When it’s time to add a new look to your home’s walls, you usually have two choices – paint or wallpaper. This can be pretty depressing, but the good news is there are a lot of new paints and textures you can try to make your home look much more interesting. There are a few guidelines to remember however, as well as some tips that will make the choice a lot easier. Let’s look at the strengths and weaknesses of both.
Wallpaper
With today’s new peel and remove wallpaper, the old days of standing with a steamer and a scraper for days are pretty much over. If you haven’t looked at wallpaper in the past few years, take the time to rediscover it. There are so many new textures and options that wallpaper has become fun again.
The main problem with wallpaper however is that it tends to look dated. It’s really easy to go with a trendy color or pattern and then end up hating it in just a few years. While it’s easier than ever to remove, it’s still a lot of work that can be avoided with the right selections. Pick colors that you know you’re going to like for a long time and avoid the trendy trap. Go with classical textures and patterns, or stick with a solid that will wear for a lot longer.
When it comes to borders, they are pretty much done, unless you’re working on a child’s room. If you plan to sell your home, borders can really throw a buyer off and they just aren’t current enough to warrant the time and money it takes to install them. If you must have a border, go with one in a very timeless pattern that won’t look dated or chintzy.
Paint
Painting your home’s interior has become a lot easier thanks to better paints, and a whole lot more tools. There are new rollers and sprayers that will get the job done in half the time and produce much more professional results. The newer paints also have a lot less odor and you won’t have to worry about passing out on a ladder thanks to the fumes. Low or No VOC paint (Volatile Organic Compound) has little or no volatile organic compounds. VOC's are known carcinogens and cause most of the paint fume smells.
When it comes to picking paint, go with one that is rated for your type of room. That sounds pretty elementary, but many people make the mistake of choosing the wrong kind of paint. Go with a medium gloss finish for walls, and leave the ultra gloss for the trim. Matte tends to look dull and dirty after awhile, so it really is best to have a medium gloss for most walls.
Accent walls are pretty tired now when it comes to design, so if you’re going to have one, use a paint color that is timeless and avoid the bright and bold colors. Again, if you’re planning on selling your home, it’s best to stick with colors that will not turn off your buyers.
As for texture painting – it’s done, dated and completely over. Don’t waste your time.
Photo Credits: 1
Originally posted 2008-12-03 08:10:15. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Related Posts -
6 Great Home Uses for Power Pressure Washers Power pressure washers are handy pieces of equipment for home use, and some models are made for commercial use, as well. Unless you plan on running a pressure washing business, however, you can get away with a relatively inexpensive piece of equipment that can you use to do a large...... -
Wallpaper Tips for Installation There are a lot of reasons to choose wallpaper over paint for the walls in your home. Wallpaper can add a real sense of class to a room with unique and eye-catching designs that a solid color of paint just can’t match. However, if you do opt for wallpaper you...... -
Repairing Cracks in Walls If you have an older home that has some structural damage, or if you are starting to notice tiny cracks in the walls, the time to fix these is now, before they get any worse. If the crack is serious, you may need to get the help of a professional,...... -
Easy Tips for Better Hammering There is a multitude of different ways that you can improve your hammering, or just make working with a hammer easier for you. If you are into home improvement or wood working, then you probably end up working with a hammer a lot, and there is always room for improvement....... -
Kitchen Remodeling Ideas Under $1000 If you've spent much time looking through magazine or home improvements stores, you might not realize that some of the best kitchen remodeling ideas are small ones. In most areas, a high-end, completely top to bottom kitchen overhaul is less likely to give you a return on your investment when......
Related Websites -
Bad Credit Does Not Have to Stop You From Getting Your Next Home [caption id="" align="alignleft" width="144" caption="Image by Casey Serin via Flickr"][/caption] Have you imagine unlocking the door to your new home, but are afraid to try for that home due to bad credit? Stop imagine, and give your credit and you a chance. Advantage Mortgage offers the loan that will meet...... -
Of Bathrooms And Home Improvement When people assume of home improvement, most assume of reworking or drastic renovation that prices a lot. Contrary to these concepts, improving the standard of your home starts with one concept in line with most interior decorators: increasing space. As easy as those 2 words sound, they are in all...... -
Spiral Staircase Kits - Step up Home Design I've been redesigning my home before setting forth on some major renovations. My biggest problem area is my living room. It's a great room style, with an upper loft and a hideous staircase running up the back wall, which is enclosed with drywall, and just is altogether an eyesore. This...... -
Ten Tips Toward a More Eco Friendly Home Tip 1 - Turn the lights off any time that they are not needed, even if you are just moving from room to room in the course of your day. According to Energy Star, as much as 20 percent of a home's overall energy use comes from its lighting. Using...... -
Home Improvement Tip Maybe you are contemplating getting your home completely renovated, or are just looking to make a few changes to give your home a different look. Whatever the reason, home improvement may not be as easy as you would like it to be. To assist you with improving your home, we......
- Paints Varnishes Painting Supplies Sprayers Building Hardware Home Improvement
- Medium 4x2-9x6 Rugs, Carpets Antiques
- Borders Wallpaper Home D�cor & Accents Home Store
- Paint Sprayers Air Tools Tools Home Improvement
Categories:
Handy Man, House Paint, Wallpaper
Tags:
2 comments ↓
personally i try to stay away from wallpaper if possible.. seems that whatever wallpaper we thought was cute will end up being a deal-breaker when we’re selling the house.. paint is much easier to fix/change.
@ Pete
I would paint too, but sometimes I dont win all the
argumentsdiscussions in my housefold.Leave a Comment