DYI wallpapering should I? or shouldn't I?

DYI wallpapering should I? Or shouldn’t I?
So you want to do something different in your home then just paint. Great wallpaper can be used to transform a room with color, pattern and texture. Wallpaper can also be the best solution for disguising less than perfect walls. Wall papers are available in a wide variety of designs, patterns and styles. The material can also vary such as vinyl, paper, fabric etc.
The most important steps you need to learn are how to prepare a wall, estimate materials, and how to hang paper. Installing wallpaper is far from an easy task. But if you follow some do’s & don’ts on how to hang wallpaper, you can ensure your wallpapering job will come out looking good.
Do: 1. Assess the state of the walls you want to wallpaper before doing it. Are they smooth and flat? Or do they need a little work before hanging wallpaper?2. Do remove the old wallpaper first, fill in with polyfiller any nail holes you have from hanging pictures or photographs.3. Do use drop cloths over your furniture, pack knick knacks away so they don't get broken in the process.4. Do buy pre-pasted wallpaper. It’s a lot easier to install, just needs wetting.5. If your walls are rough or uneven choose a thick wallpaper to cover this.
Don'ts:1. if you’re a first time wallpapered do not choose a difficult pattern to match.2. Don't buy dark wallpaper if it’s for a small room, it will just make the room look smaller.3. Don't forget to buy the proper wallpapering tools; a scraper, a wallpaper pan to wet the wallpaper, a sharp utility knife for trimming edges and a step ladder.
Now if all of this sounds like more work then you wanted to do please seek professional help. We all remember what happened to Lucy & Ethel when they wallpapered themselves.

Color of the week is Orange

First of all it appeals to a great number of people it denotes affordability and it makes you think of the fall season also such holiday’s as Halloween and Thanks Giving. It can also stimulate the appetite.

Combines the heat from red and yellow to make it the hottest color

Interiors will be glowing, vital and energizing

Shades & Tints
Orange - Fun, whimsical, childlike, happy, glowing, vital, sunset, harvest, juicy, tangy, energizing, gregarious, friendly, loud
Peach - Nurturing, soft, fuzzy, delicious, fruity, sweet, inviting

Color RED

Red Causes the most diverse reaction of all the colors. It signals excitement, danger and sex. Can causes sense of smell improvement & increase in appetite. Speeds up the perception of time. Evokes physiological response in increased heart rate and rapid breathing

Interiors done in red will be dramatic and provocative

Shades & Tints

•Bright Red - Exciting, energizing, sexy, hot, dynamic, stimulating, provocative, dramatic, aggressive, powerful
•Bright Pink - Exciting, happy, hot, attention-getting, energetic, youthful, spirited, fun, trendy, wild
•Light Pink - Romantic, soft, sweet, tender, cute, babies, delicate
•Dusty Pink - Cozy, soft, subtle, dusky
•Mauve - Soft, subdued, quiet, sentimental
•Burgundy - Rich, elegant, refined, tasty, expensive, mature
•Fuchsia - Bright, exciting, fun, hot, high energy, sensual
•Brick Red - Earthy, strong, warm, countryTerracotta - Earthy, warm, wholesome, country, welcoming

Designer tips on Staging

First I want to say that I am not a stager I am an interior designer. There are many differences between a person who stages your home and a designer who designs your home. Someone who stages usually carries an inventory of furniture, accessories and art work to select from. Home Staging is the art of styling your home for the buying audience. A designer is someone who helps you after you are in the home to give it a custom personal look.
I just want to share a few tips on what a home owner can do to make their property more attractive to prospective buyers.
CLEAR CLUTTER -- Begin by clearing away the personal clutter, including everything from paperwork to photos to collections. Remember that the potential buyer needs to visualize themselves in the space, and your particular brand of "lived-in" may not match up with theirs.
CHECK FURNITURE FLOW -- There needs to be enough in place to suggest proper scale and capacity within each room, but not so much that traffic flow is hindered and architectural elements are obscured.
TONE DOWN -- Neutralize walls and floors to create a backdrop for buyer imagination. Replace patterned wall coverings with off-white paint, and install low-grade tan wall-to-wall carpet.


Any Questions or Comments

A Little Info on COLOR

Color is the single most important factor in creating the mood of a room. It is the element that everyone understands and has been proven to be a psychological stimulus. Color can unify furnishings that otherwise seem unrelated. Color can minimize architectural faults such as cracked walls or poorly placed windows. It can also make a small room seem larger or large rooms seem smaller. Research suggests that colors have "temperature"; they are either warm or cool. Warm colors, on one side of the color wheel are yellow, yellow-orange, orange, red-orange and red. They are cheerful and powerful. Warm colors can be used in rooms with Northern exposure. They can also be used to put life into activity rooms. Children love warm colors best. Adults who like these colors tend to be outgoing and active. The Cool Colors, on the other side of the color wheel, are purple, violet, blue, blue-green and green. More soothing and restful than warm colors, they can be used in rooms with Southern and Eastern exposure to create a calm ambiance. People who prefer cool colors are usually reserved and introspective. In the bloggs to follow I will be giving more information on COLOR.

My Philosophy for Designs by Valerie

As a professional designer I have the education, experience and expertise to create the best design for you. I will give you a variety of options through which you can achieve your decorating goals. I want my clients living space to accommodate their needs as individuals or as a family. Color, furniture and attention to details are always part of my design. If I choose a color palette for you it must be consistent. Each room is not a separate entity they need to work together as a whole. I want to share my passion with everyone and I believe that all people with all budgets deserve good design. A good reputation is earned through creativity and quality service.