Textured wall surfaces are a current trend. Walls adorned with brick, barn board or other textural products bring warmth to any room.
As you can see by the focal wall in this bedroom, the worn wooden wall treatment behind the bed is stunning and dramatic. This is a lovely architectural detail in an otherwise minimalistic decor. The large scale of the wall treatment makes it a focal point of the room and adds to the drama.
Textured wall treatments can bring a feeling of history, warmth and visual comfort to a space. Whether you find old barn board that has a history to it or use a man-made stone product, creating a dramatic focal wall that includes texture and pattern can dramatically change the look of a plain room.
Choosing the right wall for the project is key. If you have a rectangular living room, consider treating one or both end walls rather than one of the long walls. The head of the bed is a good option, as you can see from our sample photo but again, you don't necessarily have to do the entire width of the wall. As in our sample room, the treatment is centred at the head of the bed and is framed by the lovely charcoal paint colour.
A similar technique can be used to adorn the wall around a fireplace. Depending upon the style of fireplace you have, a brick-like wall treatment can give the fireplace the focus it deserves. In any event, do take the treatment to the ceiling, as this will give you the drama your room needs. If you're using any brick-like product (and even some woods) choose a wall with the least amount of electrical outlets and other encumbrances you'll have to work around. The final look will be more professional if you can cover a solid surface.
Wall murals
Another, less permanent option that will give you the look of brick, wood or what-have-you is a wall mural.
The graphics available today are wonderfully realistic and can bring instant drama to a boring room. A full wall of a world map can be stunning in a den or home office. There are tons of options and sizes available on the Internet so do some research. You'll be surprised at the choices available.
Wall murals can also be customized for your specific size needs though the larger you go, the pricier it gets. I priced a wall for our condo and it was more than $650! That's a little steep considering it's not the real thing but there are ways around this issue. For example, choose a rectangular design and use one or two panels to hang in place of an actual headboard. (In this case you wouldn't go to the ceiling as you're creating a faux headboard.)
Imagine a graphic such as riveted steel panels for an industrial look or an ocean scene for a romantic flair. The options are endless. The murals are sold in single panels you can multiply to cover the wall in question, so choosing a technique that uses fewer panels will be more affordable. This is important if you're renting. The panels are not usually pre-pasted so you'll have to use wallpaper paste to hang them. The murals are often sold with paste included in the price, depending upon the site you order them from.
------
Textured, paintable wallpaper may be another affordable option. Check out what's available and decide if it will give you the look you're after.
Old pallets, wood flooring, reclaimed brick or whatever you can find to use as a focal wall will bring much needed warmth and texture to your decor. The visual effect will be worth the search. Let me know how you make out.
Connieoliver2014@gmail.com
