apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Have you considered grasscloth or wallpaper? Wood laminate flooring installed as paneling? Dark-toned paint w/ fine sand in it to give a suede-effect? Venetian Plaster?

Yeah, grass cloth. In a dark gray blue. I've seen it come in a stunning slate blue color.

Also, you could just paint it a dark color. Color doesn't need to be "bright".

I'd avoid gray in this case. You need either some color, and/or texture in there.

It is already busy enough. Just declutter a little more, and then enjoy the serenity. Speaking as someone who has had to scrape off many textured and wallpapered walls, don't add texture to your wall! And Venetian plaster belongs only in Venice.

If that's the wall in the photo, there is more than enough happening already.

I see, your pallete is one dimensional. Add a big pop of red artwork, kind of complimenting the cartoon in the feel. You have little white vases, but the vases dissapear, some polka dot... or patterned pieces would add texture without putting it on the wall itself. Add black, also.

I also think it's fine the way it is.

I wouldn't add texture, just perhaps a slightly more interesting paint (maybe just a different neutral shade).

By the way, I like your arrangement of frames. That concept isn't usually my style, but in this case I like the way it's all pulled together with matching frames and colors in the prints.

Can you find another home for the things on the very top of the bookcase?

I think paint would be good. The wall color is too close to the background of most of the art and the chest front. But de-cluttering would help.

Tidy up that stuff at the top left, move the little ditsy stuff on top of the white/cream chest, and swap those little plants for one decent sized on.

Please--move the art down about 6 inches. The little pieces right near the ceiling make it all look cramped. They all work together, but not so tight.

Ha! Yeah, sorry for the mess. There is actually a piece of furniture missing,so not everything is in its place. Lots of the stuff on the white piece will be moved somewhere else. I just figured if i was going to paint the wall I'd wait to put it up.

@Asked you first, I agree that it tends to be one dimensional. The only real texture in the room is on throw pillows, which is why i thought this might be a good place to do it add it. However, I am partial to the artwork that is on the wall now, so that is not likely to change.

The wall flats seem perfect!

I like Lizzy C's idea of grass cloth in a slate blue color. Wall flats could be okay but I suggest a subtle texture, as there is quite a bit going on already.

I just did a treatment in my house that I saw a long time ago. I "papered" the wall with mosquito screen by trawling the screen into a thin layer of wall mud and then sanding to bring out the silver screen. It looks really great.

i think a blue wall would be nice. there are lots of blues in the art and the blue might make the yellows of the art stand out in contrast and feel more vibrant. maybe just a light blue so it's not too dark. (but don't mind me - i like everything light)

Clay paint is a relatively low cost way to add a little texture. It reads more like plaster or earthen wall than standard painted drywall.

http://www.bioshieldpaint.com/index.php?main_page=products&cPath=11_66

You could get visual texture with a paint treatment -- one kind would be to use a glaze and a squeegee with notches cut out. Apply glaze, squeegee in a horizontal line, let dry. Apply more glaze, squeegee vertically, let dry. You would get (depending on how sheer the glaze is) a checked or gingham look. If the notches are small and close together, you might get the look of fabric. If you use beige or gold tones of glaze, it might resemble grasscloth.

If the concept appeals, there are lots of books on faux finishes that would give examples and details. Just keep the base color and glaze fairly close together so it doesn't look too contrasty and like a mistake.