Could architectural film be an option for your residential project?
Not many people are aware of architectural film, i.e. vinyl wrapping, being an option for their home as it’s currently more prevalent in Europe and in the commercial and hospitality sectors.
But could it be a solution for you and your project?
What is architectural film?
Architectural film is simply a flexible vinyl covering designed to look and feel like natural, more expensive materials.
It comes in large dimensions sheets or rolls and apart from the floor, it can be applied to any surface, small or large, straight or curved and for that reason has endless applications.
Getting a skilled installer on board is always recommended, he would prep the surface and apply the film in a surprisingly short amount of time whilst still achieving a high quality finish, without any bubbles or visible joins.
The pros
Large number of finishes from plain colours to wood, stone, metallic, fabric, glitter and leather finishes
Large number of applications: doors, walls, kitchen furniture, bathroom furniture, columns, tables, chairs, etc...
Moisture and heat resistant: it can be installed in the kitchen and bathroom
Hygienic: is it wipeable, including with anti-bacterial products
Some films are also fire certified
Durable: it can last for up to 12 years indoors
Resistant: the abrasion and impact resistance is superior to paint and wallpaper, so it won’t scratch or be dented as easily
Can be more cost effective than replacing a large element or piece of furniture
Can be a more sustainable solution than stripping and getting rid of all the old furniture, kitchen elements or other that usually end up in landfill. You keep the structure per say and are just wrapping the surface to make it look like another material or colour, and when you want to change again there’s no need to strip the previous film layer, you can re-apply a new one on top of it
The cons
Is a PVC material so it is not recyclable, and neither is the liner
Emits VOCs, in levels comparable to other man-made materials
Even though architectural wrap is still a PVC material with its cons, it can completely change the look of a space whilst being cost effective and providing a solution to the “fast fashion” we are now seeing in the interior design world by mitigating the volume of landfill created. I however wouldn’t apply it to natural materials like wood, as in my view it would defeat the purpose of having them and the wellbeing element they bring to a home.