Custom wall treatments are a versatile way to add character and sophistication to your living space. Whether applied to a single feature wall, an entire room, or carried throughout your home, these treatments can completely transform the look and feel of your interiors.
By incorporating custom wall treatments, you can create a unique visual accent that reflects your personal style while elevating your home’s aesthetic. From subtle textures to bold patterns, these treatments have the power to enhance the ambiance of a room, making it feel more inviting and distinctive.
For those who love the timeless beauty of classic interiors, custom wall treatments can also bring a touch of old-world charm to your home. Think Venetian plaster, intricate wood paneling, or vintage-inspired wallpaper—each detail adds depth and richness to your space, creating a sense of history and refinement.
Alternatively, for a more modern or dramatic look, custom wall treatments can be designed to make a strong statement. Sleek geometric designs, metallic finishes, or bold, artistic murals can become the centerpiece of your décor, drawing attention and setting your home apart.
Whether you’re updating a single wall to add a focal point, reimagining an entire room, or creating a cohesive design theme across your home, custom wall treatments are a creative way to bring your vision to life. Contact Columbus Home Heroes today to learn how we can help you achieve a stunning transformation tailored to your style and needs.
Most trendy wall treatment: Shiplap
Shiplap is one of the wall treatments everyone’s talking about, since 2013 when Chip and Joanna Gaines of HGTV’s Fixer Upper, who use it on practically everything. But what, exactly, is shiplap? The short answer: shiplap is a highly versatile material that’s real (or faux) wooden boards that fit together.
Why Is It Called Shiplap?
The concept of shiplap goes back much, much farther than the homes of the 1900’s it is commonly found in. Like, at least 1,700 years– around the time of the Vikings!
An ancient boat unearthed in northern Europe more than a century ago is the earliest example of clinker construction that uses overlapping wood planks called lapstrakes – a precursor to shiplap that created a watertight seal. The Nydam was a 24-meter long rowboat with 15 sets of oars that was built around the year 320, way back when Constantine was the emperor of Rome.
In the centuries that followed, the practice of overlapping wood planks to keep out moisture evolved and produced shiplap. Technically, shiplap consists of boards that overlap at rabbeted edges to create a snug, watertight fit. It became a common exterior siding material for barns and sheds.
Don’t ever let someone tell you shiplap has to be boring, look at those great examples
The History of shiplap in the home
Historically, shiplap in a home interior was never meant to be exposed. Before the days of Sheetrock, shiplap was used to provide the sheathing between the exterior and the framing. Shiplap also provided the perfect wall surface for wallpaper. After the shiplap was installed, it would be covered with an inexpensive fabric like muslin or cheesecloth. The fabric hid the joints in the shiplap so that the wallpaper application would go on smoothly.
Most versatile wall treatment: Board and batten
What exactly is board and batten wall treatment?
Also referred to as board and batten wainscoting, this style of wall treatment is a great way to add architectural interest to a wall. Board and batten is a type of exterior siding or interior paneling with narrow wooden strips, called battens, that form a grid pattern.
History of Board & Batten
According to the popular home site, Bob Vila, board and batten is, “a striking dimensional finishing treatment, board and batten, is enjoying renewed popularity, with homeowners installing it both on the exterior and indoors. Historically a staple of Arts and Crafts architecture, board and batten originated as a form of house siding. The term “batten” refers to the strip of molding placed across the joint between boards. The resulting look boasts an attractive geometry: strong vertical lines balanced by a sense of texture across the horizontal.”
Board and batten is a type of wainscoting, usually running full length of the wall. It started as a practical option for exterior siding. 18th century Americans found that if the boards were installed vertically, rain ran down the outside of them rather than seeping into the home. If they then covered the seam between boards with another, thinner board, no rain could get in at all, and the siding was now relatively air-tight.
But board and batten is more than just practical, it’s also beautiful, so it didn’t stay restricted to exterior use for long. Soon, board and batten methods were being applied to shutters. Not long after that, the board and batten pattern was brought inside the house, where it was used to protect walls from damage.
What’s the difference between a Board and Batten Wall and Shiplap?
Shiplap and board and batten are two different wood construction wall treatments. Traditional shiplap has a groove cut into the top and bottom of the board that allows the pieces to fit together snugly, forming a tight seal. This gives shiplap its distinctive appearance of snugly fit tight horizontal boards. Board and batten walls have a less uniform look and can be created in many different ways. Traditional board and batten use narrow strips (batten) of wood alternately with wider spaces (board).
Most classic wall treatment: Wainscoting
Wainscoting came into use in the 18th century, as a wall covering, applied to the lower third of the wall. It’s similar to chair rail—a less opulent form of wood trim that was placed “chair height” along all the walls of a dining room to protect the walls from chairs bumping into them—in that it started out as a way to protect walls. Walls were made of plaster by this time, and plaster was relatively expensive to repair. While a thin strip of chair rail did the trick, wainscoting covers much more of the wall than chair rail, so it has a secondary benefit in that it’s a good way to insulate a room.
How do you say it?
Wayne’s coating? Wayne’s cotting? Wayne’s kitting? Merriam-Webster prefers the first pronunciation, but all are acceptable. It’s also fine to call it wainscot; the terms are interchangeable.
There are many different styles when it comes to Wainscoting and the right one for your project will depend on such things as the age and style of your house, where you’d like to use it and of course the effect you’re trying to achieve.
Traditional Wainscoting
Traditional wainscoting is decorative wood paneling along the lower wall that protects the wall from scuffs. The height of traditional wainscoting is usually 36 to 42 inches. The chair rail goes at the top and baseboard is at the bottom. The middle part is made with either raised panels, flat panels, vertical v-joint tongue and groove (T&G) or beadboard tongue and groove.
Traditional wainscoting from 18th century England was made from quarter sawn Oak and finished with an oil turpentine protective coating. Today, most wainscoting is being painted solid colors but sometimes people still prefer a stained wood look. See some images below of wainscoting.
Wainscoting vs Board and Batten as a wall covering option
Wall treatments like wainscoting and board and batten have been around for centuries, but have become more popular in home decor in the past few years, as a direct response to the rise of shiplap, interest in other wall treatments rose. It’s a simple way to add wow factor to a room by giving it depth and pattern that can’t be accomplished with paint or wallpaper.
The terms “board and batten” and “wainscoting” are sometimes used interchangeably, but they mean slightly different things. Wainscoting refers to a common practice of covering the lower third of a wall. Board and batten is a pattern consisting of square or rectangle sheets of material joined by thin braces called battens.
Most underutilized wall treatment: Beadboard walls
According to the home improvement site, Angi.com, “Beadboard is wood paneling with vertical grooves and small ridges between each plank.” Beadboard is a row of narrow wood planks lined up vertically on the wall. In between each wood plank is a little indentation or ridge—also known as a “bead.”. The vertical boards are capped off by strips of horizontal molding, which finish off the seams.
Beadboard originated in England four centuries ago with the practical purpose of keeping heat inside the house, and outside dampness at bay. It is said that early English settlers brought the design to the U.S. to remind them of the “history and architectural character” of the homes they left behind.
Historically, it was installed to provide insulation to rooms. Today, it is installed as a decorative feature to walls, ceiling, cabinetry and even furniture to add an antique look. It’s also available in premade sheets or even wallpaper. The humble elegance of the beadboard detailing can instantly add an antique feel to any room in your home.
Few design elements are so versatile they feel both cottagey and elegant at once. The beauty of beadboard is its versatility, which is really only limited by the user’s ideas.
Beadboard can be used to create a beachy vibe, a cottage feel, an antique traditional feel.
Difference between wainscoting and beadboard?
If you use the terms wainscoting and beadboard interchangeably, you’re not alone. But as far as wall treatments go, they do have some important differences.
The term wainscoting actually refers to a style of paneling rather than a specific material. Typically made of wood, it’s paneling that covers the lower third or half of a wall in a room to help prevent damage, to cover up damage, aid with soundproofing, or simply as a decorative addition. In addition to wood wainscoting, tile and vinyl options are available.
Now on to beadboard. This is made up of narrow pieces of wood planks aligned vertically on the wall. A ridge or indentation lies between each strip — this is the “bead.” Generally, beadboard ranges in height from 30-54 inches. It can be purchased in panels as long as 8 linear feet to speed up the installation process.
Biggest statement wall treatment: brick
Brick has been a building material for homes and structures since approx. 4400BC! This style is classic, and often stately. If your home is built out of brick, it is simple enough to expose a brick wall for a statement wall. If you home is not brick built, or you want an interior wall to be a brick look feature wall, you have options for how to do this with a faux brick.
Faux bricks come in thin veneer pieces which are put up like tile, or PVC panels for wet area such as in kitchens or bathrooms or pressboard panels in sizes up to 8ft- tall. What style you choose is first dictated by the application, such as a backsplash, or a bathroom or a bedroom.
Brick wall treatments don’t have to be bare looking bright bricks, it can be whitewashed, it can be plastered, or even messy mortar Check out the great options below.
FAQs
Q: How much does it cost to have a custom wall treatment installed?
A: The cost of having a custom wall covering installed varies depending on the size of the area to be covered, the type of material used, and the condition of the wall before the treatment is applied. However, you can expect to pay anywhere from $25 to $150 per square foot for custom wall covering.
Q: How long does it take to have a custom wall covering installed?
A: The time it takes to have a custom wall installed varies depending on the size of the area to be covered and the complexity of the project. However, you can expect most installations to take several days to complete, longer if the wall needs extensive work to prepare it. A custom covering such as board & batten, shiplap, or beadboard, can be installed over painted walls, wallpaper in good condition, and patches without being finished, so prep is not complex, unless the wall is in poor condition.
Q: Can styles be mixed with custom wall treatments?
A: YES! We encourage it to get that perfect look you desire. You can mix styles, such as a board & batten with wallpaper between, or beadboard between. You can customize the pattern of shiplap, and even mix it with other styles. Speaking with your deign professional at Columbus Home Heroes will show you how limitless it is.
