If you have a space in your home that has a curved wall, you will know all too well how difficult it is to jazz this wall up since conventional artwork will typically not sit flush on this wall, especially if it’s a larger piece. This may not be a huge deal if the rest of your space is beautifully designed and this wall can easily stand alone, but sometimes they demand ‘something’ because they can often like a large unspoken for wall and can be in an area of your home that really needs a focal point.
We will share with you our top 5 suggestions on how to address a rounded wall.
1. Tapestries
I know, you’re rolling your eyes right now thinking really, a tapestry, what are we in the 1800’s? Don’t worry, I got you covered (pun intended), there are so many beautiful design’s out there today, that are surprisingly modern.
The beautiful thing about tapestries is that they will round the curve easily and can take up a lot of surface space without being intrusive. Because they are made of fabric, they are thin, which makes them a great solution to a narrow space.
There are several ways you can secure them to the wall. Here are some mounting suggestions for you.
a) Velcro secured to the back of the tapestry. This is probably one of the most economical ways to go, and would be easy to install, that most anyone could do this. It would also be easy to remove from the wall for cleaning and would refasten to the wall with the same ease. I would suggest sourcing a heavy-duty sticky back Velcro designed for fabric which would provide satisfactory adhesion. It means no sewing is required, although, if you can sew you might find it a more long-term solution to have a more secure adhesion to the fabric.
b) Decorative push pins or nails would also be an easy install and would also be economical. They likely would not do well over time however to remove and reinstall, as you may find the pin hole will increase in size over time. This said though, there are a huge variety of decorative push pins, that would add a special touch to your tapestry, where you might find it well worth it.
c) Custom curtain rods could be an interesting idea. This would not be in line with your economical route but would add a design component that would be unique and add a bit of interest to the tapestry. You would need a metal trades person to come out and template the wall, and design/build a rod specifically for your round wall for a perfect fit. If your tapestry does not have a pocket to slide the rod through, you could then add curtain rings with clamps to fasten it to the fabric without any sewing, or you could sew tabs to the back of the fabric to slide the rod through, so it stays hidden.
2. Paint Graphic
Paint graphics are growing in popularity in design today and provide an unlimited number of design style options that would be fully customizable to your unique style and taste. You could paint the entire wall space, or you could create a graphic zone on the wall, making it more in line with a traditional art piece rather than a whole wall effect.
A graphic would be a fun and inspirational detail and would lend an ‘outside of the box’ aesthetic to your home. It’s also just paint, so can be easily painted over should you want a change or need/want to sell your home and want to neutralize your environment for your potential buyers. Not all personal details such as wall graphics are desirable in resale, if your new buyer is not a fan, you could always offer to paint over it prior to the final sale.
3. Wallpaper
You might be surprised to know that wallpaper is back in full swing. We see it everywhere in leading design shows making its’ comeback.
While wallpaper is an investment, it is a great way to add a pop of colour, pattern, and life to an otherwise dull space. It’s a wonderful solution to a curved wall. Wallpaper comes in both paper and vinyl. Vinyl is a great solution that can be used in bathrooms and kitchens where it may be exposed to condensation.You can even find wallpaper in a mural format, creating a scene on a wall rather than just a print.
4. Trim Detail
This aesthetic has been around for ages and has proven to be timeless in its design. Most commonly, you would relate to it being called wainscot. This would be applied either halfway or a third up the wall leaving the upper portion left as painted drywall. It is commonly seen on a curved staircase and can look quite grand.
You could truly express your creative side with the trim design, and paint options. You could colour zone the upper portion of the wall a different colour for a two-tone look. Or you can paint the trim itself to add some contrast to the wall colour. Whatever you fancy, wainscot is rather versatile because you can not only add a paint affect, but the trim styles can be vastly different. For example: flat stock trim for a more modern approach, or trim with a more ornate detail, making it more traditional.
Other than a traditional wainscot look, you could trim the whole wall top to bottom in a vertical format. Let’s get crazy and add lighting for a special touch. Or you could add a paint colour zone or graphic in vertical stripes on the wall and trim them out!
5. Mosaic Tile
Because your wall is round, it stands to reason that you would need to use a mosaic tile for this application. Mosaics are small tile pieces that come in a variety of shapes and patterns, that are secured to a mesh backing, so it becomes flexible.
You could get very creative here. Since tile today comes in a lot of print and colour options, they would not only add dimension to the wall but would add colour and texture as well. Tile is very easy to clean, so would be ideal for wet zones. Many tile choices such as porcelain are good choice because they are quite strong and will stand up to the abuse that high traffic areas take, therefore working well in entries, hallways, bathrooms, and kitchen spaces.
Final Thoughts
Design is a creative process and should be an expression of your personal style! It should be fun, so go out there and get creative. Talk to your trade professionals and book a consultation with them. Trade professionals love to stretch their creative muscles and come up with new and interesting ideas, so this would be a joint adventure to create something unique and exciting that everyone can be proud of and be enjoyed as an interesting conversation piece for your family and friends.
Creatively yours,
Cindy Lutes
