"Wow" with your walls!!!

Creativity in design means thinking outside the box to combine elements in ways that differ from the standard monotony. One of the most under-used palettes in interior design can be walls. For years, the only thing going on with walls is a coat of paint and artwork/photographs/curtains to spice it up! However, there are a unique amount of options available for walls, to use walls as a creative palette for self expression and as an amazing design feature.

1. Paint can be more than a color. For instance, there are paints available for purchase today that turn your wall into a magnetic or glow in the dark surface, white board or even a chalk board. So give your children an area that is an outlet for creativity or an oversized night light! You can even turn one of your walls into an oversized idea board in your home office to capture moments of genius or a magnetic surface to keep track of your families hectic schedule!

 

2. Paneling has come along way. Paneling, with a wood grain, creating a dark and rustic feel , was the rage a few decades ago but its not exactly a great design intent. The key is to use paneling sparingly. Now you can get wall panels made from specialty materials, such as concrete with faux wood grain or distressed finish. Concrete can be mounted to plywood walls making it a contemporary way to finish a wall by creating an entirely different surface. There are also acrylic panels available from 3Form that allow for light transfer, but create brightly colored, designer surfaces. Mount an acrylic panel with embedded bamboo to a create a feature wall in your entrance hall, or select a textured acrylic panel for your kitchen backsplash! You could even use a clear, but textured panel over a bright colored paint, allowing it to read thru or even create a wall solely using patterned acrylic partitions!

 


3. Exposure to the Elements. If your are fortunate enough to be in an older home, there are some opportunities to take advantage of using the natural elements available to you. Expose an existing brick or stone wall and incorporate it as a feature wall into your design. Natural is always the way to go, but if you don’t have an existing wall, create one yourself using some convincing faux brick or stone paneling! Create an Italian tavern feel in your dining room, or an impressive focal point in your bedroom.

 






Don’t be stagnant in your home décor. It may take a bit more elbow grease to create an amazing feature wall, but the extra effort will be well worth the “wow” factor and the smile that appears on your face every time you glance at it!