When I moved into my current apartment, I chose a deep, reddish-brown paint for the main room walls (it's called Fudge Cookie, which only added to the appeal). The room gets a lot of light and can handle it. Every now and then, however, I find myself pining for clean, white walls so I can start from scratch. Giving your walls a makeover can be an inexpensive way to transform a space without a lot of effort. So without further ado, this week's Top 5 Friday offers a little wall inspiration.
Paint 2.0
Personally, I'm straight line-challenged -- even with a level and a ruler, I've often had trouble getting things perfectly aligned. For the rest of the world, however, arranging masking tape in a straight line doesn't seem to be a problem. The colour-in-a-frame treatment below, left, is a simple way to dress up a wall on a budget -- you wouldn't need very much paint to add this to an already painted wall. If anyone watched the U.S. program Top Design last season, you may recognize the room on the right by winner Nathan Thomas. His seemingly haphazard design was in fact the pattern created by the reflection from the crystal light fixture you can just make out in the top right corner.
Images from left, Apartment Therapy; right, TVGuide.com
Maps
Vintage maps are popping up in all shapes and sizes. I love the idea of putting a map in a child's room, like photographer Rinne Allen and storeowner Elizabeth Remos did in their respective son's rooms below. Searching eBay for vintage maps of Canada, I spotted a map of Canada from 1911 for only $15USD!
Both images from Design*Sponge
Text
The writing's on the wall...(too easy?): text-based art is here to stay. Try a decal, stencil or even free verse it if your penmanship is wall-worthy. Canadian-company Surface Collective's Sunshine is Like Gold decal below, left, would make a cute headboard or add a hit of light to a powder room that's lacking sunshine of its own. The romantic sentiment on the right from createAonesie makes me swoon just a little. C'est romantique!
Images from left, Surface Collective; right, Etsy.com
Fabric
I love Marimekko prints, they're bold, creative and don't take themselves too seriously. The fabric wall panels below, left, are a colourful way to wake up a white wall. While I probably can't afford authentic Marimekko, there's no shortage of gorgeous fabrics out there. I picked up some silk-blend sari fabric on sale and I plan to frame it over my bed, like a smaller version of the vintage ikat print hanging below, right, in painter Anne Becker's home (from Elle Decor's March 2009 issue).
Images from left, Always Mod; right, Poppytalk
Trompe l'Oeil Decals
Wall decals are nothing new, but trompe l'oeil versions are a little bit kitchy and a little bit ingenious. I'm especially fond of the coat tree wall sticker by Danish company Ferm Living (also available in Canada at online decor shop Modern Karibou). Just attach a few black hooks to blend into the background and you're set.
Image from Modern Karibou
Have you tried any of these treatments? Tell us your ideas below.
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Top 5 Friday appears every week on Style Sheet.