Archive for May, 2008
Is it time to decorate your new home? Or are you planning to have a major home improvement soon? Are you thinking of how to have your wall finished? Are you considering having wallpaper or painted mural instead?
There a number of ways for you to finish, or refinish, your wall. Wallpaper and painted murals are two of the more popular options now because of their decorative style. Choosing between the two may be difficult as they are both very appealing. There are several factors you also have to consider when making your decision.
Here are some advantages and disadvantages of each to help you decide on which to choose.
Wallpaper
Wallpaper is one of the most widely used materials to finish the walls, not only in residential homes, but even commercial buildings. Most prefer wallpaper over regular paint because of the designs that are available with these wallpapers which you cannot do with a regular paint.
Wallpapers are available in almost all home improvement shops. You can choose from a wide array of designs and patterns. It is also relatively easy to install. You just need to prepare the surface where the wallpaper will be placed, and paste it in.
All wallpapers can be installed in different types of surfaces. Whether you just have a plain wall, brick, paneling or maybe textured walls, you can hang any wallpaper over these walls. There are just some preparations that need to be done.
Make sure that there are no nails and other obstructions that may be sticking out from the wall. If you have a textured surface, try to get rid of any high points. Clean up the wall with a grease-cutting cleanser. After which, you can hang the bridging wallpaper which is a blank one and is designed for irregular surfaces. The actual wallpaper can then be pasted over the bridging material.
Although cool and stylish, wallpaper can be too expensive. If you are deciding on using wallpaper in your home, it is advisable to be consistent all throughout the home. You should apply wallpaper to all walls of your home and it could be costly.
Since wallpaper is a material that you paste over your wall, there is a possibility of it being torn especially when you have kids around. Of course torn wall paper is not a pretty sight. Though it may be resolved by pasting new wallpaper of the same pattern, there might be visible traces which can be an unpleasant view. And once a tear is made on wallpaper there is a big possibility that it will spread and make a wider hole.
Painted Mural
Painted murals on walls are one of the newest additions to your choices of wall finishings. Painted murals make a very good choice especially on children’s rooms. They are images, photos and sceneries painted directly on the wall.
If you are an artistic person, this makes a good choice for you since you can do it on your own. This is where you can show off your creativity and imagination to your guests. If you really have the eye and hand of an artist, this will be simple work for you.
You can even trick your guests with painted murals. You can make a painted mural fireplace which can definitely look like a real one if done perfectly. For your living or dining room, perhaps, you can paint an image of a wall painting in a frame with shadows in the background to make a realistic effect.
There are indeed many ideas that you can come up with if you choose painted murals. If you think you are not capable of doing it, you can get help from a friend whom you think can do it or hire a painter to do it for you. It is also a fun and fulfilling work to do.
Another good thing about painted murals is that it’s less expensive than wallpaper. You just have to buy paints of different colors depending on the design you want to do. And it also lasts. Should there be dirt or stains that would be visible, you can easily retouch your work.
A disadvantage to painted murals, though, is if you are not that competent enough on doing it and you think your work is messed up, you have to redo everything again. And it will be a waste of your time, effort and money because you have to buy more paint colors again. And you have to paint the whole wall with a neutral color to start again.
Also, over the years, the paint may look dull even when the image is full of colors. That would mean repainting again and designing again your wall.
Each of the options indeed has its benefits and demerits. You just need to weigh these pros and cons thoroughly to help you make the right choice. Choose the one that you think will give you more benefits and more value in the long run.
It’s important to understand where antiques originate. Many antique buyers make the mistake of mis-understanding the process by which antique items are found. Many collectors and dealers waste valuable time searching in places where they believe that these items are in great abundance. But a true understanding of where antiques originate seems to have eluded many well meaning antique dealers and collectors.
It’s elementary Watson!
If you want to find fresh-to-the-market antiques and collectibles, you need to go where they are in great abundance, and where they originate! Antiques do not orginate at auctions, or at flea markets, or at antique shows. Antiques originate in people’s homes. This is a fundamental truth for 99% of all antiques that you will ever see.
Another truth that many people overlook.
The other simple fact, is that most antiques that you are most likely to get a great deal on reside in the homes of people who are older. Young people do not, as a general rule have antiques in the abundance that older people do. Why? Because older people came from a generation that saved everything, and you will find that a majority of the time they have kept it all! From the 1950′s toys in the closet to the old toaster that was just too good to throw away, older folks still have most of everything they ever owned.
Where will you spend your “prime-time?”
Knowing these two fundamental truths about where antiques originate, begs a big question. Knowing that antiques originate in people’s homes, and that antiques are most likely to reside in older people’s homes, where will you be attempting to spend a majority of your prime time? It tooks me years to understand the following principles.
1. To buy more fresh antiques you have to see more antiques.
2. To see more antiques, you must look at more household accumulations on a consistant basis.
3. To accomplish this, you simply must get into more people’s homes where the antiques originate.
Knowing and understanding these principles will put you light years ahead of your competition! Believe me, I know antique dealers and collectors, and most of them find their antiques through one of only 5 methods. They find them through garage / estate sales, auctions, “goodwill” type stores, flea markets and “pickers”.
Knowing and understand the above principles will help you to focus on where you will find the most antiques…in people’s homes.
If you want to be incredibly successful, you have to go where the antiques originate. It’s time to focus on that and only that! That focus will take you farther than you ever thought possible!
Do you feel the need to fix up your home – maybe brighten it up a bit or add some spice to it? Or are you just in the designing process of your new home? Accessorizing your home, whether you are upgrading or just starting up, is fun to do. This is where you can put your creativity and imagination to good use.
You might think, though, that buying all those nice-looking home decors might be a rip off. But there’s no need to worry! You can definitely make your home look elegant and classy without spending too much money.
When you decorate and accessorize your home, you must consider some of the basics so your finished product won’t look like a mess. The accessories that you have in mind should match the color and theme of the room where they will be placed. The colors and design should compliment the room and not look like it’s out of place.
Here are some tips to help you in accessorizing your home if you are on a budget.
1. If you want to revitalize your living room, you can just add throw pillows to your old couch to take the emphasis off of it. A combination of throw pillows of different sizes and shapes can be a good and inexpensive alternative to having your sofa upholstered.
2. If you are into rugs, new ones can be expensive. An alternative to that is to check out garage sales or shops that sell pieces of older pretty rugs. You can cut them into different shapes and sizes and scatter them around the house to emphasis specific areas. This can also be a good cover-up for hard-to-remove stains on the floor.
3. Lighting fixtures are important additions when you are accessorizing your home. It gives the ambience that you want and creates a dramatic effect when positioned correctly. If you don’t have enough to spend on expensive lighting, you can buy the inexpensive ones and place them behind a plant or at the back of the couch. It gives a romantic effect to your bedroom or living room.
4. Scented candles are popular nowadays and you can get them for only a few dollars. You can even place them anywhere like your living room, bedroom, bathroom, dining table, and kitchen area. Adding them to your room adds a romantic effect and warmth, not to mention the sweet aroma that it spreads throughout the house.
5. Plants are another option for an inexpensive home accessory. You can add flowers, orchids and other indoor plants to add color to your room. These plants also make good conversational pieces for your guests. You can find one for about $20. Not bad, huh!
6. An accessory that never fails to impress is a picture. You can hang framed photos or those of your loved ones on the wall or have them lined up atop a shelf. You only need to buy the frames for the photos which can be inexpensive yet look elegant and sturdy.
7. Curtains can add drama to your windows. If needlework is your thing, you can just buy elegant inexpensive fabrics from flea markets and make curtains on your own. Doing this will give you control on how you want your curtains to look. If you think you’re not up to that, you can buy ready-made curtains from flea markets, craft stores or home accessory stores. Just make sure that you have measured your windows before buying to make sure they will fit.
8. Remove all the clutter and unnecessary pieces you find in your home. If you want to redesign your home and add new accessories, make sure to get rid of the old accessories that don’t match the theme that you want. Just keep a few base pieces and throw the others or recycle them for a different purpose. Keeping your place simple will brighten the ambience and lighten the mood of your home.
There are different ways for you to accessorize your home without spending too much money. You just need to think out-of-the-box to discover new ways of making your home look more cozy. Use your creativity and imagination in decorating each corner of your home.
If you have the eyes and hands of an artist, you can even make the accessories yourself using recycled materials. Now that’s a real budget-friendly idea! There are several ways to make budget decorating possible, you just need to explore
When choosing a theme or style for decorating your home, there are many to choose from. One of the most popular decorating themes today is country home decorating. Perhaps it is the most popular because it provides an inviting atmosphere and overall friendly feeling. Country home decorating, because of its warm environment, is enjoyed by the people who live there as well as all those who visit.
As with any home decorating project, a homeowner must first decide where they want to use country home decorating. Some people choose to use this theme throughout their entire home while other decide to use country home decorating focusing on just one or two rooms, for example the kitchen and the living room. Because this style is meant for people who enjoy simplicity and the nature, some homeowners may decide to carry the country decorating theme through the entire living space.
Country home decorating combines colors which are clean and bright with country furniture and accessories. When choosing colors for country home decorating, light to medium shades of white, yellow, pink, green or brown are good choices. Colors should reflect a rustic feeling. To add to the painted walls, a homeowner or decorator may decide to use stencils with country character such as flowers or plants, fruits or vegetables. Wallpaper boarders are also often used in country home decorating. It is fine to use these additions but the rule of thumb is – to make sure the patterns do not clash.
In keeping with a rustic and simple theme, country home decorating uses wood – natural wood. When deciding on a material for a country floor, natural wood is a nice choice. Of course using natural wood throughout a large area can be costly. If looking for a less-expensive way to give floors a country look, a light shade of carpet might be considered or laminate flooring. These options would also work well with the country home decorating theme. Other suggestions for country floors are flagstone or tile. Some homeowners, if they’re really creative, decorate their floors with stencils and create patterns. Another great way to jazz up a space is to use area rugs. In keeping with the country home decorating theme, those with an authentic look create a warm and cozy feeling. Hooked, quilted and braided rugs make beautiful additions to a country floor.
When choosing furniture to compliment country home decorating, light wood or wicker is suggested. Again, these materials reflect the beauty of nature. If a homeowner or decorator decides fabric would accent their furniture, such as cushions or slip covers, floral patterns or checkered fabrics add to the authentic look.
Accessorizing a space always adds to its beauty. When buying accessories to fit in with a country home decorating theme, it is good to keep in mind the type of atmosphere you are trying to create, a warm and inviting space. Simplicity goes a long way in country home decorating. It is recommended to never use too many decorations and choose accessories that family and friends will enjoy. Photos in simple wooden frames, plain mirrors, plants and scented candles dress up country home decorating. Window treatments should also be simple. Lace or shutters give a cozy country feel. Country home decorating can be interesting and fun. Perhaps the main detail to keep in mind is simplicity. Try not to over-decorate, remember too many patterns will clash. Too many decorations will eliminate the amount of space in a room. Country home decorating creates a relaxing and friendly environment, meant to be warm and cozy.