Decorating a Staircase for High Impact
If the entrance to your home includes a staircase, there are plenty of ways to create an impact by using colour and depth to highlight a staircase without spending a fortune.
25/09/2021
future publishing - david merewether
There is a lot of information on the web for how to create more impact with a staircase but none better - or more affordable - than adding wall panelling, moulding and trim to create depth and let any staircase take centre stage in an entrance.
Why would you use wall panelling and how can this be affordable? The answer is easy to understand. You can create faux wall panelling by using 6mm, 9mm or 12mm SupaWood and using paint. A sheet size of 2750 x 1830mm of 6mm SupaWood retails at around R500, and 12mm retails at around R700, and you can have that sheet cut down into all the component pieces you will require to create faux panelling up a staircase.
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There are all different designs for wall panelling and you will want to select one that complements both the design and style of a home. DIY options for panelling include beadboard - where a router is used to cut grooves in a solid sheet to make it look like separate panels slotted together, or you can use tongue and groove pine that is painted. I tend to stay clear of the latter option because pine is known to warp, and making your own beadboard is a less inexpensive option and one that will last a lifetime.
A popular panelling option in many homes is the use of beadboard, as shown below. This is achieved by routing a 'V' shape at intervals across the board to replicate the appearance of boards joined together. Additional pine or SupaWood trim can be added at the top and bottom of the beadboard panels to add more detail.
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Known to many as shiplap, this design consists of horizontal lines or planks. Not available locally, you can achieve the same look by using sheet boards and adding grooves using a router or have planks cut to size for securing on a wall.
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What is Faux Wall Panelling?
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The easiest way to describe faux wall panelling is to say that it is a sheet board cut into pieces that can be glued onto a wall to resemble full panelling, with the exception at the centre section of the detail is not panelled but rather painted to look like the rest of the panelling.
Applying panelling in this way cuts down drastically on the amount of board product needed to complete the look, and you only need to have a sheet cut into uprights and top or bottom detailing.
How to Install Faux Wall Panelling
Step 1
Secure vertical and horizontal panels onto the wall with adhesive. You can use No More Nails or Contact Adhesive for this purpose.
Step 2
Additional detailing can be achieved by layering pine or SupaWood moulding or trim along the top edge or where you want this to appear. In the image below, a decorative pine rail or dado has been glued onto the wall above the faux panelling.
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Idea for installing wall panelling up a staircase
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Step 3
After securing all the panels and detailing on the wall, the next step is to paint the entire installation. You will want to use a paint that is durable and easy to clean since this area can get grubby quickly.
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Should you decide to do any wall panelling in your home, pop into your nearest Builders or hardware store and check out the available options as regards moulding and trim, because there are plenty of options to consider and you might even save more money using thinner trim or moulding.
