A great deal of us prefer wall paints over any other recourse for covering the walls. It seems the natural course of action – it’s easy to organise, everybody does it, it is a predictable process … but tastes and styles have become much more varied and that’s why we now have wallpapers, decals, fabric, and many other options to suit all kinds of palettes.

If you are the kind who likes to take the “road less traveled”, then the following alternatives would give you plenty to think about. These treatments vary in budget, longevity and design value. But let us first ask ourselves the most important question of all – do we need any over complicated wall treatments at all? What if the brick is left exposed? What if the masonry blocks remain coat-less? So the next time you are thinking of repainting your walls, consider these other designer wall treatments that could enhance the decor of your home ten-fold.
During renovation, instead of re-painting an exposed brick wall, why not leave it exposed? The brick gels with almost all kind of interior settings and can be used in any area of the building. Top it up with a piece of art or a family collage, it will distinguishes itself better than any customary painted wall.
Apart from using natural stone masonry, a stone texture on walls can be obtained in a number of ways. Tiles of varied thickness can be directly pasted over cement plaster. Here, stone veneers which are basically thin layers of stones cut from bigger pieces are laid out in a random fashion. These are usually made by skilled labourers and they look more organic than stone tiles.
The type of texture you see in the image is not “specially obtained” but is kept as is from the scratch coat, which is the pre-finish coat of plaster. Later, only a sealer is applied. This paint-less wall is best suited for living areas, patios and sit-outs. A troweled stucco or lime plastered wall can also bring about the same effect.
A whitewashed, rough, plastered wall stands proud behind this diwan at a farmhouse in Delhi. This homespun look is not only unique but also implies a sense of affinity to nature and brings in a calming earthiness.
This space designed by Mumbai’s Architecture BRIO brings in an almost industrial kind of look without the use of plaster and paints. The wooden frames with white tiles abide to minimalism. Unlike the recurrent trend of designer ceiling, bed and heavily fashioned wallpapers, this rough texture aids in creating harmony with the surrounding nature.
Similar textures can be obtained by the use of composite materials like fibre cement boards. These boards come in varied patterns, textures and colour options. Cladding of these panels over the raw wall gives a clean, uncooked identity to a space.

There are diverse range of homogeneous looking veneers in a variety of textures to choose from – be it stone, cement, wood or marble. Take your pick.
This “wooden wall” is created by topping the raw wall with stained MDF panels. This front can also be achieved by paneling wood veneer sheets over the wall and separated by thick grooves.
For a classical appeal in interiors, hire a fresco artist for a full house makeover. Careful implementation of Indian fresco paintings, either partially or in full, must be carried out in consultation with the connected designer. Ready-made fabrics with fresco-like-designs are easily accessible in stores. Some allow custom-made patterns to be printed on a fabric before installation as well.
A full-wall mural gives a distinctive lift to the whole space. These murals can be custom-made using images of holiday destinations, spiritual meanings or abstract patterns. They need to be coupled with smart lighting to avoid unnecessary glare and to stimulate visual comfort.
More common applications of wall coverings other than paints are – wall panels. Wall panelling can dispense any finish to the wall because the top most layer are usually laminates. The diverse range of laminates and veneers will leave you spoilt for choice.
This house in Bangalore predominantly uses a wood-finished laminate for panelling, giving it a contemporary character. Laminates and veneers are inexpensive but highly functional, and are very malleable to different design requirements. They have become common elements in commercial and public spaces.
Panelling a wall doesn’t only mean to just sheath it like a carpet. Numerous designs can be explored – either play with levels, add two or more type of sheets or even compose it with other materials. In this design, spot lights are integrated with the panelling to give the dramatic effect
3D Medium-Density Fibreboards (MDF) or MDF jaalis have recently proven their design worth by offering an impressive range of patterns to embellish bare walls. These boards may be stained, laminated or sprayed to obtain the desired finish. This 3D wall was stained to match the colour of laminate.

Printers have made way for custom-made designs of 3D boards and jaalis. Any pattern, lettering or pictures can be printed over these boards.
In all of this, how can metals lag behind? This particular wall is covered with tin-corrugated sheets, cut into precise pieces for panelling the wall. Composite metal sheets come in quite a few colours which bring in an industrial charm. This type of wall covering is not particularly recommended for inside spaces like bedrooms but look very impressive in semi-public and public zones of the residence.