Walls that are full of wonder
Why stop at pictures when you can hang plates, baskets or even a sheep’s head?
What do you have on your walls? a painting or mirror, maybe a poster or a display of favourite holiday snaps. Me too.
But it’s easy to be more imaginative with our walls and it needn’t cost a fortune. treat them like museum displays, changing and updating to keep things interesting.
PUT UP A PLATE
traditionally plates were displayed in dressers, lined up in pleasing rows. Beautifully painted or oversized plates look just as good hung on the wall as a group. it’s the perfect way to display holiday ceramics picked up in colourful markets.
though you don’t need to travel far to find desirable pieces. les ottomans handdecorated
ikat plates would be dizzying to eat from but striking on a wall. From £45, libertylondon.com.
the dutch art movement-inspired Stolen From de Stijl collection from darkroom is designed to be put up. With its crisp lines and bright colours, it is easy to mix and match (£85, darkroomlondon.com).
you can also invest in pottery as you might a painting. dylan Bowen creates abstract expressionism inspired plates from his oxford studio. Each plate is individually decorated, £300, thenewcraftsmen.com.
WEAVE THEM IN
IF YOU’RE worried about hanging heavy things on delicate plasterwork, then choose something light and textured like rattan. ‘When it comes to baskets — the more patterns and textures, the better,’ says tabara n’diaye, founder of la Basketry. ‘they’re easy to put up and you can use them in the kitchen,’ she adds. Baskets from £25, labasketry.com.
WONDERFULLY WACKY
UNUSUAL objects can make striking wall art. ‘Collections of decorative pieces such as Juju feather headdresses or antique trays will wake up your walls,’ says interior designer Jo Eastham. ‘i used a set of sheep and goat heads (pictured right) by sculptor dido Crosby on a restaurant wall,’ she says.
on the other hand, ordinary things grouped together can add an element of surprise. Furnishing and interiors company timothy oulton is known for arresting walls — hanging everything from vintage tennis rackets and balls to dolls’ houses and magnifying glasses.
‘you can be playful,’ says oulton, ‘it doesn’t need to be serious. a wall covered in a single, simple object can really make an impact. We’ve hung entire walls of bowler hats, or blue and white vintage plates.’
Feather headdresses are available in popping shades, £395, mimosinteriors.co.uk. Pentreath & hall and howe london stock antique trays, pentreath-hall.com and howelondon.com.
RUG UP
TEXTILES are brilliant for adding warmth, texture and pattern to a room. But why limit yourself to cushions and throws? take your cue from grand, tapestry- clad homes and opt for wall hangings or even rugs.
the Painted Shapes rug panel by alice howard-Graham for heal’s is too lovely to be underfoot. inspired by an aerial photo of West Sussex, it combines leather, hand painted artwork and digital printing, £660, heals.com. anthropologie has a range of Bohemian woven wall art with layers of texture and tassels. the Jade lion Wall artwork is as bright as a red coat in winter, £348, while the Penelope Woven Wall art is sequined but subtle, £228, anthropologie.com. you could even hang a replica piece of the Bayeux tapestry (£190, english-heritage shop.
PLASTER WORKS
LUCY BARLOW, creative director of interior design studio Barlow & Barlow, has replica corbels on her walls on which she stands vases. they add a three-dimensional look as well as providing another platform for display. lassco has an English relief cast plaster corbel taken from an original at Castle howard for £200, lassco.co.uk. if decorative plaster takes your fancy, then re-purpose ceiling roses for your walls. Graham & Green has a set of seven cast in resin, £145, lassco.co.uk. alternatively, the Soane Mouth of truth mask cast in Portland, Bath or terracotta stone will add a theatrical flourish, £343, shop.soane.org.