Transforming A Room On A Budget

By: Nicole Shalit

Interior designers know that the fastest and most inexpensive way to transform a room is to attack the walls. Most homes have white walls will a few paintings on them at the most. Here are a few easy ways to transform any room while on a budget.

1. Drywall texture.

Drywall was once purely functional, however now it is used as a designers trick. You can use drywall to add architectural design touches, or re texturing ceilings and walls, or to update the appearance of a home or single room.

You can finish walls and ceilings many different ways. Re texturing or smoothing will freshen and modernize any older home, or even return it to its original character.

Changing the style and texture of the walls can quickly liven up a thirty year old home. Another way to change the walls would be to cover them with a layer of hand-troweled joint compound which would resemble plaster. Doing this would make your home have a 1900 Victorian feel to it.

The Orange Peel Finish is very popular this year. It is created by spraying texture compound onto a smooth wall and letting it dry.

2. Faux Painting

Faux painting is one of the most popular ways to transform a room through the walls. This way of painting incorporates decorative paint finishes, as well as techniques that resemble wallpaper. Such finishes would include glazing, sponging, ragging, wood graining, and free hand design.

You can achieve just about any illusion imaginable through faux painting; you can even use texture to create a 3-d effect. With some skill, an idea, and a new color scheme, you could transform to resemble an ancient Tuscan building.

Try using a Suede Finish. This will warm up any formal room.

3. Non Traditional Wall Coverings

Wallpaper has always been a popular substitution to painting a wall, however in addition to wallpaper; there are many other types of wall coverings. Bright fabric, grass cloth, and even cork are becoming more and more popular.

Some non-traditional wall coverings:

· Foil, is difficult to work with because it folds and crinkles easily. The silver reflection never the less is quite contemporary.

· Cork wall coverings make for a dark and woodsy effect and can usually be seen in family rooms.

· Paper backed fabric. This will show the high quality look of fabric but can be installed as easily as vinyl coated paper.

If you are on a budget, or just like to save money whenever possible, using these tips are for you. If used correctly you could transform your home into the work of art that will look like you paid a designer to make.