Tips Design Home

It can be argued that a living room is the heart of a family home. More awake time is spent in the living room than in most other rooms. Installing molding to add interest to a living room is a great way to enhance the space and make it more visually pleasing. It is not difficult to install molding, but it does require the appropriate tools, time, energy and patience.

Measuring
When considering whether to add molding to a living room, the first step should be to measure the amount of molding that would be needed. Measure around the perimeter of the room, as close to the ceiling as possible. This is especially important in older homes where the walls may not be square and can even be wider at the ceiling height than they are at the base. To get the proper measurements, the job may require two people, so have help available before beginning.

Purchasing Molding
Molding comes in a variety of shapes, sizes and materials. There are intricate and elaborate moldings that would accent the fanciest of living rooms. There are also relatively simple moldings that might do better in a Craftsman style home from the turn of the century. Choose the look that will complement the home and the room the best. Also decide which type of molding material will be the most cost effective and easiest to install. For some homeowners only solid wood molding will do. This, of course, raises the cost of the project and guarantees that an assistant or two will be necessary to have on hand during installation. Other homeowners are not as concerned with having traditional solid wood moldings and opt instead for moldings made from MDF, or a wood fiber that is combined with a synthetic resin material. MDF has distinct advantages. It is lighter in weight and much easier to cut than traditional molding. The drawback to MDF is that it almost always needs to be painted. Wood molding can simply be stained to match other woods in the room, but MDF requires a coat or two of traditional paint. Again, choosing the best material for the job will make the project run smoother.

Installation
Installing crown molding is a relatively easy task. The challenge comes from making the correct cuts at the corners and transitions. Many professional installers suggest that the homeowner lay out the pieces of molding around the room and think of the room as a giant frame that is being looked down on from above. The cuts to the molding then become clearer. When hanging it, place it flush against the ceiling if the walls and ceiling are square. If that is not the case, slide the molding down about 1/4″ from the ceiling and nail it in place there; mark a level guide line first with a pencil to keep things straight. Most gaps of 1/4″ will not be visible, but if they are, apply a line of caulking to the space. It is helpful to have an assistant available who can hold the molding in place while it is being hammered into the wall.

Installing molding in a living room is not a difficult task. With patience, an assistant, and the right tools, the molding installation can be completed in an afternoon. The addition of the molding will draw the eye up and add interest to the living room that may have otherwise been lacking. Molding also adds charm and increases the resale value of a home, so it is a wise home improvement project that is worth the effort and expense.

By Alyssa Davis

Many homes have at least one ugly wall that requires some additional design to help improve its appearance. In some cases, the problem might be due to structural problems or it might simply have surface imperfections that need to be dealt with. In other cases, there are features on the wall, such as wiring or pipes which detract from its appearance. Fortunately there are many techniques you can use to help disguise and salvage an ugly wall.

Repaint the Wall
Sometimes an ugly wall simply is suffering from a bad paint job, or a poor choice of paint. If you have a wall that has an imperfect surface, especially if it is in a location where light reflects off of the surface, choosing flat finish paint in a light color is often the best choice. Flat paint reflects much less light than does a glossier surface, which will help hide imperfections. Before painting, scrape the wall and use joint compound to fix as many surface imperfections as possible. Then, use a good primer and finish with a coat of flat paint. It can also help to move any lights within the room that shine on the wall in a way that emphasizes imperfections. You can also use stenciling to disguise particularly difficult areas of the wall.

Wallpaper the Wall
Using heavy textured wallpaper is a great way to hide a wall that has surface imperfections or cracks which would be difficult to repair so that the wall would look perfectly smooth. If you would prefer to keep the wall painted in the same color as the other walls within the room, choose a paintable textured wallpaper. The thickness and texture of these types of wallpapers can hide even more pronounced wall defects effectively.

Use Wall Art, Tapestries and Fabric
A quick and easy way to disguise an ugly wall is to simply hang art work to hide it. If you have larger areas that have imperfections, hanging a large tapestry or a quilt will hide the problems in a hurry. You can also use a large print or painting or group smaller pieces together to hide a wall. Hanging a rod or batten close to the ceiling and draping the wall with fabric is also a way of hiding a problematic wall as well as adding a stylish accent to the room.

Hiding Fixtures, Wires and Pipes
If you have a wall in your home that has fixtures such as wiring or pipes that cannot be moved, consider using a decorative wall divider or screen in front of the offending problem. This can be used quite effectively, especially when coordinating artwork is also used on the wall. Not only will this hide wiring and pipes while still allowing access if necessary, but it will also create a bit of extra storage space within the room.

Camouflage Wall Issues with Furniture
Large pieces of furniture, such as tall bookcases, entertainment centers and shelving units can also be used effectively to hide problematic walls. Not only will these types of furniture pieces hide wall imperfections, but they will also give you added interest in the room as well as a place to display books and collectibles.

By Alyssa Davis