Karl Lohnes: What will your walls wear this fall?

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Fall is a great time to show your walls some classy love. I’ve put together a few ways to bring personality and style to your world with a little game that I like to call Paint, Paper, Art. Which one will win out as a way to make your walls stand out instead of getting closer to you?

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Paint the city

A fresh coat of paint is one of the quickest and easiest ways to create a striking effect. Every fall, major paint manufacturers announce their colors of the year for next year, so it’s a great time to usher in a change in your decor that’s on trend.

Neutral colors have long dominated walls and lately they have been turning into darker and more dramatic neutral tones. That means one thing: change is on the horizon. Next up: brighter, more dramatic colored walls.

For me, the most exciting fall announcement comes from Canadian paint company BeautiTone. Their Warm Hugs (D43-0-1598), a deep pink with orange and red hues, recalls a time in decorating when people painted in their favorite colors and treated them as common neutrals; I call that fearless decoration.

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The last time we saw that approach was in the 1990s. I think BeautiTone’s Warm Hugs would be amazing, whether used throughout a small space or to mark a dining room, library, or family room. We are often afraid to decorate with pink, thinking that it will make a room look too feminine. But this deep pinkish red, complemented by walnut wood and nature colors like greens, blues and browns, will give the room a classic look with updated appeal, as if the decorator has been around and worked his magic.

Tip: Paint the crown molding, walls, window / door moldings, and baseboards in the room the same color to give the room a modern, less crowded look. Would you dare to consider a deep pinkish red as your new neutral for 2022? I am seriously considering it for a powder room or entry hall.

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Paper tales

The textured wall look is gaining popularity and my prediction is that Venetian plaster walls will be all the rage for the next year.

Venetian plaster is a wall finish made with plaster and marble dust applied in thin layers by trowel. The layers are then polished to create a smooth, layered look with bits of subtle shine.

Authentic Venetian plaster is laborious and expensive to install, so wallpaper will be my solution to achieve this look. With today’s photographic technology, wallpapers can mimic very fine finishes and are much easier to apply (and remove) than real plaster finishes.

Use a Venetian plaster look on a wall that would otherwise be highlighted with a dark paint color or heavy wallpaper, like seagrass. It would also be equally good applied to one wall as a focal point or to all four walls to wrap a room and create an intimate feel.

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Artistic intelligence

Art is a great way to add personality to your space and tell visitors a little about your interests, favorite colors, and style. It’s also a great way to decorate a room with an investment that you can take with you if you ever move.

So how do you start collecting? Set a theme that appeals to you – wildlife, landscapes, people, abstracts, colorful or black and white are just a few of the popular choices. Trust your instincts. As you continue to shop for your favorite pieces, you will see what style of art you gravitate to.

Gather and buy what your budget allows, and you’ll be amazed at how your collection grows over time. The first work of art I bought was a painting of a dog over 20 years ago and without being aware of it, I have continued to collect many pieces of art (mostly thrift store finds and tag sales) from animals.

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And don’t be afraid to rethink your collection, not all in the same frame. Instead, opt for frames with similar finishes, which will help put together assorted pieces of art.

A popular place to display an entire wall of art is around major focal points, such as a fireplace, television, headboard, or porcelain piece of furniture. Keep the largest pieces of art at eye level and surround them with the next largest size, with the smallest on the outer edges. Another great place to display art is on the wall of a staircase. In this way you can enjoy wall art from some levels in your house.

Don’t have enough art to fill a wall? Try hanging a few over a fireplace mantel or console table, then place some on the actual mantel or table, leaning them against the wall and slightly overlapping some pieces. This will give your art display a casual look and allow you to move the works around as your art collection grows over time.

Do you have a decorating dilemma or want to give your opinion? You can contact Karl on Instagram @karl_lohnes.