Create a Statement Wall

Dramatic. Dreamy. Energetic. Whimsical. Statement walls can evoke a range of sentiments with a refreshing use of colour, materials and shapes. Imagine standing in a room that is entirely painted in a neutral colour such as beige. That’s rather dreary. Now envision that one of those walls makes a statement using wood or tile arranged in a herringbone pattern, or a hand-painted mural, bold wallpaper, comic book pages, slats of shimmering stone, or even lush, green grass. Search online for statement walls and you will find inspiring visual examples of these options: Herringbone, Sleek or Rustic styles of wood Wooden wainscoting and beadboard have been used for generations to create interest and protect walls from damage. Wood can also make a statement. Reclaimed, weathered planks laid out in a horizontal or angled pattern can be left natural or given a hint of colour using thinned acrylic or milk paints. For something more dramatic, lay out wood planks in a herringbone pattern that completely covers the wall, or zig zags across the middle. Don’t feel limited to using reclaimed wood from old fences or barns; sleek wood can also be very attractive, and an easy trick is to use engineered hardwood flooring, which has a veneer of real wood attached to thin plywood. Engineered flooring also has convenient connection systems such as tongue and groove. Murals Hand-painted and wallpaper murals can make powerful statements yet are relatively inexpensive. Create your mural freehand or use a wall projector to transpose an image then trace on your artwork. If you are less artistically inclined, there are many fabulous murals available to purchase. Imagine a bright room filled with white leather furniture next to swirls of marbled agate in milky blue, green and purple. Local and online stores offer a wide range of options including massive modern art reproductions. Comic book pages Comic books bring back happy childhood memories and are beautiful works of art in their own right. You can cover an entire wall with comic book pages, or a narrower panel. To avoid damaging the wall, attach the comic book pages to smooth artboard, then seal it with a non-toxic product (e.g., Mod Podge). Greenery Grass and ivy growing out of the wall is quirky and surprisingly attractive. There are special containers and types of plants that are suitable for ‘living walls’, but there are also many acceptable faux greenery options that require no upkeep. You may choose to cover an entire wall or install artwork-sized greenery. Stone Narrow slats of shimmering stone are popular as kitchen backsplashes and recently have appeared on fireplace surrounds and statement walls. The slats are typically small at just a few inches high by several inches long. They are installed in perfectly even rows with some tiles protruding forward to add more depth. Polaroid photos Digital photography delivers vivid, near-perfect colours and excellent depth of field. By comparison, Polaroid images are small, square, somewhat washed out and blurry—which makes them uniquely nostalgic. If you do not have real Polaroid prints, there is software available to apply filters and convert your digital images into a Polaroid-style image, which you can print onto photo paper. Consider displaying on tall panels protected by a sheet of plexiglass. Wallpaper and 3-D Panels There are three types of wallpaper: a repeating pattern, mural (see above) and 3-D texture. For repeating patterns, the selection is enormous. There is faux stone, brick, wood and tile, animal prints, geometric and just about anything else you can imagine. Three-dimensional textured panels are a bold choice and are usually available in geometric shapes that can be painted. Paint: Ombre-style, Metallic Ombre, a term coined by designers, was borrowed from the French language and means “shade”. Ombre style is a subtle progression from a dark to light paint colour or visa versa and is reminiscent of a sunrise. Another innovative paint technique involves metallics applied in asymmetrical lines, or with large stencils. Gold, silver, copper and bronze paint can be used directly on the walls or mixed into the wall paint to add a subtle, metallic sheen. Professional designs If your budget allows, you may wish to hire an artist or interior designer to create a custom statement wall to enhance the beauty of your home. Get ready to make a statement! The trademarks MLS®, Multiple Listing Service® and the associated logos identify professional services rendered by REALTOR® members of CREA to effect the purchase, sale and lease of real estate as part of a cooperative selling system. The trademarks REALTOR®, REALTORS® and the REALTOR® logo are controlled by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and identify real estate professionals who are members of CREA.