The options available for the finishing of walls are far wider than purely paint and wallpaper. Pattern supplied in the form of texture via exposed stone and rough plasterwork can add character and interest to a room, though they are not ideal low-maintenance finishes for a family environment. Ceramic tiles are an excellent wall finish for bathrooms and kitchens and are easy to clean. Most homes, however, have smooth, plastered walls, which can be decorated in a number of ways.

Dado and picture rails

Architectural details such as dado and picture rails add character to a room while also providing an easy-maintenance surface. By dividing the wall into two distinct areas, if your busy toddler decides to become artistic, correcting such a colorful outburst does not necessitate redecorating the whole wall – it will just be a matter of redecorating the space either below or above the dado rail. Dividing walls in this manner also affects the look of a room; by breaking up walls, a dado rail will belp to reduce the height of the ceiling in a tall room.

Wallpapers

Wallpaper and patterned decoration have a profound effect on the appearance of a room. Stripes will, on the whole, make a room look taller, whereas busy multicolored patterns generally make a room appear smaller.

When choosing wallpaper, take into account the fact that you are basing your decision on a relatively small piece of paper. Patterns can look deceptively large in a sample book while they will, in fact, look quite small when applied to a whole wall. Look at sample papers in the room that is to be decorated and at the distance from which they would normally be viewed.

There are a number of types of wallpaper available: vinyl-coated papers offer a wipeable surface; solid vinyls offer a very hard-wearing, scrubbable surface and are ideal for bathrooms; non-vinyls are the most delicate of all papers and should not be used in heavy-duty areas of the home.

Paint

Paint is a cost-effective and easy way to add color to your home and it comes in a variety of finishes. Matt emulsion has, as the name suggests, a matt surface. It is relatively easy to clean and ideal for use on walls that have minor imperfections. Satin and gloss finishes highlight problem areas, since they have a slightly reflective quality. However, satin-finish paints are easier to clean than matt emulsions and produce a surface with a soft glow. Gloss paints are generally used on details such as skirtings and doors. They are more durable than other paints and are very easy to clean. Gloss paints have a reflective quality that can give the illusion of space and light, so they are useful for painting the ceilings of rooms with limited daylight.

Satinwood and eggshell paints are the matt equivalent to gloss. They have a slight sheen but are not as reflective as normal gloss. They are perfect for disguising radiators when applied in the same color as the walls and are generally used on woodwork in contemporary settings. Note that they are not as easy to clean as gloss.