Wall Art Paint Treatment Ideas Instead of Using Wallpaper

Stencils

• Forget about old-fashioned stencils, and look for a modern one with a pattern you can paint directly onto your wall. Whether you choose to paint the whole wall or just a border, stencils are available to suit any room. Patterns include damask, floral designs, links, trellis and lattice designs. One idea is to create a series of boxes on the wall with molding, and paint stencil art inside of each box. The boxes will frame the stencil art and allow it to stand out against the backdrop of the plain walls.

Mural

• Have an artist paint a mural on a feature wall. For instance, choose a favorite photo, and have the artist do a rendition of that image. Ideas for imagery include tropical vacation locales, a favorite tree, cityscapes, beach pebbles and any other image you would care to view day in and day out. If you feel comfortable tackling the project yourself, one idea is to paint a family tree and add round photo frames with pictures of your family at the ends of the branches.

Chalkboard Paint

• Paint an entire wall with chalkboard paint so you can change the art on a daily basis. Chalkboard wall spaces work well in playrooms, kitchens and foyers. Not only can you leave a note for your loved ones, you can also use the chalkboard for random doodling, your kitchen's menu and daily creations. Or, paint a smaller panel, and frame it with an oversized frame in a style that appeals to the decor of the room.

Masking Tape Designs

• With an unlimited supply of masking tape or painter's tape, you can create a plethora of wall art designs and paint directly onto your walls. Modern choices include stripes, honeycomb patterns, borders, panels and geometric designs. For an understated treatment, paint the whole room a solid color. Once the walls are dry, apply the painter's tape in your chosen design, and paint a glaze over the untaped areas. The resulting design will pop as light hits it at different times of the day.