Among the common textile materials, there are many that are named after the type of weave used in their production. Satin is one of them. What kind of fabric is this? Why is she so valued? First of all, its uniqueness lies in the very method of weaving the threads. Satin weave provides the fabric with smoothness, strength, and breathable structure. These properties have been used for several centuries in the production of clothing and bed linen - less expensive than natural silk, but more comfortable and, most importantly, durable.
Material characteristics
In essence, a satin stretch ceiling is a version of PVC film, the special weaving of which and its pearlescent luster give it an external resemblance to satin.
The main difference between satin ceilings is that they softly diffuse light, giving the room an intimate feel. Such a ceiling provides an even surface glow with soft shadows, since it is able to reflect light in several directions at once. An ordinary glossy stretch ceiling does not have such qualities - it glares, and sometimes the eyes can get tired of the bright light.
It is noteworthy that the satin stretch ceiling retains its natural shade only in daylight. In the evening, the color of the ceiling becomes lighter from the enclosed lamps, creating a feeling of space.
A satin ceiling will look especially beautiful if you use spotlights that will allow you to emphasize individual objects. In addition, if there are several functional areas in one room, they can be separated using a multi-level ceiling and different colors. Satin ceilings are quite suitable for these purposes.
Gucci Beauty, Rouge à Lèvres Satin lipsticks
The collection of satin lipsticks marked a new beauty era in the history of the Gucci brand under the leadership of the creative director of the fashion house Alessandro Michele. He was inspired by Hollywood film stars of the “golden era”, packed lipsticks in vintage cases and heartily mocked beauty standards, inviting punk diva Dani Miller with a far from standard Hollywood smile as an ambassador.
The lipsticks from Michele's trick, which alarmed the Internet, have not become any worse - the pigment is rich, the coverage is dense, and there is a satin shine. The color palette is simply huge - you can find lipsticks in classic red and pink shades, gothic black or dark brown.
Advantages of satin stretch ceilings
To better understand what satin stretch ceilings are, let’s consider their main advantages.
This type of ceiling is distinguished by aesthetic beauty, originality and a sense of respectability. The texture of the fibers makes it look like expensive suede. Light polishing of the surface allows the ceilings to softly diffuse light and create coziness.
There are about 120 color options for satin stretch ceilings. These can be either light, pastel shades or bright, catchy colors. In addition, you can apply any designs, metallic shine or starry sky to the canvas.
Thanks to the tension of the PVC satin fabric, you can hide all technological elements, such as electrical wires, ventilation ducts, and also disguise unevenness of the rough ceiling.
Since PVC-based materials stretch well, they can be used to construct ceilings of any shape, with a different number of levels and various color combinations.
The canvas for stretch ceilings is available in widths ranging from 1.2-3.2 m. Usually this size is enough to stretch the ceiling without seams. If a larger blade is needed, thermal welding is performed.
Previously, we already found out what satin ceilings are made of - it is a PVC material with a special weave. Therefore, they, like other vinyl ceiling coverings, are waterproof. Moreover, by preventing the penetration of vapors from the room into the space above the ceiling, they act as a vapor barrier layer. In case of water leakage from the upper floors, satin ceilings can hold up to 100 kg/m2. After the water is drained, the canvas will return to its original shape.
Satin ceilings have antistatic qualities. This avoids the accumulation of dust and moisture on the ceiling surface. Thanks to this quality, satin ceilings can be used in bathrooms and kitchens. They can also be used for children's rooms, since the risk of allergies and bronchial asthma attacks is eliminated.
PVC-satin stretch ceilings are easy to clean, they are very easy to clean, and do not require abrasive chemicals.
If it is necessary to carry out any work with communications hidden above the ceiling or to perform additional insulation, the satin fabric can be carefully removed and, upon completion of the work, installed back.
This material is characterized by high fire safety; it does not burn, but begins to melt at high temperatures, without emitting toxic gases.
Economically, installing a stretch satin ceiling will be much more profitable than installing a fabric canvas. In appearance, these two materials are very similar, but PVC satin is much cheaper.
Kinds
The appearance of the satin covering directly depends on the room in which you are installing it: in an apartment, in a private house or in an office space. Lighting changes the perception of a surface. Canvases may differ in original width - they are made from 1.2 to 3 m and even more.
Of course, you yourself will have to make a choice which is better - satin, gloss with a spectacular mirror surface or matte canvas.
A glossy ceiling glares and has a high reflectivity, which means that many large objects will be reflected in it, like in a mirror, although not with such accuracy and brightness. Some consumers may not like this, because the room should always be in perfect order. There are also advantages. Gloss visually increases the volume of the room.
A matte ceiling, on the contrary, does not reflect light at all, which means that it will look great in a lit room.
If the light is artificial and hurts the eyes, then a matte coating can muffle the excess light.
In appearance, the satin surface balances between glossy and matte varieties. It does not glare as much as gloss: the reflectivity is very small, but it is also not as cold as matte.
Visually, satin ceilings resemble silk fabric, which fits perfectly into any interior.
White satin looks noble, colored satin is similar to the expensive material that medieval royals used to decorate their palaces. The extraordinary pearlescent shine of this ceiling covering, coupled with the play of light, creates a magical impression.
Many people do not notice the fundamental difference between matte and satin canvases, but in vain. Satin coatings do not have the graininess inherent in matte surfaces, which is a definite plus.
Disadvantages of PVC-satin stretch ceilings
In fairness, we note that even such a seemingly universal coating as a satin ceiling still has some disadvantages:
- Since the satin ceiling is still an artificial material, it, like PVC, can only be used at certain temperatures. This ceiling can be installed in rooms where the temperature is in the range from 5 ℃ to 60 ℃. At temperatures below zero, the structure of the material is damaged, it begins to crack, and too high a temperature causes the material to lose elasticity, it begins to sag and lose shape. Therefore, you should not use a satin ceiling on open street terraces, balconies or cold cottages. In addition, pay attention to the choice of lamps - they should not heat the ceiling surface more than 60 ℃.
- Satin stretch ceiling is much more fragile than regular vinyl. Careless movement, pressure, a sharp blow, a scratch with a sharp object - all this can lead to damage to the canvas. Therefore, you should be careful when cleaning or spending time with children and pets.
- If the room is large enough, then there will inevitably be welds on the ceiling. These places are not as strong as the rest of the canvas. If you arrange original multi-level ceilings or combine several different shades, you can disguise the seams or even avoid this need.
Thus, all the shortcomings can be leveled out if you choose the design of the ceiling correctly and follow the rules of its operation.
Room size
This coating can be installed in almost any standard-sized room, but there are some explanations. The maximum coverage width is 5.5 meters.
Installation of the structure in large rooms will not be without seams. Although they are not so noticeable, the appearance of the structure may change.
Differences between matte, fabric and satin ceilings
In appearance, a satin ceiling is very similar to matte fabric and PVC coatings. However, there are some differences between them.
Let's look at the main characteristics of matte, satin and fabric coatings:
- Matte ceilings do not shine and do not reflect light. Available in a wide range of colors. Any printed design can be applied to them. They are waterproof and difficult to clean due to the roughness of the surface. The maximum width of the canvas is 3.2 m.
- Satin stretch ceilings have a pearlescent sheen and can change shade under artificial light. The color of the satin ceiling can be chosen from a wide range of colors. It is possible to apply any prints using the printing method, including metallic shine. The material is waterproof and easy to clean because it has a smooth surface. Maximum width – 3.2 m.
- Fabric stretch fabric does not have shine. The color range is not very wide. Textile designs can only be applied after installation. The fabric is not waterproof, and dust can only be removed by cleaning. The width of the canvas can reach 5.1 m.
Different densities - different properties
The density of threads per 1 cm2 of fabric area largely determines such properties as strength, hygroscopicity, and breathability. In addition, density also affects the cost of satin fabrics.
The density of ordinary satin is 85-130 threads per 1 cm2. Instead of mercerization, such material is often calendered - passed between hot rolls. Calendering is a cheaper process and does not produce satin of the same quality as mercerization.
Printed satin can have a thread count of up to 170 threads. The density of printed satin is approximately the same.
Satin jacquard and mako satin are the highest quality materials in terms of density. It can reach 220 threads.
The use of satin ceilings in the interior
Many designers really like the look of satin stretch ceilings in the interior, so they actively use this type of material to decorate rooms for a variety of purposes. Despite the fact that the cost of such ceilings is much lower than fabric ones, their appearance is in no way inferior. And installing such a ceiling is easier than stretching fabric.
A satin ceiling allows you to use different types of lighting to make accents in the right places. In addition, they can slightly change their shade depending on the time of day and type of lighting.
Invoices
Satin stretch ceiling slightly resembles a matte finish. This canvas has less roughness, the appearance looks like water-based paint or coated paper. The reflectivity of such a material is low. This allows you to fill the space with volume. Due to the silky appearance, a feeling of textile is created, which makes the interior expensive.
Kitchen with satin ceiling
One of the main qualities of satin ceilings, for which they are so highly valued, is their ability to visually expand the space. This is especially true in small rooms, in particular in the kitchen. And if you complement such a ceiling with well-installed spotlights, you can separate the food preparation area from the dining area.
Above the workspace - cutting table and stove, the presence of bright light is especially important. Therefore, lamps with bright diffused light can be installed in this area. The dining table in such a kitchen can be illuminated with a decorative lampshade or a colorful chandelier.
For a studio apartment, you can use a multi-level ceiling in the dining area. A light satin stretch ceiling will visually expand the space and provide soft reflections of light. It will be cozy and pleasant to dine in such an environment.
Bathroom decoration
Satin ceilings in bathrooms not only become a barrier to steam and condensation, but also allow you to add space to this small room. And if there is a leak from the top floor, the ceiling will protect the finishes and plumbing from damage.
Thanks to the use of a satin ceiling, you can choose any bright color in the bathroom. Depending on the lighting, the stretched canvas will shimmer with soft light and change shade. At the same time, it is also very important to correctly place accents, that is, install central and spotlights and, if desired, additional lighting.
You can place the main lamp in the center, then towards the corners the color of the ceiling will be slightly darker, which will visually raise its level and expand the walls.
Colors
Often, a plain fabric is used to decorate the ceiling surface. In this case, the shades can be combined with each other, highlighting, for example, different levels of the flow structure. Pastel shades are mainly used to decorate the ceiling area.
Many designers opt for a white shade: it harmonizes with all interior images. Externally, this coating looks like ordinary whitewash.
With the right lighting, shades will shift.
When choosing pastel shades (for example, sand, beige, lilac, cream), it is recommended to use the color of the stretch ceiling, which is 1-2 tones lighter than the room furniture.
An original solution would be to choose bright colors (red, coral, orange, light green). In good daylight, such coatings will be matte; in artificial lighting, the canvas will acquire a pearlescent sheen. In addition to plain coloring, tension structures can have different patterns.
The most popular design variation for a stretch ceiling is applying photo printing and creating a “starry sky” effect.
Satin ceiling in corridors and hallways
In this room, just like in the bathroom, there is very little space. And if it is also cluttered with cabinet furniture, then a rather depressing impression is created. The ability of satin ceilings to create a pearlescent sheen allows you to slightly visually move the walls apart and make the corridor more comfortable.
Design options
There are three main varieties:
- Single level. It is a smooth, seamless surface that fits perfectly with any room style.
- Two-level. Hides ceiling defects, gives the interior individuality and expressiveness.
- Multi-level. They assume the presence of absolutely any shape, are more suitable for large rooms and create a spectacular interior.
Stretch ceiling in the living room
As a rule, the hall and living room are larger in size than the rest of the rooms in the apartment. Therefore, here you can implement the most complex and original projects. It is not at all necessary to make a white ceiling; it can be in pastel colors, which will smooth out sharp corners. In addition, a satin ceiling will emit soft light, giving the room coziness and warmth.
If you are a fan of the minimalist style, you should pay attention to cool colors. For example, if you have light grayish themes, you can install a white satin ceiling. This environment will be pleasantly soothing after the hustle and bustle of a busy day.
You can zone the room and separate the workplace from the relaxation area using two-level ceilings. You can place accents on individual objects using spotlights.
It is noteworthy that the living room space allows you to combine several textures, for example, satin and glossy PVC ceiling. In this case, the satin will create pearlescent highlights, and the glossy surface will visually increase the height of the room.
Bedroom decor
The main attention in the bedroom always goes to the design of the bed and other functional areas. The use of a satin ceiling in warm shades in combination with well-chosen lighting fixtures will complement the interior and make it comfortable and soothing. In such a bedroom a person will feel peaceful, and his sleep will be complete.
Often, suspended ceilings in bedrooms are decorated with internal lighting using LED strips. They are mounted around the perimeter of the room in the ceiling niches. This technique will ensure a gradual transition from the bright color of the LEDs to the shade of the ceiling.
Children's rooms
Since PVC satin stretch ceilings can be decorated with drawings or prints, they are widely used in children's rooms. Plots of favorite cartoons and fairy tales are applied to the canvas so that the child would be interested in looking at the drawings while playing or falling asleep. An additional white edging with spotlights will complete the interior.
A girl’s room can be decorated with floral prints in combination with lighting. Even fairly large drawings will look appropriate against the background of light walls.
It is worth noting that there should not be too many large objects on the ceiling surface. If a large-sized pattern is applied to the canvas, you should choose spotlights to illuminate the room that will not visually overload the ceiling.
Constructions
There are several types of satin finish. Often, homeowners choose a single-color design. A classic variation is white canvas, which harmonizes with all interior styles. In dark rooms (corridor, hallway), it is better to use two-tier structures with lighting.
The satin coating can be given various shapes, for example, it can be an arch shape, a wave, a circle, a rectangle.
Methods for caring for PVC-satin ceilings
The service life of a PVC satin ceiling is about 10 years, subject to the following rules:
- It is necessary to protect the canvas from contact with sharp objects, impacts or scratches with claws, and also to prevent overheating and freezing.
- The lampshades of lighting fixtures should not touch the stretch ceiling fabric. Lamps for them must only be of permitted power.
- A satin ceiling practically does not accumulate dust, but from time to time it should be wiped with soft foam rubber and detergent, and then wiped dry with moisture-absorbing wipes. The use of abrasive detergents is prohibited.
Thus, we found out what a satin ceiling is, what are the advantages and disadvantages of such a material, and also how it can be used in interiors. In general, we can say that this is a beautiful, healthy, practical and affordable material that makes the room warmer and more comfortable. In addition, it requires minimal care.
