Tag Archive 'Decorating'

Mar 02 2010

Easy Lighting Options for the Kitchen

Depending on the style and layout of your kitchen, chances are that you have many more lighting options than you think you do. When it comes to kitchen lighting, you have plenty of options. However, not every selection will fit every type of kitchen. When choosing kitchen lighting, here are some things you need to keep in mind.

Under-the-Cabinet Lighting Can Enhance the Look
Under-the-cabinet lighting in a kitchen can definitely enhance the look of the décor. The key to this kind of lighting is to pick a type of light that best fits your layout, particularly that of your cabinets. After all, there may be areas in the room that you don’t want lit. You need to consider all these details before diving into the project. You have three different under-cabinet lighting options that you can choose from, including incandescent lamps, fluorescent lamps, and LED lights. You can determine which will work best for you and your kitchen by doing your research on each type of lamp.

Decorative Lighting Can Add Style
If first and foremost you want your new lighting to fit the style of the room, then you should look at decorative lighting. You can either choose decorative lighting that hangs from the ceiling or that is flush with it. Examples of decorative lighting include products such as chandeliers and pendant lights. These types of lighting fixtures not only look attractive but also will provide plenty of light for the room. If you want to make the light look even more appealing, choose a fixture that will match your kitchen’s theme or style.

Track Lighting Is Great in the Kitchen
If you’ve been keeping up with current design trends, you may have seen track lighting in the kitchen. Track lighting has recently become quite a popular option in the kitchen. Track lighting allows you to direct the light wherever in the kitchen you need it most—for instance, by the stove or near the countertops. In recent years, track lighting has also become way more attractive, as it now comes in many different styles and designs. If you’re looking for a more creative or different look, then consider a track that’s curved or even in an “S” shape rather than going for the more traditional straight line.

Recessed Lighting Is Common in Kitchens
Another popular lighting choice is to install recessed lighting in the kitchen. This type of lighting involves the lights being installed right in the ceiling. Similar to track lighting, most recessed lights are aim-able, so that you can point the light at whatever spot you want in the kitchen. The clean and streamlined look offered by recessed lighting makes it a great choice for contemporary and modern kitchens. Since recessed lights need to be installed in the ceiling, it’s best to hire a professional to do so to be sure it’s done properly and safely.

These days, you have so many different lighting options for your kitchen. Do your research, and you should be able to find a light that matches your kitchen’s style and highlights your beautiful space.

About the Writer
Leon Tuberman has been part of the home furnishings and interior decorating  business for 40 years. He is the owner and operator of popular furniture store in Los Angeles. They offer a huge assortment of solid mission furniture for your living room, bedroom and dining room that’s built in the Heartland of America. Are you looking for a dining table or a china for your formal dining room  then they probably have everything you need.

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Feb 15 2010

Tips to Make Your Any Kitchen More Colorful

If you’re like most families, you probably spend quite a bit of time in the kitchen. So why not make it more interesting by adding some color to the room? You probably don’t want your kitchen to be dreary and drab, but you may not be sure how to add the right touch. Consider some of these easy ways in which you can add color to your kitchen, making it go from boring to beautiful.

Add Color by Dressing Up Your Table
Dress up your kitchen table as an easy way to add color to your kitchen. Add a colorful tablecloth or placemat set, or display some colorful dishware. Add flowers in a vase or basket to the center of your wood dining table to add some instant color to the room. Try to find colors that will add some interest but also complement your kitchen’s décor.

Add Color with a Backsplash
Don’t let your kitchen backsplash be boring. Although you can always keep it simple with a neutral-colored tile or laminate, why not choose a colorful backsplash instead? You should be able to find tile and laminates for your backsplash in a variety of different colors. If you want a totally unique look, try arranging colored glass that’s been broken up in a random pattern on the wall. Whichever way you decide to go, not only will you add some color to the décor, but you’ll end up with a personalized, one-of-a-kind backsplash.

Paint an Accent Wall a Different Color
Is your kitchen painted a neutral color? Paint an accent wall a different color to add some more color to the room. Choose the wall that’s the least covered with cabinets or appliances. When you select the accent color, be sure it will work well with the rest of your kitchen’s décor. For a more subtle look, go with a matching color. But if you want the wall to really stand out, pick a color that’s complementary.

Take the Doors Off the Cabinets
Showcase your colorful dishes and other tableware by taking the doors off your kitchen cabinets. If you have neutral dishes, add some pop by painting the insides of the cabinets a contrasting color. This doesn’t mean you need to take every cabinet door off. But choose a couple of prominent cabinets about the countertops to be your “color cabinets.”

Use Window Treatments to Add Interest
Chances are, your kitchen has at least one window. Why not utilize that window area to add color? For your valance or drapes, choose a color that will really stand out in the décor. Red or purple window treatments would be a great way to add color to the room if you have, for example, a black-and-white or otherwise neutral kitchen.

You don’t need to redecorate the entire room in order to add color to your kitchen. Rather, build upon what you already have to add your own colorful touches here and there.

About the Writer….
Leon Tuberman has four decades of experience in the furniture and interior decorating industry. He owns and manages his family owned furniture store. They carry a large selection of Amish made solid oak furniture for your living room, bedroom and dining room furniture. It doesn’t matter whether you’re shopping for a dining set for your dining room or a love seat for your family room then they carry everything you need.

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Jan 29 2010

Decorate Your Home with Murals

Murals are a fabulous way to add some interest and style to a room’s décor. A mural can be incorporated into the décor of all different types of rooms, from the kitchen to a bedroom. This is a very popular way to add some design to a large area. Here are some tips to help you use murals to decorate your home.

What Is a Mural?
Any type of design or picture that’s painted or drawn directly on the wall is called a mural. You can create a mural depicting almost anything, from a beach scene or other landscape to a pattern of dots or stripes on the wall. Murals can be painted or drawn, or even nowadays they can be stuck on the wall.

Tips for Painting or Drawing a Mural on the Wall
Be sure to properly research your supplies first if you are going to attempt to paint or draw your own mural on the wall. Only use paint that is suitable for wall murals. You also need to be sure that it can go over whatever surface you may be painting on. If you’re not confident in your artistic abilities, there are other ways to create your own mural. For instance, many home décor and arts and crafts stores offer stencils and also pictures that you can blow up and trace on the wall. Most people are not going to be able to freehand a large mural, so a stencil can really be a good decision.

Sticking Your Mural on the Wall
If you are not able to draw or paint very well, you can always use decals or wallpaper murals instead. Basically, you hang these types of murals on the walls, and they are intended to look just like real painted-on murals. Wallpaper murals are hung just like regular wallpaper, with glue and water. Decals are more like stickers and come with an adhesive already on the back of them.

Hire a Professional to Make Your Mural
A professional artist is always an option for creating a mural, especially if you’re not working within a tight budget. This is a great option, particularly if you have a very large mural you want done or if you’re not artistic at all. However, remember that if the mural is large and/or intricate, this can get rather expensive. Depending on the size of the space and the level of detail, some murals may take a few days. Thus, be sure that you budget accordingly.

Where to Add Murals in Your Home
Murals will make a great addition to just about any room in your home. You might consider adding a great nursery mural to welcome a new little one. Or you might want to add a mural to that large empty wall in your dining room that fits the style of the room. Other great places to put murals are bathrooms and kitchens. Wherever you decide to put a wall mural, remember that it doesn’t have to be huge and it doesn’t have to be the only thing on the wall. Just be sure that’s it’s highlighted in the design of the room.

Fortunately, if you’re looking to add a mural to your home, you don’t necessarily need to rely on your artistic abilities. If you have the budget, you can always hire a professional artist. Or you can choose to go the wallpaper or decal route instead. Not only do murals add some design style to a room, but they are a great way to let your personality shine through your home’s décor.

About the Author…
For over forty years Leon Tuberman has helped people with their furniture and interior design needs. He owns and manages a popular furniture store in Los Angeles. They have a large inventory of handcrafted solid amish furniture for your bedroom, home office and living room. Are you looking for bookcases for your student study area or a oak dining table for your dining room then they probably have everything you need.

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Jan 15 2010

Decorating DIY Projects for Your Home

Many homeowners like to do their own decorating projects themselves. This is a great way to ensure that your style and personality always come through your decorating. Here are 5 great DIY decorating projects that you can do for your home.

1. Paint the Walls
The easiest yet most effective way to give room a whole new look is by painting. It’s important to remember that the color of the walls will always influence the décor of the entire room. If you decide to paint the walls, be sure that you do it properly and prepare the walls as needed. You may need to fill in any cracks and then sand them down, as you want the wall to be crack-free and smooth. You also need to be sure to put on a coat of primer. You may have to put on a few coats of paint as well, depending on the color and the saturation of the wall.

2. Install Molding on the Walls
Molding instantly adds a new touch to your walls. If your wall is boring, molding will give it some interest and appeal. You might install crown molding to the top of the wall or go a different route and install a chair rail in the middle. Before nailing it to the wall, paint or stain the molding first. Then you can go back and touch up the nail holes later.

3. Personalize the Lampshades
If you can’t find the exact lampshade you’ve envisioned or just want to create something that shows your style, then consider designing your own lampshade. This is easier than it sounds. Simply take a white or cream-colored lampshade and cut figures or designs out of a dark paper such as black or red. All you need do is to tape the paper to the inside of the lampshade. What will result is a designer lampshade that reflects your own personal style. Another way to personalize the lampshade is by adding embellishments and ribbon to it. This is wonderful way to accent a wooden end table in your living room.

4. Make Your Own Artwork for the Walls
Even if you can’t paint or draw very well, that doesn’t mean you can’t come up with your very own artwork to hang on the walls or to place in wood bookcases. With a little creativity, you can use items you already have. You might hang photographs, postcards, and book images on the wall. Collages of items like those found in nature also make great pieces of art. Another simple project is to take a frame or blank canvas and wrap it in a patterned fabric that fits in with the room’s décor. Choose two or three different patterns and attach them to different sized frames. Then you can hang them in a cluster on the wall.

5. Make Your Own Window Treatments
For those who aren’t handy with a needle and thread or a sewing machine, there are many other techniques you can use to make your own curtains that don’t involve sewing. By taking a long silk scarf and draping it over a window curtain, you can create instant interest around any window. You might also consider using such things as placemats and tablecloths to create instant window treatments. If you do sew, then find a pattern you like, pick out the fabric, and create the window treatments you’ve always envisioned for your home.

Great DIY decorating projects don’t have to be difficult. If you’re looking to decorate your house in your own personal style, these are just 5 of the many different projects you can do for your home.

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Jan 06 2010

Tips for Decorating Your Kitchen Island

Tips for Decorating Your Kitchen Island
There are many different kitchen islands that a homeowner can choose from. Not every kitchen island is going to be decorated and used in the same manner. Although some islands may be better for simply storing items underneath, others might benefit from some more style. Following are some great decorating tips to consider for your kitchen island.
Turn the Kitchen Island into a Sitting Area
A kitchen island makes a great sitting area for the family—depending, of course, on its size. All you need do is clean off the top of it and add a few stools. Then the family can sit around it and enjoy meals together. This is a great option, especially if you don’t have a table in the kitchen and are limited to your formal oak dining table. When used in this way, a kitchen island offers a convenient space that can be utilized in the best way possible. Consider setting the island with placemats in order to add even more style to the room.
Add an Appliance to the Kitchen Island
It may not seem much like decorating to place an appliance on your kitchen island, but this serves as both a functional and decorative way to store a great appliance that you may already own. Don’t just stick any old appliance out on the counter area. You want to choose something like your nice fancy stainless steel toaster or blender that will add to the décor. Just remember to be sure that the island has outlets—or that there is at least one accessible from where the island is located in the kitchen.
Decorate the Kitchen Island with Kitchen Utensils and Products
Decorating your island with kitchen utensils or other products is another great option, along the same lines as the appliances. Again, don’t just use any old kitchen products on the counter. Rather, add things like a spice rack or decorative containers and baskets to your kitchen island. Or you might consider other items such as canisters of dried goods (like sugar and flour) or napkin or paper towel holders. You just want to be sure that the space doesn’t end up being a catch-all. Remember, you still want to keep it neatly organized.
Decorate the Kitchen Island with Flowers
If you can’t figure out what to do with your kitchen island, consider adding a nice vase or basket of flowers. Fresh flowers are always more appealing than fake ones, but you need to remember that they will have to be replaced every few days. This is a quick and simple way to add some color and style to an otherwise bare countertop.
A kitchen island is just like any other area in the room that needs attention when decorating. By leaving your island completely empty on top, you create a space that tends to be boring and bring down the look of the kitchen. When you add style to the space you have, what results is a kitchen space that looks more appealing.
About the Author…
Leon Tuberman has four decades of experience in the home furnishings and interior decorating industry. He owns and operates a popular furniture store in Los Angeles. They carry a large selection of Amish made solid oak furniture for your home office, dining room and bedroom.

There are many different kitchen islands that a homeowner can choose from. Not every kitchen island is going to be decorated and used in the same manner. Although some islands may be better for simply storing items underneath, others might benefit from some more style. Following are some great decorating tips to consider for your kitchen island.

Turn the Kitchen Island into a Sitting Area
A kitchen island makes a great sitting area for the family—depending, of course, on its size. All you need do is clean off the top of it and add a few stools. Then the family can sit around it and enjoy meals together. This is a great option, especially if you don’t have a table in the kitchen and are limited to your formal oak dining table. When used in this way, a kitchen island offers a convenient space that can be utilized in the best way possible. Consider setting the island with placemats in order to add even more style to the room.

Add an Appliance to the Kitchen Island
It may not seem much like decorating to place an appliance on your kitchen island, but this serves as both a functional and decorative way to store a great appliance that you may already own. Don’t just stick any old appliance out on the counter area. You want to choose something like your nice fancy stainless steel toaster or blender that will add to the décor. Just remember to be sure that the island has outlets—or that there is at least one accessible from where the island is located in the kitchen.

Decorate the Kitchen Island with Kitchen Utensils and Products
Decorating your island with kitchen utensils or other products is another great option, along the same lines as the appliances. Again, don’t just use any old kitchen products on the counter. Rather, add things like a spice rack or decorative containers and baskets to your kitchen island. Or you might consider other items such as canisters of dried goods (like sugar and flour) or napkin or paper towel holders. You just want to be sure that the space doesn’t end up being a catch-all. Remember, you still want to keep it neatly organized.

Decorate the Kitchen Island with Flowers
If you can’t figure out what to do with your kitchen island, consider adding a nice vase or basket of flowers. Fresh flowers are always more appealing than fake ones, but you need to remember that they will have to be replaced every few days. This is a quick and simple way to add some color and style to an otherwise bare countertop.

A kitchen island is just like any other area in the room that needs attention when decorating. By leaving your island completely empty on top, you create a space that tends to be boring and bring down the look of the kitchen. When you add style to the space you have, what results is a kitchen space that looks more appealing.

About the Author…
Leon Tuberman has four decades of experience in the home furnishings and interior decorating industry. He owns and operates a popular furniture store in Los Angeles. They carry a large selection of Amish made solid oak furniture for your home office, dining room and bedroom.

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Dec 01 2009

Tips for Decorating a Baby Nursery

One important element that many new parents think about is how they are going to decorate the baby’s nursery. Decorating a baby nursery is certainly a lot of fun, but there are some essential things that new parents need to keep in mind concerning the decorating process.

1. Keep Safety in Mind at All Times
The baby’s safety needs to be a top priority when you are planning your nursery’s décor. What this means is that you may have to sacrifice any design elements that could potentially be unsafe for your baby. Make sure that there are: no small pieces that might pose a choking hazard, no items that contain toxic chemicals, no strangling hazards, and no uncovered electrical outlets.

2. Set a Budget and Stick to It
It’s not at all hard to end up way over budget when it comes to decorating your baby’s nursery. It’s very easy to get lured in by all the cute baby items that are available. Therefore, be sure that you create a reasonable budget for the room beforehand and then stick to it. If you don’t have a lot in your budget, rather than spending what you do have on decorative items, make sure you spend the bulk of the money on a quality crib and furniture.

3. You Don’t Have to Choose a Theme
Many new parents insist on choosing a theme for their baby’s nursery. Yet a nursery’s décor can look just as nice without a theme as with one. By keeping the room simple with some great furniture and nice paint colors, you can create a wonderful nursery for your child. Then as your baby grows, it will then be easier to change the room according to what he or she wants. A nursery theme is only one nursery decorating option. Don’t let others convince you that a theme is absolutely necessary.

4. Use Your Creativity and Talents
Some of the best baby nurseries have been designed by parents who have used their creativity and talents to come up with a completely unique design. Those who are able to paint or draw, for example, might design their own mural for the nursery wall. Unique items for the nursery’s décor might also be stitched by those of you who are sewers or knitters. Many new parents find that they like the nursery so much better when they have contributed their own talents and designs to the décor of the room.

5. Make Sure the Nursery Is Functional and Practical
Some new parents end up learning the hard way when it comes to the functionality of their baby nursery. Above all else, the nursery needs to be practical rather than just aesthetically pleasing. To create a functional and practical room, you need to find furniture and baby items that you’ll actually use. Even though that rocking chair might work perfectly with the décor, if it’s not comfortable, you’re probably not going to use it and you will have wasted your money.

One thing that most new parents look forward to is decorating the nursery. By following these tips, you can create the best baby nursery possible for your little one.

About the Writer…
Leon Tuberman has been in the home furnishings and interior decorating industry for four decades. He owns and operates a popular furniture store in California. They offer a huge assortment of solid wood furniture for your living room, home office and dining room that’s built in the Heartland of America. Are you searching for wood end tables for your living room or wood file cabinets for your home office then they probably have everything you need.

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Nov 16 2009

How Decorate with a Black-and-White Theme

If you’re having trouble finding the right colors for a room or you’ve just always loved the contrast of a black-and-white style, then consider a black-and-white color scheme. A black-and-white style can be versatile: it might be contemporary or even have a French country feel to it. The colors black and white are considered limiting by many when it comes to décor, but there are actually a variety of ideas you can implement with a black-and-white-themed room.

Keep the Walls Light
With a black-and-white scheme, the last thing you want is black walls. The walls need to be kept light with a white or soft ivory color. With light walls, you then provide the perfect backdrop for black shelves or hanging pieces of art on the walls. For a greater contrast on the walls, use black paint on the crown molding and trim instead.

Add Patterns to the Black-and-White Room
You can keep a black-and-white room from seeming boring by adding patterns to the décor. Patterns might range anywhere from stripes and checks to paisleys and toiles. If you are really daring, you might want to consider including animal prints, such as a zebra, into the décor.

· Try a couch or chair with a black-and-white pattern in your living or family room.

· Add some interest to the bedroom with a comforter with a black-and-white pattern.

· In a kitchen or dining room with a black-and-white theme, consider patterned window treatments or fabric on the chairs.

· Other accessories such as black-and-white-patterned blankets, towels, pillows, and wallpaper borders will also make an interesting addition to the room.

· You can also add interest to a room with black-and-white-patterned towels, pillows, blankets, and wallpaper borders.

Change It Up with the Seasons
If you try to rotate your décor according to the different seasons, a black-and-white theme creates a great background for all different types of seasonal decorating. There are so many different seasonal accessories you can add. You might add smaller pieces such as knickknacks, candles, and vases. Or you might choose to go with larger items: artwork hung on the walls, an area rug added to the floor, or a blanket thrown on the back of a couch.

· Red holiday decorations work well with a black-and-white décor.

· In the fall, you can add orange elements to the room to give things an autumnal feel.

· Turquoise or yellow accents might be just the thing to lighten things up in spring and summer.

When decorating a room in a black-and-white style, it doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. Once you decide on the specific style you are going for, you simply need to shop around for pieces that fit into the black-and-white color scheme. It’s also not necessary to strictly stick to the black-and-white theme. A strategically placed hint of color here and there will help add some personality to the room. By adding your own style and flair to your black-and-white décor, you can create a room that feels like your own.

About the Author…
Leon Tuberman has been in the furniture and interior design industry for 4 decades. He owns and manages a popular furniture store in Los Angeles. They offer a huge assortment of solid wood furniture for your living room, bedroom and dining room that’s built in the Heartland of America. Are you looking for a wood desk for your home office or a wood dresser for your master bedroom then they probably have everything you need.

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Oct 30 2009

Budget Decorating – 3 Easy Ways to Add Artwork

One of the most popular ways to decorate a home is with artwork, but most people believe it has to be expensive to look good. This is not the case, as inexpensive art can result in a wonderfully decorated room. If you want to include art in your home décor but don’t have a lot of money to spend, then here are some great ways to add interest and character to your home on a budget.

Find Free Artwork around the House
With a quick look around your home, you are sure to find many pieces that can easily be framed to create a beautiful addition to a room. Some examples of what you might find would be: hanging calendars with pictures, postcards, greeting cards, and perhaps even a decorative flag. You can even add something special to some of these pieces to make them look more professional: simply matte them with matting board in the frame.

Look to Nature for Art Pieces
Quite a few different things from nature can be framed in a shadow box or even a matted frame. For instance, you can frame a collage you’ve created from pressed flowers and leaves. Other items from nature such as sea shells, seeds, pinecones, branches, and flowers can all be used as pieces of art. It may take a little creativity on your part to come up with a collage of these items, but it is well worth it, for you’ll end up with artwork that fits your style perfectly.

Take Your Own Photographs for Your Artwork
If you have the ability to take photos, either with your own camera or one borrowed from a friend, then the possibilities of art you can come up with are virtually endless. After all, you can take pictures of just about anything: from flowers and trees, to houses and the sky . If you really want to get creative, you can use a photo editing website and develop the pictures in black and white or sepia. Have the photographs developed in the proper size, regardless of whether you enlarge them or print them in normal size.

A creative way to display them is to buy matching frames in different sizes and arrange the photographs on an empty wall. You you can also collect the photographs into a book and place it as a center piece on oak end tables or wood coffee tables. If you find that creativity is not your thing, then enlist the help of a friend to take photos. You can also go the traditional route and hang pictures of your family on the walls.

By getting creative, you should be able to find any type of artwork for your home without having to spend a lot of money. It’s easy to turn everyday objects into pieces of art. Find some old illustrated books and see if there’s a picture that would look great in your room that can be framed and displayed. Items like fabric swatches, buttons, magazine clippings, and other small things you run across can be used to make a collage for a shadowbox or frame. If you take the time to look around your home and use what you have, you will discover many possibilities for inexpensive artwork.

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Oct 16 2009

5 Simple Ways to Accessorize a Room

Do you find that the current look of your home is boring? Are you just looking for something different? There are plenty of simple ways to accessorize any room in your home. You don’t need a lot of money or an interior decorator to give a room an entirely new look. Try these simple ways to accessorize any room in your home.

Add Some Extra Flair with Throw Pillows
Start by adding some complementary throw pillows to a sofa or chair. Another simple way to accessorize is to add a throw blanket to the back of the sofa. Be sure, however, that these items are not the same exact color as the sofa or chair. After all, they should work to add some interest and design element to the room. A tan sofa should be complemented with decorative pillows where tan is not the main color in the design or pattern. To pull the room together, it’s also a great idea to add other complementary colors from the room to the sofa.

Update Your Lighting Fixtures
You can give your room a whole new glow by updating your lighting fixtures. Whether you have older fixtures or small ones, installing new lighting can make a big difference. There are many inexpensive ones available that are easy to install. Be sure to get a fixture that gives off plenty of light to make your room brighter. At the same time, find a design style that fits the room.

Go Green with Your Living Room Accessories
One really simple way to add color to any room is with either a houseplant or a vase of colorful flowers. No matter your style, you should be able to find some really beautiful fake flower arrangements at your local craft store. Otherwise, if you’re creative enough, you can make one yourself. The flower arrangement should be placed in a prominent spot in the room so that it garners more attention. The same thing applies to any houseplants you add, whether real or fake. Try placing two houseplants on either side of a fireplace, which will help create a focal point for the room.

Fill Up a Blank Wall with Framed Pictures
By hanging a few picture frames in various shapes and sizes, you can banish those boring walls. You should be able to choose from a wide array of unique and stylish frames that will not only help you display your pictures but will also add some interest to the room. Try black-and-white pictures or those with only a touch of color for a dramatic look. Matted pictures can be eye-catching as well.

Reorganize Knickknacks with Shelving
Do you have a lot of knickknacks in your room that are getting lost in the shuffle? Consider grouping them together on a mantle, wood bookshelves or installing shelving on the walls. By stylishly arranging them into a display, they will better accessorize the room.

Adding simple accessories allows you to easily redecorate or switch around the style design of a room. If you really want to do something totally different, you might look into moving the furniture around. You could also add new pieces of furniture to the mix, such as new oak dining room tables. Adding accessories to a room should be neither hard nor expensive. Rather, just get creative and let your style show.

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Sep 27 2009

How to use a ‘Comb Tool’ to texture your ceiling & walls

Published by ShreveportDesigner under DIY

In the UK, various methods to texture a variety of stunning patterns & designs straight onto the ceiling & walls using tools such as fingers, rollers, sponges, rags, brushes, trowels, etc: where creating designs with texture is concerned, your only limit is your imagination; but in this article I want to talk about using ‘texturing’ combs, to create some amazing affects onto your interior surfaces; if you want to see footage visit www.diy-ceiling-wall-texture.com for instructions. Texturing comb’s are very reasonably priced & now widely available to you thanks to the internet: plus, the methods for applying the texture coating to the desired surface is usually ‘rolled on, sometimes brushed on, or even trowel’d on’ instead of ‘sprayed on.’

As you can imagine, the cost for applying texture coating to your ceiling & walls this way makes it possible for the home ‘DIY’ enthusiast to ‘have a go yourself’ because all you will need is a bucket to mix the texture powder in, the tool for mixing, (either an attachment to the power drill, or a plastic texture mixing tool that you attach to a wooden handle,) the texture powder, a roller & tray to hold the mixture & of course, the texture comb;

Some texturing combs consist of a moulded ‘all in one’ design, (almost resembling that of a plastic tile adhesive spreader, but the serrated ‘comb’ edge is slightly tighter together/not spaced as wide apart from each other) whereas, the handle, and the serrated (patterning) edge are made from a moulded, plastic material, the usual length of the comb is around 10 inches long (this is ideal for creating designs onto your larger, as well as smaller ceilings & walls;) whilst other texturing combs consist of a wooden handle, with a slit cut through it, whereas a piece, or two, of flexible plastic (containing the serrated patterning edge,) is inserted;

Texturing combs, if looked after correctly could serve you a long time, but please be aware, do not wash out the combs in boiling water as this could shrivel up the serrated edges, plus also remember that, after texturing many surfaces, the serrated edge could become quite worn down, thus giving you a thinner, and more undesirable pattern depth;

To pattern the ceiling, first of all, make sure that the surface is correctly sealed and that the room is cool (no central heating on), you must mix enough texture to cover the whole surface area to be textured; secondly, after you decided which pattern/design your going to attempt, stand at the entrance to your desired room and look up to the ceiling, it is quite normal to actually start patterning alongside the wall, running across the narrow width of the ceiling, viewing from the door entrance, (but this depends entirely upon yours, or your customers personal preference.)

So, for instance, let us say that we are going to start our pattern from the door entrance wall, whereas, the pattern (once completed) will run down the (longer & narrower) length of the ceiling.

Stand with your back against the wall (in which you intend to start the pattern) & look up; this is how your going to work the pattern; as you pattern, the pattern is always behind you, and your working away from it/across the narrow width, & down the length of the ceiling; now with your back against the wall, hold your comb in the hand that feels the most comfortable for you to texture with; if you hold the comb in your left hand, slide across the wall, to the far corner of the right side of the room, this is the corner that, once you apply your band of texture, your going to start your comb pattern, & run it the width of that wall/edge, if you use your right hand, you start at the far left corner of the ceiling.

In summary, using your paint roller, roll on a band of texture, around half/three quarter inch thick depth, across the narrowest width of your ceiling, right across, from one wall edge to the other, the band of texture should be around two roller widths wide, pattern this with your comb, then continue this method throughout the whole ceiling, continuing right down the length of the area.

Everything here is fully broken down and covered in ‘Texture Revival;’ at www.lookreadlearn.com to help you more, look out for my articles concerning mixing texture & also surface preparation.

When you attempt any texturing tasks, always practice on a small area first for best results.

Thank you for reading, I hope that this article will help you further with your quest in learning to use combs to texture with.

Dale Ovenstone, creator of the most unique ‘diy’ DVD’s & downloadable ‘How to’s’ www.lookreadlearn.com www.diy-ceiling-wall-texture.com www.unbelievable-internet-income.com

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