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

1. Ceilings  Long ago were often painted with murals, designs or pendants.  Most materials discussed can be used on 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

Walls  2. Bearing: Support weight of structure and can not be removed.  3. Non-bearing: Partitions that define space  4. They serve as: ○ Dividers for privacy ○ Noise control ○ Structure ○ Aesthetics.

Overview of Materials  Examples: BrickCorkGlass FabricPaintPlaster MetalTilePaper WoodConcreteStone  Natural and Fabricated materials  Materials can be used on walls, ceilings and sometimes floors

5. 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.

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

Wall Coverings  Paper: Paper, Vinyl, Flocked, Embossed, Foiled, Mural 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.

Purchasing Wallpaper Strippable – easy to remove Scrubable – design remains when scrubbed Pre-pasted – glue already applied to back  Single rolls are harder to match patterns because they are not as long as double rolls, which is twice the amount on the roll  Packaged and sold by the ROLL (not foot/yard).  Run/dye Number printed on wallpaper indicates which dye lot it came from.

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

Wall Coverings  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 ○ Picture Rail

Molding  Available in a wide range of colors, grains & species  Hides architectural flaws  Provides insulation  Hides seams or dry wall

Crown Molding Finishes a top edge Chair Rail/Wainscot Divides room horizontally Base Board Covers lowest part of wall

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

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

8. Paint  Types Oil-Based ○ Durable and washable ○ Chosen for walls and ceilings in bathrooms and kitchens ○ Can not clean up brushes with water Latex ○ Easily applied ○ Water based, easy clean up ○ Often used for living, dining and bedrooms.  Finishes Gloss, semi-gloss, satin and flat

Flat Finish  Flat finish softens walls and helps hide surface imperfections.  It is the least expensive  Totally shine-free  Good for Ceilings where you will not need to wash them often  Stains can be difficult to remove, so do not use in high-traffic areas

Paint - Eggshell  Provides greater warmth and depth to surfaces than flat paints.  Resist stains better than flat paints, although not as well as semigloss and high-gloss finishes.

Satin Finish  Satin and low luster paints have a slightly higher sheen than eggshell finishes  Is slightly easier to clean than a flat and eggshell finish

Semi-gloss Finish  Slightly glossy appearance  less reflective than gloss paints  They offer good stain resistance, are easy to clean, and may be a good choice if you have young children  Most experts agree that the highest quality semi-gloss paints are 100% acrylic latex paints, which also come in enamel grades.

High-Gloss  Highly reflective appearance  Toughest, most durable, and most stain-resistant finish  They are easier to clean  Ideal for areas exposed to heavy traffic or use, especially those prone to fingerprints or grime  Tend to highlight surface imperfections.  Both latex and oil-based gloss paints are referred to as enamels.

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.