| Wall decor |

11 Jan | Wall decor |

Wall decor is the most interesting part of doing up a house and there are many options available like mirrors, frames, art but wall paneling is our favourite since it adds a lot of character and style to your home and gives it a different look. Its easy and can be done with the help of your local carpenter. Its subtle design gives the walls a textured look without being too over powering. Here are some tips and pointers to take under consideration before going ahead with your wall design.

1. Choosing the panel
   There are different kinds of paneling that you could choose from, the easiest being the ready made mouldings that are available in every city. If you are in Delhi, you could visit Kotla in south Delhi. They have all sorts of designs – from geometrical to floral and we suggest to stick with the plain chamfered edges moulding for that classy look. Alternatively, flat plank panels can also be used in mdf.
2. Time for pen and paper – Layout design
   After you have decided the look of the moulding, the next important step is to do the math. The width of the moulding and the spacing between each moulding is important and we would suggest that you bring out a pen and paper for better clarity. As a general rule, try dividing the wall into three parts instead of two since its aesthetically more pleasing to the eye. Panels should be spaced evenly apart, and the width will depend on the total length of the wall to create a uniform effect. You should also be careful about the switch boards,doors, windows and wall lights and ideally choose a wall free of these elements. You could also opt to do the entire wall in panelling or choose to do it at one metre from the floor. You could ask your local carpenter to finally cut the mouldings in the desired sizes and fix them to the wall (after painting)
3. Paint
   The first step will be to choose the paint colour. We say that you go in for a deeper look with the dark shades as shown in the image. You could get creative and develop your own unique finish using paint, stains and distressing techniques. You should paint the mouldings and the wall separately for a better finish. Apply a water-based primer to prep the surface for your paint. Once this is dry, apply a water-based paint in the colour of your choice.Let it dry and reapply a second and possibly a third coat. The moulding strips should be painted with a help of a compressor for a smoother finish. The other option is to use a roller but I would still suggest renting a compressor for a two three days for this.

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