Walls must have a
distinct look
Walls,
which form the basic framework of every home and are the
first to be put up when we are building our homes, really
should be viewed as more than something to place the roof
on, or the place to hang up your art work on, says Harkiran Sodhi
WHENEVER we think of building a new
home or even redesigning our existing homes, we toy over
where to place which room, mull over what colour the
bathroom should be, think carefully about the size of the
windows. Rarely does anyone consider one of the most
basic features of the house the wall and consider
the many ways to play it up and make it look attractive.
Yes, believe it or not, there are options over painting a
plastered wall, and here the choice is not in terms of
what colour is used.
Walls, which form the
basic framework of every home and are the first to be put
up when we are building our homes, really should be
viewed as more than something to place the roof on, or
the place to hang up your artwork on. Despite their
standard size and straight dimensions walls can be given
a character of their own and made to look like a part and
parcel of your otherwise well thought of home.
Start with the most
obvious and popular choice paint. This is the
easiest and often the cheapest option, which is why many
people opt for it, but even if for any reason you do go
in for paint, you do still have many choices within this
framework to play with . Textured wall finishes are one
option. Here the drab, flat look of a conventional
painted wall is relieved by the interesting texture of
the wall. There are some varieties where you can actually
get a two-toned effect.
The textured wall paints
can be applied to almost all types of walls be they
plastered, cemented, stone or r.c.c. These can be easily
applied with roller or spray gun and the manufacturers
claim these textured paints to be anti-fungus.
Paint, if used
unconventionally, can also make a great impact on the
room and the viewer. Traditionally cream and eggshell
white are the popular colours of paint used on the inside
walls of most homes. This choice arose out of
practicality keeping the hot summers in mind as well as
there being neutral shades. Bright bold colours that
harmonise with your colour theme in the room actually
look great on the inside walls. The secret here is to use
good quality paint, which gives lustre to the room, and
to try pick on bright but warm-toned shades that
complement your colour codes.
Paint, when properly used,
can mask small problems that the room might have. For
instance if a room is long, narrow and rather tunnel-like
in appearance, then simply by painting the end walls with
a brighter shade will make the room look wider. Small
rooms can be opened out by using cool light shades of
paint, and boring standard rooms can be picked up by
painting one wall differently to the rest.
Wall paper, which has been
very popular in the West, did make a brief appearance
here as an option to paint but it didnt do too
well. Messy and difficult to instal, wall paper needs
professionals to instal it well without any creases. Once
installed, good quality wall paper needs no maintenance.
In fact wall paper can be easily wiped with a slightly
damp cloth to clean up any messy handprints or marks on
it.
Plaster of Paris has
become very popular in well-heeled homes. This is used
mainly as it is very easy to mould into different designs
and shapes, and those who want the old style carving and
decorations on the top corners of their walls or roof
edges opt for this material. In fact plaster of Paris can
be moulded to look like the wall has been panelled and
painted over.
Wooden panelling for those
who can afford it, is an expensive but great way to pick
up your walls. Panelling looks particularly great in
rooms like the study or bedroom, as it tends to impart a
look and feeling of warmth to the viewer. It is easy on
maintenance as it does not need to be touched up like
paint does periodically. Panelling does need to be
installed on areas where there is no water seepage, as
this is the faster way to destroy it.
For those who like to be
one with nature and give their homes a different look
there is the option of stone. Available in a range of
colours from the deep blackish blue of slate to a pinkish
red of sandstone, there is a wide variety to choose from.
Stone does have the disadvantage of being quick to heat
up in the summers and chill up in the winters, but it
gives the room a distinctive look with its
naturally textured look and colour, and has the added
advantage of not needing any maintenance on it,
whatsoever, once installed.
Mirrors were a popular
choice with some on the walls for a brief period of time
but they did not stay there for too long. Mirrors
certainly do increase the feeling of openness and space
in a room but should be used sparingly. Best used in
small rooms and preferably only on one wall, mirrors used
on too many walls in the same room can become exceedingly
disorienting. Commercial places like restaurants and
shops are best suited to using mirrors as it makes the
area look far less cramped then it is and adds to the
light in the room as well.
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