Decorating
Transform Your Living Spaces in One Weekend
By
Sep 15, 2005, 01:13

(ARA) – When was the last time you updated the look of your living room? Does the bedroom décor make you yawn? Maybe the family room looks like it hasn’t been changed since they were called “dens.” If you have a room that needs a freshening -- not a complete remodel -- you’re in luck. These days it can be fast, easy and fairly inexpensive to add decorator touches, without hiring an army of professionals.
First, think about how you use the room now, and how you’d like to use it. Do you want to move in a desk and computer to make a small office space in the master bedroom or family room? Maybe you’d like a more formal feel in the dining room to create an elegant backdrop for large family gatherings. Is the living room a small space that no one spends time in? With the right objects and treatments, you can begin to refocus each room to work for the needs of your family and your personal style.

Many homes are plagued by boring-wall syndrome: Large expanses of plain, white walls with no color or textural interest. Using simple faux-finishing tools and techniques, homeowners can create a look that adds punch without draining their wallets. Replicate the historical look of plaster with a colorwash treatment. This popular technique creates a mottled, aged appearance. An all-in-one product like the WallMagic Colorwash Kit makes it easy. Simply select two complementary colors, apply a basecoat of the lighter color and use the Colorwash pad to apply the darker color in wide, arching strokes.

For a high-fashion look use the WallMagic Dual Roller Started Kit for a subtle, blended effect. Your walls will take on a soft, warm glow while camouflaging any minor imperfections in the wall’s surface. While faux finishing used to be a complicated and expensive process, WallMagic dramatically simplifies the steps, cuts application time and still provides the beautiful faux-finish effects seen in magazines.

You can take the pain out of painting with tools that do the hard work for you. The Quick Touch Power Roller and Power Roller Pro, from Wagner save time and provide smooth, even coverage, straight from the can to the wall. These electric roll-on tools draw paint right from the can into the roller. Users get a continuous flow of paint and eliminate to pouring, stooping and splashing of a roller tray.

Small, dark rooms can be transformed with mirrors and glass. Try adding an oversized mirror above a bookcase in the living room. It will reflect light from windows and lamps and bring a sense of space to tiny rooms. Glass accessories, such as vases and candle holders, let the eye pass through and give a feeling of depth. Glass-topped tables and light-colored furnishings also add to the open feeling that makes small rooms feel bigger.

Boxy or multi-purpose rooms can benefit greatly from decorative screens. Carve out a home office by placing a screen between living areas and a desk. The screen will hide clutter and provide a sense of privacy. Or place a screen across one corner of a room to give an attention-getting backdrop to furnishings or to anchor conversation areas. A screen can be a great way to hide an unattractive view, showcase an interesting fabric or even create unique displays for photos or artwork.

With a few hours and a bit of imagination, rooms can go from drab to dramatic!

For more information on WallMagic Kits and products, visit www.WagnerSprayTech.com. Courtesy of ARA Content

© Copyright by EveningsNews.com