When is a wall more than something that merely holds up the roof? When you look at your walls as part of the decor of your home. We experience fads regarding these walls. Some decades we Americans are in love with wallpaper. I just visited the Pasadena Showcase House of Design and took note of the distinctive panels of wallpaper originally made for the 1940s Monterey colonial estate. Panels depicting scenes in nature were popular at that time as were classical Oriental panels. When I started in interior design in the later 1970s, metallic wallpapers were the rage. Foils that came in bold geometric patterns or stripes were sizzling hot! Then we passed into an almost endless era of white wash and faux painting. We saw the popularity of the exotic Venetian plaster finishes arrive in the 1990s and then endured a period of every homeowner wanting his or her house to be painted in Tuscan colors, ushering in deep reds, olive greens and sunflower golds.

From the earliest days of colonization, the English brought the idea of wainscots, wood panels and wallpaper across the Atlantic. Homes of the well heeled, such as that of the governor, might have featured hand-tooled leather walls or vibrantly painted reception rooms or parlors. As affluence built for a colonist, a home in town might have featured French wallpaper or paintings done right on the walls by an artist.

The challenge for the small homeowner is how to use color or texture in comely ways that do not shrink the environment. A few rules to guide the owner of a bungalow or tiny urban apartment: First, know that if you reduce the disparity between the major planes — i.e. the floors, ceiling and walls — you will produce a more continuous look. This is how you might introduce some deeper color. While keeping the walls light is a sure way to brighten your space, white walls are not required. Paint is the most basic treatment of walls, and nowadays there are some divine painted textures from a can available from home improvement stores. Expect to pay more for Martha Stewart, Ralph Lauren and other specialty finishes.

Wallpapers come in natural textures such as classic grass cloth or this modern blend of shine and natural fiber designed by well-known interior designer Candice Olson. Theoretically, a reflective quality on the walls is an opening technique. The ultimate shine and reflective surface is a mirror. There are certain times when the use of floor to ceiling mirrors is the only thing that will do. If you are a renter you might consider purchasing an oversized mirror in a frame and either leaning it against the wall or hanging it. Nothing opens up a space quite like a mirror. Be sure to check out ahead of time exactly what will be reflected in the mirror in order to avoid unsightly reflections.

If you intend to add a chair rail, make sure that you select the proper size of wood moldings. It is best if your base and crown work appropriately with the horizontal molding. Know that dividing a wall in the middle is uncomfortable. Chair rails work best with walls that are over eight feet in height. So if you live in a tiny home with low ceilings, don't get too tricky with your woodwork. Make certain that the profile and dimension of the ornamentation is petite enough for the space. The higher the ceiling, the larger the crown you can install.

The most elegant of wall treatments might be the upholstered wall. Popular originally in Europe, the walls are padded with batting in a fashion similar to furniture upholstery and then covered with fabric. The edges are finished off with either self-welts out of the same material as the walls, cording or gimp.

Photo Credit: York Wall Coverings

Christine Brun, ASID, is a San Diego-based interior designer and the author of "Small Space Living." Send questions and comments to her by email at [email protected]. To find out more about Christine Brun and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.