The Welcome Mat

Off-the-wall design ideas

Are you looking for a quick way to update your room, basement or entire living space? Painting interior walls may be the fastest and most inexpensive way to change the appearance of a room. Adding a splash of color or a pleasant pattern can spark that warm, inviting feeling again. 

One of the most important steps before starting a painting project is the preparation.

• Clean the wall, baseboard and ceiling surfaces with household cleaner, hot water and a sponge several hours before beginning to paint
• Remove all nails, smooth spackle across nail holes and let the spackle dry; once dry, sand the spackle with fine sandpaper until wall surface is smooth
• Protect the room—don't just stop with covering the floors: protect doorknobs, electric switches, faucets and other items that you want to keep paint-free with aluminum foil; crimp and fold the foil to fit the shape of the objects
• Be sure to choose the correct type of paint for the room; moisture-heavy rooms, such as bathrooms or kitchens, require mildew-resistant satin or semi-gloss paint that can easily be cleaned
• Buy quality paints, brushes and rollers—cheap paint does not cover well, which could require additional coats, and cheap brushes loose their bristles and can get stuck to the surface, creating an unsightly finish
• Use painter’s tape to create crisp lines and stripes, and to avoid getting paint on unwanted areas

Once you have finished painting, you can create the look of wallpaper using stencils. Stencils can either be purchased or made using a piece of poster board. Find patterns on the internet or create freehand designs. To create a larger stencil to balance the scale of your room, tape 2 pieces of poster board together.

• Once the stencil is traced and cut out, tape it to the wall using painter's tape, and use a level to make sure the design lines are straight
• Using a foam roller with minimal paint, apply the paint directly over the stencil; don't use too much paint or it could bleed under the stencil
• Once stencil is filled in, carefully remove the stencil from the wall
• Use the stencil around the room, making sure to align and space evenly
• Touch-up any bleeding lines or imperfections with a small brush

Color evokes different emotions, and stencils add unique style to rooms—add a personal touch to your home by finding color that fits your style. Just remember, paint isn’t permanent.  If you don’t enjoy the color or pattern, you can always choose something else.