Sylvia Sandford is currently presenting interior design courses titled Amazing Mondays, which are sponsored by Amazing Interiors, and held at the company's showroom in Pakuranga. For more details call 576-8190 or 021 669-931.

“Plain walls are the refuge of the artistically destitute.” This was according to the famous American decorator, Elsie de Woolf, who worked in New York early last century.

One hundred years on, it seems things haven’t changed much. Interior designer and tutor Sylvia Sandford spoke to a group of design students at Amazing Interiors last week and said when walking into many homes today, her overall impression is of a cream cheese icing spreading over every vertical surface. 

“We’ve ended up with monotonous walls and we need to add life to our homes,” Sylvia said.

While some might think these statements a little harsh, the designers’ words give pause for thought when considering how to treat the most dominant visual surfaces of our homes.

Before creating magnificent changes inside, however, Sylvia advises clients to take a look outside first. 

“The overall style of home usually dictates the look of the interior, and from there, you can decide what each room’s role, theme and character will be.”

Vision Wall Coverings available through Wallpaper Call Company.

Whether a room is a passive or an active one should play a major part in the selection of wall treatments. “Passive rooms – such as studies, libraries, dens and home theatres are rooms for sitting in.  They’re rooms that can take bolder patterns and colours that wrap around you. Formal dining rooms call for creating atmosphere too, and this is something the Victorians did so well, with their rich-red walls, glittering chandeliers, sparkling glasses and gleaming silverware.”

While transitional areas such as entrances and hallways are also busy, people generally move through quickly and Sylvia suggests that bolder colours and designs can work well here too.    

“Active rooms are the busy ones with people constantly on the go.  They’re generally part of open plan living areas with the kitchen as the hub, and here walls should be kept relatively neutral.” 

Using varying levels of sheen – or no sheen at all – is another way to manipulate visual impact. “With matt finishes, walls appear to come towards you, adding strength, weight and warmth. They’re ideal for darker rooms. Sheen, on the other hand, is glitzy, dynamic, and reflective; it opens up spaces and works superbly for cooler, lighter areas.” 

Lighting is another pivotal tool for giving walls interest and intrigue and according to Sylvia; lighting should be used as inspiration for the way we live.

“Using the nuance of light brings rooms alive. While daylight can play tricks on wall surfaces, at night the decorator is totally in control and can manipulate for desired effect.

Styling by Amazing Interiors.

“Experiment with the different types of lighting available – such as halogens, fluorescents and incandescent bulbs – and plan to have lighting coming from different sources and levels around the room.”

Window treatments are often seen as part of the walls, and especially so at night when they’re drawn.

Sylvia says homeowners might want to make a statement with curtain fabric, but should keep in mind that the eye will be drawn to anything dominant. 

Statement walls, formerly known as feature walls, swing in popularity from a warm reception to a cool one, but still have their place. However, certain rules need to be adhered to for a successful outcome.

“Statement walls should only feature on surfaces that are well balanced,” Sylvia says. “But if that’s not possible, carrying the colour around to an adjoining wall can be an acceptable compromise. Paint stronger colours on back walls and lighter colours towards the light, and when decorating on more than one level, colours should be lighter the higher you go.”

Statement walls featuring wallpaper are a popular choice today, with the same rules for painted feature walls applying and when painting out a strong colour or pattern Sylvia’s favourite neutral grey is Resene Mountain Mist.

Should you encounter a colour challenge on your journey to domestic transformation – Sylvia has a useful rule she applies every time: “When in doubt paint it out!” And if you are stuck for ideas, wondering which colours and combinations to use, she takes her inspiration from nature – “because nature never gets it wrong.”

Wall treatment options include wall coverings, such as fabric, fibres and paintable papers, timber panelling, glass, tiles, brick, plaster and, of course, paint, which comes in a huge range of innovative textures, effects and finishes.