3 Creative Paint Ideas to Make Your Home Look More Expensive

Fake Some Architectural Interest

In the combined living room/dining room space, designer Max Humphrey used paint to create the illusion of wainscoting. By painting the top portion of the wall light blue and leaving the bottom white, the designer gave architectural interest to formerly blank walls.

Want to use just one gallon of paint? Consider painting just the bottom portion of the wall so you have less surface area to cover. Invest in some good painter's tape to create a crisp line.

To buy: Little Drizzle, behr.com.

Add a High-Contrast Trim Accent

Instead of painting the walls, consider brushing the trim with a dramatic color, as designers Rebecca Atwood and Kate Hamilton Gray did in the main bedroom. "The black trim detail here really makes the wallpaper stand out," says Hamilton Gray.

"A high-quality painter's tape and a good angled trim brush are important for achieving a clean result. We used Farrow and Ball Railings, which is not quite pitch black. It has blue undertones, which softens the end result."

To buy: Railings, farrow-ball.com.

Include an Unexpected Accent Wall

Accent walls are nothing new, but consider placing one in a less conventional spot. In the entryway, a soft blue hue on the wall behind the stairs greets guests the moment they walk in the front door. Consider an accent wall in the foyer, a bathroom, or even an accent ceiling.

To buy: On Tour, backdrophome.com.