home sectionhome section
Your picnic table is the centerpiece of backyard barbecues and outdoor parties. Families and friends gather at the picnic table to share delicious food and enjoyable conversation. After years of use, a picnic table's paint starts to chip and fade. Breathe new life into your picnic table by applying a fresh coat of paint.
The neat rows of tiles that cover many bathroom walls or floors make an immediate visual impact. If the impact of this decorative element in your space isn’t as pronounced as you would like, consider amping up the style by turning some attention to these tiles. With decorative painting or other creative additions, you can modify the look of your tiles and make them more fitting with the aesthetics you are trying to create in this space.
A brick fireplace can provide an ideal spot to curl up on a cold winter's night and adds a warm, natural look to any room of your home. However, depending on your decor style and the color of the brick, you may decide that you want to give your fireplace a new look. Painting your brick fireplace can instantly transform its appearance so it fits your style and works better with the other features of the room. You can use paint to give your fireplace several different looks, so there should be an option that works for your home.
Decorative painting is typically done on three-dimensional objects around the home; however, the same motifs can be applied to canvas. The idea behind decorative painting is to blend into the décor of a room or provide a focal point that’s pleasing to the eye, as opposed to a work of art that might have other purposes. Because of this, decorative painting, even on canvas, is usually regarded as a craft rather than an artform, and it is not necessary to have any training in art to create your own decorative canvases.
Decorative wood panels attached to the lower section of a room's walls are called "wainscoting." Typically made from beadboard or decorated with raised rectangles made from narrow pieces of molding, the wall treatment adds an upscale touch to a room's decor. Choose decorative painting ideas to complement the room's purpose. For example, vivid colors may not be appropriate in a formal dining room, but work well in a child's bedroom.
An accent wall livens up a room, giving it an eye-catching look. It is an ideal way to include a bold paint color or paint effect in a space without overwhelming the room. An accent wall also can be used to highlight a focal feature or architectural element, or to provide a backdrop for a collection that you want to showcase.
A frieze is a decorative horizontal band that runs below a crown molding or cornice to frame the ceiling. This band may consist of a decorative molding or a painted surface. Sometimes the painted surface is bordered above and below by a strip of decorative molding. It may extend down as far as 1/3 to 1/2 of the wall from the ceiling. The band is usually enhanced with decorative painting. Possible motifs for these paintings include classical themes, vines and flowers, maritime images, period themes and contemporary design.
A den is a space where privacy and comfort rule, so the color is a big part of creating that feeling. Shades of gray, once thought to be cold and boring, have become trendy in modern decor. It is a neutral color with a diverse palette to choose from and will match well with just about any design style.
Shades of light blue can conjure up images of summer skies, robins' eggs or the ocean. Kitchens with light blue color palettes can work with a variety of decorating styles. Whether you're hoping to capture the sense of a cottage on the beach or the old-world charm of a French country manor, painting and decorating a kitchen in light blue has an assortment of easy decorating options.
If you are stuck for decor ideas for your home's entranceway, consider decorating the area with one or more living life paintings -- paintings that depict people engaged in life's activities -- particularly if you love to paint people. Whether you choose to create a mural in your entryway or simply want to hang a few of your favorite living life paintings, there are numerous theme options for such creations, such as your family, or any family, spending some time at dinner or vacationing on the beach.
Tables and chairs need not be left in their original shades. You can paint your own ideas, color schemes and artwork onto furniture, customizing them into unique functional art pieces. Mismatched thrift store or yard sale finds are ideal for painting; the original paint is often worn, but the furniture itself is interesting or well-built. Prepare the furniture in advance by securing any loose parts, filling in cracks or dings and sanding the pieces smooth. Use acrylic or latex paints and seal the pieces with polyurethane sealer.
For a teenage boy, having his own personal space is essential for building his confidence and establishing his sense of belonging. Tailor the space to meet his personality so he feels comfortable, confident and secure by himself or when entertaining friends. With so many painting and decorating options available, it should not be hard to find the one that fits the teen's preference. Don't impose your preferences on the teenager, however; let him decide what he likes.
Decorating your walls doesn't require you to spend a lot of money on artwork. You can give your wall a look that fits your decorating style perfectly by pulling out some of your paint supplies and getting creative with some craft items. Completing these projects will only take an afternoon or two, allowing you to decorate your wall over the course of a weekend.
Boys want a bedroom that shows off some of their personality and is decorated with images they enjoy looking at. Plan your boy's bedroom makeover with him, and have some suggestions of your own to help finalize the plans. Focus on a unifying theme to determine what kind of wall painting and decorating ideas will make your boy's bedroom into his own place.
While exposed wooden beams can add a rustic design to rooms, this is not always a desirable look. Sometimes a wooden beam is nothing more than an eyesore, whether because it's cracked or doesn't fit your aesthetic tastes. Wooden beams often provide the structural support for a room and removing them is not always the best solution. For this reason, you can try one of many methods of covering them.
Stoops found on buildings are just large enough for a few people and suitable for entertaining or people watching. These small porches are common in urban areas and cities, but are also found on some suburban homes. During the 1940s and 1950s, architects added stoops to suburban homes as a decorative space that framed the entrance to the home.
While exposed beams can lend a rustic appeal to a room, this is not always true. In certain cases, an exposed beam proves to be an eyesore, whether it is cracked and unsightly or simply goes against someone's personal tastes. As an exposed beam likely provides important structural support, removal isn't always an option. Instead, you can try one of several methods to hide it.
A house's foundation is a vital part of construction, securing and anchoring the building to the ground. However, the exposed cement rim on the exterior of the home may not be attractive to the owner, instead, creating an unfinished appearance on an otherwise flawless building and landscape. If you want to improve your home's appearance by hiding its foundation, there are several techniques from which to choose.
Wood paneling is a feature that can make potential buyers or renters walk away from your property. While paneling has the potential to be attractive, many see it as a dated wall treatment that will be impossible to live with. By painting the paneling, you can make the rooms in your home appear larger because of a lighter wall color and make the living space feel more suitable to a variety of design styles. It is important to properly prepare your paneling before painting to avoid having the paint peel.
Ceiling adornment is intended to highlight and enhance the entire design scheme of the room as a whole. When the adornment of the ceiling draws so much attention that other design elements in the room fail to be part of the whole, the ceiling is dressed inappropriately. Attend to the plan for ceiling decor during the initial planning process for the entire room. Avoid spur of the moment purchases that will fail as solutions once they are installed.
That tiny bit of gray cement foundation peeking out from underneath a house can be an eyesore for some, creating a flaw on what may otherwise have a perfect appearance. There's no way to escape these vital walls which hold your home in place, anchoring it safely to the ground. However, there are a variety of techniques that you can use to hide the foundation walls. These techniques range from landscaping to painting.
With its dull grey color and rough texture, an exposed concrete wall can be an eyesore. These exposed walls are often found in basements or outdoor areas and serve vital purposes, such as supporting buildings, preventing erosion or forming a protective barrier. By decorating the concrete wall, you can transform its appearance, turning it into a work of art. Regardless of the method you select for decorating, be sure to clean the wall thoroughly beforehand.
Thanks to chalkboard spray paint, chalkboard surfaces aren't limited only to classrooms anymore. With the versatile paint, available at most paint, hardware and craft supply stores, you can make almost any surface into a chalkboard. From home and holiday decor to the garden and beyond, with a can of chalkboard spray paint, the options for customizing your projects are almost unlimited.
Indoor painting adds personal style to a space. Some people choose to have all white walls, while others choose bold or bright colors. In some cases you may choose to go a step further and add decorative flair to the space you are painting. Decorative styles range from patterns like diamonds, circles and stripes to mural style drawings. Whatever the style, take fundamental steps to make your decorative paint job a success.
Painting and decorating includes a wide variety of applications. From small painting projects to large household decorating activities, it's not always a small feat to perform these manual tasks. Whether a skilled hobbyist, or a first-timer, learning a few of the basic terms can be extremely beneficial.
Concrete foundations make up the base of numerous homes and buildings. In some cases, an exterior portion of the foundation is exposed, with several feet remaining above ground. A dull, gray concrete can be transformed into something visually attractive in a number of ways. Either stick to something traditional that matches the building's exterior finishes or use the concrete foundation as a way to turn your home into something distinct. Be sure to power-wash the foundation to remove any dirt before decorating.
Mistint paint, sometimes called "oops" paint, is mixed at your paint store or home improvement center as a custom color, but either does not come out right, or is not desired by the customer for some reason. The custom color cannot be easily resold, but rather than discarding it, the store will often offer the paint at a deeply reduced price. You can use these mistint colors for your home painting project and save money. Apply them right out of the can if they are acceptable, or alter them with inexpensive tints.
About 12,000 people in the United States make emergency trips to the hospital in November and December due to decoration-related accidents each year. The holiday season isn't the only time you have to worry about decorating dangers, however. Painting, decorating and remodeling hazards are attributed to health problems and fires year-round.
One of the most exciting things to do when waiting for a baby to arrive is decorate the nursery. Planning the theme and color scheme of the nursery is key to putting together an attractive, unified look. While no particular skills are required to decorate a nursery, a little imagination makes the difference between a boring room and one that would not look out of place in the pages of an interior design magazine.
Using a Thomas the Tank Engine paint border can be the cap to a train lover's room. For little boys, and some little girls, trains are a fascination. The cartoon character of Thomas the Tank Engine combines this fascination with everyday social and life situations. The character lends itself to decorating a child's bedroom in a train theme. The paint border and matching bedroom items are available at retail outlets and online through official sites.
Whether you're updating your home decor, or are adorning your home from scratch, you'll want to learn all you can about painting and decorating. Choosing the right paint colors can help you to determine which decorative accents are right for the room, and vice versa.
Decorative birdhouses add a whimsical touch to a garden or backyard landscape. You can find unfinished birdhouses at most craft stores, but how do you decorate them if you don't know how to paint? You need not be a talented artist to create colorful and creative birdhouses for your outdoor decor; painted designs are not the only way to embellish these projects. Instead, decorate your birdhouse with ceramic tiles or glass stones to add dimension to the design.
A cowgirl nursery theme might be ideal for a little baby girl. Creating a cowgirl nursery theme that expresses the elements of the cowgirl while still maintaining a baby nursery feel to it takes some planning and creative imagination. By combining the elements of the cowgirl with baby colors and patterns, you can create a cowgirl nursery that suits your baby girl.
If you don't like the idea of comparing physical swatches, samples, and materials when decorating, consider making design decisions with a computer. Today's online programs can show you what an entire room will look like based on your input and preferences.
Painting and decorating are two skills that can be very useful when you are looking for an opportunity to start your own business or if you just seek the skills to complete some tasks around the house on your own. Day courses offer students the opportunity to obtain training in painting and decorating in a matter of days.
If you have a small bathroom or powder room in your house, you face the challenge of creating a successful paint scheme that brings out the best in your small space. The right paint color and painting techniques can do much to improve a room and make it feel warm, spacious and pleasant. Although the design depends in large part on your personal preferences and tastes, a few key tips can help you create the bathroom of your dreams.
Paint color sets the mood and tone of the home and can instantly transform a dreary space into a bright display. When decorating with paint, take into consideration your home's aesthetic and your own personal style. Whether it be soothing, dramatic or a combination of both, your perfect palette is sure to jazz up any room in the home.
Seafoam is an old color that's a new neutral. It gets used in everything from bathroom tile to wall paint to kitchen appliances to bed linens and, chameleon-like, adapts to every setting. Seafoam can preserve a sense of history in a contemporary renovation or serve as a soothing backdrop to the colorful toys and books of toddlers, and it's an excellent color for updating thrift store furniture to blend in with any decor.
Creative expression with paint can often transform the style and feel of a bedroom more than changing the furniture. The color of paint has the power to transform your emotional state of mind. The lines you paint may either increase or decrease anxiety. You can save money by judiciously choosing which parts of your bedroom to paint and which to leave as they are.
Chalkboards aren't just for classrooms anymore. Chalkboard paint is readily available at most places where paint are sold; it even comes in spray paint form. Use chalkboard paint to create decorative elements for a child's bedroom, your entryway, the kitchen or the playroom.
Many new homeowners find their new kitchens to be generic, with white and beige walls and boring cabinets. But creating a new look for the kitchen does not require hiring a professional decorator, or breaking the bank. Choose a theme, and build upon it by adding color and a few well-selected accents. Some of the best themes come from the cultures of the world that offer their own culinary masterpieces.
Tuscany, a region in central Italy along the Tyrrhenian coast, is known for its full-bodied wines, farmlands, centuries-old villas, cool breezes and a rustic, comfortable style of home decorating. This style, which combines Old World charm with earthiness, is much copied in the United States. It incorporates warm, muted colors from Mother Nature and large-scale, aged furnishings.
Concrete typically is drab and gray, but several painting methods can help spruce it up. By doing things like faux painting concrete and stamping designs, you will save money and create a different look than typical concrete. By painting things like your steps, you will add décor to your home before people even see inside.
Although painting is always a reliable way to breathe some new life into a room, it is not always feasible. Painting can be messy and time-consuming or simply not permitted in a rental home. Fortunately, it is possible to give a room a new look without using any paint whatsoever by introducing color, texture and design elements in other areas and/or using wall decor to add interest to white walls. You can conceal the walls, decorate them or employ items in your decor that complement their starkness, depending on your style and preferences.
The choices for which color to paint on your walls are almost endless. Go with a simple plain white or muted neutral, put up bold and lively shades or let a location or region be your inspiration: Santa Fe, Tuscany, the Southwest or even Asia. Asian design lends itself to numerous paint ideas.
Painting and decorating a child's room is a fun project for the parent and child to do together. Children will love to create a space all their own, and parents will love to have an organized, decorated space for their child's things.
One of the quickest ways to transform a room is by painting it. Though many people don't think to paint their ceilings, doing so can evoke warmth and intimacy in your home. According to Better Homes and Gardens, "if you never consider anything beyond ordinary white, you may be missing an opportunity to add excitement and drama to a room."
Primitive décor is often characterized by time-worn painted surfaces. There are several methods of achieving this look with paint. Some methods are more difficult than others, but all will result in an authentic painted primitive décor.
Use pink paint as the foundation of your theme, color scheme or overall decor plan. Create patterns, texture or other design elements through the use of pink paint and a complementary or contrasting color. Or, choose furniture and other decorative items that play off of or complement the pink paint.
Finding the perfect chair to match your décor can be difficult, unless you are willing to spare no expense. Decorative painting techniques transform thrift store chairs into heirloom quality pieces. Whether your ideal look is funky or classical, various faux finishes achieve the desired effect without putting a large dent in your decorating budget. Select chairs that are structurally sound to ensure that the next generation will be able to enjoy your handiwork.
Your style of decor and paint color choices can change the entire look and feel of your home. Select colors that work well for each room. For instance, pastel blue has a soothing effect, so this color is ideal for a nursery or child's room. Green and yellow are cheerful colors that can blend well together and work in bedrooms, but yellow also works well in a kitchen.
Instead of buying new appliances and furniture, savvy homemakers find creative ways to revamp old objects when it is time to redecorate a room. Small details, such as the color and design of rugs, quickly turn drab, old-fashioned rooms into havens of color and modern style. Avoid the expensive price tags of stores, and design an old rug with decorative painting techniques.
If you don't like the look of the paneling in your home, you can always paint over it. The paneling can actually be something of a blessing, making your work easier if you want anything on your walls besides a solid block of color, as the panels can serve as guidelines. Remember to put primer on the paneling before you apply the paint coat. Apply a thin coating of plaster if you wish to fill in all the grooves completely.
Texture in decorative paint gives a wall more interest because of the play of light and shadow onto the high and low areas of the texture. Texture in decorative paint is a technique that anyone familiar with interior painting can learn. The paint will be as individual as you are, because everyone uses a slightly different method to apply the texture and any additional glazes that will make your walls truly your own.
A playhouse is where a child's imagination can come alive. Little girls may enjoy a tea party with playmates or her dolls. Boys may consider it a clubhouse for their friends. Select the paint for the playhouse based on the age and gender of your child. This project will be fun for parents and children as they pick colors and exchange ideas. Allow your child to take the lead with decorating under your guidance.
Objects that are subjected to the action of the elements become weathered over time, meaning they show the results of wind, water, heat and earth. Weathered items contain history and story in their surfaces. Techniques can be used to re-create weathered effects on new or otherwise protected surfaces. The art of weathering can create history and story where they do not exist. The weathering process can be used to delight or fool the consumer.
Not every remodel project has to include demolishing the entire kitchen. Give new life to old cabinetry with paint and hardware. Reusing cabinetry is being green in two ways: You will keep your current cabinetry from being dumped and furthering the world's waste issues, and you are saving trees that would be used to construct new cabinetry. If there is nothing structurally wrong with wood, it can be recycled, reused and revamped.
Painting your mailbox will give your home a look that will stand out from the rest. Your decorative mailbox can reflect your personality or match the style of your home. Painted mailboxes can also complement your landscaping. Paint is an easy way to decorate that you can change as often as you like.
Your bedroom should be a place to relax and escape the worries of your day, so decorate it in fresh, welcoming styles that beckon you to sit down and unwind. Painting your bedroom walls can envelope the room in cheery warmth and provide a backdrop for you to create your perfect retreat.
Decorative painting includes a variety of categories from stencils to hand-applied plasters. Paint techniques are commonly applied to walls and furniture, but can also be seen on accessory pieces. Decorative painting materials can include acid stains, paints and glazes.
Whether your bathroom is large, small or somewhere in between, a fresh coat of paint and a change in theme can add new life and personality to the atmosphere of the room. There are many decorating options for you to consider, such as wallpapering a single wall or stenciling a border around the room; just use your imagination and creativity.
Learning how to paint and decorate a foundation is not hard, and will add curb appeal to your home. Although the process can be time consuming, the results are worth it. You will be increasing both the visual beauty of your house's exterior, as well as the property's value.
Paint a colorful flower rock for a great garden decoration, that will last all year round. The pansy rock can be painted easily, when you follow these step by step instructions. Included in the steps is detailed pictures to copy, making it easy for someone who has never painted a flower before.
A vanity can be a beautiful addition to any girl or woman's bedroom. It can store makeup and hair-grooming supplies. It may also hold lingerie or other accessories. A vanity adds a touch of elegance and glamour to a bedroom. Vanities may be created in many styles, from shabby chic casual to high glamour modern. A vanity will give decades of pleasure and is always be a delightful gift for a girl or woman.
Decorated, painted picture frames add style to a baby nursery. Acquire inexpensive used frames or purchase new ones. With this project, either work equally well to create interest on bare walls. Place anything from family photos to educational prints to nursery rhymes in your finished painted and decorated frames.
