Wall Frescoes in Interior with Photos

In the homeland of Michelangelo, Titian and Raphael, interior frescoes depicted the prosperity and success that homeowners were proud of. It must be admitted that this decoration technique is quite labor-intensive, not tolerating mistakes in work. 

Later, in the medieval period, frescoes mainly decorated cathedral elements, basilicas and churches. Modern centers and capitals are a clear example of this. The technique is unique, so it is actively used today: walls and ceilings, individual parts of the interior and furniture are decorated. The result is a dazzling interior that can often be mistaken for a museum corner.

Fresco Variants

In the traditional understanding, a wall fresco is a type of painting created on wet plaster. But with the development of technological progress, the technique has undergone improvements. Various directions and methods have emerged in this art form. More about them follows.

Design: Maya Baklan

On Canvas

Any type of fresco is exclusive. The technique of execution on canvas is quite complex, requiring maximum concentration and patience. A specialist must apply the design to a special type of plaster. The technique of artificial aging is used here. Then everything is transferred to a cotton canvas base.

The canvas is coated with a special protective composition, dried. The host with the finished image is attached to the wall surface using special adhesive. This technique has a significant advantage - only natural, organic materials are used in the work: cotton, lime mortar, pigments, sand. Such a canvas requires constant care and careful treatment. It does not tolerate humidity in the room, the surface is rather fragile and damage can occur. Therefore, the canvas usually decorates bedrooms, living rooms, halls. Hanging it on a kitchen wall is extremely dangerous and inappropriate. It should be noted that this method of applying frescoes is the most expensive.

Design: Architect Antonina Sinchugova

On Self-Adhesive Base

Self-adhesive frescoes are mounted using a special film. A special composition made from very fine sand is mixed into a uniform paste. It is applied to a synthetic base and printed using a 3D printer. This variety does not hide all the wall imperfections, so specialists strongly recommend leveling the wall to an ideal state before starting work. This method can be considered less expensive, but the quality and durability are at a high level.

Foil Frescoes

Wallpaper frescoes convey images well. They have increased moisture resistance, the fabric is quite dense and textured. This method of image transmission is the most durable and practical. Different complexity drawings and paintings can be easily reproduced. Image quality is many times better than on regular photo wallpapers. The base is foil, the master applies a thin layer of plaster. The main image is transmitted using a special printer. Then the specialist manually adds complex elements and applies various aging techniques. The finished canvas is coated with a protective lacquer layer and packaged. These modern frescoes are applied to kitchen walls, children's bedrooms, bathrooms. This technique has many advantages:

• Cost;

• Moisture resistance;

• Durability;

• Unlimited canvas size.

Design: Anna Clark

On Rigid Base

Wall and ceiling frescoes on a rigid base are lightweight and usually have a small size – 3x1.5 meters. Such an image is hung on the wall like a painting. During manufacturing, a layer of plaster is manually applied to a rigid base – usually wooden. On the next stage, the selected image is printed on a printer and transferred to the canvas. Specialists also apply aging effects. These canvases suit bedroom and hall interior styles. They add solemnity and refinement to the room. 

Photo Variants of Wall Decoration: 

Advantages and Disadvantages

As with any material, frescoes have their own advantages and disadvantages. The pros include:

• Full surface coverage;

• Any image choice;

• Exclusivity;

• Vivid colors;

• Optical illusion creation;

• Sense of presence in the image.

Cons:

• Cost of material and labor;

• Inability to restore by oneself.

Interior Styles for Using Frescoes

Frescoes look great in any modern interior and in any stylistic direction. The variety of colors, textures, and price ranges makes the choice diverse. Designers recommend paying attention to the stylistic concept of the room. There should be full correspondence between the style and the choice of fresco design. If a bedroom or living room is in classic style, then motifs from famous paintings by great painters often appear in the image: angels, portraits of people, natural compositions. Clouds are often depicted on the ceiling. The hi-tech style implies clearly structured lines, which also applies to images. For the modernist style, abstract prints and flowers would be suitable.

Photo of Frescoes in Interior: 

Frescoes in Different Rooms

• Living Room
  

Frescoes in the living room are characterized by the scale of the image itself. Since the living room is often one of the largest rooms, it serves as a grand entrance. It must be decorated harmoniously and tastefully. Frescoes are selected based on the overall stylistic direction. The method of application using plaster or modern digital method would be suitable.

• Bedroom
  

The bedroom is a place where home inhabitants rest and relax from worries and daily problems. Therefore, professional designers recommend choosing frescoes with a calm, subdued color palette. Bright, attention-grabbing images will disturb and hinder the relaxation of homeowners. A light shade palette sets a positive mood, calms, and ensures peaceful, quiet sleep.

• Children's Room
  

The idea of decorating a child's room with frescoes brings a touch of magic and mystery into the world of children. For toddlers, calm pastel shades or fewer drawings would be suitable. Older children will like the idea of creating a fragment of a fairy tale or favorite cartoon in their room, with main characters from books. Here, foil frescoes would be appropriate. They are durable and not afraid of experiments.

• Dining Room
  

In the dining room, frescoes beautifully complement the overall interior and atmosphere. Homeowners and guests will enjoy having meals among images of nature or looking at a painting, or deciphering what Salvador Dalí wanted to say in his abstract message. Here, frescoes on a heavy base can be used, or self-adhesive frescoes.

Division into Zones

Using frescoes in apartment interiors can visually increase, elongate, and expand the space. Also, they can be successfully divided into zones. In a living room where there is a combination of a relaxation area, workspace, and dining zone. For the relaxation area, frescoes depicting trees or plants would be better. Green color promotes rest and inner calm. The workspace zone can be decorated with frescoes featuring people or portraits. The dining area is best adorned with landscapes or still lifes. It is important that all actions result in a smooth transition from one zone to another, and people feel comfortable.

Design: Anton Krylov, Studio 'Arkhvizhny'

Decorating Other Interior Elements: Niches, Protrusions, Columns

Designers around the world approach projects where frescoes participate in decoration with reverence and excitement. Such interiors attract attention with their complexity and interest in execution. The undeniable advantage of fresco canvases is that they can be applied in any area, on any surface and plane, in complex, multi-level structures. They skillfully hide all irregularities and imperfections. Stylish paintings can decorate massive columns in a palace-style interior. Such a room becomes pompous and ornate. Arches, ceilings, niches and transitions can also be safely covered with frescoes. If the subject is chosen skillfully, a unique combination and an unparalleled style of home interior can be achieved.

There are many options for decoration today. Technologies are improving, and everyone finds and selects what perfectly fits into the home interior. Frescoes are a good choice for those who use professional master services, as well as for those who would like to try their hand at painting their own unique picture on the wall.

Design: Marina Kutuzova

Video shows design ideas with frescoes in interior