You don’t need to go up the wall deciding how to decorate your walls. A big blank wall can look like a challenge but with some thought and ingenuity you can make the most of your wall space on even a limited budget. You may not be able to afford a Picasso, or even any original artworks, but with some creativity you can turn the walls in your home from blank canvases into stunning artworks of your very own invention.
Consider the style of your home and size of your walls then sift through home design magazines and decorating blogs for nifty wall decoration ideas that would suit your home and budget. Here are five wall decorating techniques to get you started:
· Wall lighting
There are some beautiful decorative wall sconces around that give a soft upward lighting effect or patterned lighting effects, however they require getting in an electrician to do the wiring. An alternative idea is decorative metal candle sconces. These are available in a wide range of designs, from curvilinear to geometric, and hold glass containers for tea light candles so you get romantic candlelight without drips. Add scented candles for extra atmosphere. Depending on quality and whether they are handmade or manufactured, metal candle sconces can be found for as little as $20, climbing up to around $500 for a really spectacular example. If your budget is generous you could even have one made to commission by an artisan metalsmith.
· Wallpaper and Wall Stickers
Wallpaper is very much back in vogue and can make a stunning impact but applying it yourself is no easy DIY task! Only consider large areas of wallpaper if you can afford a professional to hang it. One strip of wallpaper, however, can be as effective as an artwork in a hallway and a collage of pieces of vintage wallpaper could look very cool as a feature wall behind a bed.
An easier, and cheaper, alternative is removable vinyl wall stickers. These are especially good for renters who aren’t allowed to put hooks for artworks on the walls under their lease. Wall stickers come in a vast range of designs and sizes, from cute decals for kids’ bedrooms to photographic prints covering an entire wall. A full wall removable mural costs from around $150.
· Canvas Prints
Digital prints on stretched canvases are a great way to individualise your walls on a budget. Search books and magazines and scan images you would like reproduced, load the scanned images and your own photos onto a USB stick and take it along to your nearest Harvey Norman Photos centre. A staff member can advise you as to the size your images will effectively blow up to and the shape of stretched canvas you will need. Prices range from $49.95 for a 12” x 12” printed canvas to $398.95 for a 40” x 60” canvas. For similar prices, you can also get your photos printed on metal for a sleek, modern effect.
· Bookshelves
Standard wall-mounted or floating bookshelves can be arranged effectively on a wall and used strategically to display books, magazines and decorative objects. Save money by searching out lightweight vintage bookshelves in interesting shapes from the Fifties and Sixties meant to sit on the floor as room dividers. Simply remove the legs and hang on your wall. Another novel idea is to glue a stack of old books together and use as a wall shelf to hold a single object. A series of these arranged on the wall look quirky and effective. Another idea is to cut old suitcases in half lengthways and mount them on the walls with the handles facing out. Again, a well-balanced arrangement of these looks more effective than a single suitcase. A lovely old lightweight timber or wire chair, painted a bright colour, would make a statement hung on the wall as a shelf in the bathroom.
· Chalkboard/blackboard
A framed blackboard looks great in the kitchen and can either be used for shopping lists and reminder notes or you can get creative with the chalk and write a different message or design on it every week. If you don’t want black, you can buy chalkboard paint in a variety of colours. A 500ml can of chalkboard paint costs $19.90 from Bunnings.
Now get to work then stand back and admire your finished wall!
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