Maybe one day you’ll finally get around to fixing those minor wall cracks and paint chips, but in the meantime, covering those unsightly cracks is easier, and a whole lot cheaper, than you may have thought.
In the video above, resident Rentovators Dan Brophy and Paul Wells show us how they transformed a tired dining room in a rundown rental, paying particular attention to the cracked walls.
“In this instance, the aim was to cover as much wall space as possible with items that also served a purpose and gave this room a touch of opulence,” says Dan.
A before and after worth bragging about. Picture: The Rentovators
While they welcome any renter to consider the same hacks and temporarily transform their homes to appear modern and renovated, these expert tips and tricks can apply to homeowners with the same structural issues.
“Not only can these hacks help cover up wall cracks, but they also help tackle the shortcomings of a home from a design perspective,” says Dan.
Here are three nifty ways to conceal cracked walls in your home.
1. Large-scale artwork
Artworks on a big scale not only work to cover unsightly cracks on your walls, but also help to draw the eye away from them.
While homeowners can easily hammer in a nail and hang a print or painting, renters don’t always have this luxury. Fret not, though, because our Rentovators have the solution, and yes, it’s temporary and poses no risk to your bond.
“When you can’t hammer nails into the wall, you need to get creative with how you display your artworks. In this space, we leant a huge print against a mantelpiece that we created ourselves using scrap wood.”
Lean art on a side table or mantelpiece for a no-nails way to add personality. Picture: The Rentovators
Another great means of hanging large artworks, aside from temporary hooks which can sometimes damage your walls further, is by making use of picture rails.
“Many older homes have a picture rail on the walls. In this Victorian terrace, we were able to hang a couple of giant artworks to mask cracks and draw the eyes away.”
You may think large artworks are expensive, but the duo cut costs by purchasing the prints cheaply from a stock website. They then printed them at Officeworks and glued the images to a lightweight foam board.
See more: 29 one-minute cleaning hacks to transform your home
Picture rails are a great way to temporarily hang artworks. Picture: The Rentovators
2. Sheer curtains
Nothing says opulence quite like the look of sheer curtains billowing in the breeze. Floor-to-ceiling curtains can create a luxe look while, you guessed it, covering a huge portion of damaged walls.
Not to mention the beautiful glowing effect they have on a space.
“We all want soft, diffused light in our homes – it’s the ideal lighting for a selfie,” says Dan. “Sheer curtains diffuse harsh light, leaving your room photo-ready at all times, but by opting for floor-to-ceiling curtains, you also make your room look a whole lot taller.”
See more: IKEA engineers a new air-purifying curtain
3. DIY mantelpiece
The DIY mantle the Rentovating duo created didn’t just serve as a leaning post for the artwork; it functioned as a way to cover cracks on its own, too.
“This room makeover took place in a Victorian terrace, and against one of the walls, you could see the outline of a mantelpiece that had been removed,” says Dan.
“We found a mantel frame in a junkyard and using a few pieces of scrap wood, nails and a fresh lick of paint, fashioned a new mantle to bring back that original touch of grandeur.”
A unique way to add a touch of old-world charm. Picture: The Rentovators
Originally published as 3 nifty hacks to conceal cracked walls by Katie Skelly.
