Beautiful wall decorating ideas
27 Wall Decor Ideas to Refresh Your Space
Courtesy of VeryGayPaint
No Wallflowers Here
These touches will bring your empty walls to life
By Kristi Kellogg
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Looking for wall decor ideas to refresh your space? Those empty walls are filled with possibilities—and a few additions can make a house feel like a home. If you're ready to turn those stark, bare walls into stylish centerpieces, keep reading. No matter your style, we've got the tricks that can amp up your walls and bring out your personality and taste. Whether you’re an art collector, a nature enthusiast, or a book lover, your walls can be customized so that you can be surrounded by the things you adore. Discover 27 wall decor ideas that are sure to add style to your home.
1. Go for large-scale art
Max Burkhalter
An oversized painting or photograph will command attention and set the tone in a small space. Try a black-and-white photo in a minimalist space or add color with a vibrant abstract piece, as pictured above in Taylor Rooks’s Manhattan bedroom. (Check out our guide on to where to buy art online to source striking and affordable pieces.)
2. Curate a gallery wall
Simon Watson
Nothing adds personality and color quite like a gallery wall. Display a collection of art or photographs, or add wall hangings and other ephemera. Opt for simple, cohesive frames or bring in an array of ornate variations to mix things up! Pro tip: Extend the gallery wall to the ceiling to create the illusion of a larger space.
Over-The-Sofa Organic Gallery Frames Set (Set Of 7)
$360 $208 at West Elm
3.
Incorporate an accent wallIn addition to displaying objects on the walls, think about decorating the walls themselves. Try out a bright and bold paint color to create an accent wall, or bring in pattern with wallpaper, stenciling, or other decorative paint techniques. (Think about transforming your ceiling while you’re at it!) These decorative accents can have an even bigger impact in a small space.
Phoenix Wallpaper by Justina Blakeney (1 Roll)
$150 at Jungalow
4. Showcase a fabric
A tapestry or wall hanging can add a pop of color and pattern, as well as a sense of softness to a neutral space. Consider framing vintage scarves or other pretty textiles. Bonus: These are a lot easier to move than framed paintings when it comes time to head to your next home.
Layered Watercolor Tapestry
$39 at West Elm
5. Hang up mirrors
Mirrors reflect light, helping a small space to feel bigger and brighter. Try hanging an oversized mirror, or display several smaller pieces salon-style.
Aria Svar Arch Mirror
$360 at Etsy
Harmati Round Mirror Circle Gold
$65 $60 at Amazon
6. Paint a mural
Courtesy of VeryGayPaint
Let your walls transport you to another place by adding a mural. Whether you hand-paint it or choose a wall covering, the motif will make a big impact.
7. Install shelving
Photo: Jessica Antola
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If you’ve run out of floor space for bookshelves, take your collection to the wall. Install floating shelves and display hardcovers, small sculptures, and other odds and ends.
8. Hang plates
Matthieu Salvaing
Why hide your fine china in the cabinet when you can show it off? Use wire plate hangers to display your favorite dishes and serving platters. If you’re a collector of any design object, this might be the move for you–we’ve even seen breadboards as pieces of art on the wall of a Brooklyn brownstone.
Oiseau Bleu Vintage-Inspired French Salad Plate by Gien
$26 at Food 52
9. Display sculptural sconces
Sconces add an extra source of light without taking up space on the floor or a side table. Choose an eye-catching design that doubles as a wall sculpture to bring in light and style.
Fluted Gold Wall Sconce
$199 at Cb2
10. Go greener
Plants don’t just have to sit on the windowsill. Try hanging or wall-mounted planters to add a bit of greenery to your space and nature to your walls. If you’re not big on water, you can opt for a high-quality faux plant (and no one will probably ever be the wiser).
Spora Large Circle Brass Planter
$180 at Food52
Artificial Eucalyptus Wall Hanging
$25 at Amazon
11. Tap into texture with macramé wall art
Those ’70s macramé wall hangings have come back in a big way. The weavings add texture and warm up stark walls. Shop for them on Etsy, or try your hand at making your own.
Lyric Macrame Wall Hanging
$350 at Etsy
Colorful Stripe Wall Hanging
$140 $119 at Etsy
12. Or try beaded wall art
This wall hanging is made using the Maasai beading tradition. We love the minimalist black-and-white design. The stunning piece is handmade in Tanzania using glass beads sourced from the Czech Republic.
Rhombus Wall Hanging Small
$95 at 54Kibo
13. Hang an oversized wall calendar
A large calendar works especially well on an office or kitchen wall. Keep track of your events while also adding a standout element to enliven your room. Try bright and bold calendars with sans serif fonts to create a modern look and add a pop of color.
Poketo Spectrum Wall Planner
$48 at Amazon
14. Set the tone with a giant whiteboard or chalkboard
A big board is a perfect functional addition to an office, playroom, or even a kitchen. A chalkboard lends a rustic air to any room, while a whiteboard is the contemporary alternative—and you don't have to stick to just white (they’re available in a variety of shades and prints).
You can take it to the next level and paint an entire wall with WriteWallPaint, which creates a writeable surface.
Acrylic Dry Erase Board
$169 at Pottery Barn
15. Create a basket wall
Yoshihiro Makino
Most Popular
Here's another wall decor idea: Add baskets to your wall! Whether you want to go colorful or neutral, you can liven up any negative space with an assortment of baskets in different sizes and textures.
Fele Leaf Bowl
$78 at Tackussanu Senegal
16. Document your travels with a personalized map
Add a large word map to your room's decor. You can order a personalized map of a city, state, country, or the world in just about any color palette. You can make it ultra personal by adding pins to the places you've visited or plan to visit.
Wall World Map
$148 $133 at Etsy
17. Mount your television
Another way to go? Mount your television.
Adding a flat screen to your wall can be a great way to free up space on top of your media cabinet, enhance your wall, and update the entire look of your living room or bedroom. Plus, televisions like the aptly named "The Frame" are designed to look like artwork when they're off. With Samsung and you can put your television in ambient mode to showcase the images of your choosing.
Samsung The Frame 4K Smart TV
$1,499 at Best Buy
18. Add shiplap wall paneling
Photo: Courtesy of Cody Ulrich/HarperCollins
Shiplap paneling will infuse your space with a fresh coastal feeling—and it works in any room. Whether your dining room, bedroom, entryway, or even bathroom walls need a refresh, consider adding the wooden boards typically used as exterior siding.
19. Mount your bike on a wall
Creating a stylish and sleek wall-mounting system for your bikes will give you more floor space and create an eye-catching focal point that will transform your blank wall.
This is one of the most fun and functional wall decor ideas out there.
WC Bike Shelf
$100 at Etsy
20. Try removable wall art
Both Minted and Etsy have extensive collections of grown-up, sophisticated removable wall art. The adhesive murals have a luxurious matte finish and come in a variety of styles. Removable wall art is perfect if you're renting and don't want to damage the walls.
Boho Wall Decal
$47 at Etsy
21. Get an ethereal, whimsical look with paper lights
Light Balls
$74 $59 at Etsy
Like sconces, hanging lights set against a wall are a beautiful blend of form and function. Not only do they light your space but they add an unexpected design element that adds an enchanting soft-focus feel to a room.
22. Put rugs on the walls
Minna's Moon Rug Grey Mixed Shag.Photo: Courtesy of Minna
Most Popular
We love a good rug, especially one with an abstract design.
And while they’re great on the floor, they can also do admirable double duty as wall decor. Two-by-three-foot picks stand out when hanging above a fireplace. Or, you can go bigger and cover larger space. The possibilities are endless and unexpected, and we’re here for it.
Checkers Rug, 4"x 6"
$414 at Beni Rugs
Beni Rugs Dusk Rug
$601 at Beni Rugs
23. Taxidermy, but make it vegan
Get yourself an animal head made out grass palm stems. The unique design is handcrafted in Morocco, and is available in the shape of an elephant, a sheep, or (pictured) a goat. Best of all? No animals are harmed in the process of making this striking home decor.
Moroccan Palm Animal Heads
$59 at Your Sustainable Home
24. Add planking to create "stripes"
Photo: John Woodcock
We love the playfulness that planking adds to this children’s room. The stripes were made by applying 12-inch-wide reclaimed-walnut planks. The effect brings to mind summer camp as a kid but is sophisticated enough to grow up with the young boy.
25. Create constellations
Photo: John Woodcock
Most Popular
Design a mini-universe above your headboard. Seen here in a child’s bedroom, this could easily work with any age. It’s an impactful but easy DIY project: Just make a template, tape it to the wall, and string white yarn between roofing nails (painted white to resemble stars).
26. Think outside the box
Wall decorations can be anything, really. Case in point: This fun trio of skateboards. The bright color scheme will energize any room, and is perfect for a contemporary aesthetic.
Keith Haring's "Untitled"
$550 at Goodee World
27. Show off your headwear
Nicole Franzen
Short on closet space? Why not show off your finery and create a practical display with visual interest? Install hooks or a pegboard and hang hats in a cluster.
ExplorewalldecorArtDecoratingShopping
Read More58 Best Wall Art Ideas For Every Room
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1
Stack Some Figures
A series of framed nude figures is such a natural fit for a bathroom gallery wall.
In this small bathroom designed by Andrew Brown Interiors, the warm wallpaper backdrop makes the artwork pop even more.
2
Secure Art to Shelf Dividers
Books run the show in this swanky media room designed by Brigette Romanek, but there's still room for some black and white prints to break up the stacks. She secured them to the shelf dividers and alternated the orientation so a punch of dimension.
Anson Smart3
Get Creative With Paint and Treasures
In this entryway by Emil Dervish that gorgeous cobalt blue door steals the show. To bring even more drama, he extended the paint. to the doorframe and the wall up, finishing in an arched shape. The curves, along with a spherical sconce, soften the edges. Then frames vintage posters and maps of beloved places set the scene.
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4
Stay In Line With the Overall Look
Minimalist, modern interiors can still have in on the fun of a gallery wall.
In this dreamy coastal bedroom designed by Studio DIAA, framed prints add a touch of art without compromising the neutral, uncluttered atmosphere.
5
Take Advantage of Tall Ceilings
Jenny Dina Kirschner filled this living room with cheeky treasures sourced from Chairish. The Gallery of portraits animates the entire room and plays up the tall ceilings (which means extra vertical space!) instead of overcrowding the small room with too much furniture.
Chris Mottalini6
Full Coverage
A wall-to-wall mural creates a sense of intimacy, as if you're viewing a painting alone in a museum, in this living room by Raji RM. The scale alone leaves you awestruck, while the approachable materials throughout the space tone it down for a touch of approachability.
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7
Shrink It Down
Miniatures are too adorable to be stashed away in a dollhouse.
Put some tiny framed paintings on display for a subtle yet cheeky gallery wall in the bedroom. The traditional gilt frames are an unexpected treat in this space designed by Jae Joo.
8
Set the Mood
Equal parts grand and laidback, this foyer designed by Anthony Baratta is the perfect blueprint to follow if you're decorating a formal entrance that still feels unfussy and comfortable. Patterned textiles take center stage (see the carpets and the sofa), but they also help bring the high ceilings down to a human scale when hung over wallpaper.
TRIA GIOVAN9
Breathe New Life Into Something Old
A flip on the typical gallery wall? A gallery wall of antique hand mirrors. Clustered together, these simple, eclectic mirrors function as art (and reflect light beautifully).
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10
Paint Straight On the Walls
In this sleek, minimalist apartment bedroom designed by Crosby Studios, a large abstract figure is painted painted directly onto the walls.
It extends from the wall to the ceiling, making the room feel more polished and whole but still organic.
11
Switch Up Shapes, Colors, and Sizes
Stacks of books bring character and depth to this simple wooden bench in an entryway designed by Jeffrey Dungan without overcrowding it. Plus, since it's lower than a console table, there's extra wall space for that fabulous gallery wall, which is a fascinating mix of sizes, shapes, and colors.
Emily Followill12
Double Up Two Abstract Canvases
Two massive canvases fill the large wall in this contemporary living room by AP Design House. Rough layers of bright white paint pop against the cream-painted walls while still being neutral so that the peach and navy accents can maintain the color spotlight.
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13
Frame Many Mirrors
Alternating frames, sizes, and shapes make this experimental gallery wall of mirrors in a bathroom by Cecilia Casagrande both fun and practical.
14
Play With Optical Illusions
Or, install two mirrors right across from each other to get the effect of a never-ending gallery of mirrors. The infinity effect works well in a modern, minimalist environment, such as this bathroom designed by Kristin Fine.
Nicole Franzen15
Back It Up
You can hang your art on the wall and call it a day, or you can pay special attention to choosing the right backdrop for an even bigger impact. Here, the inimitable Miles Redd placed modern artwork on a classic mural wall covering for contrast and just a touch of playfulness.
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16
Play With Light
Think outside the box with decor that bounces light and makes fun illusions. The most obvious example is a disco ball, which Leanne Ford makes a strong case for in this otherwise laidback living room.
17
Hang Art Over a Window
When you run out of wall space or simply need to hide a less than ideal view, hang your artwork over a window. Interior designer Krystal Mathews found the perfect size artwork and frame to animate the window seat while still letting in enough light.
JESSIE PREZA18
Make It Micro
A gallery wall doesn't need to take up the entire room. In fact, sometimes a tiny one can make a bigger style statement. In this living room, Hiedi Caillier opted for micro-mini frames and a random composition.
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19
Spruce Up Your Stairs
Designer Juan Carretero opted for a deep green paint color to contrast with the light wood finishes. And while he did hang a decorative accent on the back wall, he also introduced art by securing a small frame to a baluster.
Stephen Kent Johnson20
Light It Up
Put your artwork in the literal spotlight by installing a sconce above it.
Interior designer Jean Liu allowed this pretty painting to determine the color scheme throughout the room, tempering its pops of blue with neutral tones and lots of rough texture.
Hadley Mendelsohn
Senior Editor
Hadley Mendelsohn is House Beautiful's senior design editor and the co-host and executive producer of the podcast Dark House. When she's not busy writing about interiors, you can find her scouring vintage stores, reading, researching ghost stories, or stumbling about because she probably lost her glasses again. Along with interior design, she writes about everything from travel to entertainment, beauty, social issues, relationships, fashion, food, and on very special occasions, witches, ghosts, and other Halloween haunts. Her work has also been published in MyDomaine, Who What Wear, Man Repeller, Matches Fashion, Byrdie, and more.
Wall decor: 44 photo-ideas of unusual wall decor on a note
Some young ladies confuse wall decor in the interior with her husband, believing that it should be chosen once and for all.
Not at all: there are a thousand legal ways to change the picture before your eyes without getting involved in repairs. For starters - 44 ideas from Russian and foreign projects.
aamodt / plumb architects
1. Framed Carpet
Don't laugh, one of the most original wall decoration ideas is a carpet. Provided that it is framed and behind glass. It looks solid, museum and hypoallergenic.
READ RELATED…
Good question: Is it shameful or fashionable to hang a carpet on the wall?
ZykinaProject
2. Framed wallpaper
Some wallpapers cost so much that it's cheaper to put money on the wall. Another thing is that they can be used exclusively as a decoration - for example, as a large picture in a spectacular baguette. Then it makes sense to hunt for sale remnants of wallpaper. You won't need more roll anyway.
Interested in interior design?
Let's find a contractor according to your criteria
TS Design | Taras Bezrukov and Stas Samkovich
3.
Wallpaper-coloring
With them you will have fun not only in the process of gluing! For the boy's room in this Moscow project, the owners chose a coloring wallpaper with a jungle-themed pattern. Presumably, the baby should have enough of them for three years.
LineBox Studio
4. Rock painting
Another coloring idea can be borrowed from this Canadian project. The designers staged a festival of cave painting on wet concrete plaster, and then covered it with a special composition so that the walls could be washed without harming the interior and psyche. Now the children, squealing with delight, paint artiodactyls with crayons.
What is especially nice - the drawing is simple, primitive people did it, which means we can do it too.
Lucia Tacla
5. Drawing on the wall
No coloring book compares to being able to paint whatever you want on the wall.
At least for a decent person. The drawing can smoothly flow into a three-dimensional installation. An example is the wall decor in the photo.
READ ON TOPIC…
Wall Art: Modern History
“Own History” | Zasimova Lada, Nikolaeva Victoria
6. Painting on the lining
This bathroom was created for the designer's daughter Lada Zasimova. The wet area is decorated with Bardelli tiles with a large floral pattern. And the wooden wall opposite is decorated with a painting with a similar motif.
Janna Makaeva/Cutting Edge Stencils
7. Stencil painting
At school they thought that fine art comes from the word bullying? In fact, painting a wall on a stencil does not require special skills, only accuracy. In the photo above - a branch of flowering wisteria, at the link below - a master class from designer Zhanna Makaeva.
READ ON TOPIC…
DIY: Wall painting with a stencil, or do-it-yourself wallpaper design
Maxim Samsonov
8. Decals
Vinyl decals are one of the quickest solutions for interior transformation (and stain removal). And this decor does not care about humidity: a photo with birds is from a St. Petersburg project, stickers with birds adorn both the main and guest bathrooms there.
Denis Furmanov
9. Draw with scotch tape
Colored scotch tape can serve as a decor for the walls, if pasted without creases according to a pre-planned plan. This is exactly what designer Denis Furmanov did with a wall in a rented Zhulebinsky “three-ruble note” (pictured). This trick is trickier than it looks. The table, located against the wall, emphasized the tightness of the room. Therefore, the designer decided to divert attention from the table with active graphics on the wall.
And the lines, by the way, are not just lines, but a hint of wallpaper from the Viceroy Santa Monica hotel by Kelly Wearstler.
Tip: doesn't like scotch tape on the wall - these stripes can also be drawn with paint using masking tape as a stencil.
Inna Velichko
10. Drawing around the thing
Yes, such a floor lamp cannot be moved. But it has no other disadvantages: any design, any shape and any color are available at a minimum cost. This optical illusion in the room of the designer's daughter Inna Velichko is only partly an illusion: the lamp is absolutely working.
Architectural workshop za bor
11. Cable figures
A few meters of black cable, a white wall - this is how an unusual decor is born. The bunny and the giraffe are an allusion to the images of the owners of the apartment, the architect Pyotr Zaitsev and his wife Anastasia Solomatina. Thus, they signed who sleeps where (by the way, the hare is Peter).
If you do not have extra cable left, you can use colored cords from hardware stores. True, you have to glue them to keep their shape.
Erika Bierman Photography
12. Dividing strip
On the one hand, white walls are fashionable. On the other hand, it's too easy. Try adding a bright colored strip around the perimeter of the wall: by narrowing and expanding it, you can create various optical effects.
ANNAmorphs.
Another example: the yellow stripe in the gap of a narrow white corridor in itself looks quite impressive. But it has another function - the portal seems to cut the space into two separate rooms, which is why the corridor no longer seems like an endless tunnel. See how this strip goes across the floor and bench. In fact, everything is even cooler: an unusual effect is achieved through a well-thought-out optical illusion - see the next photo.
Hendricks Churchill
13.
Bright baseboards and skirting boards
An extremely simple, but very effective technique is to paint the slopes and skirting boards (including ceiling boards) in a contrasting bright color. In this way, you can still maintain the color of furniture or other decor.
READ MORE…
Interior Sleeves: How to work with fillets and ceiling plinth
BAUHAUS Danmark
14. Two-tone slope
Another interesting trick is to paint the window sill in two colors, one of which is the color of the wall. In addition to the decorative effect, it is also an opportunity to “adjust” the width of the slope.
Greta Wolf
15. Slope with finishing
It is enough to cover wide slopes with cheerful wallpaper and divert attention from the too active or, conversely, neutral color of the walls. Slopes can also be ennobled with paintings and tiles.
READ MORE…
Decor ideas: Window slopes and how to frame them
16. Slate wall
Endless change of images, creative freedom and a diary included - this is not a new gadget, but a wall painted with slate paint.
Alison Damonte Design
17. Quotes within
To make the inscription look more solid, you can print the quote on paper in a fashionable sans-serif font and place it in a laconic frame. The frame has a magical property: to give additional significance to any word or object.
18. Letters for inspiration
A good font can decorate a wall better than a picture. Sticker letters are sold in stores, but they can also be cut on a plotter in any advertising workshop. The most difficult thing is to choose a phrase that will not start to annoy before you finish the repair.
Nikolay Nikolaev/Design Studio N-Kub
19.
Inscriptions on the stencil
You can go the other way - cut out the stencil from paper and paint over the walls according to the stencil. This is exactly what they did in this project, decorating the room for the eldest son with motivating inscriptions. You can choose your own, in the spirit: “if you don’t study, you will go to the janitors.”
Mary Cook
Amy Lau Design
20. Volumetric applications from paper
This fun is called paper plastic. Flowers, sheets, butterflies, spirals, fans and masks are cut out of thick paper, bent as needed with a pencil, a stationery knife and scissors, and glued to the wall if desired. This, of course, is a romantic decor, more suitable for a bedroom or boudoir, but away from conventions. The main thing is to understand how to vacuum it.
Siobhan Loates Interiors
21.
Mirror on mirror
You can soften the coldness of a large mirror and protect it from the foreheads of inattentive guests by hanging another mirror in a beautiful decorative frame over the canvas.
READ ON THE TOPIC…
Mirrors in the interior: how not to overdo it?
Jessica Helgerson Interior Design
22. Shards
You can assemble a panel from small pieces of a geometric mirror (hint: you can cut the mirror into pieces in any glass workshop). As an option - buy round, oval, square and rectangular small mirrors and make a composition out of them.
SPACE FOR LIFE
23. Mirrors and shutters
By combining mirrors and wooden panels, you can decorate the entire wall. In this project, the designer used ordinary louvered doors from a building hypermarket. This technique brought down the pathos of large mirror surfaces, but added volume to a small space.
24. Window imitation as wall decor
Even an empty window frame or shutters can create the effect of an additional window, which is useful for small rooms and blank walls. The effect will be twice as strong if you glaze the “window” with a mirror. At the same time, you can look into it.
The background for this decor does not play a special role. For example, at first they wanted to hang a mirror from the Moscow project in the photo on the brickwork in the living room, but they changed their minds and sent it to the bedroom.
MORE PHOTOS…
25 more examples - fake window in Houzz photo section
Akant Architectural Studio
So, you can pull them on the frame and hang on the wall. Vintage will look especially colorful.
TS Design | Taras Bezrukov and Stas Samkovich
26. Giclee panel
The little thing above the sofa in the photo is called a giclee panel — a poster with the author's refinement with a brush.
It all started from there. that the decorators stumbled upon a silk scarf by Olga Nikich. But along the edges it had a pattern that did not fit into the interior, so the designers bought a file with a scarf pattern from the author, printed it on canvas, and then Olga manually painted the triangles with mother-of-pearl.
Ekaterina Lieberman
27. Three-part panels
This ethnic wall decor in the photo is actually beehive covers bought on the market in Serbia. But paintings are often hung using this technology: one image is divided into several fragments in independent frames. No one brings Cameroonian hats from Cameroon anymore, they are produced all over the world and sold in interior stores. They are hung on the walls one by one or in a company, choosing by color and size.
Riegler Photography
29. Blank Frames
A beautiful baguette is good on its own, and painted in rich color is even better.
Strict geometry sets the rhythm, and if they ask where the photo is taken, answer mysteriously: “the inner emptiness conveys a philosophical understatement to the interior.”
Jordi Folch
If the frames "run into" the painted part of the wall and spoil the purity of the color, feel free to paint directly on the frame. What do you have to lose something with such a philosophical understatement.
The empty frame can also perform solo.
Rikki Snyder
30. Plywood Panels
Cutting clouds out of plywood, painting or varnishing it while maintaining the natural texture of the wood is not difficult at all. Applications can be mounted on the wall, but more often they are mounted on small racks - so that the decor slightly moves away from the wall. This makes the drawing look bigger.
Dmytro Aranchii Architects
It can also be a complex, well-thought-out wall decor, a leitmotif stretching through the whole apartment - like the branches of a miracle tree in the project of a Kyiv architect.
2B.GROUP
Idea: plywood figures for the nursery can be covered with fabric.
Olga Shangina | Photography
31. Cork houses
This appliqué is carved from cork wood according to the designer's sketch. In fact, the fate of a photo album is destined for her, but until the owner of the room has accumulated enough personal history, cartoon characters live in the windows of the houses.
Stashchuk Tatiana
32. Three-dimensional decor made of laths
Geometric pattern and rhythm organize any space. An alternative to wallpaper with the “correct” pattern and color is its own geometric pattern of narrow wooden slats. Paint them the same color as the wall and you have an exclusive wallpaper with a 3D effect.
3D Group
The beauty of slats is that they, even being the same color as the wall, make it three-dimensional.
Now imagine that these are white slats on a dark background, or vice versa - dark on a light one!
The New Design Project
33. Paintings in one color
As you know, the Black Square has a deep philosophical meaning. But even if there is less sense in the green square, it will be enough to revive an empty wall. Canvas is optional, the frame can be covered with fabric, pasted over with colored cardboard, vinyl film, etc.
Mclean & Tircuit Designs
34. Unusual gallery
The photos themselves can hardly be called unusual decor. But the original way of attaching them to the wall is easy. For example, mounting on a painted board by surprise.
READ ON TOPIC…
Not like everyone else: Non-standard mountings for pictures on the wall
David Rausch Studio
look like a photo exhibition.
Pictures suspended from the rail can be moved back and forth. Great option for a long corridor.
Enjoy Home Studio
Another unusual way to decorate a wall is to use a floor standing photo. A strong decorative effect is achieved due to the scale of the canvas.
Behind the architectural "decoy" in the center of the hall in the photo, like behind a screen, the door of another bathroom was hidden. By the way, the designers of the Enjoy Home studio found this picture in a photobank.
SUSANNE KAISER Innenarchitektur Berlin
Well, no one canceled the photo wallpaper either.
Gaile Guevara
35. Three-dimensional hanging
Another option for non-standard photo hanging is a rhythmic composition of cords and fasteners. A similar installation can be done by replacing the frames with stationery clips.
Prokhorova Natalia "Arahis design"
36.
Clock without case
The very case when the decor is absolutely functional. The main thing is not to confuse the numbers (although this is an idea!).
In this Novosibirsk apartment where a young couple lives, a clock mechanism adorns the wall of an office without any numbers at all. His role is rather edifying. As they say in articles about the benefits of marriage: the clock is ticking.
Zouk Architects
37. Shadow theater
Chiaroscuro is a great tool for quick interior design. Especially in terms of costs. To get an unusual light pattern, you can purchase a special lamp - with a "leaky" frame. The light, falling through artistically carved holes, casts elaborate shadows on the surface. Most often, this is either a repeating pattern, or associations on a forest theme. Ideal - when the walls and ceiling are of the same color, then the pattern comes out the same.
READ RELATED…
Home “Shadow Theatre”: Learning to work with decorative light
38.
Lighting decor
Directional light lamps turned in different directions also create an interesting decorative effect. In addition, this technique adds volume to the room.
Arkee Creative
Martha O'Hara Interiors
39. Decorate the wall with furniture
It can be just a small shelf with a spectacular outline. And if part of the wall is occupied by a highly respected wardrobe, rack or sideboard, you can decorate it too by pasting the insides with pretty wallpaper. And the wall will immediately become brighter.
READ RELATED…
Leftovers are sweet: 10 places where wallpaper will still come in handy
Odnushechka | Odnushechka
41. Painting like a screen
If you want to revive a wall on which the TV has already taken its place, just hide it behind an abstract-style canvas of two movable halves.
READ MORE…
Out of sight: What to do with the TV screen in the interior
Barlow & Barlow Design
42. Splashes, drops and streaks
Who said that a picture on a wall should be objective? Abstract flows and splashes look no worse (and certainly brighter) than Christmas trees and birds. However, such painting has one important property - it is very expressive. With such decor, not everyone will relax.
Rebel Walls
Even in monochrome, this pattern will look too bright, so do not decorate more than one wall with streaks.
Mia Mortensen Photography
Much calmer in this sense is textured granular plaster, painted in a dark deep color. Against this background, shelving and cabinets without a back wall look good.
Art Ceramics by Vladimir Kovalev
43. Ceramic panel
The photo is not a painting, but a ceramic decorative panel “Cosmos” (chamotte, enamel, glaze, firing) by Moscow artist Vladimir Kovalev.
In essence, it is a giant handmade tile ceiling-high; designers built it into a shallow niche.
44. Relief wall
With the help of timber painted in a noble shade, the renovation in the new building looks “angry and spectacular”.
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6 modern options with photos, designer's advice
Modern technologies give a lot of scope in choosing materials for home decoration. We tell you which options are most relevant and what are the advantages or disadvantages
Photo: shutterstock
An important element in housing design is decorative wall decoration, which will make the apartment cozy and comfortable.
And the choice can not be limited only to painting or wallpaper.
What options are most relevant and what are the advantages or disadvantages of each of them - we will discuss together with experts.
- Wall painting
- wallpapers
- Panels
- Linkrust
- Decorative plaster
- Decorative brick
adv.rbc.ru
Experts in this article:
- Elena Sedykh, architect-designer, teacher at the international school of design, founder of the Dom Inside design bureau, author of the telegram channel Interiorshchitsa
- Elena Mizotina, founder and head of GM-interior 9 studio0459
Wall painting
Paint has long ceased to be something intimidating - before, only strong-smelling mixtures could be bought for repairs, and the choice of shades was limited.
Now the store has a huge number of colors, but if the palette does not have what you need, then you can mix the colors right on the spot.
It is better to immediately calculate the required amount of paint and buy it with a margin. At the next tinting, there may be a difference in shade, insignificant at first glance, but noticeable when painting.
Photo: personal archive
Walls painted with modern materials are easy to clean, so stains can be easily removed. If the coating is damaged, it is easy to paint over.
This type of finish is used in almost any room. In this case, you can apply the paint evenly and textured - using a special roller. But this finishing method has its own difficulties. Before painting, the walls must be carefully prepared - they must be perfectly even. And here you can not do without the help of a specialist.
Elena Sedykh:
— Paint is one of the most convenient repair tools. English premium brands are preferred, they have stunningly beautiful color palettes. The only disadvantage of painting is the thorough preparation of the walls.
The paint can be used in all areas - bedroom, kitchen, bathroom.
For wet areas, choose a paint with gloss levels from 7% - it is not afraid of either water or dirt. Deep matte will look beautiful in the bedroom, but you have to be very careful - there are traces of the slightest touch on it.
Another plus of painting is that the color of the walls is always easy to update or change. But if you have chosen a new shade, do not apply it on top of the old one, be sure to apply the primer first.
Elena Mizotina:
— Today, painted walls are more relevant than ever, more and more people choose this option. The paint is easy to apply, it is easier to care for such a wall, and a wide tint palette allows you to realize any design ideas. Cons - the preparation of walls causes great difficulty.
Wallpaper
Wallpapering is one of the most popular types of wall decoration. Paper, non-woven, vinyl, textile, glass, liquid, photo, acrylic - there are many options.
And among them you can choose the right one: ordinary or washable, resistant to fading, moisture resistant.
Wallpapers are distinguished by a variety of patterns - you can always find one that you like. When buying, you need to take into account the required volume with a margin, since the next batch may differ in shade. And if a few rolls remain, then they can be used locally if part of the wallpaper is damaged.
Photo: shutterstock
One of the advantages is that they hide minor wall imperfections very well. In addition, they can be glued without resorting to the help of a master.
But not every wallpaper can be used in certain rooms. For example, paper ones are categorically not suitable for the bathroom, as they cannot withstand a humid environment. Here it is better to use moisture-resistant, for example, non-woven, vinyl or fiberglass. Manufacturers offer many options even for such "difficult" rooms.
The disadvantages of such a coating include its fragility - sooner or later they will have to be completely changed.
And here another minus pops up - a rather complicated dismantling and processing of walls after removing old wallpaper.
Elena Sedykh:
— Wallpaper is perhaps the most popular finishing material. The fact is that for wallpapering it is not at all necessary to use perfectly even walls - the thickness of the roll allows you to level out small flaws. It is better not to use the same wallpaper for the entire room, but to combine active patterns with neutral, painted sections of the walls, add moldings.
The most versatile wallpaper material is interlining. It is convenient to glue it, it is easy to clean and generally quite unpretentious. With careful use, such wallpaper can decorate even the bathroom. Paper wallpapers are beautiful, but very delicate and will cause a lot of inconvenience in sticking.
Vinyl wallpaper has almost "reinforced concrete" strength, but is not very environmentally friendly. They have minimal chemical fumes, so they are best left for common walk-through areas - corridors and halls.
Elena Mizotina:
— Today, wallpapers are more often used as a bright accent. The drawing can be plot or with a spectacular pattern, large-format prints are especially popular, they fill the room with artistic beauty. Cons - you need to understand which pattern on the wallpaper visually enlarges the room, which plot is appropriate. This is very delicate work.
Panels
This type of finish is quite simple and practical. Decorative panels for wall decoration can be selected from different materials (PVC, MDF, gypsum and gypsum vinyl, bamboo, cork, glass). Moreover, they are presented in a wide palette.
Photo: shutterstock
The panels are durable, very easy to care for, and if any part is damaged, they can be easily replaced. Moreover, they are easy to install and do not need to carefully align the walls - the panels hide all the flaws.
One disadvantage is that they “hide” the space due to the volume of the structure.
Elena Sedykh:
- Decorative panels are very versatile - they can be made soft or hard, choose any design. But you need to remember: the more voluminous decor, the more difficult it is to clean. Plus, the materials can be expensive.
Linkrust
One of the types of wallpaper - linkrust - appeared in the 19th century as a replacement for stucco, but is still very relevant today. It consists of a fabric or paper substrate and a bulk material applied to it, which allows you to create any relief. Its popularity is due to its durability and low maintenance.
It is also important that linkrust is environmentally friendly, as natural materials are used for it, so it is often chosen for children's rooms. It is also breathable, so the possibility of mold or mildew on the wall is minimal. Linkrust perfectly hides the small imperfections of the walls and their unevenness.
Photo: shutterstock
However, this type of finish is quite expensive: the naturalness of the materials affects the price.
Yes, and to apply it on the walls, it will take a lot of time - you must first prepare the surface, soak the canvases, and then dry them thoroughly.
Please note that linkrust can only be used in warm rooms, as it does not tolerate low temperatures.
Elena Sedykh:
— Linkrust was used on the walls of old Moscow and St. Petersburg metro cars — it is based on a fabric substrate with a pattern of natural plastics applied over it. Linkrust was invented in the Victorian era as an elite finishing material. The Soviet government established its production and fell in love with it for durability, decorativeness and ease of installation. Lincrust was sheathed on wagons and cabins of ships - he is not afraid of anything.
Now the Soviet linkrust is a thing of the past, but the original, English, is still being produced. Its advantage is in stunning decorative patterns and absolute strength. If you have a large active family with kids and you know that wallpaper or paint won't last long, durable lincrust is your best bet.
Decorative plaster
Decorative plaster is also available in a variety of textures and colors. It allows you to create deliberate irregularities on the wall, and a glossy surface, as well as imitate various natural materials.
Photo: shutterstock
The main advantages are environmental friendliness, durability, the ability to hide seams and wall irregularities, ease of application, cost-effectiveness. In addition, decorative plaster can be used in almost any room. Easy to care for - easy to wash, even with cleaning products.
Elena Sedykh:
— Fifteen years ago, all designers were fond of "Venetian" - decorative plaster imitating polished marble. Everything was covered with it - from rooms to baths.
Plaster itself is not a bad thing: it is strong enough and easy to clean. But in too much quantity it causes a feeling of some bureaucracy. Now, in addition to the "Venetian", there are many options for interesting coatings and decors of any color and texture, but be careful - only professionals should apply plaster.
Preferably - specialists from the store where you bought it. Otherwise, the result can be completely unpredictable, because the application of plaster is a process that requires skill.
Elena Mizotina:
— On the one hand, it is able to maintain the simplicity and style of the interior (for example, imitation of concrete walls), and on the other hand, it can be with intriguing, luxurious effects (for example, imitation of natural silk).
Cons - the performer, the application specialist is of great importance, otherwise, instead of silk, you can get an unexpected, very far from the idea effect.
Decorative brick
If earlier a bare brick wall suggested devastation and unfinished repairs, today it is one of the most popular types of wall decoration. One of the reasons for its popularity is the ability to fit into almost any interior. To do this, you can choose almost any color and shape. At the same time, decorative brick has many advantages: environmental friendliness, fire safety, durability and ease of installation.
