Our home was built in the 1940s and has many wall imperfections. Basically, we find ourselves constantly looking for creative ways to hide wall imperfections, like the bad sheet rock and plaster jobs from generations ago. Because gutting multiple walls is not in our budget (or emotional bandwidth) at the moment, I researched ways that I could temporarily hide the dips, bumps, and wrinkles in our walls. Here are my tips for elevating your walls without a contractor!
1. Wallpaper
Wallpaper is beautiful, and when it is done well, it can transform a room. With temporary options out there, you can switch out the look when it is time to move on.
However, using wallpaper on imperfect walls is risky because it can easily magnify the bumps and dips that lurk beneath it.
It is recommended that if the walls are particularly uneven, the wall should be skimmed with plaster before applying paper. Also, a thick lining paper can be used underneath the wallpaper to make the wall look its best.
Another option is textured wallpaper. The dimension in textured wallpaper allows the wall’s imperfections to stay hidden. THIS option from Amazon is unique and paintable! I think it would add the perfect charm to the right home.
Also, a wallpaper with a lot of color contrast and pattern may work because the busy look will distract from variations in the walls. I adore THIS patterned option on Amazon for a feature wall or powder room.
2. Faux Brick
A brick accent wall is full of charm. A painted brick accent wall goes the extra mile! I have seen several online tutorials about installing and painting brick on a wall or feature, like a faux fireplace. That is certainly a great way to achieve this look.
However, I also found THIS highly rated option on Amazon that gives you the brick look through textured wallpaper!
3. Paneling
I adore the look that wood paneling achieves in a space. Especially when the paneling is painted, the walls have a unique layer of sensory appeal. Beyond the aesthetics of color, suddenly the walls have dimension and pattern that can make the room seem larger, cozier and more finished.
One popular type of paneling is -of course- shiplap. My husband and I chose shiplap on the only room that we (voluntarily!) gutted, which is our kitchen. We purchased classic pre-finished and painted panels that stick to our walls from Wallplanks. My husband only needed to cut pieces to fit the wall dimensions. It was an easy process, and the kitchen feels more complete than any other room in the house!
There is also THIS option from Amazon that also uses the peel-and-stick method, and it is more economical than the brand we purchased.
4. Dark Paint
Dark rooms are all the rage right now. Dark academia is characterized by a moody aesthetic with collected pieces and dark, cozy colors. Imagine old libraries, velvet jewel tones, and rich blues.
If you have bad sheetrock or plaster, than this trend is coming at the perfect time and is a creative way to disguise your imperfect walls. Dark paint is great for hiding unsightly dips and bumps on walls, but the key is to use a matte or eggshell finish. Never use a semi-gloss or glossy finish on walls that are not pristine.
5. Molding
Molding is a wonderful distraction from walls that have seen better days. And if the moldings are placed in the right problem areas, the look can be a total knock-out.
For example, one major problem we have is a very poor tape and mud job on the plaster on one of our living room walls. The tape bubbles underneath a thin layer of plaster, and in the right light, it is so unsightly.
However, I could see that horizontal molding could easily disguise this problem. And adding in some dark paint like in this gorgeous navy room above would further cover this problem.
Even more great about this option is that there is now renter-friendly molding options that don’t require nails, glue or any permanent adhesive. THIS product from Amazon has excellent reviews and can add a unique architectural touch and character to a space.
6. Textured Paint
Textured paint is an obvious option to disguise a wall that has blemishes. One option includes mixing in a sand-based texture to any paint you choose to layer on a rough but pleasing texture to the wall.
THIS product on Amazon comes in a “medium” finish and is the perfect amount you need for one gallon of paint. I especially recommend this option because it seems to be the easiest and most affordable on this list, and for someone under the pressure of remodeling, that may be the best choice!
7. “Built-In” Bookshelves
My husband and I used this option in our previous home in Texas. While the walls didn’t have any imperfections, one large wall in the entryway had built-in arched coves that were pretty much dead space. Placing furniture in the coves didn’t work because of the archways, and they were also too shallow for traditional sized furniture pieces.
My husband came up with the great idea to simply add shelves in the coves. He also included decorative molding to cover the arches, and suddenly the shelves appeared to be built-in! The look was such a hit. Not only that, but because of my job as a researcher, I had tons of space to store plenty of my books.
More Ideas
A few things to consider about any of these options . . .
First, you can mix up the ideas on one wall. Like you can see with option 1, 4 and 5 above, there are many possibilities for one wall. You can color block the wall with dark paint as well as wallpaper. You can add molding to separate a wall that has wallpaper on one end. You can add dark paint on molding or paneling for a “dark academia” look, like option 4 and 5.
Second, many of these options can be pricey and may even surpass the cost of simply replacing an unsightly wall. But, having lived in a very small home that went through the process of gutting rooms and taking walls down to the studs, it is important to know if you can emotionally handle the mess, dust, and chaos of such a renovation.
Perhaps you are in the stage of life right now where simply wallpapering over an unsightly wall is more feasible that taking that sledgehammer and going at it.
So what options do you prefer? Do you see yourself mixing up options to add extra character to a wall? Let me know what has worked for you.
Happy wall covering!