Before & After: This Clever Wall Transformation Cost Way Less Than a New TV
Good design isn’t about having the biggest pieces or the most expensive decor; it’s about making the things you do have look intentional. Case in point: Imani Keal‘s living room media wall, where a high-contrast setup was making her perfectly fine television look too small for the space. Rather than spending money on a tech upgrade, the interior decorator got creative with a can of paint.
“I was tired of people telling me to get a bigger TV,” Imani says.
Valspar is as passionate about color as Imani is, so its vibrant paints were a great match for this project. And because Valspar paint is so reasonably priced, Imani had no problem keeping her project on-budget. (That’s way cheaper than a new TV.) By ditching the stark white backdrop for a deep, moody hue, she made the wall’s boundaries recede, visually integrating the screen and creating a more seamless, high-end feature wall.
“To fix the scale issue, I needed to cut down on the open space above the TV, and the white wall needed to be darker to give a theatre vibe,” Imani says. She also extended the paint past the bookshelves to really drive the vibe home. As a finishing touch, she added floating shelves and filled out the scene with some upcycled photo frames, which she painted in energetic accent colors.
“Valspar paint is easily accessible at Lowe’s, great quality, and affordable. I do a lot of projects, but I don’t have a ton of money to waste, and Valspar always has my back when I need to create something beautiful.”
Imani Keal
Imani painted the wall Caviar (8006-4G), a cool black that would create that theater vibe. She chose Valspar Reserve for this step: A combination paint and primer, Valspar Reserve delivers full coverage in just one coat, so she could get done faster. And thanks to Valspar’s ultra-rich, fade-resistant formulation, Imani’s wall will keep that finish for a long time.
A DIY that’s actually doable
Next, Imani stained her new shelf to match the existing shelving, using Jacobean by Minwax. Finally, it was time to upcycle some old frames with complementary pops of color: She chose Naivete (7001-21), a soft and dreamy pink; Royal Garnet (1011-5), a captivating jewel tone; and bold and bright Cosmic Pink (1001-1A).
A bold living room transformation with paint
Imani’s wall feels more intentional now — and more in keeping with the rest of her cozy, eclectic space. The dark wall adds drama and texture, while the shelf and frames add both visual interest and coordinating pops of color.
A deliciously dramatic focal point
“Now this area of my living room looks proportional, and I didn’t have to cross my boundaries by buying a massive ugly television,” Imani says. “I’m happier, and hopefully the internet trolls will leave me and my tiny TV alone now.”