Decorating Ideas for a New Home

Put colorful rugs on the wall as well as on the floor.

When you are decorating your new home, you have a lot of space to fill. Walls that are empty and blank give your home a barren look; they also tend to direct your gaze downward to the floor, which shortens the look of the room. Decorate your new home with both colors and texture in mind. That way, your new home will truly fit your taste and lifestyle, and it will be as unique as you are.

Sillhouettes

Silhouettes can be a striking addition to your wall. Silhouettes have recognizable outlines but no other features. You can get hand-cut silhouettes of people, animals or things, or you can make them yourself by painting opaque paint directly on the walls using a transparency projector. For example, paint your wall with the silhouette of a flock of birds, children playing a game or an urban skyline.

Shadowboxes

A shadowbox is essentially a thick frame that allows you to put various objects behind glass and hang them up. Consider what is important to you and what you would like to showcase in this simple way. For example, you can create a scientific shadowbox using things like mounted butterflies, a magnifying glass and test tubes. Make a large shadowbox and mount a child's sports uniform after he has outgrown it, or use a smaller shadowbox to display the medals from a relative's military career.

Rugs

Rugs are not just for the floor. Hang a handmade rug up on the wall to give the room color and texture. You can purchase handmade rugs, or you can make your own. Tear up strips of fabric, and crochet them into a rug. Alternately, braid strips of fabric together, then sew the braids side by side to create a rug. Or create a round rug by coiling a long single braid of fabric and sewing it flat.

Mounting Fabric

Fabric adds texture to your walls. Choose fabrics that suit your tastes and the existing color motif. Cut the fabric down, and frame it behind glass for a sleek, polished look. If you want something with more texture, stretch the fabric over a piece of foam board, and pin it in the back. Then hang the foam board.

References

• Families Online Magazine: Decorative Art for Your Walls
• Families Online Magazine: Creating Wall Silhouettes