Walls
As with other room elements, you may have many choices when it comes to decorating walls. Your options for decorating walls go well beyond deciding what color to paint them. (Although painting the walls a different color is a relatively quick an inexpensive way to make a dramatic change to a room.) Walls can also be covered with wall coverings, fabric, tiles or wood. They can also be decorated with stencil designs, or covered with a "faux finish" that can create looks ranging from a stone wall to a villa in Tuscany.
Paint:Painting a room is one of the easiest ways to transform a space. It is also one of the easiest ways to bring color and add life to a room. Some of the advantages of painting a room are that it is relatively inexpensive and it doesn't take much time (compared to some of the other wall treatment options).
Many people prefer to have their room(s) painted the traditional way with brushes and rollers. Depending on your wishes, you may choose to use an oil-based paint (which takes longer to paint with but is durable) or water-based paint (latex) which is a lot quicker to paint with and easier to work with. You also need to choose what type of finish to have (from flat, to semi-gloss, to gloss to high gloss). It is preferable to use flat or semi-gloss paints in main living areas such as a living room, dining room or family room and a higher gloss paint (which are easier to clean) in an area like the kitchen, however, everyone has their personal tastes and preferences. There are so many different colors and types of paints to choose from. Some of the more popular paints used today are Benjamin Moore, Behr, Martha Stewart, Pratt & Lambert, Ralph Lauren (this line has some incredible suede style paints) and my preferred choice Pittsburgh Paints. If you want to have your room painted but prefer something more unique, there are a variety of decorative faux techniques that can be used to add depth, interest and beauty to a room. To create a "faux" finish, a water based paint color is mixed together with a "faux" glaze (the ratio is normally one part paint to four parts glaze) and then the mixed glaze is applied in various ways. Ragging On: This involves painting the wall with a base coat color and letting it dry (or using the base coat that is already on the wall) and then using a damp rag dipped in the mixed glaze and applying the glaze mix to the wall by blotting the rag either evenly or randomly over the wall to get the desired effect.
Ragging Off: This involves painting the wall with a base coat and letting it dry (or using the base coat that is already on the wall) and then rolling on the glaze mix and then using a rag (or crumpled up plastic bag) to blot off the glaze mix. Sponging On: This involves painting the wall with a base color and letting it dry (or using the base coat that is already on the wall) and then using a dampened sponge dipped in the mixed glaze and applying the glaze mix to the wall by blotting the sponge either evenly or randomly over the wall to get the desired effect. Although this sounds the same as Ragging On, the effect looks quite different. Sponging Off: This involves painting the wall with a base coat and letting it dry (or using the base coat that is already on the wall) and then rolling on the glaze mix and then using a dampened sponge to blot off the glaze mix in either a random or even pattern. This sounds like the same as Ragging Off ; however the end result is very different. Dragging: This technique is used to give a distressed or antique like look and involves painting the space with a base coat and letting it dry (or using the base coat that is already on the wall) and using a nylon or polyester brush (approximately six inches wide) dipped in the glaze mix and then dragging the wet brush around until it dries and the desired look is achieved. Combing: This technique is virtually identical to dragging, however, instead of using a wet brush, an item with teeth is used to drag the glaze mix until the desired effect is achieved. Color Washing: This technique is used to give a rustic, worn, faded and "washed" look and involves painting the wall with a base coat color, letting it dry (or using the base coat that is already on the wall) and then using either a nylon or polyester paint brush to apply the glaze mix with random brush strokes patterns to get the desired look. Alternatively, instead of a paint brush, a wet rag dipped in the glaze mix can be used and by simulating washing motions (or outlining figure 8's) over the wall, can give the desired "washed" look. Spattering: This involves painting the wall with a base coat color and letting it dry (or using the base coat that is already on the wall) and then using a damp paint brush dipped in the mixed glaze and spraying on the glaze mix by flicking the brush with your fingers or simply flicking the brush to apply the splattered paint. Wall Coverings:
Wall coverings (or wallpapers) are not as popular as they were a number of years ago; however, they are still a good option to consider when decorating a wall because there are many different patterns, textures and colors to choose from to fit any budget. Additionally, wall coverings can add interest to a room and they can also cover any defects on the wall.
Wall coverings come in vinyl, papers (with vinyl backed coating) and hand printed papers, grass cloth and other natural fibers such as linen etc. wall coverings that are inexpensive are usually hard to work with, not as durable and more difficult to apply. Tile:Different types of tile (such as stone, clay, ceramic, granite or even mosaic) can be applied to a wall to give a more natural type look or a more decorative type look (with ceramic tiles there are many different colors and patterns to choose from).
Often tiles are used on only a portion of a wall as opposed to all the way up a wall and are mainly used on walls in the kitchen or bathroom (where surfaces need to be kept clean and can be easily wiped down). additionally, tiles are often used on fireplaces to give a more dramatic look. One of the biggest advantages of using tiles is that they look fabulous and , depending on the finish, can either add warmth, color, texture or pattern to a wall. However, one of the disadvantages is that tile can be one of the more costly choices for walls and also more time consuming to change out. Fabrics:Another option for covering a wall is to apply fabric, which adds interest, texture, ambiance and a very unique look. Different fabrics can be chosen from to cover a wall. Some of the more popular choices are linens, cottons Particularly muslin), silks and sheer fabrics. Depending on the fabric chosen, you can either create a soft and airy looking wall or an exquisite luxurious looking wall.
Wood:Adding wood to a wall can add a beautiful natural warmth to a room. Wood paneling can be used to cover the whole wall or it can be used to cover the lower part of the wall (this technique is called wainscoting and can look fabulous in a room). Wainscot panels can be ordered pre-cut and they can be custom ordered to match the other woods in the room (doors, moldings etc).
If wood is going to be added to walls, it is most likely going to be added to walls in the living room, dining room, study, family room or even in the basement. Some of the benefits of using wood is that it acts as a great insulator and it can cover flaws or imperfections on a wall. One of the disadvantages of wood paneling is the cost, it can be expensive to cover a wall in wood. Moldings:In addition to the above, you can also give a wall a more finished look by adding trim and moldings. (such as chair molding, crown molding, baseboards and case molding). Chair molding is a molding strip that runs the width of the walls and is normally about 30"-36" off the floor. Chair molding looks fabulous when it is similar to the other moldings used in the room and is painted or stained the same color. Chair molding creates a line for the eye to follow.
Additionally, crown moldings and cornice moldings can beautifully finish off the top of a wall and give a stylish look. Baseboard moldings can add a finished appearance to the bottom of a wall and case moldings can nicely trim doors and windows. One thing to keep in mind when putting various types of molding within a room is to ensure they are the same color and similar styles. |
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