Adding more character to a wall is an easy way to add a personal touch to your home and even increase its resale value. “Character” in a home can mean several things, architectural details (columns, molding, niches, etc.), an interesting and attractive design or layout or just unique doors, windows or cabinetry.
Wainscoting: wainscoting is a simple and effective way to add character to any room. Wainscoting can be as simple as beadboard capped with a chair rail or other kind of trim or as extravagant as carved wooden panels trimmed with fancy moldings. Wainscoting typically extends 3’ – 4’ of off your floor, but depending on the look you want to achieve the height can be altered. Wainscoting styles are as varied as people and are an extremely personal touch for your home.
Faux Painting: faux painting styles vary from simple color washes created by thinning out a paint and wiping it over a base color that is already on the wall to custom paint jobs that make your walls look like leather, wood or even stone. This is a very affordable way to add character to any room, but many of the different techniques take time to learn. Many home improvement centers offer special classes on faux painting techniques, if there is not one in your area check with a local paint store, painter or even on the internet to learn how to do faux painting.
Adding Color: color is the cheapest and easiest of all ways to add character to a wall or room. Choosing colors can be a tricky endeavor (color is a very personal choice). Something to keep in mind is that if you intend to sell the house or want to increase your homes value over time stick to neutral colors. Bright, bold or dark colors may be trendy and interesting to you and your friends or family, but when selling your home it can be a deal breaker or lower the sale price of your home. Light colors such as bone, baby blue, sage green and off white sell best. A rule of thumb for picking out good colors is dirt, grass, water and sky. In general sticking to earth colors is best for resale values.
The added appeal of many of these choices can be well worth the time and expense, but don’t expect the ROI (return on investment) to always cover the whole cost of the work.
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