Story: Tamarisk McNalty Stephens

Painted drywall is the traditional interior wall finish in new home builds and renovations. However, there are countless alternative materials and finishes for walls that can create a significant visual impact while also defining your style. Here are seven wall treatments and the areas of your home you might want to splurge on for the best investment.

1. Wallpapers or Wallcoverings

Material: Rolls or sheets of grasscloth, paper, cellulose or vinyl. Whether foil, flocked, embossed, block printed or textured paper, there is an endless selection of patterns and colours.

Installation: It is generally recommended to hire a professional, but if you’re up for a challenge, do-it-yourself types often hang their own paper. Ensure you do the proper prep work – plot out the install, level everything, smooth the surface, have all the tools required and know whether you have a pre-pasted wallpaper or if you require an adhesive. Always check the pattern repeat, as it will affect the coverage provided per roll.

Pros: Natural fibres breathe and add an element of Mother Nature to the space, while vinyl is highly durable, stain and moisture resistant, colourfast and scrubbable. You can completely change the overall look and feel of a space with a wallcovering.

Cons: Natural fibres are more delicate, less scrubbable and more susceptible to sun fading. Vinyl cannot breathe. If selling is in your immediate future, perhaps give wallpaper a pass as some potential buyers can be hesitant.

Application: An entire room or a simple accent wall. Powder rooms are a great place to try out a bold print.

**2. Tile**
**Material:** Porcelain, ceramic, slate, limestone, glass, mosaics, cement encaustic or marble.
**Installation:** Professional installation is generally recommended. Labour cost will vary depending upon size and style of tile and design of pattern and layout.
**Pros:** Easy to wipe up and clean, durable finish, waterproof when installed correctly.
**Cons:** Cleaning grout lines. Natural stones require a sealant to be applied a couple of times per year, or more frequently depending upon use and exposure.
**Application:** Great for bathrooms, powder rooms, kitchen backsplashes or fireplaces.

3. Barn Board

Material: Weathered boards, generally but not exclusively sourced from a barn.

Installation: Can be a DIY project with the proper tools.

Pros: Texture, visual interest, improved durability of walls in high-traffic areas. Provides a natural, rustic aesthetic. Commonly planks are installed horizontally but can be used to create various patterns such as herringbone.

Cons: Can collect dust.

Application: Great for accent walls, mudrooms or laundry rooms.

4. Shiplap

Material: Typically either long planks of MDF or a paint-grade poplar, installed horizontally. Traditional shiplap has a special rabbet or notch cut on the long edges of the boards to aid in spacing.

Installation: Can be a DIY project with the proper tools.

Pros: Texture, visual interest, improved durability of walls in high traffic areas. Typically white, but shiplap can be painted any colour you desire. Gives a farmhouse or coastal vibe.

Cons: Can collect dust.

Application: Great for accent walls, mudrooms or laundry rooms.

5. Wainscotting or Applied Trim

Material: Tongue-and-groove wainscotting, bead board, board-and-batten and traditional applied-panel details are available in wood or MDF.

Installation: A trim carpenter is generally recommended however, depending upon the complexity of the installation, an avid DIYer can attempt with the proper tools.

Pros: Instant character and charm to a room, adds an element of elegance, great texture for visual interest and is more durable than drywall.

Cons: Can collect dust, can be costly depending upon species of wood selected and installation method for desired aesthetic.

Application: Dining rooms, dens, bedrooms or hallways.

6. Stone or Brick Veneer

Material: Natural or manufactured stone and brick, generally sold in pieces by square foot or in sheets.

Installation: For masonry work, hiring a stonemason is recommended. Labour cost will vary depending upon the stone and method of installation. Sheet veneers can generally be managed by the average DIYer.

Pros: Strong visual impact. Can provide good return on investment. Non-combustible and available in a wide variety of styles and colours.

Cons: Can collect dust. Manufactured stone veneer products are formed and often a repeating pattern will emerge. With a natural material every piece comes from the earth and has its own uniqueness but requires cutting and fitting.

Application: Focal walls or fireplaces.

7. Plaster

Material: Clay, lime, Venetian, gypsum or tadelakt plaster each has its own pros and cons.

Installation: Professional trowel installation recommended. Pre-planning is required to ensure proper backing is installed as some plasters require wire mesh or blue board, while clay plaster requires a primer with added sand for adhesion.

Pros: Beautiful, timeworn aesthetic adds a depth and luminosity to walls that is impossible to achieve with paint and drywall. Plasters are generally more durable than drywall. Generally sanding is not required and therefore dust is limited at time of install. All-natural materials and low VOCs.

Cons: Costly and time-consuming to install.

Application: A splurge for rooms you’d really like to highlight. For tadelakt, use it in areas that require waterproofing (showers or perhaps a kitchen or bath backsplash). OH

Treat Your Walls

Sleek Black Kitchen for this Family of Five

Pavlova with Citrus Curd