the sink, thereby creating an asymmetric mirror, and partially add separate fragments in the area where the shower is located.

Laying technology

The method of laying includes four stages:

• Preparatory work and surface treatment.
• Application of the composition.
• Anchoring tiles.
• Final grouting.

Even a beginner can handle mounting any type of tile. You must first take measurements of the premises and calculate the right amount of material. When laying individual bricks, you need to focus on a straight line that is applied to the wall so that the rows are even.

Foundation preparation

The wall must be cleaned of dirt or a layer of old paint, dismantle the previous finishing material. If there are major defects, they need to be sealed with a putty and carefully leveled the surface. After the composition has dried, an additional coat of primer is applied. It will provide a good coupling between the adhesive and the wall. After the primer dries (preferably wait a day after application), it is coated with a bonding agent. In its role may be building glue or cement mortar. The thickness of the layer should not exceed 0.5 cm. The composition can be applied only on the wall, on the reverse side of the tile, or use both at once. At the same time, the processed piece of the surface to be decorated should not exceed 0.5 m in area. Keep in mind that the composition can quickly harden, therefore it will be necessary to glue quickly. For lining fireplaces using cement mortar, as other substances can not withstand heat.

If the reverse side of the fragment is smooth, then a spatula with jagged edges is used to apply glue or cement mortar. In cases when the “reverse side” of the tile has a relief, then a tool with a straight working part is used.

Laying tiles

For any type of styling, it is recommended to move from the corner to the center. Each fragment is pressed to the surface with an effort and, if necessary, adjusted its location until the tiled brick is fixed. Excess glue or cement should be removed immediately with a rubber trowel. To seams the same, it is recommended to use rubber struts. Options for laying decorative tiles are the same as for ordinary brick. Among the most aesthetically beautiful note:

• Spoon bedding offset by 1/2 and 1/4. This is the traditional version, which is found in typical homes.
• Chain masonry. It is characterized by alternation in each row of long bricks with square fragments that are equal to half of them.
• Cross laying. In the first row of plates are laid whole fragments, and in the second - their halves. The main thing is that the small pieces are located directly above the center of the large ones. Thus, brick “crosses” will turn out.
• Bonnet. All rows consist of halves that are offset, as in the spoon variant.

Silesian, Gothic, Flemish and chaotic masonry are also in demand. In the latter case, each brick is arranged as desired by the designer. The result can be a very original composition. After the tile is fixed, it is necessary to grout the joints to get a neat look. For these purposes, using special compositions based on cement or epoxy resins. After the mortar has dried, its excess is removed from the tile surface with a damp cloth.

Conclusion

It is not necessary to finish the room with only one type of tile. Bricks can be combined in color and texture. Using a clutch of excellent fragments, they perform zoning of the room or emphasize individual design elements. The combination of shades is usually performed according to the principle of analogy, since a contrasting composition can add “gravity” to the space. The color of the brick must necessarily be continued in the furnishing or floor covering.