Interior design, find the right balance between floors and walls

When soil is green...

It's no secret that nature and ecology are omnipresent in 2020. Your home's decoration and furnishings are no exception. Already well established in interiors in recent years, natural floors such as sisal and sea rush are still in the spotlight. They are sure to appeal to lovers of minimalist or exotic decor. Sisal fiber comes from the agave cactus. Highly resistant, it is also an excellent moisture regulator. Originally unbleached white, sisal can be dyed to offer infinite possibilities. Sea rush is a marsh plant. Endowed with purifying properties, this plant is not just aesthetically pleasing. It acts as an air purifier. Sea rush does not fear stains and is extremely easy to care for. A little tip: it should be regularly moistened to maintain its elasticity.
In the same spirit, bamboo and coconut fibre are interesting alternatives for their resistance and ease of maintenance.
These natural fiber floors dampen sound thanks to their latex, felt or jute underlay, insulate against the cold and are also easy to lay. And that's not just a detail.
And why not cork? Yes, it's not just for wine corks! Resistant (although beware of small stones under shoes and stiletto heels), all you need to do is wipe it down with a damp cloth from time to time. In addition to its originality, you'll benefit from cork's insulating properties. Walking barefoot will be a real pleasure, as you won't feel the cold, and its very soft texture will be most pleasant to the touch.
If you're more of a classicist, wood is timelessly elegant. It makes rooms warm and inviting. You'll also be won over by its insulating qualities. Wood contributes to a room's hygrometric balance. Its natural, non-allergenic essence makes living spaces healthier. In terms of acoustics, it complies with the new 58 dB (decibel) soundproofing standards and contributes to the acoustic correction of a volume. Parquet can be used in many ways. Bleached, for lovers of the Nordic spirit, to create a cocooning, ultra-luminous ambience. Herringbone, for the cachet of Haussmann-style apartments. In exotic woods (merbau, padouk, jatoba...), to give dynamism and warmth to white walls and a refined decor... You'll be spoilt for choice.
Tiles are also a safe bet. Long reserved for damp rooms and terraces, today they can be laid in any room and come in a wide range of shapes, materials and colors to suit every style of your home. Wood, marble, stone, concrete... you'll be spoilt for choice. Interior floor tiles can be divided into three main families: travertine (natural stone) tiles, baked clay tiles (tommettes, cement tiles...) and stoneware tiles. In addition to its aesthetic appeal, your choice of tile should also take into account its resistance to wear and tear, depending on the frequency of use in the area where it is laid, and the least slippery surface possible!

A floor covering for every room

• The corridor. It will be subjected to a lot of foot traffic. Choose durable, solid materials
• the bathroom, preferably tiled
• Living room. It should be warm and attractive. Laminate or parquet flooring will do the trick, thanks to its noble appearance and compatibility with any décor.
• Kitchen. Tiles, linoleum or laminate are most often used for their ease of maintenance.
• children's bedrooms. A cork floor provides thermal and acoustic insulation.

Wallpaper makes the wall

Choosing the right wallcovering isn't always easy, as there are so many choices to choose from. They're designed to decorate, protect, hide small imperfections on the walls, enlarge space or increase ceiling height... in short, they're multi-functional. Among the thousands of existing references, you'll need to choose the right material, the right color, the right patterns...
One thing's for sure: walls aren't quite as white as they used to be. They've given way to color and pattern. Wallpaper, in particular, is more in vogue than ever. Present in every room, including bathrooms and kitchens, wallpaper goes with every decorating style, adding color and highlighting walls. Whether installed on the entire wall of a room, just a single wall section, or a single strip in a single color, with floral or plant motifs, geometrical or outright trompe l'oeil, it's the perfect choice.The possibilities offered by wallpaper are endless, allowing you to personalize your interior.
In addition to patterns and colors, wallpaper is also available in different textures and finishes (matte, grained, silky...). You can give your room a youthful, cheerful, chic, elegant or soothing look...
But you still need to make the right choice. There are two types of wallpaper. Paintable. Smooth, embossed, crackled or herringbone, this type of seamless wallpaper is easy to hang. Highly resistant, it is ideal for damaged surfaces and ceilings. Simple and effective to use, wallpaper avoids the need for plaster, which is not always easy to apply for the uninitiated. Another category of wallpaper is ready-to-install, reserved for new walls or surfaces in good condition.
Even if you no longer wallpaper the whole room, and tend to dress just one wall with wallpaper, you must take care to choose it according to the room and its characteristics. In the bedroom or living room, you can give free rein to your creativity and put up all kinds of wallpaper. In damp rooms, however, such as kitchens and bathrooms, you'll need to opt for very thick expanded wallpaper, or vinyl with a thin layer of PVC, so that it's both washable and moisture-resistant.
And beware of bad combinations and errors of taste! Wallpaper should be in harmony with floor coverings, curtains, furniture... To play with dimensions, opt for striped paper. Vertical stripes, for example, give the impression of greater ceiling height.

Clever

We're already familiar with slate or whiteboard-style paint. Now we're starting to find wallpaper that you can customize to your heart's content by writing, coloring or drawing on it. For doodlers of all kinds.

Marie-christine Ménoire