A feature wall can bring a splash of colour and light into your home. Utilised correctly, this method of interior design can also make a room seem more spacious or draw the eye to a piece of art. Despite these great qualities, a poorly-executed feature wall could also serve as an eyesore. Knowing precisely how to prepare and paint your wall is essential to achieving a good result. Follow these steps to make your project a success!

Clean the Wall

Using a sponge and some oil-free floor cleaner, wash the wall you intend to paint. Don’t neglect the areas near the floor or up by the ceiling, and remove any outlet covers during this stage as well. After scrubbing it down, you will want to rinse it at least twice using a clean rag and plain water. You do not want any residue to remain. Allow the wall to dry completely before proceeding to the next step.

With wide painter’s tape, create very exact edges at both the baseboard (if any) and the ceiling. Lay out some high-gauge plastic sheeting on the floor and secure it with tape. If you have baseboards, tape the sheeting directly below the first line of tape to stop drips. Should you have no baseboards, tape the plastic to the floor right next to the wall. Be very careful not to bump your head into the wall or touch the wall while you do this. The oils from your hands or hair can impede the paint from adhering or create a dull spot.

Prepare Yourself and Your Work Space

Painting can be disastrous to your clothing, so change into your oldest clothes. You will also want to confine any pups or kitties you have to another area. Make sure anyone else who lives in the home knows not to enter your work space. If you’ll be painting over or next to a door, place a sign on the opposite side advising others not to open it.

Gather Your Tools

Once you’re ready to paint, gather your supplies. Set up the ladder and make sure the safety locks are engaged. Make sure you have paper towels at the ready in case there is a spill, and open a window to provide ventilation. If you’re reusing brushes or rollers, inspect them to be sure they aren’t stiff and that no flakes of paint remain from previous projects.

Paint the Surface

Using even, steady strokes, cover the wall with paint. You don’t want the layer to be too thick, as this will cause running and dripping. If the colour is uneven, you may need to do a second coat. If any brush hairs get on the paint, simply pluck them off with a paper towel and repaint the smudged area.

Clean Up

As soon as you’re satisfied with the paint job, clean your brushes or rollers and put away the ladder. Then, allow the wall to dry. Once the paint has set, you can carefully peel away the tape. Don’t wait too long to do this, especially if you used latex paint. You can replace the outlet covers the next day.

Your feature wall is now complete! Hang up some artwork or leave it blank for a bold statement. You can also use the same color in some decorative throws or a rug elsewhere in the room to tie it all together.

Roger Demarques is a professional interior design adviser and expert in transforming the look of a living room with simple, cost-effective methods. He only uses the best enamel paint where appropriate to ensure that his work lasts. He recommends that you should be prepared to invest in better quality products when re-decorating your home for a better finish and sharp look.

How to Paint a Feature Wall in Your Home is a post from: Cape Cod House Remodeling

Having a home that’s comfortable to be in is important to everyone. When we invite people to visit us, we want them to feel welcome. If you have a home you aren’t proud of or if it feels out of date, you can make changes to make it something you’ll enjoy. Changes can brighten your home and make it feel brand new. This article will provide you some information on how you can redecorate your home.

Painting your home is an easy way to make it look more attractive without having to spend a lot of money. When you go to paint a room, choose colors that will complement your furniture. You want people to feel comfortable in your rooms and not feel jolted because colors clash. If you don’t want to go through the time and effort of painting, you can still accomplish a lot with a simple wall border. Or, you could choose a wallpaper to lighten the mood of your room. You can change the look of your home and save money at the same time.

Put Up New Curtains

New curtains are also a quick and inexpensive way to redecorate your home. No matter what you are looking for, you are sure to find styles and colors that match your personality. You can get lighten your kitchen by using Cafi curtains. Give your living room a new look with bright and cheerful curtains. If you are good at sewing, make your own curtains. That way, you only need to buy the fabric. You can even apply your sewing skills to make a new cover for your sofa using the same type of fabric. Another option to dress up your sofa is to shop around for sofa covers. You can find them in almost any store where you normally shop.

Buy New Candle Holders

An inexpensive way to update your living room is by using candles and candle holders. You can find candles in many different colors and scents. They make your home smell pleasant as well as add a sense of style. Candles can add to the beauty of tables and windowsills. If you have a fireplace, put some candles on the mantel. Be sure when you are getting candle holders that they match the rest of the furnishings and colors of your home. The most popular style of candle holders are made of metal. Candle holders can be appealing to view. Buying candle holders is a frugal way to add to the decorations in your home.

As shown in this article, improving your home décor does not require a lot of time or money. Simply painting a room a refreshing color or adding candles and candle holders can make your home an inviting place. Make the changes gradual. There is no need to do everything all at once. Make one gradual change and see how you like it. If you don’t like it you can always change it for something else. The finished result will be something that you really want.

3 Cost Effective Ways to Make Your Home Attractive is a post from: Cape Cod House Remodeling

Handcrafted furniture can be a great way to enhance the décor of a home or office space. Beyond just its looks, there may be multiple other reasons as to why you might choose handcrafted over factory manufactured items for decorating your personal areas. While such items can often be a bit pricier than manufactured furniture, the pleasure that your handcrafted pieces can provide both you and others, could make this extra expense worthwhile.

The Story Behind It

Sometimes the story behind your handcrafted furniture could be half the fun of adding it to your home furnishings. Where you bought it, who made it, where its pieces came from (an old barn, house, swamp log, or whatever), who has owned it previously, and similar information can mean that a large part of the enjoyment of having such a piece comes from the history or story behind it. This type of information can be a crucial aspect to making your furniture a one-of-a-kind type piece or adding that extra something special to it that makes it a treasured possession.

Just One Piece

Just one great piece of handcrafted furniture could make an entire room. A table, buffet, wine rack, armoire, chandelier, bookshelf or whatever, your handcrafted furniture could be an eye-catching item that can be a conversation piece in itself. You could center the entire design or style of the room around that one perfect piece and use it as the focal point of the space.

Maintaining Its Value

It’s not too likely that the pre-fabricated wine rack you constructed yourself and came from a department store last Christmas, or the recliner you bought at that estate sale last summer will retain much, if any value over the years. However, with handcrafted furniture, you may find that it sustains value better than factory manufactured items, and as an antique could actually increase in value. While this might not be the reason you bought it in the first place, it could certainly be a nice perk.

Handing It Down

Not only might you love your handcrafted furniture, your loved ones might love it too. A lovely handcrafted piece could transcend the ages as you pass it down to your children or other family members, and they in turn one day do the same. Grandpa’s tattered fake-leather loveseat probably won’t turn out to be a family heirloom, but a classic handcrafted piece of furniture could be a treasured possession to be handed down through multiple generations.

Conclusion

Whatever your reasons for choosing handcrafted furniture to enhance your décor, it’s also important that you actually like the piece and don’t just select such furniture because it’s fashionable. Filling a personal space with furniture you don’t care about or don’t particularly like in an attempt to enhance your décor may actually detract from it. With furniture that doesn’t fit your personal style, you could find that it is actually more difficult to accessorize and fill the room with pieces that match. Having a personal attachment or interest in a piece of handcrafted furniture can help you give it a sort of personality of its own and make it more than just “a piece of furniture”.

Eric Munoz owns a wood furniture design company in Houston that can custom build pieces from scratch or duplicate existing pieces. He has over 10 years of experience working with his hands. Visit his site at http://www.cambiumworks.com.

Handcrafted Furniture to Enhance Your Décor is a post from: Cape Cod House Remodeling

Your furniture is more than just a comfortable place to sit and sleep – it can also play a large part in your health, especially in the case that you spend eight hours each night sleeping on a broken mattress that doesn’t provide the support you need. Good quality bedroom furniture can sometimes last for many years before it needs to be replaced, but if you think your bed and other furnishings are starting to show signs of their age, you shouldn’t delay replacing them over fears of expense.

With many trusted retailers now selling discount furniture aimed at households of all budgets, you could find it’s even cheaper to buy replacement beds, mattresses and wardrobes than it was to buy your previous ones – even accounting for inflation over the years. So you don’t have any excuses to put up with uncomfortable, stained or unstylish furniture, when revamping your bedroom could be an affordable way to improve your life.

Furniture doesn’t need to be broken to need replacement, of course – you may simply feel that it’s no longer appropriate or desirable for your room, according to your changing tastes and needs. Buying fashionable furniture may seem like a good idea at the time, if you desire your home to look like those in the showroom or on TV advertisements, but the risk of following trends is that they can quickly become outdated, leaving your room looking like something from bygone times. That’s why choosing furniture with timeless appeal could prove beneficial to ensuring your room stays stylish no matter what the latest trends.

If your children have grown up, their smaller beds may need replacement with something larger and more adult too. This can mean more than simply swapping their colourful duvet cover for something more reserved, as many beds that are ideal for younger children tend to look out of place in adolescent rooms – particularly bunk beds and beds with wooden frames.

There are other practical considerations that could influence your choice of bedroom furniture, such as the amount of floor space you wish to be available. If you’ve moved house and your current bedroom is smaller than the previous one, those bulky wardrobes and cabinets may have to go. You may also be moving in with a partner, in which case your old single bed may no longer be the best option, and you can investigate double and king size beds.

Author Byline:

Jennifer  is a part of the digital blogging team at shoutingindigital.com who work with brands like Debenhams. For more information about me, or to keep up to date with the latest in retail news, check out my posts at shoutingindigital.com or visit my Twitter account, @shoutingID.

Signs You Need New Bedroom Furniture is a post from: Cape Cod House Remodeling

Considering that the exterior areas of your home are likely to make the first impression upon visitors, they can be some of the most important aspects of your abode’s appeal. If you aren’t completely happy with your home’s curb appeal though, there are ways to improve its look.

Consider taking a few pictures of your home’s exterior from the sidewalk or street and inspecting them to help you with your curb appeal improvement process. What do you see? Are there issues that you may not have noticed as you hurriedly pull into your driveway each day? You might even want to show the pictures to friends, family, and co-workers to get an unbiased eye as to what they see that could be improved upon.

Flowers

The addition of flowers in the warmer months can make a significant impact upon the look of your home’s exterior. They can brighten up a drab front yard and draw eyes away from other, less pleasant areas.

Weeds

As much as flowers can add appeal to your home, weeds can detract from it. Weeds can be a sign of homeowner neglect or indifference, and this could be a warning signal to new arrivals of similar callousness regarding the interior of your home as well. Getting rid of weeds not only cleanses your home’s surroundings of eyesores, but also indicates that you care about your home and its appearance.

Paint

A fresh coat of paint can go a long way in adding to your home’s curb appeal even if it’s just upon a front door, porch railings or on an awning or overhang. While there might be some manual labor involved if you’re taking on the job yourself, the money you save in labor costs could make a paint job quite cost effective as well as eye-pleasing.

Grass

While you might think that grass is grass, there is a big difference between good grass and bad. Being rid of dandelions, dead patches, crab grass, and similar distractions can make your yard much more attractive.

Details

The little things can make a big difference when it comes to curb appeal. Picking up fallen pine cones, sticks, twigs, and litter can show attention to detail and improve your outside look.

The Curb of Curb Appeal

The curb appeal of your home doesn’t just stop at your property line. The curb itself can contribute to your home’s look. Leaving soda cans, fast food wrappers, piles of old leaves or yard waste, and similar debris (even if they aren’t yours) in front of your home’s curb can ruin or at least severely detract your curb appeal.

Distractions

Garden gnomes, plastic animals, and other decorative ornaments can significantly distract from your home’s other more aesthetically pleasing curb appeal items. Reducing excessive decorations and brightly colored or gaudy items strewn across your lawn (even if you like them) may help you improve curb appeal.

Animals

While feeding wild animals can be a nice hobby and provide some intrinsic value, it can also detract from your yard’s exterior. Bird feed scattered across the ground, bird droppings splattered on your sidewalks and home, and squirrels digging up your yard to bury their findings can ruin your curb appeal.

Turnoffs

Sports flags, brightly colored doormats, political signs, and similar paraphernalia can reduce your home’s curb appeal. While it might be nice to show school spirit to your alma mater occasionally, or support your local political candidate during an election year, it’s important to bear in mind that doing so might not be helping your curb appeal much.

The Home Itself

Improving your home’s curb appeal might also come in the form of fixing the exterior of your home itself. Patching cracks, fixing flaws, and repairing signs of wear and tear could make your home a pleasing sight to arrive to each day or for a visitor to see for the very first time.

Author Byline:

Roger is a real estate broker that specializes in homes in West University&. For more information on West University Place and other luxury neighborhoods in Houston visit http://www.rogermartinproperties.com.

Tips on Improving Curb Appeal is a post from: Cape Cod House Remodeling

Finding ways in which to make a small bathroom seem just a bit bigger can be challenging. You may not have much room to maneuver in a tight bathroom, and may not even have enough room for small amenities that could add a little something extra to your bathroom décor. If space is at a premium yet you still would like to make an impact upon your bathroom space through your decorative efforts, here are a few ideas that might help.

The paint with which you decide to decorate your bathroom can make a major impact not only upon its look and feel, but how large the space seems as well. Go with too dark a color and it can make a small bathroom seem even smaller, too light or bright a color and it can be overpowering. The good thing about a small bathroom when it comes to paint is just that, it’s small, and if you select a paint color that doesn’t work for your decorating needs, it hopefully won’t take as long to re-paint it as a larger bathroom might. Also remember wide horizontal lines can give the illusion of space while vertical ones can make a ceiling seems higher.

Mirrors

Mirrors can be a great way to decorate a bathroom while making it feel bigger at the same time. Mirrors can act as a sort of decorative illusion, making a small bathroom feel as if it has been expanded while also helping to brighten the space by reflecting light. And since you can hang mirrors on the wall, they don’t necessarily have to take up valuable floor space in what might already be tight quarters. For an interesting variation consider hanging a number of mirrors and creating an installation. This gives the freedom to incorporate several different styles and sizes into you décor.

Lighting

Like mirrors, the lighting inside your bathroom can make it appear larger than it really is. Placing your bathroom’s lighting in strategic areas to brighten darker spaces, or increasing the overhead lighting to illuminate the entire space can make a bathroom feel larger. It may not even take the addition of new lights, but possibly just a slight increase in bulb wattage to take a bathroom from feeling small and dull to big and bright. One thing to remember when lighting your bathroom is layers of light work best. In addition to overhead lighting, sconces at eye level are an appealing option. They add visual interest as well as cast the most flattering light.

Conclusion

It doesn’t always take a lot of decorating or accessories to make an impact upon a small space’s décor. Even just a small vase with a single flower can add a nice touch and make a tiny bathroom feel a bit warmer and more inviting. And with the colors and lighting you use to accentuate your bathroom, you may be adding pleasant decorative elements while making the area appear larger at the same time.

Author Byline:

Pablo is a licensed plumber in Houston that offers services to both residential and commercial customers. He has over 10 years of experience in the plumbing field and enjoys providing tips on anything and everything in the plumbing world. Read more about his company at http://www.texaspowerplumbing.com.

Decorating Tips for a Small Bathroom is a post from: Cape Cod House Remodeling

When you look at what all is involved in painting a room it can be overwhelming.  You have to choose the right colors for the ceiling, trim, and walls.  You can spice up your home by adding color to make the inside of the house look brighter.  Follow the tips provided and you can have yourself a bright, colorful room.

Help selecting colors

Face it, you weren’t born with a knowledge of good color techniques.  Like most of us, you could probably use some guidance.  If you’re handy with the computer, you can find free advice on the internet.  While you’re online, visit the Glidden Online Color Consultant at www.glidden.com.  This site contains helpful advice from experts.  You can use their process to find colors that will work.

You can order chips of different shades of color online at no cost.  Once you receive your chips in the mail, you can then compare them to the furnishings of your room.  Review the chips at home to make sure the paint will match your decor.

Make sure the colors work

Before you start the work involved with painting a room, make sure the colors will look good.  A color that looks good when you see it on display at the store or on the computer might look totally horrid when it is on your walls.  A good way to do that is to use paint samples.  These are swatches that are self-adhesive so you can easily stick them onto your wall.  Just stick the swatches on the wall.  You can remove them and put them somewhere else just as often as you need to make sure the colors work with the furnishings.

Wise use of primer

To get the best look from your paint, you should first use a coat of primer.  If you plan on using darker colors, consider using a primer named Gripper Grey.  It creates a foundation that makes the colors the last coat of paint stand out. Unfortunately, most people make the mistake of using a white primer when using dark colors.  The problem with that is the final result is not as intense as you want.  This causes people to use more coats of the final color to try to get the desired result.  This can lead to the room actually looking worse, especially since it might be hard to be able to see where you’ve already applied a coat of paint.  Plus, in places some of the outer layers of paint may flake off, making your room look like a mess instead of a masterpiece.

Paint the ceiling

When some people paint a room, they neglect the ceiling.  This can cause the room to look uneven.  Use an attractive ceiling paint like EZ Track Technology.  If you notice it’s pink at first, don’t worry.  It changes to an attractive white in under 30 minutes. This paint lets you take care of the ceiling when it’s most convenient for you.  You can even paint on days when it’s cloudy or even while the children are sound asleep in their beds.

Follow these guidelines and you can have a room that you can enjoy for years.  An attractive room makes you feel more energetic.  It is also more welcoming to visitors.  I guarantee you’ll be proud to show off your new room to all of your guests.

4 Steps to Making Your Room More Colorful is a post from: Cape Cod House Remodeling

When you are working on your bathroom, you want to make sure it is as attractive as possible. You want to make sure it reflects your personality. You never know when you might have guests coming over, so you want to make sure it is easy to clean.

A bathroom is your refuge to get away from the stress of everyday life. You can use it as a place to unwind away from the demands of your spouse and children. Many women especially take comfort in a long and luxurious bath after a hard day’s work. To make the most out of your sanctuary, you need to make some good choices.

At the top of your list of choices to make is the use of hardware. Make sure your choices are easy on the eye. Remember, you want to make sure the bathtub is a place you can use to relax in comfort. It is a good idea to take ventilation into account to get rid of the odors that can be produced. This article will offer you some advice on how to make your bathroom more functional and visually appealing.

Effective lighting

Have high windows in your bathroom so you can take advantage of natural lighting. A well lit bathroom can make the difference between a place that is gloomy and a place that is attractive.

By combining natural light with artificial lights, you can make your bathroom more pleasant and welcoming. You can decide to have ceiling lights, lights that go over the mirror, or spot lights. Using effective lighting makes your bathroom more appealing.

Heating and ventilating your bathroom

Nobody likes to get cold when they are in the bathroom. Make sure people are comfortable by taking heating into account when you are designing the bathroom. Ventilation is also a necessary ingredient to a pleasant bathroom. It gives your bathroom an aura of freshness. It is necessary to remove odor. Having windows that open and close can help with ventilation. However, extractor fans are necessary to remove moisture from the air and protect the paint in your bathroom.

Selecting Mirrors

A mirror is a necessary part of your bathroom. An effective mirror will allow you to fix your hair, shave, and everything else you need to get ready for your workday or night on the town. A good mirror will also make your bathroom appear to be larger. Look for mirrors that reflect the sunlight and lights in your bathroom. You can also use mirrors to reflect your favorite objects.

Effective Bathroom Design Made Easy is a post from: Cape Cod House Remodeling

Not everybody is handy at decorating their homes on their own. Most of us don’t have money to buy fancy furniture. However, anyone has the creativity to make even the most grungy objects look attractive. All you need to do is use a little imagination. You can find different ways to use what you have. You can also find inexpensive items that you can fix up to make your home more beautiful.

This article provides you advice on how to make your house more stylish without breaking your bank account.

Start by cleaning your house from top to bottom. Scrub the walls, dust off shelves, vacuum the floor. Something just that simple can make it easier for you to breathe in your house. It can also make your house look new again.

Another way to make your house look good is to change the lighting. It doesn’t help if you have the most beautiful house in the world if people can’t see it.

Give a room a new look by adding in splashes of color. While they don’t have to be the same colors as your furniture and accessories, be sure to use colors that do not clash.

Painting your house can be an effective way to give it new beauty. You can use paints everywhere in your house. Consider using paints to hide dents and scratches in your walls or floors. When you use paints on the floors, you can use patterns to make the floor more interesting.

Paint can also improve the looks of your metal and wood furniture. Just use paint that goes good with the painted walls and floor. You also want to be sure the paint matches your other furniture and accessories. Use just two or three colors.

To decorate your home, consider visiting a garage sale. You can find furniture and other household items at a fraction of the cost of furniture stores. What one person may have considered junk, you may consider beautiful. When you visit garage sales, you will find a wide variety of items you can select. Even if you can’t use something on its own, you may be able to make something useful out of it.

When you are decorating your home, be sure to consider the fabrics you want to use. A useful technique is to decide on a theme you’ll use from the curtains to bed sheets. Or, you may opt to use a variety of fabrics for your own look. Make sure when you design a room that you don’t overdo it. You want people to feel welcome in a room, not overwhelmed by everything in it.

Don’t forget the use of plants when you decorate your house. They provide you with healthy oxygen that has not been tainted by pollution. Plus, they help turn your house into a comfortable home.

You can have a more beautiful house without breaking your bank account. The important thing is to think creatively and come up with a home decoration plan that works for you.

Home Decorating Made Easy is a post from: Cape Cod House Remodeling

Most homeowners will see fresh furniture – table, couch or television – when they are talking about home decoration. Intelligent decorators instead will first examine the windows and will start thinking of various treatments that will alter the space. Window blinds are highly fashionable these days, because of their exquisite look and adaptability as far as light control and privacy concerns. And let’s not forget the great impact regarding energy consumption because of the innovative design and fabric construction. You can select from numerous types of blinds: roller window blinds, vertical blinds, Venetian blinds, wooden blinds, blackout or office blinds, and the list might continue. You can choose the window blinds based on your needs, decoration of your room and according to your finances.

Window blinds are also among the best insulators, particularly the vertical binds. In summer they are preventing the hot air from outside to get into the room, and in winter they are keeping it in. They can considerably reduce your energy bills and can provide you a cozy and pleasant temperature without using your air conditioner.

There are blinds manufactured with intelligent fabric that is absorbing not only heat, but sound also. One such example is vertical blinds being quite attractive for people living in apartments. It could be the perfect option for you if your apartment is located near a busy street or area, or in case you are working from the comfort of your home. The vertical blinds will reduce the outside noise enhancing concentration, general home harmony and relaxation.

Window blinds have to ability to turn your home into a more calm and cool one, being just wonderful in function and in shape. You can find all the information that you need online about the various window blinds. You can also locate fast and professional blind cleaners which is just as vital. You have the possibility to easily purchase the desired type of blinds from numerous online stores at reasonable prices, giving your home a new and eye-catching appearance.

Change the Look of Your Home with the Practical and Elegant Window Blinds is a post from: Cape Cod House Remodeling