Laminate selection guidelines for homeowners

Merino Laminates, January 7, 2025

Building our home is one of the most special experiences and we spend a lot of time, money and efforts to make our dream home a reality. We are always keen to choose the right designer, the right execution team and the material to be used. From the raw material used, to the finishes of your home, everything has to be of good quality, durable and should align with the budget and vision you have for your dream abode. It could be a home on a budget or a luxury residence, we must understand the nuances of choosing the right material as it can be a gamechanger in the look and longevity of your space.

Laminates are one of the crucial finishes in your home as they are extensively used for wardrobes, kitchen cabinets, tv units, storage units and sometimes even furniture and wall treatments. Merino Laminates offers over 500 designs comprising of textured laminates, patterned laminates, matte and glossy laminates amongst others and leaves you with a lot to choose from. To make things easier, we list some parameters that you must consider as you select the laminates for your home:

1. Budget

One of the most important factors to be considered as you do your research on the laminates for your home is the budget for the same. Understanding the cost of the entire wood work in your home, and the price variation for different finishes gives you a realistic understanding on the money you wish to spend on your laminates. You can get good quality laminates across all budgets and work around the same to create an interesting outcome, without burning a hole in your pocket.

2. Theme

Now that you may have an understanding of the budget for this activity, you can now look into the theme that you wish to create for your home. Sometimes, one may create the theme and colour palette first and then work around the same to choose laminates to match the same, however, if you are short on funds and time, it is better to understand what falls in your range and work around the options you have, as it saves time and efforts that often go into doing research and elimination of objects that may not fall into our range.

3. Amount of lighting

Another crucial factor that can determine the kind of laminate you choose is the amount of natural light in your home. While we may add a lot of ambient and task lights through the home, natural light can never be negotiated upon. If you have large windows that bring in a lot of light through the day, you can choose any light, bright or dark colours for your finishes. However, if the natural light is limited, it is advised to avoid dark colours and too many patterns as these can make the space look smaller, more cluttered and overwhelming for the users.

4. Ease of maintenance

While the appearance of the space is important, ultimately, it is the efficiency of the space that makes it a winner. A beautiful, but impractical finish can make it difficult for the users to clean and maintain it in a good condition over a long period of time. Thus, understanding our family and the challenges we deal with, will give you an understanding of the kind of finish that should opt for.

For instance, if you have young children, it is advisable to go for glossy laminates as wall finishes. as they are easy to clean and scratch resistant. Likewise, if you feel there may be a lot of dust coming into your home, avoiding dark colours would be better as they tend to show even the slightest settlement of dust quite easily.

5. The nature of use of the room

Every function demands a different kind of a finish, and bearing this in mind will help you make the right choice. As mentioned above, if it’s a children’s room, you can go for glossy laminates in light or bright colours to make the room look lively while ensuring its functionality. Similarly, if it’s a bedroom for adults, you may want to either go for a classic wood finish or choose a deep colour in an elegant matte or glossy finish to give it a sleek and modern appearance. Patterns and textures are also great options for living rooms, foyer or to create panels in bedrooms, dining areas etc. Plain colours in matte or glossy, with or without a mix of stone finish laminates can look great for kitchens, giving them a sophisticated and elegant look.

We hope that these pointers help you choose the right laminates for your home, both in terms of look and functionality. A wholesome understanding of your means, space available and the outcome you wish for, will help you make the best choice when it comes to finishes like laminates, accessories etc.