Are you someone who loves the idea of bold wallpaper prints but just can’t commit to planning your interior? Oh, there’s a trend? “Bas relief” is by no means new. Artistic carving techniques are an ancient art form. But it still manages to blend perfectly with current interior design trends, including eye-catching murals and sculptural crown moldings.
We all know that accent walls are gone, but what about accent walls? Okay, now you’re talking. It feels like a trend that fits perfectly between minimalism and maximalism. While the official format requires great skill, we’ve also found some easy DIYs that let you “make it look cheaper” at home.
Here’s everything you need to know about the bas-relief trend, including how to style it and how to easily DIY it.
What is “bas-relief”?
(Image credit: Francis Amiando)
“Bas relief” is an artistic technique that creates a relief sculpture on a flat background or wall. The earliest iterations can be traced back to prehistoric cave paintings, but it is perhaps most synonymous with the Italian Renaissance.
Interior designers Emil Humbert and Christophe Poyet of Parisian design studio Humbert and Poyet explain how bas-reliefs “add texture and depth to walls, creating a wallpaper effect by turning a flat wall into a three-dimensional work of art.” “Is it possible to improve the quality of your life?” ”
How to DIY a “bas-relief” wall accent
While incorporating an authentic bas-relief, the size of the wall may feel a little extravagant when you imagine it in an everyday home, but I feel like it captures the same style on a more attainable scale, I found a more delicate (and budget) DIY option.
All you need is plaster, paint and a stencil. Similar to the stencil painting DIY we recently shared with you, this plastering technique offers a quirky alternative to wallpaper, with perhaps far less effort and a more subtle effect.
Simply place the stencil on the wall, wipe it down with sparkling paste ($7.12 on Amazon), and let dry. It’s up to you whether you want to paint it later or leave it as is.
Check appearance
Kern plant leaf stencil
Price: $9.99
Quantity: 18 pieces
How to style a “bas-relief” wall
(Image credit: Francis Amiando)
Emil and Christophe incorporated bas-relief work into their Beef Bar Doha project. There, the leaf-inspired design appeared to span the entire wall of the space like a mural. This look “enhances the space by introducing a sense of grandeur and artistry,” they say. “The wall becomes a feature rather than a backdrop.”
Lighting is the most important consideration when styling a bas-relief design at home. In terms of design, it’s true that this trend can work as an alternative to wallpaper, but it needs to be treated a little differently.
“Lighting is very important for bas-reliefs because shadows add depth,” says Emile. He added that when light and shadow interact with a raised textured design, “it can create movement and give a room a luxurious feel.”
A cozy lighting plan is best. Placing soft accent lighting, rather than harsh accent lighting, near a wall can reflect light into your design and give your room a chic, calming feel.
Christophe adds that “minimalist, elegant furniture that doesn’t compete with the intricate details of the reliefs” is the best way to create a harmonious balance with this design.
So bas-relief is a trend that feels like wallpaper’s newest and strongest competitor will emerge in 2025. The textured look lets your walls take center stage without overwhelming your space. Are you planning to start this DIY soon?
