Tin, the shiny metal that could, is becoming more popular in recent years as a way to decorate interior spaces. Adding a bit of tin to your interior décor adds a bit of sparkle and shine to any space, and lends a sturdy heat and cold reflector to help regulate the temperature of your house in some cases. In most homes, however, tin is simply a new, different, and beautiful way to decorate.

How can you safely incorporate tin into your interior decoration? There are many different things you can do with good tin when you know how to use it.

How to Incorporate Tin into Your Home Décor

There are many different types of decorative tin materials out there, so choosing the right material for you depends on your taste and what your interior spaces look like. For example, if you need a more rustic, simple look for an interior space, you might want to invest in stamped or rusted tin. For a cleaner, more modern look, consider sheet metal tin. These tin types vary in their appearance and the method by which you have to install them (more on that later).

Influencing your decision about what type of tin to use should be where you plan to install it. You can use tin on almost any imaginable surface one way or another, but most home owners use it for their ceilings, walls, or as backsplash material for their bathrooms.

Stamped tin is a popular tin type for ceilings, adding many possible kinds of patterns to the surface. Many homeowners also use painted tin to add some additional color to their ceilings. Many homes have repurposed tin on their ceilings from farm buildings and country houses, rusted or brand new.

For the walls, you have the option of installing tin sheets either vertically or horizontally, with endless combinations of painted tin and rusted tin. Many interior spaces have wainscoting where the metal sheet envelops the bottom half of the wall. These are often capped with a horizontal plank of reclaimed cedar or pine. You can also go crazy with patterns or colors for your walls.

While tin isn’t as common a material for use in as a sink backsplash because it will rust if not treated with a special chemical, it can still be useful as more of a decorative backsplash for a sink-less vanity in the laundry room for instance, or in an entryway with a vanity shelf. The tin can be installed either horizontally or vertically in these settings.

Installing Tin

The installation of the tin again depends on what type of look you’re going for. If you have stamped tin, it’s usually glued to the surface or attached with finishing nails so the nail heads are barely visible. Sheet metal tin is typically nailed or screwed to its surface with roofing nails or screws. If you have to cut your tin yourself, make sure you use tin snips or electric metal shears for tin that has a rust protection coat on it. Using a spinning, vibrating, or oscillating blade will burn the protective coating and cause the tin to rust prematurely.

Tin is a versatile material that can add much to your interior. Try it out!