Add Character to your Home with Creative
Architectural Wall Decor
Architectural Wall Decor
Do you remember your grandparent’s home? Do you remember if it had a lot of architectural wall decor?
If you think back you will probably see that it had lots of interesting details that gave it character such as trim around the windows and doors, crown molding around the ceilings, interesting carved mantels, medallions and architectural wall décor like wainscoting, wall niches and chair rails.
Today’s mass-produced homes often lack any sort of architectural detail but you can change that by adding some trim detail of your own.
Window, Door and Baseboard Trim:
Adding trim around your windows
and doors is one of the easiest ways to beautify and
add architectural interest to your home. You can replace the existing molding entirely for a total new look or you can choose to “beef up” what is already there by adding an additional layer of trim.
Your baseboards can be treated the same way. Builders usually install a small, plain baseboard that is not even noticed. Adding several layers of molding on top of the existing baseboard will give your rooms an elegant and handcrafted look that is so desirable today.
Ceiling Medallions:
The ceiling is an often over-looked area in our homes. But many designers are choosing to consider it a “fifth wall” and decorate it accordingly with some interesting architectural wall decor.
Most ceilings simply provide shelter and support a lighting fixture of some sort. Why not turn this area into a thing of beauty by installing a ceiling medallion around your chandelier, ceiling fan or pendant light?
There are styles available to satisfy any tastes from a sleek and smooth contemporary design to ornately detailed styles for an elegant look. Made from polyurethane, they are lightweight, easy to install and can be painted to match other architectural wall trim in the room. A good rule of thumb is to choose a medallion that is at least the diameter of your lighting fixture.
Walls:
When it comes time to embellish your plain, ordinary walls with decorative molding and architectural wall decor, you have several choices.
- Wainscoting is a panel of wood and trim applied to the wall somewhere between the baseboard and a chair rail. You can choose a smooth panel of wood embellished with molding trim or use a beadboard panel for a textural look.
- A chair rail is a piece of decorative molding usually installed horizontally on the wall between 30 and 36 inches from the floor. However, you can choose to install it higher or lower depending on your own personal design style.
- A wall niche was traditionally carved from stone or wood, making it very expensive and difficult to install. Today, these decorative niches are available in lightweight polyurethane, making it possible to add them to an entryway, hallway or dining area for display purposes.
- Wall reliefs can be something as simple as a swag placed above a doorway to an elaborate rendering of an ancient scene. Like many architectural wall décor items today, wall reliefs are available in lightweight, paint grade polyurethane which makes it possible to hang them just about anywhere. For example, the afore-mentioned swag above a doorway fills an empty space while adding some dimension and detail.
- A corbel is a piece of wood that is meant to support a countertop, wall or fireplace mantel. Corbels can be simple in design or carved and decorative. It is often used to define a doorway or opening into another area of the house and is attached to the wall and to the ceiling.
- A pediment is a triangular piece of wood that is traditionally used outdoors. However, depending on the style of your home, these decorative architectural wall decor pieces can also be applied over a stovetop or fireplace mantel for a unique look. The same holds true for pilasters (a flattened column) and columns—often used outdoors but will add definition and interest to your interior when used correctly.
While the addition of architectural wall accents, millwork and decorative molding adds interest to a run of the mill tract home, it can also be used to renovate or update an aging Victorian or Craftsman style home.
Regardless of whether you choose to add simple molding to your windows and doors or install elaborate wainscoting and crown molding, the addition of architectural wall décor will transform your home into a beautiful and unique space for you and your family to enjoy.
