How to Decorate Interior Columns

Painting Your Columns

Paint the columns the same color as the room to help them blend in. If you want your columns to have a subtle, stately look, try painting them the same color as your walls. This is a great way to make your room appear larger, since the columns won’t break up the room visually. If the columns are in the middle of a room, paint them the color of the wall that they’re closest to. For instance, if your walls are a light shade of blue, you could paint the columns that color as well.

Choose a contrasting color for the columns if you want them to stand out. To draw attention to your columns, try painting them a color that contrasts (but still complements) the walls. That way, your eye will be drawn to the columns when you look around the room. If your walls are cream-colored, for instance, you might paint the walls a rich, warm shade of brown. If they’re light grey, you might opt for a darker slate color instead. If you have an accent wall, consider painting the columns that color to tie the room together.

Opt for white or cream for a timeless look. White and cream columns have a stately look, because they bring to mind the classic marble columns in Grecian and Roman architecture. No matter what style of columns you have, or what other colors you’re using in your home, painting the columns white will instantly make your home look more upscale. Opt for a cool white if your other decor is mostly cool shades, like blues and teals. On the other hand, stick to warm whites and creams if the rest of your home is decorated in warm hues like pinks, corals, and yellows.

Use a brush if you're painting your columns a solid color. For the most part, it will be easiest to paint your columns with a paintbrush. You can use any brush you like, but a 2 ⁄2–3 in (6.4–7.6 cm) brush is ideal for most interior home projects. Work in small sections, always applying new paint to the wet edge that you just finished painting. Let the paint dry completely, then add a second coat if it's needed. If you're using latex or water-based paint, use a paintbrush with synthetic bristles. For oil-based paint, use a natural-bristled brush. If you have a wide, square column, you can use a roller if you like. However, narrow or round columns need to be painted with a brush to get a neat, even application.

Sponge on layers of paint to create a faux marble look. If you want a closer replication of marble, use a brush to paint the entire column a solid color. Then, use a sponge to dab a slightly lighter shade over the original color, followed by a layer of a slightly darker color. When you’re finished, the column will have a subtle marble effect. This technique does not produce the veined look of real marble, but it’s still a nice way to dress up an interior column.

Adding Permanent Design Elements

Add a capital around the top of the column for a rich, classic look. Often, columns have a decorative attachment around the top, called a capital. Many capitals come in 2 pieces that fit around the column, and it may be anchored into the ceiling with screws. These can range from very simple to extremely ornate, but they all add a touch of elegance to your column. If you don't want to install the capital yourself, you can hire a carpenter to do it for you. You can even hire someone to make a custom capital for you, if you'd like.

Build a wooden box to change a round column to square. If you have a round column or an exposed beam but you'd prefer the look of a square column, you can simply cover the column with a hollow overlay made of wood. Cut 4 pieces of lumber (3 for a flush-mounted column) that are long enough to reach from the floor to the ceiling. Place the first 2 planks flush on parallel sides of the column, and space nails vertically along the center to secure the wood in place. Repeat for the remaining planks. Once you've built the box, you can then paint, stain, or distress the wood however you like. If the columns are already made of wood, sand them down to the bare wood, then stain them or add faux-aging to make them look weathered.

Hang sconces to add light to pillars that are flush against a wall. A column is the perfect place to put a wall sconce, especially if it’s one you’d like to draw attention to. Drill a small rectangular hole in the center of the column at about eye level, then attach the sconce to the column with screws or brackets, and hook up the wires. If you're not comfortable working with electricity, you may want to hire a certified electrician to assist you. Turn off the power to the room you'll be working before you do any electrical work. This is a great way to showcase cool vintage sconces, and it will also draw attention to your columns.

Cover the column with cladding to change its surface. Cladding is an overlay that you apply to a surface such as a column. It typically comes in panels that you nail or screw into the column, and essentially changes the material that the column appears to be made from. You can cover your column in cork, plaster, wood, slate, vinyl, or even metals like brass. This is a great way to dress up a simple drywall column in your home.

Decorating Columns Temporarily

Wrap the columns in garlands for decor you can easily change. Whether you’re decorating for the holidays, a special event, or you just want to dress up your columns, garlands are the perfect option. Simply wrap the garland all the way up the column. If you need to, you can use removable adhesive hooks to hold the garland in place. If you’re decorating for the winter holidays, try a lush green garland, then wrap small pieces of wire around the garland and hang ornaments from the wire. Garlands decorated with flowers are perfect for spring. A garland decorated with pennant flags is a fun, cheerful touch if you’re hosting a kid’s birthday!

Drape the columns in fabric for a chic, romantic look. Hang a hook from your ceiling, then attach a long piece of lightweight fabric to the hook. Wrap the fabric around the column or leave it hanging for a draped, curtain-like effect. Tulle and other sheer fabrics are perfect for dressing up columns for a wedding or another formal event. Choose a silky fabric that mirrors your household decor to turn this into an everyday look. You can also buy column slips to slip around your column. These are often sold wedding decor websites, or you can rent one from a wedding vendor.

String lights around the column for a bright, simple transformation. String lights are useful in all kinds of home decor, and using them to dress up a column is no exception. Hang the string lights from the ceiling, then wrap them all the way down the column. Experiment to see how loose or tight the lights should be strung. You’ll likely need multiple strings of lights for this project, but the exact number will depend on the spacing, the style of lights you choose, and the width of your columns.