Change Your Walls, Change Your Room

by Jennifer Weldon

A simple, inexpensive way to renovate any room in your home is to make over your walls. And new methods available today go way beyond just a simple coat of fresh paint. A professional contractor can show you the latest techniques available and how they can help you transform any room.

Drywall Textures

Interior designers utilize drywall texturing to add interest and architectural details to a wall or ceiling. This process can create touches of elegance and luxury at much less cost than you would expect. There are a variety of finishes that can be achieved with drywall texturing. Creating a smooth finish on old walls can update a room. Retexturing these walls to resemble their original finish is also an option. Different styles of texturing include skip and trowel or brushed. Using a different style can create a whole new look in a room. Using joint compound to cover these textures is another idea. This will achieve a plaster like look reminiscent of the early 20th century. Combining different techniques on walls or ceilings will make an interesting look. Orange peel finish technique is the latest trend. Texture compound is sprayed onto a smooth wall. After it dries, painting is done. The finished look is three dimensional in nature.

Faux Painting

Faux painting is a way to achieve many different looks. There are a variety of finish techniques you can use to mimic the look of wallpaper, fabric, marble and more. Faux painting includes sponging, glazing, ragging, using plastic bags, and more. Some faux painting materials and techniques can appear three-dimensional. A layered application can make your wall or surface look like old-world stone, chipped paint, or decrepit masonry. Faux painting can also appear as fabrics such as linen or denim, and natural materials such as grass. You can incorporate the faux painting scheme to the décor already in your home. If you have an old world look, you can create old building walls. If you have a formal, elegant area, you can recreate marble columns on your walls. Suede finishes are popular in formal areas such as dining rooms or home offices. It can lend a rich, luxurious feel to a room. By adding solids like silica to paint, you can even create the feel of suede.

Non-traditional Wall Coverings

Wall coverings have come a long way from solids, stripes, or flowers. Many new designs, patterns, and textures are on the market including fabrics and natural materials. Wall coverings can also come in panels to create a mural on one wall – perfect for nurseries!

Here are a few non-traditional wall coverings you may not have heard of:

• Foil or Mylar (a brand name) works best on extremely smooth wall surfaces. The nature of foil will reveal any wall imperfections. However, its reflective quality can open up a room and evoke a modern, contemporary look.

• Wall coverings that feature a thin cork layer on top are popular in offices or great rooms. They provide a warm and rustic ambiance.

• Wall coverings that feature fabric with a paper backing combine the rich texture of the fabric with the easy installation of wall paper.

More information about changing the wallcoverings in your home by aprofessional wallcoverings contractor.

More information about different types of wallcoverings.