A good wall refreshment is often just what a home needs to liven up a bit. Some nice art or a creative choice of paint can completely transform a space. We selected five brilliant decor ideas that will level up any wall, anywhere.

Do a partial wall feature

This is a quick and interesting way to give your walls a touch of elegance without spending a ton on materials. The two most popular types of accent walls are painted and tiled. There are also wood panelled ones, but rarely so in modern homes.

Most of the room is painted in a neutral colour, such as white, grey, beige, pastel etc. The accent wall then contrasts either with a complementary hue or a more intense shade of the base paint. Tiles can also have motifs or be arranged in decorative patterns.

The rule of thumb is to do only a section of a single wall. For example, paint a diagonal half. Paint around a feature you want to point out. Tile only halfway up. Such accent walls are usually located directly across from the entrance, or opposite the window that lets the most daylight onto them.

Make a photo gallery

A variation of the accent wall idea, you could make a gallery feature. Look through your photos of family, friends, travels, etc. and choose a number of favourites. Frame them and hang them all up. This is ideal for a living room or wherever you prefer to host company. It serves as a fantastic conversation starter.

Before you hammer in any nails, play around with different arrangements. See which layout looks the most pleasing to you. Typically, you’d want matching minimalist frames, e.g. thin black ones. You want the pictures themselves to stand out. However, you can go for a bold turnaround and frame them in colours, and then arrange them to form an overall pattern.

Use temporary wallpaper

Wallpaper is one of the most dramatic changes you can make. There are a myriad of patterns and designs to choose from. However, traditional wallpaper is tricky. Applying it is a lot of labour and requires a fair level of skill. This makes it quite costly to do so on any significant surface.

As a budget-friendly, equally effective alternative, try temporary wallpaper. It likewise comes in a plethora of designs. You can opt for a vivid botanical wallpaper, a peaceful marine motif, bold solid colours, or elegant geometry. Because it’s temporary, you have much more freedom to experiment.

These wallpapers are far more amateur-friendly to apply, and easier to remove when you feel like changing them. Most brands come in sets of easy-to-manage pieces, but there are also self-adhesive rolls that you can tailor yourself. You get the same impact at a fraction of the cost, and with much more flexibility.

Make a chalkboard wall

This is a fun twist on the usual “paint for change” idea. Instead of usual wall paint, opt for chalkboard paint. Your best bet is to coat a medium-sized surface, like a door or a single wall. It’s a fairly straightforward DIY with a lot of potential.

If you set it in your living room, you have instant, free, and mostly mess-free entertainment for guests or their children. If in the kitchen, it’s a practical way to keep stock of the pantry and freezer. In a home office, you can turn it into a flexible command centre. In a child’s room, it can be used for both fun and study.

Focus on your windows

Finally, an interesting way to add some spice to your space is to accentuate the windows. Making them the focal point is an excellent way to break up a mundane stretch of wall. It’s especially handy when you can’t alter the wall itself for whatever reason.

Windows can be made into stunning statement pieces. Utilise colourful curtains, bold panels, patterned frames, even curtain accessories.

Refreshing your walls doesn’t have to mean just artwork or a new coat of paint. Think outside the box and apply a unique touch that will really show off your character and make your home a place of joy.

Guest Contributor: Diana Smith