Decorating Materials & Supplies

Installing moldings is one of the trickiest jobs in trim carpentry. Measuring angles, cutting miters and the expense of the material all combine to scare many DIYers into hiring the work done....

Utilizing street signs for decorating rooms is a great way to add some rugged individuality to a given room. Construction signs can be found with a bit of searching and researching. Try thrift...

Have you ever seen outdoor furniture or an awning that is faded and generally deteriorating from exposure to the elements? What about indoor furniture that feels scratchy and is too stiff to...

For those allergic to down comforters, down alternative fill comforters are hypoallergenic and dust mite-resistant. Down alternative comforters are lightweight and warm just like down comforters,...

Artificial trees are less messy and easier to set up than real trees. They also require less maintenance after they are installed. Artificial trees can also be healthier for a family, especially...

Ceramic and marble tiles are both distinct and popular surfacing materials. Each product is more suitable for certain situations and less so for others. Understanding the differences is important...

Whether you are trying to replace the original vintage tile in your 100-year-old house or want to give your new house that classic, Victorian style, finding original ceramic tile is the route to...

Preserve bread loaves and rolls for a decorative display or centerpiece that lasts for months. Moisture inside the bread should be removed to reduce the chances of mold and extend the usefulness...

When remodeling a bathroom, homeowners often become confused by the sheer number of bathroom accessories available at their local home centers and online. Choosing the right size towel bar is of...

Traditional Moroccan black soap is a plaster finisher that gives plaster walls and floors a shiny, smooth surface. It also seals plastered surfaces, protecting them from damage and mold. Black...

Mexican tile, like all glazed ceramic or terra cotta tiles, can be used both indoors and out. The outdoor uses for Mexican tiles are endless: on fountains, building facades, doorway arches, on...

Basements can represent a second or third floor in your home, but that space is only useful if people want to spend time there. Unfortunately, too many basements are nothing more than dungeons and...

Unframed mirrors are a popular, low-cost way to add interest to wall décor. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes that can be used anywhere throughout the home. Finding a glue that will...

Paint quality can vary among paint brands. Paint names can be similar but that does not mean that the colors used to mix them are identical. A bit more of one color or another can shift the color...

Finding ways to reuse and recycle old wood pallets is an inexpensive way to go green. It not only saves room in the landfills, it will save you money. A very ambitious person could reuse a large...

Solid wood panel doors were commonly installed in older homes. Often, with renovations and demolition, many of these very nice doors end up at recycling centers and garage sales at very...

The kitchen is the heart of the home. It's where the family tends to gravitate, where people gather when they come by and is one of the first places homebuyers look when house shopping. Nothing...

Cellular shades are also sometimes called honeycomb shades. They are so named because of cells of air that form when the folded shade opens up to cover the window. Though all types have a similar...

Interior vinyl shutters are commonly called plantation shutters. There are stock sizes available, but shutters are usually ordered custom, made to your exact measurements and specifications.

Ceramic tiles appear in the bathroom, in shower enclosures and, occasionally, on floors. The editors of Tile Magazine say that the only way to insure that tiles don't come loose or have problems...

Many older homes were constructed without modern privacy considerations and lack the walls erected around the commodes. If your home has no side walls, you can easily install a toilet paper holder...

When hanging photos on a concrete basement wall, it is necessary to use special nail type items, commonly found at hardware or building supply stores. Just because your walls are concrete is no...

Faux wood blinds and cellular shades are among the most popular window treatments. Faux wood blinds--made to look like wood--are made of synthetic materials, sometimes with wood pulp mixed in....

Table skirting is a decorative touch that brings elegance to any occasion. Table skirting also provides some practical uses well beyond those of mere aesthetic beauty.

After years of seeing mini-blinds everywhere, homeowners and decorators are coming back to slats of wood or wood alternatives (faux wood) in a big way. Several options are available, with pros and...

Painting with epoxy is easy if you have the right tools and knowledge. This paint is strong and can even resist most scraping and scratching entirely. It is also inexpensive, even in large...

Bamboo plants grow rapidly and reach maturity after only six years. Most come from a species of bamboo plant known as "Moso" that grows in China and other Asian countries. When they are harvested,...

Most of us would love to redecorate our homes, but our living expenses do not allow it. However, there are small things you can do to make big changes in a space and it does not have to take a lot...

Many copper sink manufacturers produce their sinks by hand. This means that each copper sink is one-of-a-kind and requires a customized installation procedure. While the major installations steps...

The basis of those spectacular table settings you see in home décor magazines is almost always a solid color tablecloth. Table linens can be extremely expensive, however, and the cost can add...

Create a decorative room divider out of cheap and readily available PVC pipe. PVC pipe and the required fittings can be found at nearly every major hardware retailer. Decorate the plain white pipe...

Resin incense comes in many varieties. It has been used throughout history during religious ceremonies and rituals. The traditional method of burning resin incense is to use special self-lighting...

Metal hooks come in all shapes and sizes, and can be matched to any decor. Metal hooks make use of space on doors and walls to store items that need to be in sight and in reach. Small hooks can...

Solve frustrations of an unorganized and overcluttered closet by using inexpensive closet accessories. Once key problem areas are identified, simple DIY closet ideas can be used to add space and...

Metal support columns that hold up heavy joist timbers are often found in basements. Covering these unsightly but necessary columns with wooden boxes is one way to hide the mechanics that hold the...

If you're looking to design an outdoor walkway, steps or a patio, you're not between a rock and a hard place in terms of choosing the right material: flagstone offers a range of shapes and colors...

Tile surrounding the fireplace provides a striking design element for a variety of decorating styles. The wide selection of tiles available means nearly anyone can find an option that blends well...

The smooth textures, rounded shapes and pale, earthy colors of river rock make it ideal for natural home decorating projects or backyard landscaping. River rocks are formed by the tumultuous...

Transforming a kitchen with less than $100 is not impossible. From paint to fabrics, a wide variety of different décor items can be brought into the kitchen while staying on a budget. Shop at...

Learning to cut mats goes a long way in developing your creative eye as well as learning to trust it. Cutting mat board with a manual cutter requires taking simple measurements and some simple...

Crown moldings are designed to draw the eye to the ceiling of large and stately rooms. These types of moldings are typically used in formal and traditional style rooms, and they add to the...

Bowling balls aren't just for the bowling alleys any longer. Easily acquired for mere dollars at yard sales and flea markets, old discarded bowling balls get new life in gardens and home...

A chair rail is a type of decorative molding used to add interest to a room and divide up large wall areas, especially when using two different colors of paint on top and bottom of the wall. Its...

Staining pine furniture can be tricky. Pine has natural yellow undertones that tend to show through most stains. Pine rarely accepts stain evenly without effort, which means that the furniture...

It's the little details in a kitchen that set it apart. A tile backsplash adds a decorative punch above the kitchen counter. The wide range of tiles available lets you customize the kitchen...

Soapstone (steatite) is a practical, dark-colored, nonporous stone used for countertops and fireplaces. It resists high temperatures, and unlike granite or marble, you can't ruin it with common...

An evaporative cooler, more commonly known as a swamp cooler, is a simple device used to cheaply cool the air in a room by several degrees. Swamp coolers operate on a simple principle: Air is...

Small decorative plates can be used to add color and design to a wall or as a substitute for a wallpaper border along the ceiling line. Some restaurants or other commercial enterprises use plates...

Masking tape is easy to remove and tear, and is used to protect surfaces temporarily while painting, sewing, and similar projects. Often, masking tape is already a recycled product made from...

Potential decorating materials for the home can be found in the electrical and plumbing departments at your favorite home improvement store. Ordinary hardware items such as pipes, nuts and bolts...