Painted Cement Block Wall Ideas

Apply a Faux Finish

• A painted cement block wall can look plain. A faux finish can give it an elegant and chic appearance. There are various methods for faux-finishing your wall, depending on the desired effect. Commonly, sponges and rags are used to apply a second coat of paint over the coat that’s already there. You can choose a slightly lighter or slightly darker shade of the base color, or you can go with a different but complementary color altogether (e.g., sponge paint using peach-colored paint over a cream-colored base).

Coat with a Usable Finish

• Paint over your wall using a paint that will transform your wall into usable space. For instance, if you have children, paint the wall using black chalkboard paint, transforming your cement block wall into a giant chalkboard that they can draw on to their hearts' content. If you like spending time outside in the pool, paint the wall white so that you can project movies onto it while you lounge on a floater.

Decorate with Plants

• If you don’t want to mess with paint, consider adding plants to the wall to liven it up. Along your wall, plant bamboo, which grows quickly, or a trellis with a climbing plant that will spread upward and outward as it grows, adding visual interest to your wall. Decorative planters in front of your trellis or bamboo will add depth to your wall garden. You can also purchase small mountable planters and perch them sporadically along your wall.

Add Art

• Consider your painted cement block wall a blank canvas. Add outdoor art such as waterproof paintings and flat, mountable copper sculptures. A mosaic of tiles will also add visual interest. A hanging water fountain provides not just visual appeal, but also the soft and relaxing sound of running water. Or, if you’re artistically inclined, paint your own mural.