Traditional Wall Decor

Keep things simple in your approach to decorating your house for a traditional atmosphere that is both sincere and attractive. When you select molding for your wall decor ask yourself a few basic questions. Will these moldings add to the joy of living? Are they well crafted? Is the material good quality? Can I envision this molding living with me for a lifetime? Do these moldings have a timeless charm, a classic shape and form? Be wary of current decorating trends that encourage you to buy molding or make changes that are not truly you and that you'll tire of within months. Also keep in mind that you can respect the authanticity and integrity of a culture's art while recognizing that it does not fit your aesthetic. For example, if you appreciate the artistry and precision of modern architecture, but would rather not live with it around the clock, you should continue to admire it in books and at museums. If something isn't you, don't bring it into your home.

It is necessary to remember that the question of how traditional wall decor can be justified is not merely a contemporary problem but one which all historical periods have had to address. This question of traditional as an awareness of the contingency of one's own period has been with us from the earliest times. Indeed this dialogue between new and old, often expressed as a desire to break with one's immediate past, always arises when a new claim is made against the tradition that has been guiding our everyday lives.

Traditional Architectural Wall Embellishments

- crown molding - chair-rail - baseboard - door trim - pediments - pilasters

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Traditional Wall Decor Products

mirrors

wall sconces

wall decorations

Extending Wall Space

Not all existing wall openings are desirable. If you're an art collector, for example, you'll want space to house your collection. If there are two entrances to a hall where only one is needed, you can extend the wall by closing in the space, stretching the usefulness and enjoyment of an adjoining room.

While some walls may inhibit the openness, light, and view of a space, a lack of walls may limit your ability to feel embraced and cozy in a space, bookcases within reach. A room with too many wall openings is unsettling, far from intimate and inviting. A room with openings on all four walls is not a private space but a public hall. Don't let preexisting wall openings intimidate you. Be opportunistic in exploring ways to literally extend your wall space; whether you want to close in an opening for more privacy or to provide space for wall art, books, or collections. Invariably you will find wall openings that you really don't need, where you could use the valuable wall space for storage, art, books, or a furniture grouping and architectural embellishments.

Why have two doors bunched in a corner, one leading from the hall, and another from the kitchen, when one is all that is required? Remove the doorframe and door, close the wall with sheetrock, tape the seams, spackle, and paint. Now you have new wall space in both rooms, providing a place for a standing desk or bookcases in the library, and a wine rack or even an additional counter in the kitchen.