I mentioned a few weeks back that my husband and I are downsizing to a condo from our current house.
We've been working feverishly to update the condo before we make our final move. Along the way I plan to share our decorating ideas, photographs, triumphs and goof-ups.
One great find I recently hung up was the bench and light post wall appliqué pictured here. I found this at a thrift store in a battered box and wasn't sure if it was complete or not, but it was only $2 so I picked it up. I later found just the bench decal on the Internet for more than $60.
I've always liked these whimsical wall treatments. Although I had no idea where it was going to be used, I knew I'd find a place for it somewhere in our new home.
In the end, I decided to use the wall decals in my home office but was dumbfounded at the sheer size of the stencils once I unrolled them.
As you can see, I decided to use them on the sliding closet door and the entry door. I had to split the bench in half so it would work on the sliding door and just love the way the whole thing turned out.
There won't be any furniture placed along that particular wall, so it was the perfect spot to place these fanciful decals. It gives me the sense of being in Paris, sitting in a park along the Champs-Elysees. (I can dream, can't I?)
There are lots of available designs in wall decals, from chandeliers to headboards. Keep them in mind as an option when planning changes to your decor.
They are usually non-permanent, which makes them great for renters or students in dorms. You can still have a fun space even if your home is temporary. If you're the type that likes to change your decor regularly, these decals are a great option. You might even consider them for use in your RV, cottage or trailer.
The gorgeous, yellow wall colour in my office is a Dulux Diamond coat colour called May Yellow. I absolutely love the way it looks with the white doors and trim. We used this colour in our open-concept living room/dining room and kitchen as well and it's scrumptious. I will share photos and stories of those rooms once they are furnished and decorated.
I took advantage of the Dulux website's 'paint a room' program when choosing all of my paint colours. This tool allowed me to visualize how the colour would look in various rooms, which really helped narrow down my choices. The actual colours we chose look identical to the website program. It's a great tool to try before you buy.
A touch of whimsy can add tons of character and charm to your decor. Just look at this lovely, quirky dresser photograph, courtesy of Benjamin Moore. A project like this can turn an old, dated dresser into a useful and charming conversation piece. The paint is actually coloured chalkboard paint, so the words or a design can be erased and changed on a whim. What fun!
We picked up an old dresser for our new place that needs to be painted. I may just try the coloured chalkboard paint on it, which will allow me to update the design any time I choose. Using coloured chalk, I can envision tons of non-permanent design and pattern options. I'll keep you posted.
Whimsy can be added in many ways. Whether it's a quirky photograph of a child at play or word decals that speak to the specific room, it's fun to have fun with your decor.
Tongue-in-cheek items such as the 'book' shelf I made out of books a while back can not only be stylish but just quirky enough to add a unique twist to your decor. If you search on the Internet for 'unique decor ideas,' you'll be presented with tons of photographs of unique ideas that can help you get started. Just looking at other people's ideas can open up your imagination for you to find your own unique flair.
Let me know what you're up to. I'd love to hear what you're working on.
connieoliver@shaw.ca
