Budget Decoration

Like any venture or project, prepping a wall for a major or minor overhaul needs time and careful preparation. If the project you have in mind is plastering your walls with home wallpaper and wallpaper borders, you have a lot of things to consider such as the type of surface your walls have, and the theme or look you want to accomplish. Wall murals should also work well with the various wall surfaces throughout your home.

Before deciding what pattern of wallpaper you want to order, ask your local wallpaper store for at least 2 swatches and decide which pattern fits your home or room best. When placing an order, make sure you order an extra roll or two for future use, such as repairs and minor installations. The number of rolls you need will depend on the square footage of your room, so measure each room beforehand.

Once your order arrives, inspect it immediately. Take note of the lot number and the quantity of your order. Check the color pattern and match them with the sample that you have. You must also inspect if the coloring on every roll is even (some might have faded) and if there is any damage to any of the rolls’ edges. It is imperative that you check for flaws before actually using the home wallpaper and wallpaper borders.

You can only achieve the best effects with wallpaper borders and wall murals if they are installed properly. To do that, the walls must be fully prepared. Removing old wallpaper, smoothing the walls’ surface and priming it with the right paint, and filling any cracks and holes are necessary steps in making the new wallpaper bond perfectly to the wall.

For walls that are covered in non-gloss paint, it is necessary to have the paint scraped or sanded off. After the paint is removed, wash the wall with an all-purpose cleaner. After the wall has dried, apply an acrylic primer. You can then proceed to installing your home wallpaper and wall murals.

For walls that are painted with semi- or high-gloss paint, they should be covered with acrylic primer.

For mildew-plagued walls, a wash down with a mixture of bleach and water is recommended to clean the surface. After the walls are cleaned, rinse thoroughly, dry well, and then apply the primer.

Wood-paneled walls covered in gloss must be washed thoroughly with a mixture of de-glossing solution and water. It must then be sanded smooth. Vertical grooves must be filled with spackle. You can then apply the primer and hang the wall mural or wallpaper border of your choice.

There are a few tools necessary for a smooth installation process:

• Steel tape measure – for measurement purposes;


• Water tray – if using pre-pasted wallpaper, dip the strips in the trough to prime the adhesive;


• Seam roller – tool used to flatten the wallpaper’s surface;


• Razor knife with lots spare blades – used to cut strips of wallpaper;


• Pencil – used to mark specific points on the wallpaper;


• Bucket and sponge – washing and wiping purposes;


• Ladders - helps you reach those high places.

Be sure you have these tools ready as they will definitely come in handy as you do you wallpaper project. Preparing a wall may take half a day, but the end result is surely worth it. Home wallpaper that is perfectly installed is sure to enhance and liven up any room.

Upon entering a house, people will almost always notice the walls first since they are the largest surface area in any given room. The designs on the wall will attract anyone’s attention, and even if there’s luxurious furniture and décor all around, if the walls aren’t done well, the room doesn’t light up the way it’s supposed to. Simply put, walls play a crucial role in interior planning and design. Choosing the right home decorating wallpaper is elemental in giving any room that added vivacity.

You can revamp a room wall without completely repositioning the furniture, or buying a range of new décor, or severely shifting the room’s theme. If one is already satisfied with the way things are, a quick change in wallpaper will instantly liven up a room and change its whole feel and look. The most important factor here is choosing the right wallpaper and wall paper border to incorporate to the rest of the room’s overall theme and structure.

So how do you pick the right design of home decorating wallpaper that will perfectly blend with the entire room and its furniture?

First, you will need to consider the existing theme of the room as well as the details of the furniture and other fixtures. Is it contemporary? Country? Western? American? Victorian or French perhaps? What about the dominant colors and shades of the furniture and décor? Your choice of home decorating wallpaper and wall paper border should balance well with everything. The wallpaper – its shade, pattern and texture -- should not be too overpowering, nor should it be too insubstantial or simple that it won’t be able to create the effect you want. Mixing and matching wallpaper and wall paper borders is a great way to boost any room too.

Reading home improvement magazines helps in deciding what colors and patterns blend well with certain motifs. Consulting with an interior designer is a great way to deal with such dilemma, but take note that professional services can be expensive.

After initially deciding what pattern your wallpaper mural and wall paper border should be, make a list of the top 5 designs that you want, then ask several wallpaper companies for samples of the designs you chose. Once you receive the designs, paste them on your walls for a few days and try to discern which home decorating wallpaper suits your style best. You can also place it on your furniture, sofa and décor to see which ones match best.

An important thing to consider before purchasing wall paper border or home decorating wallpaper is the condition of your walls. Crooked walls look better when covered with wallpaper designed with accentuated stripes. Floral murals can effectively hide cracks or mask a room’s unconventional shape. For walls with a few imperfections and cracks, faux finish wallpaper can effectively hide them as well.

The room itself is another thing to take into account when considering various types of wallpaper materials. If you are going to remodel the living room and the dining room, go for paper wallpaper. For walls that need to have easy-to-clean surfaces, such as those in the kitchen, the bathroom, and the children’s room, you should opt for vinyl or vinyl-coated home decorating wallpaper. Vinyl wallpapers are more durable than those made of paper, making them a great choice for rooms where wallpaper suffers more wear-and-tear than most other spaces within the home.

When you have finally made your choice, measure the room first to determine exactly how many rolls you need. A few extras won’t hurt too. Then you can confidently place your order!

Picking the kind of wallpaper to use not only depends on the liking of the homeowner, but also the location where the wallpaper will be installed, the amount of human traffic, those who will frequent the area and the activities that will transpire in the room. These factors must be taken into account when redecorating walls with designer wallpaper and wallpaper borders.

Every time you walk into a home decorative store or the furniture section of a department store, you begin to add up the prices of the accessories you'd like to put in your home and leave with sticker shock. If that sounds like you, it's no wonder you haven't yet personalized a single room in that house, even months and years after settling in. It is possible to decorate your home on a budget, if you know the places to look. How can you possibly come up with a budget design that stays within a specified amount of cash while allowing you to be freely creative in your home?