I've got a bedroom wall that is about 15-20 ft long. I can't put anything against it as it is a walkway and there is nowhere else we can create a walkway without going way around things like the bed. Right now, it's totally uninspiring with just pictures all over it and it's white. I want to do some thing that will give it the appearance of being shorter and give it a bit of style. I've also got a darkish blue patchwork quilt on the bed that stays (mom made it for me). I was thinking of painting the wall with a dark blueish bottom and lighter blue top with a chair rail down the center. Would the chair rail still make it look long? Maybe put some of the family pictures back up on the top? Any ideas are appreciated. It's been my eyesore for several years.

How about a chair rail with picture molding beneath it?

I would be afraid a chair rail may make it look even longer. I would try to think of a way to add vertical lines rather than horizontal ones.

Maybe divide it in thirds with paint and/or trim, perhaps using a slightly darker shade in the middle section, then separate your photos into three groups centered in each section to give the illusion of three separate areas.

Or maybe add some long narrow shelves in the middle to break up the area.

I'm not exactly sure what a picture molding looks like, but assume it sticks out just a little bit? Not a bad idea. Give it a bit more form to the line running down the wall. Thanks, I'll give it some thought.

quote:

Originally posted by mamaspoon:
How about a chair rail with picture molding beneath it?

Why not try Venetian Plaster have them mix you up a blue with dark and light blues, it will give the wall it's own look and with the colors it may shorten it's look. Good luck


www.frankawitz.net

I've been staring at that wall and thinking about how your idea might break it up. And, the long chair rail was what I originally wondered about. I guess it would defeat the purpose of trying to break it up. I just thought a top and bottom of different color might break it up. But, in thinking about it, I end up with two or more long lines. Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by Blondesense:
I would be afraid a chair rail may make it look even longer. I would try to think of a way to add vertical lines rather than horizontal ones.

Maybe divide it in thirds with paint and/or trim, perhaps using a slightly darker shade in the middle section, then separate your photos into three groups centered in each section to give the illusion of three separate areas.

Or maybe add some long narrow shelves in the middle to break up the area.

I would have to agree with Blondesense in that you need to address the breakup in the sense of verticle not horzontal. You could divide the space evenly with a picture frame design. Being that you would have a open space, then picture frame ( 3'X5') then open space and repeat the picture frame effect again. Just divide the space evenly for the area so that everything is proportional. Just decorative molding would work. The molding could be painted a corresponding color tint to match the basic wall color and the interior of the framed area. Only tool needed would be a miter saw, finish nails and paint. I often pick up the multicolored paint sheets that have corresponding colors and pick three that are in a row which are very similar. Works well with Wainscoat, chair rail and wall combinations.

To go one step further if you wanted to display the photos then do so in the framed area with frames the same color as the picture framed area. Just my $.02 worth.

I'm getting so many great ideas. Thanks to you all. I have a question though. If I make the frames 3x5 and put pictures in them, won't they look funny with pics at the top half and nothing in the bottom? Maybe I'm design dense, but I'm really not sure. I understand the frame design concept. Can I make them like 3x3 towards the middle of the wall? Would that look ok? (also, I'm a very bad visualizer of lengths...4 ft means nothing to me until I see something 4 ft long. Just me.)

Thanks

That was just an example. You can make them what ever you would like demensional wise. When I suggested that my mind was visualizing just the panels w/o photo's. Then my mind switched frames and I thought I would throw in the photo's. To make it look corrected I would work out the total length of wall and divide the # of frames and open spaces accordingly. If you have favorite artwork then inside the frames keeping the same size proportioned within the frames would be OK but as you stated lessen the frames to keep them a little below and above eye level. Glad I could help.

John

http://s220.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/redoverfarm/hightop/

In keeping with the "quilt" layout, why not construct a large wall unit that consists of geometric squares and rectangles all attached to one another. 2 x 2's, maybe?
The openings could be just as varied as your personal taste dictates. Think large bank of different window sized openings. Painted or stained a contrasting color from the wall, the unit could definitely make a visual impact on the horizontal nature of the wall.

Personally, I probably wouldn't hang pictures in the different openings, but would enjoy it as an architectural element in the room.