May 30, 2023, 12:43 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Decorating with unfinished building materials is becoming increasingly popular. This new design trend is appealing not only for aesthetic and practical reasons but also for its sustainability. myHOMEBOOK author and interior designer Odett Schumann explains the concept behind it.
Building materials are an inevitable part of the construction and furnishing process. Typically, they are plastered to create an appealing ambiance. However, a trend of raw aesthetics made from unplastered building materials has been gaining traction. While it may sound unusual at first, it has a wild, romantic charm. myHOMEBOOK presents four ideas for decorating with unplastered building materials.
Building Material: Brick
Admittedly, brick, also known as a clay brick, has long been a part of interior design. Unplastered walls, in particular, often give living spaces a certain industrial charm. What’s new is the deliberate choice to leave multiple wall surfaces free of any covering. Entire pieces of furniture–such as a kitchen island or a home bar–are now made from this material, crafted from fired clay-rich loam.
The look could hardly be more natural and rustic, yet it exudes plenty of warmth due to its distinctive orange-red color. And because the porous material, with its rather rough surface texture, has an almost decorative quality, the rest of the decor can be kept minimalistic. In this case, the tone truly sets the tone.
Read more: 4 Ways to Achieve a Brick Look on Your Walls
Decorating with Hollow Bricks
Even more intriguing currently is the use of hollow bricks for decorating with unplastered building materials. As the name suggests, this type of brick features numerous holes inside and a surrounding grooved structure. Building a half-height wall with hollow bricks creates an exciting wave-like appearance. Arranging the bricks in a horizontal position–exposing the many internal holes–also looks highly original.
Decorative Designs with Shaped Bricks
Another type of brick joins the decorating ideas. With so-called shaped bricks, you can create the most decorative designs with unplastered materials. These come with various internal ornaments. Whether in a diamond shape, braided pattern, hexagon, or floral design–the building materials market offers a wide range of variations, providing plenty of room for creativity. The special feature: when sunlight passes through an element made of this unplastered material, it creates a beautiful play of shadows.
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Building and Decorating with Clay
In recent years, clay as a building material has received significantly more attention. Our ancestors already built their homes from this special material. And in recent times, more dwellings are being constructed from clay again. Coincidence? Not at all! This building material is considered environmentally friendly, contributing to a healthy, pollutant-free home. Therefore, clay is increasingly used unplastered in interior design.
Inspired by Tadelakt designs, known primarily from the Moroccan region, matte clay constructions are particularly interesting in bathrooms. But as flooring or shelving solutions with irregularly shaped compartments, the material impressively demonstrates its capabilities.