The importance of walls and ceilings
Interior wall decoration is a vital part of home decorating. Walls are the most visible surfaces in any room, and how you deal with them will determine the character of your living spaces.
In the past walls were always decorated to a certain degree, while ceilings were often finished in a more elaborate way. This continued right up into the 1920's. After that, ceilings tended to be decorated in a plain finish.
If you pay careful attention to both walls and ceilings you can alter the whole atmosphere of a room.
Decorating options
There are many different options in interior wall decoration for you to use. You can choose from paint, plaster, paper, fabric, paneling, mirrors, and so on. Within each of these there are all sorts of variations, and even a superficial knowledge will help you to make wise choices.
One of the keys to successful decorating is to have some idea of the effects these different treatments will have on the room. It's also useful to know how to make the most of each of them, and what mistakes it's easy to make when using them.
The color of the walls in this illustration matches the fabric of the upholstery, and provides a calm background for the furniture, draperies and other accessories. Sometimes the simplest solution is the best!
Spatial effects
Although there is much you can do with texture, color and pattern to make a room look smaller or larger, it's easy to forget you can make actual changes as well.
Can you easily move walls or ceilings?
In modern homes it's often not too difficult to move internal walls - add them or remove existing ones. If a ceiling is too high, then you could put in a false ceiling. This is often a good option in older buildings where it's difficult to remove structures but easy to add them. Even a drop of a few inches can make a great deal of difference to the proportions of a room.
So before you rush off to but paints or whatever for your interior wall decoration, take time to look at structural options. They may not be suitable for your situation, but it's worth thinking about.
Decorating topics
Here are some of the issues to take into consideration.
Interior wall colors
No matter what technique you use, they will all involve color. Here are some helpful ideas and suggestions.
Wallcovering ideas
Painting is the first ideas which comes into our heads, but take a look at the other options available.
Paints
There are a variety of paint types available, and it's helpful to know the differences between them.
Paint Techniques
You're not limited just by the color or type of paint you use. There are many ways of using paint and glazes. This section introduces the most popular of these techniques.
Interior Paint Ideas
Paint can be used in many ways and for many effects. Here are a few ideas and suggestions.
Home Wallpaper
Wallpaper probably gives you more choice of color, texture, pattern and finish than any other method of decorating your walls.
Designer Wallpaper
Designer wallpaper is often thought of as expensive or extravagant. But you might like to reconsider...
Vinyl Wallpaper
There are some distinct advantages in using vinyl wallpaper, and some mistakes to avoid.
Interior Wall Murals
Wall murals give an added dimension to your home decorating.
Interior Wall Plaster
Plaster can have a coat of paint or paper applied, but can also be used on its own.
Interior Wall Paneling
Panels have often been used in the past to give an air of opulence. Today they can be used in many different ways to give a room it's own unique character.
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