Foldbedding.com has a product called Wallter Tiles. These are wood-based cutouts that are primed and ready to be painted in a color of your choice. The back has a sticky surface so you can easily apply it to your wall. This is a fun way to add color and dimension to your room, and you can pick any color of your choice! I have used these before and was very pleased with the outcome.

I have heard about starched fabric used as wallpaper in apartments, and I think this is such a great solution! I haven’t tried this yet, but I will definitely post when I do. The fabric clings to the walls with water and starch and dries in place. When you are ready to move, you pick up a corner of the fabric and peel the fabric off. Since there is no adhesive in the mix, there is no damage to the walls. And, it’s a NO-SEW project! The edges of the fabric do not fray with the starch mixture! Here are [...]

Are you thinking about painting your apartment? Here are a few things to consider before beginning the task… 1. Are you allowed? Many apartment complexes or independently owned properties allow the tenant to paint the walls as long as they are repainted when vacated, or if it isn’t repainted, money will be withheld from the deposit. Check your rental agreement thoroughly or ask your property management company if this is okay. 2. If you get a green light, what is it worth? Are you going to live there for 6 months or 6 years? You may have to gauge if [...]

Lin Hill from Realtor Magazine wrote an article about home staging to maximize your home’s appeal. Here are her main three points: 1. Depersonalizing the space by removing family photos, taking everything off the refrigerator, and stripping the kids’ rooms of posters and baseball trophies. 2. Clearing high-traffic areas of excess furnishings to maximize feelings of space and comfort. 3. Highlighting the key features in every room–such as fireplaces or French doors–by making sure they’re not obscured by plants or furnishings. See the rest of her article here.

I often get asked which paint sheen is best for certain projects. This is sometimes confusing because many companies have their own labels for their different paint sheens. Common naming conventions include semi-gloss, eggshell, and flat. Here is a quick guide to helping you select the best sheen: Flat: This sheen has a matte finish that does not reflect light. Because of this, it is often good to distract from imperfections in the surface. However, it’s rough texture traps dirt and is not known for its washability. Washing scuffs off this surface often results in minor paint removal. This is [...]

Design Talk says that the two best investments before selling a home are paint and flooring. These two home aspects help to make the home feel more welcoming. Many sellers offer the new buyer a carpet allowance so they can buy carpet after the home is purchased. This is a great offer, however, if you replace the carpet before buyers come to look at your home, it will look cleaner, and more inviting and may entice more potential buyers who didn’t see the home’s potential before. Some do-it-yourself flooring stores include: Flor, Floors Only, and Armstrong.

Shannon Kaye, host of DIY’s Fresh Coat, always has great design tips and tricks. Her specialty is interior decorative painting. Click here for episode guide and project ideas. Also see her personal portfolio on her website: www.shannonkaye.com. Below is one of her custom finishes.

Working on the set of DIY’s Fresh Coat with my sister and host, Shannon Kaye was a great experience. One of my favorite tips that Shannon gave homeowners was to mix it up in the kitchen. One of her signature design solutions is to paint the bottom cabinets in a kitchen a different, and often darker color. This breaks up a wall full of cupboards and adds interest and personality into a kitchen. This picture is from Better Homes and Gardens, one of my favorite design magazines because they give you do-it-yourself tips. See this and other kitchen color tips [...]

Because we are in our homes everyday, sometimes we don’t see when clutter sneaks up on us. A good rule of thumb is if something hasn’t been used for a year, then it’s probably not worth keeping around (except of course, items that hold personal and financial value). If you have a house on the market, potential buyers are going to see the clutter immediately and will be put off by the lack of space it is creating. If you simply can’t part with such items, pack them away to convey an open and tidy space for potential buyers. Try [...]

Unfortunately, many rentals don’t allow colored paint on the walls, but that shouldn’t limit you. Strict parameters allow opportunity for creativity. One way to add color to your rental is by using fabric. Floor to ceiling curtains make a great focal wall, even if there aren’t any windows. Purchase enough fabric or curtains to cover the entire wall as a great backdrop for your couch or bed. I also read about using starch to “wallpaper” your walls using fabric. I have never tried this but rumor has it that it cleans up quickly without leaving residue on the walls. I [...]

Large pieces of art are hard to decide on, and are often very expensive. I have always liked picture grouping to fill a wall thoughtfully with color. I gave dimension to a very large wall in my bedroom using two rows of three frames, spaced evenly apart: and I did it for free! I had six frames of equal size… these were purchased at Target some years before to showcase some of my photography. Instead of buying art, I looked to an old Ansel Adams personal calendar that I had saved, knowing that I would want to recycle the beautiful [...]

We all learn lessons everyday, by forging new paths and reflecting on experiences. I often have a running list of “You only have to do that once…” instances where we learn a hard lesson after making the incorrect choice only once. Since my husband and I have had our first rental property for the last couple of years, we have learned new ways to protect our investment. One thing we have learned, is that lawncare is a must. Now many tenants are in fact, great at lawn maintenace, but we have learned to not take this chance. I am a [...]

I will always remember my first impression of my second home when we saw it for the first time with our realtor: apple cinnamon. Right when we entered the door, it felt like home. The familiar smell made it feel clean and quaint, and fit for a family. Because it made such an impression on us, I have made the aroma of a house much higher up on the scale of preparation. Any time we hold an open house for either a potential tenant or potential buyer, I plug in a candle warmer or two to convey a feeling of [...]