Wall treatments never really go out of vogue, but they sure seem to be having a moment lately. From wallpaper and shiplap to moulding, panelling, lime wash and more, wall treatments are popping up everywhere in Ottawa homes.
“They offer an easy way to add personality and depth to a space, making it feel more customized and curated,” says Candace Plotz of Candace Plotz Design. “With the increased focus on home environments, people are looking for ways to create unique, visually stimulating interiors that reflect their individual tastes and lifestyles.”
They’re also a cost-effective solution to really enhance a space, adds Jasmine Morvay of KODA Interiors. “You can add character and personality to your room, and it does not require the most expensive materials to achieve, and usually (it’s) fairly easy to install or remove later on if you want a change.” It’s also a good solution to hide imperfections on a wall that can’t be easily repaired or re-done, she says.
Natalie Cox of CPI Interiors believes wall treatments are gaining in popularity right now because we want to add character to our open-concept homes. “It’s a great way to add old world charm and craftsmanship.” They help define a space, create a focal point and add dimension, she says.
It also doesn’t hurt that, thanks to TV shows and social media, we’re exposed more and more today to different ideas for our walls, says Tanya Collins of Tanya Collins Interior Design. “People are viewing more than ever spaces that appear well done and layered. It is not surprising people wish to recreate these looks in their own homes.”
And we need not be afraid to try it, adds Emma Doucet of Grassroots Design & Build. “It scares people because they think it’s permanent, but it really isn’t.”
Designers are seeing all sorts of wall treatments, such as:
- Moulding, panelling and reeded or fluted wall panels to add texture and layers
- Plaster and lime wash paint, which bring a timeless, artisanal quality to interiors
- Wallpaper in all forms — textured to add depth and character, murals for striking focal points, patterns for personality
- Natural materials like wood slats and stone veneers that introduce warmth and organic elements
- Tile as accent walls or feature pieces.
Wall mouldings and panelling, in particular, “are making a strong comeback because they add a touch of timeless elegance and architectural interest to any room,” Plotz says. “These elements create depth and character, offering a sophisticated backdrop that complements both classic and contemporary designs.”
Design is in the details and details are created with layers, adds Sascha Lafleur of West of Main. “Having a wall treatment, whether it be wallpaper, mouldings or paint applications, adds another layer of warmth and interest to the room, which inevitably elevates the design esthetic when done right.”
Doing it right is the key.
Collins cautions that it’s important to know when it’s appropriate to apply wall treatments and with what proportions. “Otherwise, it just becomes trendy and, worst case, out of place. The architecture of the home and the style and mood of the decor need to be considered.” She points to the recent love affair with all things shiplap, where it appeared anywhere and everywhere. But it’s best suited for farmhouse or cottage-style projects, she says, “not all projects at large.”
Realtor Jenniffer Alvarenga of the real estate firm GoodStory is increasingly seeing prospective buyers appreciating wall details. “Especially if done properly, clients get excited about the ‘feel’ they create.”
Cox applauds the trend of homeowners embracing wall treatments. “It opens up the possibilities on how to accentuate the architectural elements in their homes and is such a great way to make a statement.”
Along with the projects above, here are 13 other local examples of wall treatments:
Slatted wood wall panelling is a very popular finish with clients of Simmonds Architecture. “It evokes the popular mid-century modern/Mad Men vibe while providing warmth, texture and acoustic softening,” says architect Chris Simmonds. “We have recently been using it as an accent wall treatment in living rooms, dining rooms and bedrooms.”
The paneling in this open-concept foyer by CPI Interiors helps define this space as its own room, accentuates the tall ceiling and adds a ton of character, Cox says. “These homeowners came to us because they wanted a statement when people were welcomed into their home. When adding moulding like this, it’s important to first choose the piece of furniture and artwork and design the moulding around it. This ensures a stunning end result that is well-balanced.”
Adding moulding can be a subtle touch, as this example from the 2022 Minto Dream Home by Collins and Minto Communities shows. “We had a Parisian Haussmann-style vision for this project and therefore wanted to add a lot of interior architecture with applied wall mouldings to add character and depth,” Collins says. “The colour story and detailing promote romance and relaxation.”
MORE: Take a tour of the 2022 Minto Dream Home
Deirdre Crick, the selections supervisor at Amsted Design-Build, often sees an eclectic style in new design at the moment, mixing modern and traditional looks with wainscoting or full decorative panels on the wall. Slat walls, like the examples above, “are a great way to add a modern flair to the walls, with a mix of a dark colour and a warm wood finish.”
In this project by PLOTNONPLOT Architecture and RELM Builders, the goal was to highlight a space that was very visually open to the outdoors. “This vista became an amazing surface with which to display the movement of light over the course of the day and seasons,” says architect Rebecca Fernando.
“I deliberately created extrusions from surfaces to highlight these dynamic shifts of light and shadow. This was applied to masonry, light fixture selection and location, and wood elements.”
Wall treatments “offer a versatile canvas for creativity, allowing experimentation with colours, textures, patterns and materials beyond traditional paint or wallpaper,” says Or Bielak of Neoteric Developments.
The French country blue wallpaper in this award-winning farmhouse dining room creates “a tranquil and warm atmosphere that complements the cosy and inviting nature of farmhouse decor… Moreover, it serves as a focal point in the room without overpowering it.”
“People want their home to be a reflection of themselves. Wallpaper allows this as it’s art and can be much more than a simple colour,” says Greg Simpson of Sunshine Build and Design. In this project with KISS Design Group, “bold pattern creates a wall of artwork in a room that is usually left quite plain.”
Going bold in the powder room is an easy step to test your decor boundaries — it’s a small room and closed off from the rest of the home.
This powder room by ARTium Design Build pairs a fun wallpaper pattern on the upper walls with painted panelling on the bottom to add personality and character.
People are looking for more architectural detail than they used to, says Doucet, “design as a sort of art form.” In this project, for instance, that’s achieved with an actual piece of art combined with wallpaper behind the wood shelves, wood accenting and brick for a layered, authentic look.
Wall treatments like moulding and panelling are rooted in traditional design and stand the test of time, says Lafleur. “You can achieve a very sophisticated result by adding wainscotting to your walls and then painting the entire room, including the ceiling, in the same paint tone.
“I think we are seeing more of this style of application than high contrasting applications that break up the space. People are loving the continuity of it all looking integrated and the wall mouldings act as a texture more than a division.”
MORE: Tour this award-winning custom home
When executed well, wall treatments help create a big impact and affect the ambience of a space, says Alvarenga. In this renovation project that GoodStory undertook, she says designer Giovanna Rivellini wanted to create a space that had texture and more depth, which was done with the wall mouldings in the living room and textured tiles in the kitchen and bathrooms.
“We wanted the home to have a story to tell and the finishes in every room were selected with a purpose,” Alvarenga says.
MORE: Tour this Hintonburg renovation
In a subtle approach above, the textured wallpaper behind the bed painted in the same light tone as the rest of the room adds depth without introducing new colours. “The result is a room that exudes intentional design,” says designer Saree Parry of Saree Parry Design.
Parry also loves using textured wallpaper to dress concrete columns, which are a common feature in recently built condominiums. “Whether cubic or cylindrical, designers must integrate them seamlessly with the client’s decor.”
For this project, she wrapped the cylindrical column in cork wallpaper with golden speckles. “It creates a beautiful effect all throughout the day, harmonizes the warm tones in the room’s colour scheme, softens an otherwise cold-feeling corner, and reflects sunlight throughout the day.”
