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Home › Articles › Decorating Your Home › Got Big Walls?

Got Big Walls?

We've Got Big Ideas

By Kelly Burgess

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Some may denigrate them as "McMansions," but there's a reason people love today's trend toward bigger homes. While these houses may seem larger than strictly necessary, much of that space is geared toward togetherness with great rooms that combine living, eating and food preparation areas, and big basements for parties and indoor recreation. This is much more family-friendly than the traditional home, where small rooms are separated by walls and doorways. As for the rest of the space, well, things are getting bigger. People need a wall to fit a big screen TV and a basement that can support a workout center. It's space, not waste.

When you're looking up, it gets tough. Many large homes feature soaring foyers and nine foot ceilings that, untouched, can leave your home feeling like a cold, echoing cavern. What's a decorator to do? The answer is this: Do whatever you want. The sky (or ceiling) and your imagination are the only limits.

Color and Contrasts
It starts with paint. That's the word from Carolyn Anderson, model home decorator and co-owner of Desa Design. "Colors are your best friend when it comes to bringing warmth and character to a big space," she says. "Choosing the right paint can allow you to soften the space and tie it in with the rest of the home." Beyond that, says Anderson, which color to choose is a matter of your personality and taste. Bold decorators may want to go with bright, bold colors. More earthy types may want to stick with neutrals.

One of Anderson's favorite uses of paint on a large wall space is to use two different colors. One interesting technique she favors is to break up a large wall, such as a space with a 20-foot ceiling, with a chair rail around the wall at about what would normally be ceiling height about 8 or 9 feet. Then, use different but contrasting colors on the top and bottom. It can be lighter on top and darker on the bottom or vice versa. Then, unless there's a lot going on architecturally or with interesting windows, decorate below the rail. "This creates a manageable decorating space and yet still gives the benefits of that big ceiling," she says. "You still need art, unless there's a lot going on in the space, but keep it at eye-level height below the chair rail."

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