Society Interiors and Design explores the multifaceted appeal of Decorative Laminates, from humble origins to modern-day applications. We speak to brand Heads, who give us insight and tips on the craftsmanship behind their products, the diversity of styles and textures they offer, and the transformative impact they have on interior spaces.
In interior design, every surface tells a story. From the subtle elegance of a countertop to the bold statement of a feature wall, the materials we choose shape the ambiance of our spaces. Among these materials, Decorative Laminates stand out as versatile, innovative material options for residential.
Join us as we unravel the layers of this captivating material, discovering how it has evolved from a practical solution to a design essential. From residential homes to commercial spaces, decorative laminates have cemented their place as a cornerstone of contemporary interior design, offering endless possibilities for expression and innovation.
Decorative laminates come in a wide variety of types, each with its unique characteristics and applications in residential spaces.
Here are some popular types of decorative laminates and where they can be used in residences:
High-Pressure Laminate (HPL)
High-Pressure Laminate (HPL) stands out for its robust durability and exceptional resistance to scratches and heat, making it the perfect material for kitchen countertops. Additionally, its versatility extends to cabinetry surfaces, where it not only enhances style but also amplifies functionality in both kitchen and bathroom settings. With its remarkable properties, HPL proves particularly suitable for high-traffic areas where durability and longevity are paramount, ensuring lasting performance and aesthetic appeal.
Thermofoil Laminate
Thermofoil laminates serve as a popular choice for covering cabinet doors, renowned for their capability to replicate the aesthetic of wood at a more affordable price point. This versatile material finds its application across various areas, offering a cost-effective solution without compromising on style. Whether adorning kitchen cabinetry or bathroom vanities, thermofoil laminates provide a budget-friendly alternative while maintaining the visual appeal of wood, making them ideal for both residential and commercial settings.
Woodgrain Laminate:
Woodgrain laminates emerge as a practical and budget-friendly substitute for hardwood flooring, offering a comparable aesthetic appeal minus the demanding upkeep. This versatile material extends its advantages across various applications, presenting an affordable solution without compromising on style or durability. Whether gracing residential interiors or commercial spaces, woodgrain laminates provide a timeless charm reminiscent of natural wood, making them particularly well-suited for high-traffic areas. Additionally, their versatility shines through in the realm of interior design, where they elevate spaces as feature walls, infusing warmth, and texture into living rooms or bedrooms with their inviting allure.
Solid Colour Laminate
Solid colour laminates emerge as a popular choice for wardrobe interiors, delivering a pristine and contemporary finish to storage spaces. Their clean aesthetic not only enhances the visual appeal of wardrobes but also contributes to a sense of organization and sophistication within the room.
Furniture Surfaces: These versatile laminates extend their utility across a multitude of furniture surfaces, including tables, shelves, and desks, where they infuse a modern and vibrant ambiance. Their adaptability and durability make them an ideal option for both residential and commercial settings, adding a touch of style and functionality to various pieces of furniture. Whether in homes, offices, or retail spaces, solid color laminates elevate furniture surfaces with their sleek appearance and easy maintenance, ensuring long-lasting beauty and practicality.
Textured laminates are widely favored for their ability to enhance bathroom vanities with depth and visual intrigue. Their popularity in this application stems from their dynamic aesthetic, elevating the look of vanity surfaces while offering durability and ease of maintenance. Moreover, in entryways or hallways, textured laminates serve as captivating focal points, welcoming guests with their tactile appeal and adding personality to the space. Whether adorning bathroom vanities or gracing entryway walls, these laminates infuse areas with character and charm, making them an excellent choice for both residential and commercial settings.
Metallic laminates
Metallic laminates emerge as a chic and low-maintenance option for enhancing kitchens or bathrooms with stylish backsplashes. Their gleaming allure not only adds a touch of glamour practical choice for busy areas.
In entertainment spaces or home bars, metallic laminates serve as the epitome of contemporary sophistication, transforming to the space but also facilitates effortless cleaning, making them counter surfaces with their sleek and modern aesthetic. Their versatility and durability make them ideal for creating a statement piece that exudes elegance and style, enhancing the ambiance of any social gathering or leisurely retreat.
Digital Print Laminate:
Digital print laminates open up boundless design opportunities, empowering homeowners to craft personalized wall murals or artwork, infusing any room with unique character. With their vibrant hues and whimsical patterns, these laminates become the canvas for imaginative expression, transforming children’s bedrooms or playrooms into vibrant havens that inspire creativity and play. These examples merely scratch the surface of the diverse decorative laminates on offer and their myriad applications within residential settings. Renowned for their adaptability, resilience, and aesthetic allure, decorative laminates remain a sought-after choice for homeowners seeking to elevate the allure and functionality of their living spaces
Brand Heads from various brands share their insights and highlight the unique selling propositions (USPs) of their products. Through their expertise and market knowledge, they speak about the latest trends and innovations, underscoring the durability, versatility, and design excellence of their offerings.
Mr. Mehul Agarwal, Director & CEO, Dorby.
What are your thoughts on the current trends in home décor and interior design, and how do you see decorative laminates fitting into these trends?
The interior decor industry is undergoing some significant changes. While trends come and go, the demand for spaces that evoke a sense of warmth, depth, and individuality remains constant.
Embracing nature or natural elements has become a hallmark of contemporary interiors by decorating spaces with organic elements and earthy tones. Decorative laminates can contribute to this trend with their ability to imitate the rich textures and hues of nature, from the intricate grains of wood to the beauty of stone. With these nature-inspired finishes, homeowners can create a serene, harmonious environment that blurs the lines between indoors and out.
In a world where minimalism reigns supreme, decorative laminates offer a canvas for clean lines and elegance. While minimalism is prevalent, bold colours and patterns are also making a comeback, adding vibrancy and personality to interiors. This can be seen in accent walls, statement furniture pieces, and decorative accessories.
Decorative laminates are more than just a surface solution; they are a canvas for self-expression, a means to bring nature’s tranquillity indoors, and a testament to the enduring pursuit of style and function.
What is the range you have to offer for both residential and commercial projects in terms of design, texture, and quality?
We cater to both residential and commercial projects with our extensive product range, which encompasses a diverse array of designs, textures, and quality to meet aesthetic and functional requirements.
Our product portfolio comes with a comprehensive selection of woodgrain laminates, crafted to capture the natural beauty and warmth of various woods. For those seeking the timeless elegance of stone, our stone laminates offer a remarkable resemblance to natural materials like marble, granite, and slate. To stay ahead of design trends, we have introduced synchronized laminates. Our solid color laminates are available in a wide spectrum of hues, from bold and vibrant to soft and neutral. For those seeking a more abstract and artistic expression, our range of abstract laminates offers unique patterns and textures. Our Canvas collections are the ultimate go-to range for people seeking these.
Additionally, to complement our extensive laminate range, we have introduced matching edgebands and louvres, ensuring an attractive outcome for any project.
Please share the USP of your range.
Our range of laminates has been developed with impressive features that make them a superior choice for both residential and commercial projects. With innovation, we have engineered our laminates to offer benefits that extend beyond aesthetics. With abrasion resistance, anti-fingerprint technology, and anti-bacterial coatings, these laminates ensure durability, hygiene, and a pristine appearance. All-weather resistance and high flexibility allow versatile applications. Heat, stain, and static load resistance make them ideal for high-performance areas. Easy maintenance and fire resistance further enhance their practicality and safety. With an edgeless colour finish and color fastening, our products perform exceptionally and maintain their aesthetic for a long time. We also have a range of laminates that come with high matter and high gloss finish.
Ms. Parul Mittal, Director, Greenlam Industries
What are your thoughts on the current trends in home décor and interior design, and how do you see decorative laminates fitting into these trends?
Home decor and interior design trends are in a constant state of evolution, reflecting the changing preferences of homeowners and designers alike. In recent years, there has been a notable shift towards more sustainable and eco-friendly materials. People now showcase their preferences or design aesthetics through decorative laminates, and they also want their laminates to be eco-friendly in addition to being stylish. Greenlam’s collection of decorative laminates fulfils both these requirements seamlessly. Our collection encompasses a wide array of designs, textures, and colours, offering versatility for any interior design project. Whether you’re aiming for a sleek and contemporary aesthetic or a more traditional feel, our laminates provide the flexibility to achieve your desired look.
With our latest laminate collection, we have identified 6 trends that will take on the interior spaces – Cosy Elegance, Shelter Chic, Cool Minimalism, Vibrant 80’s, Light Memory, Grey Moods. To compliment these trends, choosing vibrant colour, subtle patterns and opting for wood and matte textures from our vast collection will enhance the entire look.
In addition to aesthetics, our laminates are also highly functional. They are resistant to scratches, stains, and impact along with being fire retardant. Hence, as home décor and interior design trends continue to evolve, we look forward to being at the forefront, offering products that perfectly blend style, functionality, and eco-friendliness as well.
What is the range you have to offer for both residential and commercial projects in terms of design, texture, and quality?
At Greenlam, our laminate offerings span a broad spectrum to cater to the distinct needs of both residential and commercial projects. For residential projects, we boast an extensive selection encompassing various design styles, including modern minimalism to classic elegance. Our laminates feature nature-inspired motifs, contemporary patterns, and timeless classics, thus providing an array of choices based on everyone’s preference. We offer diverse design options of textures, ranging from smooth high-gloss finishes to natural wood grains, providing versatility and aesthetic appeal. When it comes to quality, our laminates undergo stringent testing to guarantee durability and performance, thus promising enduring beauty and functionality in any residential setting.
Similarly, for commercial ventures, we offer laminates tailored to withstand the rigors of high-traffic environments while maintaining a professional appearance of offices to retail stores and beyond. With options like our premium AFX laminates boasting antibacterial properties and the sophistication of HD Gloss laminates, we ensure that style is never compromised for functionality. Additionally, our Fire-Retardant laminates adhere to international safety standards, offering peace of mind in environments where fire security is paramount.
Please share the USP of your range.
One of the unique selling points of our laminates is their functionality, which makes them suitable for a wide range of applications. Listed below are some of our laminate collections with their USP’s:
AFXlaminates stand out as a premium choice for interior decor, featuring antibacterial properties that ensure utmost hygiene. With the almost zero-reflection ultra matt fingerprint resistant and a soft-to-touch texture, they engage the senses and exemplify Greenlam’s commitment to innovative, sustainable, and stylish laminates.
Unicore laminates feature a uniform colour throughout the thickness, thus providing a visually striking and seamless appearance. They are resistant to stains, scratches, microbes, and moisture, making them ideal for high-traffic areas and demanding environments. Greenlam’s Unicore laminate collection is the perfect choice for those who appreciate the beauty of solid colors.
HD Gloss laminates feature a glossy finish that exudes sophistication and adds a touch of luxury to any space. They are engineered to be highly durable, ensuring resistance against wear, fading, and surface damage. With the brilliance of HD Gloss laminates, you can elevate your interiors and experience a new level of elegance.
We also offer fire retardant laminates that are specifically designed according to international standards for spaces that demand a high level of fire security.
Ajay Khurana, MD, Formica India
What are your thoughts on the current trends in home décor and interior design, and how do you see decorative laminates fitting into these trends?
In today’s home décor and interior design landscape, there’s a notable shift towards integrating luxury and functionality. Decorative laminates perfectly align with this trend, offering a balance of aesthetic appeal and practicality. They provide a versatile solution for expressing personal style through a myriad of designs, textures, and colors while ensuring durability and easy maintenance. Whether it’s adding warmth to minimalist spaces or infusing modern flair into traditional settings, decorative laminates cater to diverse design preferences, making them an indispensable element in contemporary interiors.
What is the range you have to offer for both residential and commercial projects in terms of design, texture, and quality?
Our range for both residential and commercial projects encompasses the innovative FENIX&DecoMetal surface materials, which revolutionizes interior design with its blend of luxury and practicality. The products offered by Formica offer an extensive selection of designs, textures, and quality options. FENIX offers an unparalleled combination of aesthetics and performance, featuring matt surfaces inspired by Italian designs and high-tech materials for durability. With scratch-resistant, anti-fingerprint, and thermal healing properties, FENIX surfaces ensure both visual appeal and functional reliability. Whether it’s FENIX NTM for trendy matt finishes, FENIX NTM Bloom with natural raw materials, or FENIX NTA for empowered metal surfaces, our collection provides versatile options to elevate any space’s ambiance while meeting the demands of modern living.DecoMetal on the other hand exuberates sleek metallic finishes, catering to various interior styles and preferences. In commercial projects, our laminates offer durability and aesthetic appeal, with options suitable for high-traffic areas such as offices, retail spaces, and hospitality environments. Apart from these, Formica’s engineering marvel VIS, stands out for its remarkable ability to withstand wear and tear, showcasing exceptional durability and longevity, becoming an apt choice for commercial spaces. Its enduring nature makes it a top choice for applications requiring resilience. Available in a palette of black, blues, greys, browns, whites, yellows, and oranges, VIS emanates sophistication. Then comes, Formica Cora laminates, which are suitable for use in residential and commercial spaces*. They are especially useful for fluted panels and 90-degree joints, when using edge bands for sealing edges is not possible or when using HPL leads to distinct black lines. Formica Cora is also extremely suited to cabinetry that requires carpentry such as shelves and wardrobes, where the sides cannot be finished with edge boarding. Dining countertops, too, benefit from the use of Formica Cora collection, for a smooth, sleek finish.Our commitment to quality ensures that our laminates meet the highest standards, providing long-lasting performance and enhancing the visual appeal of any space.
Manoj Lohia, Director, Merino Industries Ltd.
What are your thoughts on the current trends in home décor and interior design, and how do you see decorative laminates fitting into these trends?
A: The world of home décor and interior design is witnessing a significant shift towards more thematic and narrative-driven spaces. This trend reflects a desire for interiors to go beyond mere visual appeal, aiming instead to encapsulate stories, personal journeys, and a deep connection with nature and individuality. Merino’s introduction of the Curation range aligns perfectly with this evolution, offering a collection that is not just about aesthetic beauty but about bringing personal stories and themes to life within a space.
Curations, an exquisite range of decorative laminates, stands out for its thematic approach to design. With three distinct themes—Grow, Soul, and Traces—each laminate tells a unique visual story. “Grow” invites the outdoors in, celebrating the beauty of nature and fostering a sense of renewal. “Soul” delves into emotions, creating interiors that resonate with authenticity and comfort. Meanwhile, “Traces” captures the energy of urban life, infusing spaces with vibrant dynamism and nostalgia. With 51 designs to choose from in its 1 MM range, Curations offers unparalleled versatility, allowing individuals to curate spaces that reflect their journeys and tastes.
What is the range you have to offer for both residential and commercial projects in terms of design, texture, and quality?
Merino’s decorative laminates portfolio is meticulously crafted to meet the diverse requirements of both residential and commercial projects. This collection is renowned for its wide-ranging design options, superior texture varieties, and unparalleled quality. Central to Merino’s offerings is the Luvih collection, which showcases premium laminates designed to enhance any space with endless application possibilities. Luvih is a testament to Merino’s innovation in surface technology, designed to meet the aesthetic and functional demands of modern spaces. It features surfaces that are scratch-resistant, easy to clean, and embody the beauty of minimalism with their matt finish and resistance to fingerprints. It stands out for its exceptional wear and impact resistance, ensuring longevity in both residential and commercial settings.
Special Laminates by Merino: A Deep Dive into Innovation and Aesthetics
Merino’s expansive catalogue boasts a standout selection known as the Special Laminates range, epitomizing the fusion of innovative technology and aesthetic excellence. Within this range:
Feather Touch offers an ultra-matte finish with minimal reflection, imparting spaces with sophistication and elegance, ideal for making a subtle yet impactful visual statement.
Laminature replicates the authentic feel and appearance of solid wood and veneers, backed by enhanced durability and impact resistance, catering to both commercial and residential spaces seeking the warmth of natural wood aesthetics.
Tuff Gloss MR+ delivers a super gloss finish with exceptional resistance to scuffs, mars, and abrasions, engineered for longevity to retain surfaces’ shine four times longer than standard laminates.
Writeons features a unique chalkboard surface, perfect for spaces requiring a blend of functionality and creativity, easily erasable and suitable for both vertical and horizontal applications.
Infusio stands out with its stunning sub-layer of glitter, granules, stones, and more, offering unmatched aesthetic appeal to add exclusivity and sophistication to any surface.
Metalam combines the durability of metal with the versatility of laminates, ideal for adding special accents and moods to interior spaces through ceiling or vertical applications.
Uni+ (Unicolor) provides laminates with MR+ finish, enhancing resistance to micro-scratches, ensuring glossy surfaces remain immaculate over time.
Imagino offers decorative mirror laminates in bronze, silver, gold, and copper, introducing luxurious and reflective elements to interiors.
Merino’s commitment to blending aesthetics with functionality extends across its ranges, catering to diverse design preferences and practical requirements. Their laminates are distinguished by their environmental consciousness, reflecting Merino’s dedication to sustainable manufacturing processes without compromising on style or quality. Through its comprehensive range, Merino promises to enhance the beauty and functionality of spaces while aligning with evolving trends of personalization and sustainability in interior design. Whether for residential projects seeking the warmth of wood or commercial spaces desiring sleek high-gloss finishes, Merino offers tailored solutions to bring visions to life.
Punit Tambi, Partner, Millimetre
What are your thoughts on the current home décor and interior design trends, and how do you see decorative laminates fitting into these trends?
In today’s ever-evolving landscape of home décor and interior design, a notable shift in trends is towards minimalist aesthetics, sustainable materials, and multifunctional spaces. This movement emphasises clean lines, natural elements, and practicality, resulting in visually appealing and functional environments.
Decorative laminates play a pivotal role in defining and manifesting contemporary trends. Offering versatility, durability, and a plethora of designs, laminates have become a favoured choice for modern interiors. They can effectively emulate the look of natural materials such as wood, stone, or metal, providing cost-effective alternatives without sacrificing aesthetics. Further, their easy maintenance and resistance to wear and tear make them particularly well-suited for high-traffic areas, thereby enhancing the practical aspect of current design trends.
What is your range of design, texture, and quality options for residential and commercial projects?
Millimetre’s Collezione Deci.mmal presents a versatile solution for both residential and commercial projects. Its three core product offerings are high-pressure laminates, Band. edge, and Hi. lamm. With a selection of 36 decors spanning Solids, Woods, and Textiles, the collection offers diverse design and texture options.
Band.Edge, an exclusive product from Millimetre, provides matching edge bands that complement the colour and replicate the texture seamlessly. Additionally, Hi.Lamm offers compact laminates tailored for commercial spaces, ensuring durability and functionality.
This comprehensive collection is a complete solution for cabinets and carcasses, promising quality, aesthetics, and functionality. It exemplifies an intuitively designed and holistically derived approach, ensuring seamless integration of aesthetics and quality. Each component is thoughtfully curated to enhance the overall design experience for end-users.
Please share the USP of your range.
At Millimetre, we follow a solution-driven approach to catalyse a transformation in interior and furniture design practices. Collezione Deci.mmal’s USP lies in its innovative offering, T.O.Y.E (Texture On Your Edge), featured within the Band.Edge category. Millimetre stands out as the first and the only brand to introduce this pioneering product to the Indian market.
The Millimetre textured edge bands, available in two standard widths, differ from conventional matt or superficially textured edge bands. They are available in wood grains, leather, and knit textures that seamlessly complement the entire range of decorative laminated surfaces.
Mr. Manish Arora, VP – Furniture Solutions, REHAU South Asia.
What are your thoughts on the current trends in home décor and interior design, and how do you see decorative laminates fitting into these trends?
A: In the realm of contemporary home décor and interior design, the prevailing trend leans decisively towards minimalism, where the mantra “less is more” takes center stage. This movement champions clean lines, uncluttered spaces, and a focus on functionality. In this context, decorative laminates emerge as an integral component, seamlessly aligning with the ethos of minimalism. Laminates, thin sheets skillfully bonded to a base, create surfaces that blend durability with aesthetics. They find versatile use in furniture, countertops, wardrobes, doors, and more in homes and businesses. Leading the way in premium laminates, REHAU presents a varied collection under the renowned RAUVISIO brand. Enhancing the visual and functional charm of spaces, REHAU laminates are designed in a way that they can be used in different areas, from kitchens and living rooms to bedrooms and bathrooms. By incorporating these laminates, designers can effortlessly create spaces that exude sophistication and simplicity, while still accommodating the unique preferences of their clients.
What is the range you have to offer for both residential and commercial projects in terms of design, texture, and quality?
Our range of decorative laminates transcends the boundaries between residential and commercial projects, offering an extensive array of options tailored to suit both settings. Whether you’re designing a kitchen, bathroom, living room, office, restaurant, or shop, our premium surfaces are crafted to help you bring your unique visions to life and create spaces they’ll love. In residential applications, our diverse designs, ranging from timeless classics to contemporary motifs, ensure that every area exudes elegance. RAUVISIO solid surfaces, ideal for countertops, elevate the aesthetic appeal further. Similarly, in commercial projects, our laminates provide unmatched versatility, catering to the dynamic demands of spaces like offices, restaurants, and institutes. Additionally, RAUFLOOR flooring by REHAU offers an eco-friendly, water-resistant, and highly durable solution suitable for various applications, including residential, light commercial, and office spaces. Whether it’s the rich texture of wood grain or the sleek finish of solid colors, our laminates empower designers to turn their creative visions into reality while maintaining the highest standards of durability and design excellence.
In conclusion, with a diverse array of types catering to unique preferences and practical needs, decorative laminates have become indispensable tools for craftingspaces that resonate with style, functionality, and individuality.
