how to decorate a kids room without painting

How to Decorate a Kid's Room Without Painting.

Your 5 year-old wants a life-size portrait of The Wiggles on her bedroom wall, or maybe your 11 year-old has decided she wants to live in an all-black room with silver glitter plastered across the ceiling. How can you avoid such disasters and still indulge your child's thirst for self-expression? Here are some creative (yet temporary) decoration ideas that you and your child can use to personalize his or her space.

Steps.

1. For young children, use crepe paper on a roll (available at teacher's supply or craft shops) for finger, sponge, or other tactile painting. You can lay the paper flat, let your child paint to her/his heart's content, and then hang the finished painting from your child's wall. Another method is to hang blank sheets from ceiling to floor like wallpaper and let your child 'body paint' right onto the wall. This can be messy and have unpredictable results, though.

2. Pre-teens will enjoy the time-honored tradition of the magazine collage. Use a removable, non-damaging adhesive (such as Sticky Tack) to arrange clipped pictures of movie stars, favorite musicians, and coveted shoes all over the walls. The best part of fun activity for the whole family, as long as you don't mind getting a little messy yourself. Make hand prints, footprints, and splatters. It's like coloring the walls, but without the parental wrath and permanent damage.

3. Older children may already have a collection of artwork from school art classes. Turn your child's room into a mini-museum by framing your child's drawings and paintings with paper, pegboard, or wooden frames, and hanging them throughout the room. this decorating technique is that your child can add to it every day.

4. If your child's heart is set on changing the color of the walls entirely, try using wallpaper - without actually pasting it up. Take a trip to the home goods store and pick out paper samples or remnants. Don't worry if the remnants aren't large enough to cover the whole wall - creating a collage of different patterns and colors is part of the fun.

5. To add texture, choose some fabric remnants from a crafts store to hang as tapestries. If your child sleeps in a bunk bed, fabrics can be hung from the sideboards to create a "tent". This can make the room feel bigger, and creates a great place for pretend!

6. Hanging mobiles aren't just for babies. Fill some space in the room by fashioning a "chandelier" out of old toys, stuffed animals, or any lightweight objects. Older children might enjoy making mobiles that reflect their hobbies. Baseball cards, old ballet slippers, and sports ribbons are all good materials.

7. Hanging fabric from the walls - attached only at the top with some neat finishing nails - adds a splash of color to a room, and you can always take it down. Also try hanging picture frames (with nails through the fabric) on top of the fabric sheet to have a nice picture collage.

8. Add decorative knobs to the furniture. Thousands are available now, you'll find one that will relate to something important in your child's life - their favorite sport, an animal they love... You can even get them really involved by letting them paint their own knobs!

9. Self-stick, removable, wallpaper borders, murals, and designs. They do not damage the walls, yet add a lot of color and character. Has your son out-grown ABC's and cartoon cars? Peel them off, wash the walls, stick on the Batman borders and stickers. They are available at many places that sell wallpaper as well as on-line. They will last for a year at least. Actually, these self-stick borders are nice for adding an easy splash of color to any room. Some of these products are 'cheap-looking' (like shelf paper), but many are indistinguishable from quality wallpaper.

10. Remember to hang art and other decorations low enough for the child to appreciate... and yes, touch. Too many nicely-decorated children's rooms have the pictures, shelves, etc. all at adult height. Who cares if it looks like it came out of a magazine? Whose room is it anyway? Put that ABC poster down at toddler level so she can appreciate it.

Tips.

Keep an eye out for favorite characters - magazines, shoe boxes, clothing tags, toothpaste boxes, whatever. Images cut from a shoebox, a favorite shopping bag etc. can be taped to the wall, for example, a Spiderman who is 'swinging' from a 'web' made out of a piece of yarn.

Make a day out of decorating. Invite your child's friends over to sponge-paint the papered walls. This will make the process more exciting and let your child know that creativity is important and fun.

Don't spend a lot of money on decorations. Remember, creativity is the goal here. Your child will be more proud of a room full of her own artwork and ingenuity than she will of expensive store-bought decorations. Besides, you know that children change their tastes quickly, and may want to replace a decoration almost as soon as they put it up.

Make it really fun and not boring.

Fill balloons up with paint and throw them at your wall to make an epic pattern if you like to have a bit of fun.

Warnings.

When hanging mobiles, be sure they are out of reach of young children who might try to hang on them or pull them down. Also make sure there are no sharp edges or heavy pieces that might cause harm if the mobile falls. Tapestries should also be hung securely, especially if they are attached to a bunk bed or used to make a tent. Be sure children are old enough to understand that the fabric is not meant to hang or play on.

Keep hangings away from lights and ceiling fans. This includes papers above desk lamps - you never know when tape will lose its stickiness and let a poster sag down onto a light bulb. (Been there, seen that, lost a favorite poster - but fortunately not my house).

If they insist on heavy things, nail them securely, otherwise, they may fall upon the child and cause serious injury.

Make sure that any paint you use is a non-toxic formula. Most paints designed for children's use will have this designation on the packaging.

Januari 25, 2020

how to fake expensive decor

How to Fake Expensive Decor.

A well-designed room looks expensive even if it isn’t. Before you invest in decorative try to come up with a theme or scheme for the room. Once you have identified what you want your room to look like, search for economical pieces that look classy and expensive. If you’re not having much luck finding pieces in stores, you can make your own. The following steps provide some ideas and advice, get started at step number one below.







Designing a Room that Looks Expensive.



Choose a unifying theme. A well-coordinated room will look expensive even if the elements of the décor are cheap. Choose a theme that will tie together your room. This will help you look for inexpensive pieces while making it seem as though you have paid an interior decorator. Rooms that seem confused, cluttered, and mismatched have the look of cheap rather than luxury even if the pieces are lovely. For example:

A beach-themed room would have pictures of the ocean, shell decorations, and a blue-green palette.

A rustic, woodsy theme would have wood detailing, paintings of landscapes, and an earthy palette.

Industrial themes use repurposed items, steel accents, and sharp edges to give the room a more modern edge. Gray, brick red, and black are popular colors.

Minimalism is a popular and trendy design scheme where you use as few pieces as possible to decorate your room. Simple furniture and white or neutral colors will make the room look as though it could feature in a magazine, likes Home and Garden, but the style is inexpensive to recreate.



Focus on a neutral color palette. Stick with white or light neutral shades, such as brown or gray, for the base color. Your walls and larger furniture pieces should belong to this color scheme. For example, you might have beige walls with white doors and gray furniture. Your feature elements will stand out against neutral colors more, which will make them seem more prominent. Some neutral colors you can mix and match include:

Gray.

Slate Blue.

Taupe.

Soft yellow.

Off-white shades like ivory and cream.

Coffee brown.

Tan.

Beige.



Add accent pieces. Accent pieces are small decorative items that contrast with your neutral color scheme. They are usually either brightly colored or patterned. Accent pieces can be easily and cheaply be replaced if you ever change your style. Make sure all of your accent pieces are the same color for maximum effect. Some items you might consider for accents include:

Vases.

Pillows or cushions.

Blankets or throws.

Picture Frames.

Ottoman.

Tablecloths.

Flowers.

Figurines.

Striped, dotted, or chevron patterned objects.



Choose a focal point. A focal point is a piece of furniture, art, or object that is the primary decoration in the room. Having one grand piece will draw attention to it, making it seem important and pricey. A room in which there is no clear focus tends to feel cheap. [2] Some good focal points for a room include:

A large painting.

A unique table.

Two retro mod chairs.

A wall decal.

Full-length book shelves.

An ornate mirror.



Consider getting rid of dated details. To some, the key to making décor seem expensive is to follow modern trends. To help your room remain stylish and cool, you should reduce the dated elements of its décor. Some common out-of-style elements include:

Vertical window blinds.

Formica tables.

Clear plastic furniture.

Furniture painted to resemble marble or stone.

Broken or damaged items such as torn posters, cracked vases, or splintered wood.

Obviously, antiques can lend an expensive looking touch to any room, especially if it is an family piece you have inherited and haven't had to pay for. As long your antiques are in good condition and tie in with the rest of the room's dėcor, keep them. Don't ditch them just because they are old. It "is" possible to combine modern and antique pieces in a room.



Avoid clutter. Ironically, having less" clutter in a room makes the overall impression that of luxury. You do not want a room that is filled with furniture and decorative items and resembles a second hand shop. Limit how many decorative pieces display. This creates the impression that you spent more on a few, expensive items instead of buying many cheaper items. When placing your decorative items around the room, keep a little bit of space between each item.



Decorative shelves should ideally not be crammed with items. It's tempting to fill that space with stuff. Instead, only fill 1/2 to 3/4 of the space, leaving some empty space.

Keep your surfaces, such as coffee tables, counters, and TV stands mostly clear.

Choose only one or two items to place on these surfaces.

For example, you might keep a lamp on a side table with a single picture frame but nothing else.

If in doubt, remove. Try taking out a piece of furniture. See what happens if the coffee table is simply moved to the another room. Or see what happens if you remove throw pillows/cushions. You may find that less is more.









Finding Cheaper Alternatives.



Visit thrift stores. Thrift stores, charity shops, consignments, estate sales, and antique stores will often have old vintage or antiques items that are much cheaper than new. This is a great way to get inexpensive but quality items, such as wooden tables or embroidered chairs.

Old wooden furniture can always be repainted. If you find a piece that is chipped or faded, you can paint it to match your color palette.

You may find interesting and unusual items in these stores and shops. These will seem expensive because they are unique. For example, you might find a lunchbox from the 60s with old superheroes on it, or you might discover an antique milk pail that you can use for flowers.



Shop online. Websites like eBay, Craigslist, and Gumtree allow people to sell their old furniture and decorative items. Search through these sites to see if you can snag a deal. It may take a little while to find the perfect deal, but you may be able to score a truly expensive piece for very little money.



Search online for less expensive replicas. If there is a more expensive piece that you have your eye on, you might be able to find a cheaper replica online. Search for words that are associated with the original piece.

For example, you might type, “cheap crystal chandelier” to see what pops up.



Print out your own art. If you can’t afford originals of art, you can buy prints from the internet. If the artwork is in the public domain, you can even print out your own copy at a print shop, and frame it yourself. This is a great way to get quality reproductions of famous art pieces in your own home without paying a fortune.

When sending the work to the print shop, make sure you send an HD copy so that you get the best image possible.

You can also tear out images from an old calendar and frame them. This is a great way to reuse an old calendar, and the images are all professional quality.



Repurpose items. You might find interesting pieces that can be used for a different purpose than intended. These pieces can be a focal point for your room if you choose. Transform your old furniture, or keep an eye out for things that can become tables, wall hangings, or accent pieces. You might.

Use an old luggage trunk as a coffee table.

Hang antique dinner plates on the wall.

Drape an old quilt over a chair.

Frame vintage fashion magazines images.

Make shelves out of old wooden planks.

Position a TV on a painted crate.









Making Your Own Décor.



Assemble your own built-in bookcases. Floor-to-ceiling length bookshelves may seem expensive, but you can replicate the effect without purchasing high-end custom furniture. Measure your wall. Instead of building one giant bookcase, purchase four identical smaller bookcases that will fit in that space. Place two side by side for the base, and stack the other two on top. Be sure to bolt all four bookcases to the wall for stability.



Wallpaper the inside of your bookcase. An easy way to add a customized twist to an old bookcase is to wallpaper the back of the shelves. Find a wallpaper that matches your theme or color scheme. Cut the wallpaper to size of the backing of each shelf. Paste it on using wallpaper paste. Let it dry before you put items back on the shelves.

If you are using the bookcase to display decorative objects like vases or figurines, you might want to choose a solid color for the wallpaper, so that more attention is drawn to your collection.

If you are just using the shelves for books, you can choose a bold pattern, such as chevron stripes, polka dots, or a floral design. This will make the shelves an accent piece in their own right.



Paint your own tile backsplash. Small ceramic tiles are great for decorating the backsplash of kitchens or bathrooms, but decorated tiles are expensive. Plain white ceramic tiles, on the other hand, can be cheap. With a little time and effort, you can turn tiles into something stunning and extravagant.

Find a stencil of a design you like, such as a fleur-de-lis or a bird. Press the stencil down on the tile, and paint over the design. Let the tile dry, and you have an easy, beautiful tile. You can then adhere it to the wall using tile mastic.

Good places for painted tile backsplashes include underneath cabinets or above a countertop. Do not paint the tiles on your floor or along your shower or bath. Too much water damage can ruin the paint.



Use fake flowers instead of real. Fresh flowers are beautiful, but they can become costly. Instead, look for convincing fake flowers. Put together your own centerpiece, and arrange them in an inexpensive vase. You have an easy, reusable centerpiece.

Go for flowers that look as close to real as possible. You might even be able to find ones that also feel soft and natural. Your guests probably will not know the difference.

You can swap out flowers for each season and event, reusing the same flowers every year. Friends probably will not notice, but it will make it seem as though you are constantly updating your centerpiece.

Artificial flowers can easily become dusty. If so they do not look luxurious. Also, this can be problematic for allergy sufferers and asthmatics



Fill a vase to make a centerpiece. Vases are easy to find, and they can be relatively inexpensive. To help jazz up an empty vase, you can fill it with some small items. This will add a touch of character to your décor without costing a ton of money. Some things you can fill it with include:

Potpourri.

Shells.

Pieces of coral.

Marbles.

Buttons.

Sticks.

Wine corks.



Repaint frames. Nice picture frames can be expensive, but you can manage a high quality look without paying a lot of money. Find inexpensive picture frames at a dollar store, craft store, or thrift store. Paint the frames with a color or design that pleases you.

Gold and silver paint are easy to find if you want a more distinguished shade.

You can add words as you like such as “Sisters” or “Friends Forever.” This will make it seem personalized.

Painting designs on your frames gives them a unique look. You can paint stripes, dots, or other easy geometric shapes.





Tips.

The most important thing is that the room looks good to you. If you like the way the room looks, you do not have to worry so much if it appears expensive or not.

While you should invest in good furniture pieces, such as sofas and tables, you can go cheap on accessories, like pillows and artwork, without people noticing.

If you are making your own décor, you should choose projects that you know you can complete at your skill level.

Always measure your space before buying new décor or furniture to make sure that it will fit.

Try leaving a little bit of space between furniture and other objects to make the room seem larger than it is.

November 13, 2019

how to display a shelf in the living room

How to Display a Shelf in the Living Room

Having a shelf in your living room is a great way to add extra style to one of the busiest rooms in your house. You can use it to hold books, of course, but you can also show off some of your favorite family photos, interesting objects, and even seasonal decorations. The trick to making the design look deliberate is to include some of the same colors from the rest of your living room décor, then to arrange the objects in a way that shows them off!





Group small stacks of books together. If you’re decorating a whole bookshelf, of course, you can include as many books as you can fit. However, if you’re only decorating a single shelf, you might want to be more selective about the books you choose. You could pick books that you love to read over and over, or if you prefer, you could opt to display books with bindings that match your décor.

For an elegant display, include a collection of leather-bound volumes.

Don’t be afraid to get creative with your arrangement! You can display some books with the front facing outward, especially if they have interesting cover art. You can also stack some books horizontally and some vertically.

Take dust covers off of hardcover books to make them look less busy.

Buy old books from a thrift store that you don’t want to read to use just as decoration.



Make the shelf feel more personal with framed art or pictures. A framed picture is a great way to add your personality and design style to a shelf. You can either lean the art against the wall and anchor it by placing small, heavy objects in front of it, or you can hang it just above the shelf for more security.

Photos of your family and loved ones will add a lot of warmth to your living room.

You could also opt for art that reflects your design style, like pop art if you love bright, bold colors, or a simple line drawing if you prefer a more understated look.

You could even create a gallery wall by hanging a variety of pictures above the shelf. Then, decorate the shelf with small objects that mimic the colors or shapes in the pictures.

Lean a large frame against the wall and later smaller ones in front to create a relaxed style.



Use sculptures, vases, and found objects to mix up the shapes on the shelf. A shelf that only contains square and rectangular objects isn’t as visually appealing as one that has a variety of shapes. Instead, it’s best to mix up the size and shape of the items you display together. Use your shelf to show off cool objects like vases, globes, bookends, or sculptures.

Try to use your imagination when you’re thinking of items that you can put on the shelf. Some of the coolest designs feature unexpected touches, like a glass bowl full of acorns in a rustic living room, or a brightly-colored vase that adds a pop of color to an otherwise subtle color palette.

Look around your house for objects you don’t use anymore and use them as decorations.



Include colors that reflect the design of the rest of the living room. To make the shelf feel cohesive with the rest of your living space, look around and pick out a couple of colors that you can repeat on the shelf. This might be a color from your curtains, carpet, or rug, or it might be a color in a piece of artwork that you’d like to bring out more.

For a modern look, opt for monochrome colors, like all-white. However, don’t be afraid to add in a graphic pop of color!

For a more traditional look, opt for warm, dark woods, and rich colors like burgundy and gold.

If your style is more rustic, look for lighter woods and natural colors like forest green.

Fill up your shelf with color or use one bright object to make your room pop.



Use boxes and trays to hide clutter. You may need to use your shelf to store items like loose papers, phone chargers, or other small objects that are functional but unattractive. If that’s the case, keep the items close at hand but out of sight by hiding them in pretty boxes or magazine holders. This will help keep your clutter contained, but you’ll still be able to easily reach your objects when you need them.

You can also group small objects like paperclips or coins together in small bowls or on trays.

Look for boxes that are decorative and nice to make your display look more purposeful.



Add green plants to bring a touch of nature into your living room. Houseplants are a great way to add natural beauty to your home, and a living room shelf is a perfect place to display them. Choose a plant that’s well-suited to the amount of natural sunlight in the room, and consider the size of the plant and how it will fit with the scale of the shelf.

For instance, if you have a narrow shelf, you could display a cactus in a small container.

If you don’t want to take care of a plant, use faux greenery instead.

Tip: You can still have plants, even if there’s not a lot of natural light in your living room. Look for low-maintenance plants like a succulent, pothos, or lucky bamboo.





Display seasonal decorations if you enjoy celebrating various holidays. A living room shelf is one of the best places to display your holiday decorations. Whether you love keeping freshly-cut flowers in the spring, you need a place to display your menorah at Hanukkah, or you can’t celebrate Christmas without your dancing Santa, use your shelf to show off your holiday spirit!

By changing the decorations throughout the year, your shelf will always look fresh!

November 10, 2019