Can Your Wall Be More Than Just a Wall? {Design Chat}

Hi, everyone! It’s me again! I would like to pick up from our last discussion about adding architectural interest to your ceiling, and now move down to the walls. Like your ceiling, the walls have great potential to be more than just something that holds up the roof, or separates one space from another.

In designing and decorating rooms, the walls and the floors seem to be the main things that people focus on. Typically people’s idea of design and decorating could just include slapping on a coat of paint and setting some pictures in a creative way. And many times that is all that is needed to give a room some life.

 

What if there was a way to redefine what your walls do? Could there be a way to change the style of your home by adding texture or volume to your walls?  These are some of the possibilities that can really change your home and give it new life.

For most of us, everything revolves around a budget. But there are many ways to get your dollars to stretch and still get the look you are going for with a dramatic effect.

Paint

For most people, this is where it begins and ends to update a room's walls. This is actually the finishing “skin” of your wall. Like your ceiling, certain colors can have a very powerful statement in any room.

Focus Wall - Many times the way to draw attention in a room is to create an element to direct the eye to. In this case, the element is created with a differing paint color. This can be as subtle or dramatic as you wish.

 

 

(Source: Home Polish)

 

Patterns - This is another thing that can be subtle or very dramatic depending on your preference. And it can also create repetition for the eye to follow, like vertical stripes, damask patterns, etc.

 

(Source: Style Me Pretty)

 

Stencils are a great way to add pattern to your walls without the commitment of wallpaper.

 

(source: etsy)

Crown Molding, Base, Case & Chair Rail (& Wainscoting)

To find baseboards in all homes are very common, but by adding chair rail, wainscot, or crown molding can give any home a more classically architectural or contemporary look.

Or if money is an issue, paint the molding on! Kenz from Interiors by Kenz did that and added a headboard too.

 

 

Patterns Created With Trim - This is one of my personal favorite effects. It takes a little inventiveness on your part, and can really add a dimension of interest that traditional elements could never give.

 

 

(Source: Design on the Sly)

 

All Things Thrifty created an oversized greek key pattern for not very much money but it makes such a big impact!

 

Volumes & Texture

The most commonly used materials in this category is wallpaper, but there are many new looks and styles of wallpaper that create depth. There are also many tiles, stone or brick veneers, and even alternate materials, like wood, that can give any wall a new look.

 

Vintage Revivals add brick veneer to create a loft like feel in her home.

 

 

Marbled wallpaper gives the illusion of texture.

 

(Source:Rosa Beltran Design)

Or you can get embossed wallpaper!

 

(Source: Dear Designer)

 

Sarah M. Dorsey added fabric and nailhead trim to her bedroom. You could add it like wallpaper or make it removable like she did.

 

Or add tile to the wall!

 

(Source: Mali Azima)

I have never thought of adding copper sheeting to a space like this until I came across this photo from a hotel. Amazing!

 

(Source:Bikini Berlin)

 

Or mix the materials you use like this concrete and wood wall.

 (Source:Design Web Winkle)

Wood Elements

You can simply add wood tongue & groove slats to any wall, or add faux wood columns, or use it as a textured element. Wood is very versatile!

 

(source: Martha Stewart)

 

(Source: One King Design)

 

This uneven wall made from reclaimed wood is awesome! You can click though and see all the photos. It is one of my favorites. I'm sure Stacy would have a thing or two to say about cleaning it however.

(Source: Dezeem)

 

Adding volume, texture and color can create a truly inviting and engaging space that you can be proud to show family and friends.