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(ARA) - With the colder weather upon us, our thought and activities drift indoors as the annual human version of hibernation begins. We re-acclimate to shorter days and longer, colder nights. Added to this seasonal cocoon is our need to take a break from the tension and instability of our modern world. More than ever before, we look to our homes as a haven and shelter from the harsh realities of life. This sense of personal refuge calls us back at the end of every day to a place where we can just relax and enjoy our surroundings. The American dream of home ownership, establishing and building a solid base, is an important component of this; and with interest rates of the past several years being low, more people are realizing that dream. When it comes to decorating the home, however, often the consumer is at a loss for ideas or becomes complacent with what is presently in place. There is a strong pull to individualize our surroundings, but the homeowner is discouraged by the amount of effort needed to complete the task. It is unfortunate that so few people realize that good design really can be simple. Design becomes refined and livable when it is done in moderation. Something as simple as changing a light bulb from bright white to soft pink can make a room feel cozier. Adding extra pillows to chairs or throwing a soft blanket onto the end of the couch draws people into the heart of a room. There are books and magazine articles available for every style imaginable and television has provided the public with many shows to walk the homeowner through the process.
One timeless element of decorating is the use of wallpaper and today we are seeing it everywhere. The Hollywood sets of movies, television and commercials are showing damasks and florals in living rooms and bright cherry red prints in the kitchen. Glossy decorating magazines abound with showcase rooms done in wallcoverings and fine fabrics. However this basic instrument of home décor is all but absent on the decorating and the home improvement shows. They do exhibit the hours of steaming and scraping in order to remove old wallpaper, followed by possible repair of the walls. Hardly ever do the producers of such shows replace the old wallpaper with new. It’s not the lack of designs, they tell us; quite frankly, it’s the difficulty factor. The product has been hard for the do-it-yourself market to install and even harder to remove.
Finally, in response to homeowner’s complaints, wallcovering has evolved to a product that is truly easy to hang, and, more importantly, easy to remove. The secret is in the backing or sub layer, called the substrate. Most wallcoverings are made with a paper base, coated or laminated to PVC backings. But, by processing very long synthetic fibers, which provide strength and easy removal, the industry has created a new substrate. This non-woven paper is pre-pasted, and no wall preparation is required. It can be applied over a painted surface or even a previously papered surface with no extra treatment. The new product is non-vinyl, which means it can breathe, eliminating the common cause of mold, moisture. It is easier to hang, because no bubbles can be trapped and the edges won’t curl. In tests, this new product removed so completely that each strip could actually be rolled up and hung again. If a mistake is made, there is no need to waste the sheet. Samples were actually crunched into a ball and thrown into the corner, only to be retrieved later and hung with no wrinkles or creases.
Lately, the solution to bare walls has been faux finishes. These messy professional treatments often utilize several complicated procedures, usually over several days. The hype has been that anyone can do it. The truth is, they can’t. We have all seen the results when friends so proudly display their do-it-yourself art. A more successful solution is to hang a wallpaper faux finish painted by an experienced artist. With this new product, there are many finishes available; a room can be papered with a suede look in an afternoon. When the homeowner tires of the faux suede, it removes in a manner of minutes, ready to be replaced by papering with a faux marble or trendy design.
In children’s rooms, a simple stripe can be hung on the wall and the border changed as the child grows. Start with a baby animal border along the walls at crib height. As the child grows, the baby border can be removed quickly and easily, even saved, and a new border hung along the lower wall, close to the floor where the toddler plays. In a year or two, remove, and replace with a border halfway up the wall, perhaps adding a shelf above to help keep some of the clutter at bay.
For a long time, the consumer who rents has been a neglected segment of the decorating market. Most property owners do not allow the walls to be papered. Because the product removes completely, leaving no residue or backing on the wall, it can be taken down, leaving the wall with no trace of residue or damage. The renter can even take the paper to the next residence, if desired. It’s a great way to personalize a temporary space.
Begin by going to one of the manufacturers’ Web sites and look specifically for a non-woven. These sites categorize patterns, styles and the newly released books. Searching on the Internet helps to narrow down your choices before going to the store to look at the wallpaper books. One of the better sites is Chesapeake Wallcoverings at chesapeakewallcoverings.com. This company now has three books out with the new non-woven backing.
For those who have never hung wallpaper, it is probably safer to start with a small, easily manageable area. Choose a straight wall, with no windows or doors to cut in. The local retailer who is knowledgeable will direct you to the new, non-woven product. Ask for the wallcovering that hangs in minutes and removes in seconds.
Create a refuge in a corner by planting a comfortable chair and a table with a reading lamp. Surround the area with a paper that gives the look of soft suede or leather, then anchor the space with a rug. Decorating with wallpaper is an excellent way to individualize the home, bringing in warmth and texture to either a casual, country home or an elegant formal home.
For more information, visist www.chesapeakewallcoverings.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content
