HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1987-02-25, Page 18PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1987.
A good solution to the decorating dilemma in a small room is to use
paneled wainscotting topped by an elegant molding; then completing
the walls with your choice of wallpaper.
Paneling a sure cure
for ‘drab wall blues’
Some tips on protecting
and decorating kids9 rooms
Has your family room lost its
appeal? It may be a symptom of the
“drab wall blues.’’
But no need to despair; the cure
mightbe as simple asinstalling
new paneling.
Paneling is a wonder drug that
breathes new life into the family
room -- or any room. It cures a
multitude of redecorating pro
blems: walls damaged beyond
repair, dingy wallpaper that refus
es to come off or peeling, flaking
paint. It’s the ideal solution to
decorating, whether remodeling
thefamily room or creating that
new room you’ve been dreaming
about.
PANELING TIPS
•Choose paneling with care.
Properly selected paneling will
enhance architectural features
you’re proud of and downplay
others not as desirable.
•Consider the proportions of the
room to be paneled -- ceiling
height, size and number of win
dows, other sources of natural light
(skylights, sliding glass doors) and
furnishings you own or plan to buy.
Rooms with high ceilings, or
well-illuminated rooms, for exam
ple, generally are more suitable for
dark-tone paneling.
•Choose lighter-toned paneling
for a feeling of spaciousness in
Wall coverings
can hide
blemishes
Architectural flaws can be mask
ed by distracting the eye. Wall
coverings are an excellent way to
do it. Overall patterns or textures,
says the Wallcovering Information
Bureau, can smooth out irregulari
ties in walls.
Strong vertical stripes in a shade
darker than the ceiling can add
height to a room; a dark wallcover
ing on the ceiling with light-colored
walls can lower a high ceiling.
small to medium-sized rooms,
keeping ceilings white or very
bright.
•If you favor the rich appearance
of dark woods, but find your family
room is too small for floor-to-ceil
ing panels, consider paneling an
accent wall with walnut or oak,
brightening the other walls with
paint or wallpaper.
Another solution to the small
room dilemma is installing paneled
wainscotting topped by an elegant
molding, then completing the
walls with your choice of wallpap
er.
Larger family room sand dens
gain a degree of formality from
deep-hued panels. Here, your
priority is to set a mood with color
and tone. The tighter the grain of
the panel, the more formal the
look.
Cherryandwalnut woods, for
example, are formal, while pine
and birch are much more casual.
Many building supply stores have
a good variety of pamphlets on
panelling projects, or on “how-to’’
tips.
If you have a little Picasso in the
family who uses the walls as a
canvas, or a budding chef whose
countertop is the carpet, it’s time to
“child-proof” the room! There
isn’t a parent alive who doesn’t
know the frustration of trying to get
crayon off the wall, fingerpaint
from a desktop or cookies out of the
Without stifling the creativity
and energy of little artists, you can
help protect a child’s room with
today’s easy-care materials.
•Use washable, non-toxic wall
paints.
•Use plastic laminate furnish
ings rather than natural wood.
•Carpets should be stain resis
tant and washable. Cotton rag rugs
are washable and many wool rugs
can be treated with a silicone-
based spray. Most new soft
Synthetic rugs are mildew and
water resistant.
•Decorate and help protect
window shades, bulletin boards,
room dividers, trunks, picture
frames, unpainted furniture or old
items from the attic with colorful,
self-adhesive coverings that wipe
clean easily.
Use the scraps from self-adhe
sive coverings to cover chair rails,
window trim, light switches, and
other areas frequented by little
fingers to minimize cleaning
chores.
A little preparation and planning
with easy-to-cMan materials can
save time throughout the year.