For some, the idea of redecorating a room or space in the home is a daunting prospect. Steve Hird, Director at interior design specialists, Edward Thomas Interiors suggests this needn’t be the case and invites consideration of creative wall coverings and treatments as a method to instantly revive and refresh.
When thinking of changing a room’s interior design, walls can often be an afterthought. It’s easy to get preoccupied with furniture and fabric choices but our advice is wait, and consider your wallcoverings first. These offer extreme versatility, from changing colour or creating an eye-catching feature to embracing a theme or adding texture and depth, there are plenty of wall treatments that can instantly transform the look and feel of a space.
Firstly, the obvious choice, wallpaper. This will never go out of fashion and is something we’re asked about so frequently that we created a dedicated social media series, Wallpaper Wednesday, to highlight some of our favourite styles and how to use them including full coverage, half height, or as a feature.
In living rooms and home offices, we favour a statement wall and there are some superb patterns to achieve this, whether that’s botanical, geometric, art deco, textured or even with iconic landmarks and characters. On our recent installs we’ve used a Palace of Versailles print and one with the Mary Poppins umbrella. If you’re not feeling especially brave, downstairs cloakrooms and utility rooms are ideal for experimenting with bolder wallpaper designs. They can add drama to smaller spaces but are also simpler to redecorate if you change your mind.
Colour blocks
Another popular trend is colour block painting and with this, you can create real character. For instance, in a kitchen/dining/family room you could paint a central strip to draw the eye to a focal point, such as dining table, or make a striking backdrop for a further feature such as a wall mounted media unit. In bedrooms you can create attractive arches and curves, or even a canopy by partially painting three walls and the ceiling. We strongly advise not to forget the ceiling. Painting this can really add depth to a room, or make a child’s bedroom more imaginative; recently we’ve added murals depicting the night sky, planets, and even a football pitch.
Both wallpaper and block painting easily compliment other treatments such as mirror walls, picture rails and panelling. Don’t be afraid to deliberately contrast, or add more than one feature wall, perhaps one panelled and one painted. For extra creativity, why not trying layering your wall treatments? So you might consider two different coloured paint blocks with panelling over the top, or a half height wallpaper alongside painting above/below.
Other decorative wall installations we’ve embraced are full height headboards with wallpaper or a moody mirror wall either side; photo galleries with colour block painting behind to give an illusion of a frame – this works well in hallways, stairwells and landings. Macramé, canvases, and oversized wall-hangings such as Moroccan or Indian tapestry are also great for showcasing your personality and adding texture and tacticity.
