I just moved into a small villa on the outskirts of Barcelona. Everything is great, except for the living room walls, which are giving me a headache. The previous owner left the old-fashioned Gotelé textured finish, and it looks quite dated. I’ve been researching how to redo them and thought I’d share my findings and get some advice from you all!
Saying Goodbye to Gotelé: What Wall Materials to Choose?
In Spain, a textured finish called Gotelé was once very popular, supposedly to hide wall imperfections. But aesthetics have changed, and now more people, myself included, prefer smooth walls. Once smoothed, you have more options. The most common choice is latex paint, which is cost-effective and comes in a wide range of colors. If you want a more rustic, country feel with something like a living room stone wall, you could consider a lime-based paint for an incredible texture.
The Right Color Brings the Mediterranean Sun into Your Home
Color is absolutely the soul of Spanish home decor! Besides the versatile white, Mediterranean blue and terracotta are classic choices. Imagine white walls paired with terracotta floor tiles and accented with blue decorations—when the sun shines in, the whole house lights up. I’ve also seen many local designers using sage green lately, which is very fresh and sophisticated.
Smart Touches for Wall Decoration
Color alone isn’t enough; adding different textures can give your walls more depth. For instance, creating an accent stone wall or adding wooden beams to the ceiling are very common techniques in Spanish villas. Here’s a simple comparison of some common options:
| Decoration Option | Pros | Cons |
|---|
| Latex Paint | Affordable, easy to apply, wide color selection | Simple texture, requires a very smooth wall surface |
| Cultured Stone/Brick Wall | Strong texture, distinctive style, very durable | Higher cost, complex installation, can collect dust |
| Wood Paneling | Insulating (cool in summer, warm in winter), natural and cozy feel | Expensive, requires protection against moisture and pests |
I’m personally planning to create a small cultured stone accent on the wall behind my sofa; I think it will add a lot of character. I would avoid using complex wallpaper, as I feel it doesn’t really fit the local Spanish style.
My current plan is to smooth out most of the walls and paint them with an off-white (blanco roto) latex paint, with a small cultured stone accent on the wall behind the sofa. What do you guys think of this plan? Or, if any of you have already finished decorating your own places, could you share some pictures for inspiration? Please share!
