This Under-$100 DIY Project Can Transform a Room

Try this DIY Project for Under-$100

With a little skill and not much money, you can bring color and character to any space by painting part of a wall. It’s a rule that’s rarely stated but often implied: When you paint a wall, you should paint the whole thing, top to bottom. But this rule begs to be broken. Painting a “half” wall (which can actually be more or less than half, or any amount you choose) can revitalize the look of an entire space, and often with as little as 1 to 2 pints of paint. That makes this easily an under-$100 makeover that you can achieve in a single day. If you’ve been scared to pick up a paintbrush, here are some ideas that may change your mind.

When painting a half wall, you can paint to halfway up the wall or to any height you wish. Stopping the paint a bit above the eye line will let the color stand out more, while stopping it below will leave more of the white or neutral hue to create a more open and airy effect.

Straight across

A fun, contemporary way to paint a half wall is to ignore architectural features altogether and paint straight across the wall. Painting right over this door and trim plays with the traditional forms and gives them a modern edge, especially when done in a matte finish.

Dynamic diagonals

For whatever reason, our brains perceive diagonal lines as being more dynamic and energetic than horizontal and vertical lines. This makes diagonal lines feel more fun and playful.

Tall spaces and staircases

In very high spaces, especially stairwells, a half wall helps ground the area without filling it floor to ceiling with an overwhelming amount of color. This dark wall follows the lines of the staircase, defining the area while still allowing the high ceiling to seem far away. Notice how the lower edge of the gray diagonal area aligns to an element of the window (the bottom of the middle panes) for a little extra architectural crispness.

Blackboard

Chalkboard paint has more uses than you’d think. Sometimes the only way to keep children from writing on the walls is to give in and let them write on the chalkboard walls. A chalkboard-paint half wall creates a space for a little artistic exploration in a way that still fits a grown-up look.

Faux backsplash

This bathroom creates a similar look to the previous space but without any tile on the walls at all. Painting the walls to just a few inches above a vanity or a laundry sink creates the effect of a backsplash but without the tilework. Be sure to use a washable finish in a quality paint that will endure a few splashes.

Mountain-scape

You may not be an expert painter, but you too can create a modernist mountain-scape like this with just some tape and basic paint supplies. By painting in layers and taping off zigzagging lines, you can give the subtle impression of a mountain vista and mix in different nature-inspired shades for the effect of a dramatic mural without the intricate brushwork.

Artistically brushy

Maybe you want a more painterly look or you just don’t want to bother taping. Simply let the roller end where it will and create a brushy end to the line. This effect works especially well in a stripped-down, minimalist space with lots of clean lines to break up the monotony.

Brick walls

Debating between painting brick and leaving it untouched? Why not compromise with a bit of both? This kitchen leaves a stripe of unpainted brick to bring in that original character, with about half to three-fifths of the wall painted white to let the room look a little cleaner and bigger. For those who can’t decide, it really gives the best of both worlds.

Original Article from Houzz