How to Create a Personal Style with a Two-Toned Wall? – 4 Tips from Professionals

How to Create a Personal Style with a Two-Toned Wall? – 4 Tips from Professionals

1. View the Apartment as a Whole 

The lines dividing the walls bring different color tones to the space, creating either an elegant, comfortably cozy, or boldly unique style depending on the color and height of the border. Master painter Paula Rautiainen advises looking at the entire apartment instead of focusing on painting just one wall.

"The paint border gives the room structure and can create the illusion of a higher or lower space. Consider the atmosphere your home needs. Then, examine the lighting in different rooms and the specific needs each room has. Does a room need warmth or spaciousness? Does a room feel unorganized or dull? Also, consider the views from one room to another," recommends Rautiainen.

However, finding the right proportions can be challenging. How can you discover a style that suits your home?

Hotel Sanders combines green and white in its rooms for a refreshing ambiance.

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2. Find Inspiration from the Building's Era

When searching for the location of the paint border, it's good to turn your gaze to history. Two-tone walls were particularly popular in the Victorian era in England when the lower part of the wall was painted with a darker and more robust, glossy paint because it received more wear and tear than the upper part.

In the late Middle Ages, it was fashionable to divide the wall in half with decorative molding or wall paneling and paint the upper and lower parts in different shades. Wall panels were also used to cover moisture rising from the ground, and moldings protected the wall from furniture dings. Wooden picture rails were necessary with plastered walls.

"Two-tone walls originally had a functional purpose, and later it became more of a visual element. Throughout history, paint has imitated something elegant and desirable," says Ilona Palmunen, architect and Creative Director of A.S.Helsingö.

Two-tone walls were popular until the 1960s when the perception of them began to be associated with hospital corridors and school cafeterias demanding durable walls. Now the style is experiencing a resurgence.

For homes where the history of two-tone walls does not necessarily belong, the style can be chosen freely. The colors, design, and art typical of your own home's era can inspire you to find your own style.

Anni Rantasalo, founder of the color design company Maamusta, encourages finding your style regardless of the era: "Make sure that baseboards, window frames, and other basic elements – the room's frames – are in good condition according to the era. Inside them forms an empty canvas that can be filled according to your own taste."

The springtime combination of yellow and white is perfect for spaces like the kitchen.

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3. Explore the Porportions of the Apartment

When searching for the right height, it's worth exploring the proportions of the apartment. The proportionally suitable paint border is influenced by the height of the room and how much ceiling paint has been brought down to the wall.

"In a tall space, dividing the wall into two parts makes the room cozy and suits the human scale. In a low space, I would place the paint border in line with the windowsill or lower so that the space doesn't feel cramped. It's worth examining the architectural lines of your own home, such as the height of window sills or doors. They can serve as guidelines," advises Palmunen.

In addition to the fixed lines of the apartment, the suitable height for the paint border can be found from the established height of a picture rail* or wall panel*. However, the height should also be proportionate to other lines in the room, such as cabinets, door openings, and, for example, paintings.

*Picture rail height = 30 – 50 cm from the ceiling or 210 – 270 cm from the floor in tall rooms.

*Wall panel height = 61 cm from the floor or one-fifth of the room's height.

When seeking a more modern, boundary-breaking style, only imagination is the limit. The golden ratio, widely used in art and architecture, can then serve as a good guideline. Different heights can be tested by taping a line on the wall.

This chocolate brown shade provides a fresh color contrast against white.

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4. Start with Narrow Spaces 

If you are inspired by the style but cannot decide which room would suit a two-tone wall, choose a space that feels cramped. Horizontal lines can create the illusion of a larger space.

"A two-tone wall makes the room look more spacious when the lower part is painted with a darker shade. The eye perceives the light part receding further, making the space feel larger. Two-tone walls can be a good solution for narrow hallways, entryways, and small children's rooms," says Palmunen.

Now you can start planning a new style for your home. Save the professional tips and choose the right shades for your painting project. 

In this staircase, depth is created by blending three different shades to enhance the space.

@colinking 

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