Decorating
Artful Impact: How Bold Images and Surfaces Invigorate a Home
Bright painted walls aren't the only way to make a statement, as these 12 homes with eye-catching graphic images show
If you’re looking to add personality and pizzaz to your walls, brightly coloured paint isn’t your only option: why not consider adding graphic, artful images for a unique look? The design options are virtually limitless – from stencils and screens to blown-up photographs – and all are virtually guaranteed to create a talking point when you have visitors over. Choose low-key graphics for a restrained effect, or go all out with bold colours, sizes and textures. Here are some great examples to inspire you.
Kitchen joinery – bold approach
If you’ve got a fondness for bold colour or Mondrian art, as these homeowners clearly do, display your passion with a powerful graphic image on your kitchen cabinets. The joinery, in effect, becomes the canvas for the art.
Tip: To make this look work, opt for slab-front doors and minimalist handles that won’t distract from the artistic effect.
See more stunning kitchens
If you’ve got a fondness for bold colour or Mondrian art, as these homeowners clearly do, display your passion with a powerful graphic image on your kitchen cabinets. The joinery, in effect, becomes the canvas for the art.
Tip: To make this look work, opt for slab-front doors and minimalist handles that won’t distract from the artistic effect.
See more stunning kitchens
2. Kitchen splashback – restrained approach
Like paint, tiles are fairly easy to remove or replace from a wall, which makes them a great choice for creating a personalised kitchen splashback. There’s a plethora of incredible tiles to choose from nowadays, from textured and patterned to three-dimensional styles. You can even have a favourite family photo applied to tiles.
Tip: Ceramic and stone tiles aren’t your only option for splashbacks. Here, the owners have reclaimed old aluminium street signs and cut them up to create one-of-a-kind tiles.
Like paint, tiles are fairly easy to remove or replace from a wall, which makes them a great choice for creating a personalised kitchen splashback. There’s a plethora of incredible tiles to choose from nowadays, from textured and patterned to three-dimensional styles. You can even have a favourite family photo applied to tiles.
Tip: Ceramic and stone tiles aren’t your only option for splashbacks. Here, the owners have reclaimed old aluminium street signs and cut them up to create one-of-a-kind tiles.
Kitchen splashback – bold approach
Once upon a time, glass splashbacks only came in a few colours. That’s no longer the case. Today, you can have just about any colour – or even an image – you like on a glass splashback. But select carefully as once installed it is permanent.
Tip: Make a colourful splashback pop by keeping the rest of the kitchen neutral, as the owners have done here.
Once upon a time, glass splashbacks only came in a few colours. That’s no longer the case. Today, you can have just about any colour – or even an image – you like on a glass splashback. But select carefully as once installed it is permanent.
Tip: Make a colourful splashback pop by keeping the rest of the kitchen neutral, as the owners have done here.
3. Stairs – restrained approach
Why not make climbing the stairs fun! If you have an uncarpeted staircase with a painted or stained finish, consider adding numbers to the risers of each step. It might even help encourage the kids to go upstairs to bed at night.
Tip: Rather than painting permanent numbers, have them printed onto removable, self-adhesive vinyl stickers. This way you can easily remove them if you tire of the look down the track.
Why not make climbing the stairs fun! If you have an uncarpeted staircase with a painted or stained finish, consider adding numbers to the risers of each step. It might even help encourage the kids to go upstairs to bed at night.
Tip: Rather than painting permanent numbers, have them printed onto removable, self-adhesive vinyl stickers. This way you can easily remove them if you tire of the look down the track.
4. Stencilling – restrained approach
Paint a friendly, stencilled message on the ground outside your front door to make every guest who enters your home feel welcome.
Tip: Choose a paint designed for external use, and one that will cope with the wear and tear of heavy foot traffic.
Read more DIY stories
Paint a friendly, stencilled message on the ground outside your front door to make every guest who enters your home feel welcome.
Tip: Choose a paint designed for external use, and one that will cope with the wear and tear of heavy foot traffic.
Read more DIY stories
Stencilling – bold approach
Make a statement from the moment guests enter your home by adding powerful graphic images to the walls in your front entrance. You can choose to buy the stencils or make your own for a unique look.
Tip: If you’re painting over brick, add a base coat of paint first to ensure that your stencilled image really stands out.
Make a statement from the moment guests enter your home by adding powerful graphic images to the walls in your front entrance. You can choose to buy the stencils or make your own for a unique look.
Tip: If you’re painting over brick, add a base coat of paint first to ensure that your stencilled image really stands out.
5. Laser-cut screens – restrained approach
Laser-cut screens are a fantastic way to create impact both inside and outside the home. They add drama to your vertical surfaces, and can easily be moved to different areas with minimal fuss if you’re looking to shake your decor up.
Tip: Backlight the screen with feature lighting to magnify the image at night.
Laser-cut screens are a fantastic way to create impact both inside and outside the home. They add drama to your vertical surfaces, and can easily be moved to different areas with minimal fuss if you’re looking to shake your decor up.
Tip: Backlight the screen with feature lighting to magnify the image at night.
Laser-cut screens – bold approach
Laser-cut screens are a clever way to create a sense of enclosure in an outdoor space, while still allowing light and air to flow through. The play of shadow and light through the screen can be mesmerising, as this example shows.
Tip: For a touch of fun, add a hidden message to your screen that is cast onto the floor or wall when the sun hits.
Laser-cut screens are a clever way to create a sense of enclosure in an outdoor space, while still allowing light and air to flow through. The play of shadow and light through the screen can be mesmerising, as this example shows.
Tip: For a touch of fun, add a hidden message to your screen that is cast onto the floor or wall when the sun hits.
6. Facade – restrained approach
You can elevate a plain facade by using different-coloured bricks to create interest, as the owners have done here.
Tip: Highlighting a section of the wall with a different-coloured brick, such as the red-brick section shown here, draws the eye where you want it.
You can elevate a plain facade by using different-coloured bricks to create interest, as the owners have done here.
Tip: Highlighting a section of the wall with a different-coloured brick, such as the red-brick section shown here, draws the eye where you want it.
Facade – bold approach
Here, bricks have been carefully laid to spell out the word ‘hello’, and even the window has been integrated into the lettering. This creates a powerful and friendly message for everyone who walks by.
Tip: You’ll need a skilled brick layer to recreate this look, and be sure to get the spelling right!
Here, bricks have been carefully laid to spell out the word ‘hello’, and even the window has been integrated into the lettering. This creates a powerful and friendly message for everyone who walks by.
Tip: You’ll need a skilled brick layer to recreate this look, and be sure to get the spelling right!
7. Signs – restrained approach
Signs are a fast and easy way to add graphic imagery to your home. Not only are they eye-catching, but they’re portable enough to move around to different spots in the home so you can mix up the look down the track.
Tip: Have a theme running through your sign display, whether it’s colour or topic, for a more powerful and consistent effect.
Signs are a fast and easy way to add graphic imagery to your home. Not only are they eye-catching, but they’re portable enough to move around to different spots in the home so you can mix up the look down the track.
Tip: Have a theme running through your sign display, whether it’s colour or topic, for a more powerful and consistent effect.
Signs – bold approach
Neon lights not only add character to a room, they can be used to light the space too.
Tip: Hang more than one sign on the wall or surrounding walls to create a more dramatic effect.
Make it Pop! How to Make Colour Blocking Work for You
Neon lights not only add character to a room, they can be used to light the space too.
Tip: Hang more than one sign on the wall or surrounding walls to create a more dramatic effect.
Make it Pop! How to Make Colour Blocking Work for You
8. Doors – restrained approach
Technology now allows us to adhere images to just about any substrate we want, including tiles, timber, glass… any material you can think of. The decorative possibilities are endless. Here, the sliding door is not only a passage into the next room, but also a work of art.
Tip: Choosing a barn door system for this look means you can simply unhook the door and put in a different one if you want to change the look.
Technology now allows us to adhere images to just about any substrate we want, including tiles, timber, glass… any material you can think of. The decorative possibilities are endless. Here, the sliding door is not only a passage into the next room, but also a work of art.
Tip: Choosing a barn door system for this look means you can simply unhook the door and put in a different one if you want to change the look.
Doors – bold approach
No walls to hang a painting or display a graphic work of art? No problem. Consider using the doors for display, as the owners have done here. The mullions (the black vertical and horizontal lines) on the door only add to the bold effect.
Tip: Pair a bright image such as this one with black door frames to ensure they won’t compete with the image for attention.
No walls to hang a painting or display a graphic work of art? No problem. Consider using the doors for display, as the owners have done here. The mullions (the black vertical and horizontal lines) on the door only add to the bold effect.
Tip: Pair a bright image such as this one with black door frames to ensure they won’t compete with the image for attention.
9. Bathroom – restrained approach
Rather than choosing standard wall tiles for your bathroom, why not add some decorative wallpaper instead, as these homeowners have done.
Tip: If using wallpaper in a bathroom, make sure it is applied using the right glue to withstand the steam and alternating temperatures generated in the space.
Rather than choosing standard wall tiles for your bathroom, why not add some decorative wallpaper instead, as these homeowners have done.
Tip: If using wallpaper in a bathroom, make sure it is applied using the right glue to withstand the steam and alternating temperatures generated in the space.
Bathroom – bold approach
For a more permanent solution,
consider adding a glass splashback with your favourite image to your bathroom. It’s waterproof, easy to clean, and who wouldn’t to bathe beside this idyllic beach setting?
Tip: There are rules and regulations in regards to the type of glass you can use adjacent to bathtubs. Ensure your glass is safety rated if using it for this purpose.
For a more permanent solution,
consider adding a glass splashback with your favourite image to your bathroom. It’s waterproof, easy to clean, and who wouldn’t to bathe beside this idyllic beach setting?
Tip: There are rules and regulations in regards to the type of glass you can use adjacent to bathtubs. Ensure your glass is safety rated if using it for this purpose.
10. Powder room – restrained approach
White walls can be dull, but certainly not in this case. Here, the pale walls contain an endless pattern of branches, transforming the tiny room into an imaginary forest – the perfect touch of fun for a powder room.
Tip: Limit the amount of colours you use in a small space so it’s not visually overwhelming. Here, the owners have opted for a simple black-and-white palette. Using black on the ceiling adds depth to the room and accentuates the expanses of white in the wallpaper.
White walls can be dull, but certainly not in this case. Here, the pale walls contain an endless pattern of branches, transforming the tiny room into an imaginary forest – the perfect touch of fun for a powder room.
Tip: Limit the amount of colours you use in a small space so it’s not visually overwhelming. Here, the owners have opted for a simple black-and-white palette. Using black on the ceiling adds depth to the room and accentuates the expanses of white in the wallpaper.
Powder room – bold approach
Lining the back wall with an image of a jetty is an inspired choice here – it appears to run right into the room, and the timber-board theme is then carried through with bathroom flooring.
Tip: Use concealed lighting to heighten the sense of being in the scene – here, lighting recessed into the ceiling makes the sky appear to glow.
Room of the Week: A Small, Perfectly Formed Powder Room
Lining the back wall with an image of a jetty is an inspired choice here – it appears to run right into the room, and the timber-board theme is then carried through with bathroom flooring.
Tip: Use concealed lighting to heighten the sense of being in the scene – here, lighting recessed into the ceiling makes the sky appear to glow.
Room of the Week: A Small, Perfectly Formed Powder Room
11. Living room – restrained approach
If it’s your first time experimenting with graphic imagery and you want to tread cautiously, why not commission a graphic image on a rug or canvas that you simply hang on the wall. This way, you can easily take it down if you find it doesn’t work.
Tip: Choose as large an image as possible so that it doesn’t end up looking like a regular painting.
If it’s your first time experimenting with graphic imagery and you want to tread cautiously, why not commission a graphic image on a rug or canvas that you simply hang on the wall. This way, you can easily take it down if you find it doesn’t work.
Tip: Choose as large an image as possible so that it doesn’t end up looking like a regular painting.
Living room – bold approach
For maximum impact in your living room, consider commissioning a dramatic painted mural for the walls.
Tip: Make your mural personal by choosing a theme that really means something to you, such as a favourite overseas destination or a collage of key moments in your life.
For maximum impact in your living room, consider commissioning a dramatic painted mural for the walls.
Tip: Make your mural personal by choosing a theme that really means something to you, such as a favourite overseas destination or a collage of key moments in your life.
12. Bedroom – restrained approach
A bedhead presents a fairly low-key way to introduce a graphic image into a your bedroom. It’s also easy to switch up if you change your mind about it down the track.
Tip: Your bedhead doesn’t have to be upholstered in fabric – for something different, consider using an oversized canvas printed with your favourite photographs for this purpose instead. Just remember to layer up the bed with plenty of pillows.
A bedhead presents a fairly low-key way to introduce a graphic image into a your bedroom. It’s also easy to switch up if you change your mind about it down the track.
Tip: Your bedhead doesn’t have to be upholstered in fabric – for something different, consider using an oversized canvas printed with your favourite photographs for this purpose instead. Just remember to layer up the bed with plenty of pillows.
Bedroom – bold approach
A graphic image doesn’t always have to be the focal point in a room – it can instead act as the backdrop in a themed space. Here, the polka-dot pattern on the pillow is echoed in a similar oversized pattern on the wall, creating an interesting layered effect.
Tip: Repeating patterns is a great way to create a considered and cohesive scheme. For inspiration for your graphic image, look to patterns in rugs, bedding and accessories.
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Looking for more bedhead inspiration? Don’t miss Picture Perfect: 60 Blissful Bedheads From Around the World
A graphic image doesn’t always have to be the focal point in a room – it can instead act as the backdrop in a themed space. Here, the polka-dot pattern on the pillow is echoed in a similar oversized pattern on the wall, creating an interesting layered effect.
Tip: Repeating patterns is a great way to create a considered and cohesive scheme. For inspiration for your graphic image, look to patterns in rugs, bedding and accessories.
Tell us
Did you find this story useful? Tell us in the Comments below. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to like or share this story and save the photos. Join the conversation.
More
Looking for more bedhead inspiration? Don’t miss Picture Perfect: 60 Blissful Bedheads From Around the World
Lining the outer face of this kitchen island in geometric-patterned tiles brings the room to life and makes it feel less utilitarian – perfect for a kitchen that extends into an open-plan living and dining space where decorative appeal is key.
Tip: The tiles on the face of this kitchen island have been cleverly contained within a border created by the benchtop and the slab end. Using this technique means that if you tire of the tiles, you can simply replace them without affecting the rest of the island unit.