Walls, ceilings and floors comprise the largest visual portion of a room.

Ceilings  Average height is 8 feet.  High or angled ceilings lend a feeling of dignity  Low or beamed ceilings create a warm and informal room.  Acoustic materials absorb sound  Long ago were often painted with murals, designs or pendants.  Most materials discussed can be used on ceilings

Walls  Bearing: Support weight of structure and can not be removed.  Non-bearing: Partitions that define space  They serve as: ○ Dividers for privacy ○ Noise control ○ Structure ○ Aesthetics.

Appearance…  Large patterns will make a large room appear closer.  Small patterns and light colors make a small room appear larger.  Mirrors create an illusion of space.  Wall coverings should coordinate with furnishings.  Colors should not overpower furnishings.  Vertical stripes will make a wall appear taller  Tall walls appear lower when ceiling and walls are same color.  Choosing a dominant feature in the room will help determine wall coverings.

Wall Coverings  1. Hard or Rigid Materials: Brick, Tile, Glass, Metal, Wood Costly Are permanent Require little/no upkeep Give natural texture Considered classic

Wall Coverings  2. Wallpaper: Tremendous variety to choose from Low to high cost, mostly modest Imitates natural materials Covers blemished walls Coordinates/Allows creativity Instant décor Can be washed depending on type of paper.

Types of Wallpaper  Fabric – fabric laminated to paper  Vinyl – backing with a vinyl layer, and a finish layer  Vinyl-coated – ordinary wallpaper with a coating of vinyl plastic to make it washable  Paper – paper printed with a design

Purchasing Wallpaper  Strippable –paper that can be stripped off the wall without scraping or steaming  Scrubbable – can withstand repeated wet cleaning  Pre-pasted – paper with a dry coating of paste that only needs to be moistened

Wallpaper Terminology  Single roll – contains about 36 sq. ft.  Double roll – the equivalent of 2 single rolls  Pattern repeats – how often the pattern will repeat, can be measured vertically and/or horizontally  Run/dye lot number – a single run of colors or single production. Dye lot shades may vary  Border – narrow and can be pasted over coordinating wallpaper or a painted surface

Wall Coverings  3. Fabric Large variety of patterns and colors Mounted in different ways: shirred, frames, upholstered, stapling Not as practical in areas that get a lot of wear or dirt. Average to high cost Vacuum to remove dirt and wash if possible.

Wall Coverings  4. Paneling Warm and attractive appearance Requires little maintenance Different forms and price ranges

Wall Coverings  5. Molding Strips of wood used for trim or ornamentation in a room. Main purpose is to finish off a window, door or wall. ○ Baseboard molding ○ Crown molding ○ Chair Rail

Crown Molding wide trim used on walls next to the ceiling Chair Rail – trim running horizontally about 3’ from the floor Base Board trim used on walls next to the floor Molding – strips of shaped wood used for trim or ornamentation in a room

Wall Coverings  6. Paint Most popular Least expensive wall covering Offers color, texture and variety Provides visual excitement Bright = attention Dark = close/advance Light = open/expand

Faux: Imitates other materials Trump l’oeil: fool the eye, 3-D

Paint  Types Oil-Based ○ Durable and washable ○ Must use solvent instead of water to clean up Latex/water based ○ Easy to apply ○ Quick drying ○ Easy cleanup with water  Finishes Flat, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss and high gloss

Flat finish  Reflects very little light  Least washable  Least expensive

Eggshell finish  Small amount of shine  More washable than flat

Satin finish  Smooth velvety look with a bit more gloss  Easy to keep clean

Semi-gloss Finish  Used most in residences  Subtle shine  Very washable

High-Gloss  Shiniest  Most durable  Easiest to clean  Shows more imperfections on the walls  Always choose a paint color that is slightly lighter than the one desire because paint dries darker.

Bob Villa’s Interior Paint Selection Guide Where traffic, moisture, and abrasion are likely to occur, high-gloss finishes may be recommended. Flat finishes and low-luster paints are better suited to quieter areas of the home and new construction.