Lacquered Walls Rise and Shine
Gleaming and glamorous, lacquered walls add irresistible polish, light and energy to interior designs
Houzz Contributor. Fresh out of journalism school, I fell into decorating media and immediately discovered a new passion. An Atlanta native, I spent several years as an editor for Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles magazine before making the leap to national publications and websites such as Houzz, Better Homes and Gardens and Southern Accents. I live in Birmingham, Alabama, with my husband and son, who’ve gotten used to coming home and finding the furniture rearranged. When I'm not dragging case goods across the floor, I enjoy good food and wine, college football, music of all kinds, and traveling.
Houzz Contributor. Fresh out of journalism school, I fell into decorating... More »
Lacquered walls have been on the decorating scene for ages, but they're white hot these days. There's something magnetic about that inimitable patent leather shine — it feels refined, classic, glamorous and unexpected all at once. It's a great way to ratchet up the drama and add another layer of depth to a space.
Composed of resin and solvents, lacquer has a unique property that yields its liquidlike sheen: Applying a fresh coat on top of one that has dried will dissolve the resin in the dry coat. Thus, the different coats melt into one another to create a flawless surface and a smooth gleam. Lacquer dries quickly to a very hard, durable finish, making it ideal for high-traffic rooms.
What do you think about lacquered walls? Would you give them a whirl? Tell us why or why not in the Comments!
Composed of resin and solvents, lacquer has a unique property that yields its liquidlike sheen: Applying a fresh coat on top of one that has dried will dissolve the resin in the dry coat. Thus, the different coats melt into one another to create a flawless surface and a smooth gleam. Lacquer dries quickly to a very hard, durable finish, making it ideal for high-traffic rooms.
What do you think about lacquered walls? Would you give them a whirl? Tell us why or why not in the Comments!
by Branca, Inc.
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Dark colors look most dramatic. Black, charcoal, navy and other dark hues have an inherent glamour and mystique that lacquer amplifies 10-fold. The gloss of the finish combined with the depth of the color creates a spectacular contrast. Although lighter shades look lovely in lacquer as well, the effect can be subtler.
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Imperfections will be magnified. If you plan to lacquer a surface, make sure it's in impeccable shape. Even barely discernible bumps, nicks and ripples will stand out sharply, highlighted by the sheen. You may need to skim coat walls, patch divots, repair unevenly taped drywall and more.
Tip: Hold a flashlight parallel to the wall and play the beam slowly over the surface to pinpoint imperfections.
Tip: Hold a flashlight parallel to the wall and play the beam slowly over the surface to pinpoint imperfections.
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Lacquer generates energy. Light reflecting off that shiny surface quickens the pulse of a space, so be cautious about using lacquer in bedrooms and other areas where you might prefer to relax. The red walls in this living room were high octane to begin with; lacquer kicked them into overdrive.
by Elizabeth Reich
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In a similar fashion, a normally restful lavender hue roars to life under its shiny topcoat. Lacquer can be an ideal choice for small spaces such as this, adding dimension and depth.
by MuseInteriors
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Costs for lacquering add up quickly. Not only must you factor in labor and supplies for surface prep, but good-quality lacquer is expensive, not to mention notoriously difficult and time consuming to apply. It's generally sprayed on, rather than rolled or brushed, which can stipple the finish. Which brings us to the following point ...
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| You'll need professional help. True lacquering isn't considered a DIY-friendly job. It's tricky to spray on lacquer correctly, and the fumes are highly flammable and quite toxic. In some places, it's against the law to apply lacquer without adequate space and ventilation. You can approximate the look by applying several coats of high-gloss paint or adding a layer of varnish or polyurethane as a top coat (know that this will make your wall color look slightly darker). While this won't replicate lacquer's sheen exactly, it's a good compromise if you don't have the budget or inclination for the real thing. Fine Paints of Europe also makes a lacquer-finish paint, though it's very pricey. You can also look for a vinyl wallpaper that has a lacquerlike finish. One line we like: Phillip Jeffries' Lacquered Effect wall coverings. |
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by Rikki Snyder
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| Lacquer reflects neighboring objects. Lacquer's intense shine gives it a mirrorlike quality, so make sure the setting it reflects is attractive. By the same token, it begs for dramatic lighting to set it off. In this space, the ceiling pulls the colors of the artwork, the pattern of the drapery panels and the glow from the chandelier upward, creating a lovely illusion of height. |
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Likewise, this lacquered wall reflects the shoji screen–style door and allows light to reverberate around the space.
Lacquer isn't the lowest-maintenance finish — it looks best when it's kept pristine, but dust and finger smudges can build up quickly. Dust walls once a week with a very soft, lint-free cloth such as microfiber, or use a feather duster. To remove smudges, wipe the walls down with a soft cloth soaked in warm water and wrung out until just damp, then follow with a dry cloth to remove any residual moisture.
Lacquer isn't the lowest-maintenance finish — it looks best when it's kept pristine, but dust and finger smudges can build up quickly. Dust walls once a week with a very soft, lint-free cloth such as microfiber, or use a feather duster. To remove smudges, wipe the walls down with a soft cloth soaked in warm water and wrung out until just damp, then follow with a dry cloth to remove any residual moisture.
Ideabook published on Oct. 4, 2012.
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Sia Maniatakos
A high gloss look.
I included some pictures so you can decide if you can settle for varnish. In the first picture you can see how much darker the varnish makes the colour. No. 2 is varnish a little futher away and the 3rd is the wall during the daytime - 1 tone lighter than the 1th 2 pictures which was my test run.