Don't Go A-Wall

Walls have had a tumultuous history. From the recent look of stark minimalism, seventies psychedelic orange, sixties hippie black, fifties pastels, and before that rolls of wallpaper donning everything from cupids carrying primroses to repetitious flora and fauna.

Today, we are in love with our walls more than ever, adorning them with everything from texture to heavy-duty architectural accents, splashing those inbetween with vivid color and even attacking ceilings that were once safe from our creative grasp.

Excitement and diversity is the key. Take for example contemporary faux painting techniques. There are still the traditional standby's; sponging for a natural, mottled look, washing for crisscross patterns and ragging to create the effect of stucco. Add to that today's wide variety of textured wallpapers used alone or in conjunction with these techniques. Today's feature: shine, glamour and more shine. Wallpapers that resemble leather and other exotic skins, such as tortoise or snake, are another hit. Now we are even seeing them made from precious metals, such as silver and gold leaf, as well as from plant materials.
When it comes to paint, your level of choices are like never before. Wasabi Green or Sour Apple? And even more important than fashion, your choice will determine how well it holds up. It's usually easier to stick with water-based because cleanup is quick and easy with soap and water, they dry fast and with much less odor. Oil-based paint can be a mess - cleaning brushes, rollers and hands requires smelly, flammable chemicals.

When it comes to finishes, one hard fast rule to remember - the shinier the paint, the more stain-resistant it is and the easier it is to clean without damaging the surface. For kid's rooms, kitchens and bathrooms, experts agree, semigloss or gloss is the best. For a more sophisticated look in formal rooms, flat finishes are beautiful. Because they refract and scatter light, they also minimize the look of surface imperfections. Inbetween those two extremes, beginning with the least shiny, are satin, also called high-sheen flat; eggshell, or low luster; and semigloss.

Paint is even reaching the ceiling. Solid, it complements wallpapered walls, completing a room. Warm-colored ceilings can make a large space appear cozier as well as make a space with high, vaulted ceilings appear more comfortable and spacious. Many go Michelangelo with murals, from dancing cherubs, to celestial stars or illusionary scenes.

Architectural accents are always elegant and also draw the eye upward toward the ceiling. Wood paneling, molding and trims similarly add importance to a ceiling space, as can bands of color such as decorative fabrics, wallpaper borders and stenciled designs. Most clever and dramatic of all is the combination of all these techniques.

Make your walls as exciting and diverse as the home they support. With such a spectrum of possibilities within easy reach, there's no better time!