Types of Wall Tile Trims

There are different types of trims that can be used to enhance and finish a tiling job in interior décor. Most tiles have rough edges that should be covered to complement and complete the wall décor. Tile trims also help to cover uneven edges in wall tiles. Some tiles have their own in built trims that maintain the uniformity of the tiling. These tiling trims also lessen the work by doing two jobs in one. There is the corner tile that has a smooth edge where the grout line should be. This is place at the corner where two walls and provides a smooth transition between them. Corner tiles are mostly used for kitchen countertops and bathroom walls and may have sides of different lengths.

Decorative and Functional Tile Trims

Bull nose tiles have one or more rounded edges and are also known as surface trim. They are mostly used on the perimeter of a wall. Pencil or rope trim are long, thin and decorative tiles that are used for contrast in a field of tiles. They have a half-circle profile and can be used at the perimeter when corner and bull nose tiles are not available. They are both decorative and functional when used at the edges where two walls meet.

Machines also carve out designs on tiles that further enhance them. Such designs are diverse and tiles that are so decorated are ideal to be used on the perimeter of the wall. Tiles with designs such as flowers and emblems can be placed anywhere within the tile field to further highlight the design. Decorated tiles placed at the top perimeter of a tile field are also known as ‘cap’ tiles. For an angled wall, different tile trim designs can either highlight this as an interior décor element or conceal it as a flaw.

Decorative and Functional Wall Trim

For that complete and decorative interior decorating accent for any room, consider adding wall trims. These are molding made of wood or other such light weight material that is used to dress up walls. Apart from adding character to the wall and being a bold design statement, trims are a creative way of hiding construction imperfections like dents, joints and gaps. Wood trim is cheaper than polymer trims but may contain imperfections that make it hard to nail through them on installation. It also shrinks with time especially if the wood had not dried properly at the time of manufacture.

Different Types of Wall Trim

Trims can be used on any wall in the house and can be done uniformly throughout the house. Crown moulding is installed at the joint between the ceiling and wall while baseboards are installed at the joint between the wall and the floor. Both these can be used to hide a gap between the wall and the flooring or the ceiling. Casing is another type of trim that is used to define the area around the window or door frames. A chair rail is a horizontal piece of trim about three feet from the floor that originally protected the walls from chairs though today it is used as a decorative element. A picture rail is a variation of the chair rail higher on the wall that was used to hold hooks for hanging pictures.

Wall frame moulding is found on more luxurious houses and is a decorative wall feature that can be assembled to create the effect of a picture frame. Wall trims like the chair rail can be used to divide two different colours on a wall with the trim taking up one of the colours or a third, matching colour which further accentuates interior decorating in the room.

Holiday Wall Décor

The holiday season can be considered a time for new beginnings and certain alterations in the home’s interior décor will give it a more finished look while adding character. Such alterations like wall trims are stylish enhancements for the holiday décor that can still be functional even after this season well into the New Year. There are different wall trims available all which add charm and personality to the wall they are installed on. Ledges are functional wall trims that are installed about a foot from the ceiling and can be used to hold holiday décor items or gifts. When the holiday season is over these items can be replaced with others like sports trophies or family keepsakes.

Wall Trims for Christmas Décor

The hooks on wall ledges are ideal for hanging Christmas stockings or holiday theme paintings or pictures which can be replaced with other functional items in the New Year such as family portraits. Such ledges are ideal for holding plants with a trailing vine which is ideal as holiday greenery and still functional later on. Ceiling mouldings are ideal for wall borders and can be inexpensively installed. One strip of the moulding is attached at the top of the wall next to the ceiling and the second strip about eight inches below it. The two strips can be painted a contrasting colour from the wall for a more dramatic effect with the space in between done in a complementing colour.

Chair rails are wall trims installed in the middle of the wall, about the height of the chair to prevent it from marking the wall on contact. Since it divides the wall into two, contrasting or complementing colours, such as white and red, blue or green can be used for the two portions of the wall and still be relevant after Christmas.

Colourful Decorating with Wallpaper

 Walls are the largest single surface to be considered in interior decorating and colours used on walls must blend in with the entire décor theme. In addition to paint, a versatile way to colour one’s home is wallpaper. These come in different designs, colours and textures which are easy to install and almost never requiring any professional assistance. The beauty of decorating with wallpaper is that unlike paint it requires less time to set and is faster to install requiring little or no primers and many other layers. Wallpaper use is a great and easy way of hiding a myriad of blemishes on a wall. If installed properly, wallpaper is fairly easy to remove and replace with little or no damage to the underlying wall. Existing wallpaper can be painted over or new wallpaper installed over it.

Decorating with Wallpaper in Style

Whatever the style or décor theme, there is a wide range of wallpaper designs and colours to choose from ideal for any room in a home.  Accents and borders are a creative way of decorating with wall paper for that additional exquisite customized look. Aside from the traditional patterns, there is a wide range of photo wallpaper murals in cityscapes, landscapes, natural patterns and even designer murals for that bold and refreshing touch. The animal mural range would come in handy when designing a children’s bedroom while the natural pattern murals add a blast of vitality to a foyer, dining room or a living room.

For a do-it-yourself approach, the peel-and-stick range of wallpaper is easy to use even for a novice in interior decorating. This range is ideal since it may be re-stuck in a different room or position with no residue. Whether one goes for the classic patterns or the nouveau photo murals decorating with wallpaper is a fun family activity.

Decorative Ceiling Designs

Ceilings are more than protective shelter as they can be used to greatly enhance the interior decorating theme in a room. Ceiling materials have generally the same composition as those for making up walls in a home. A major consideration when it comes to ceiling designs is height, with the standard being eight feet. A raised ceiling is usually above this and gives the effect of space, while a drop ceiling is ideal for muting sounds making it ideal for sound studios. However variations exist for both types due to structural, spatial or decorative reasons. A popular variation for the raised ceiling is the cathedral type that angles upward from the walls to a single peak. A familiar variation of the drop ceiling is the suspended type that is ideal in concealing structural cracks, or other mechanical equipment like plumbing and wiring.

It is important to consider the prevailing weather conditions when deciding on ceiling designs as they may affect the temperature in a room. Raised ceilings have a cooling effect as warm air tends to rise while drop ceilings tend to increase the warmth in a room as heat is trapped in a low area. For a more dramatic effect different colours may be used to paint ceilings that will either contrast or complement the colour on the walls. Murals may also be done on the ceiling or mirrors added for a romantic theme.

Ceilings designs, like walls, may not be easy to alter without altering the structural design of the entire building. This limitation is aesthetically countered by enhancing the existing design with, say, a ceiling fan to add that tropical touch. Textured or plain fabric used as a decorative addition to a raised ceiling will greatly increase heat retention and will significantly improve the room’s interior decorating.