Sometimes that's all you need to spruce up a bathroom. It can both define an area as well as lend some character to an otherwise plain room. Though people are accustomed to seeing wood in a dining room, the Lewises' dining room takes the elegance of wood to the next level. The top half of the walls are painted using a heavy oil paint in a maroon-burgundy shade. The paint was liberally applied and then plastic wrap was dabbed on in areas to give the walls a look similar to sponge-painting.
Wood can also create a visual focal point by dominating a small area.
A mahogany bar in a larger room, for example, might have mahogany paneling, counters and walls. Such an effect would be overkill if done on a larger scale but is effective in a small area. Homeowners shouldn't be afraid to be bold and should try interesting ways to work wood into their homes, provided they like that look, she said. People could bring home a section of woodwork or molding that they think would work in their home and put it up for a few weeks, she said. That way, the homeowner can get used to how it looks to see if it works in that room or not.