Tips on How To Decorate the “5th Wall”

 Most ceilings in a home are white.  White is simple, clean, and doesn’t clash with anything.  This doesn't mean that your ceiling has to stay white. Paint color or wallpaper on the ceiling are great ways to add visual interest to a room. Below are some interesting ways you can utilize your "5th wall" in any room.

Paint it.

Stephen Fanuka, New York City's "Contractor to the Stars" and Million Dollar Contractor star, believes painting your ceiling can take a space from okay to stunning. The contractor who has worked with Bruce Willis, Tina Fey, Beyoncé, and Michael J. Fox, says using pale blue in a space where you want to relax is a must. Put a pop of color on the ceiling," Stephen says.

Designer Jewel Marlowe of Jeweled Interiors says using the same color on the walls and ceilings creates a seamless transition from wall to ceiling that makes a space feel very immersive and adds a bit of drama. Remember you will want to choose a color that will not feel too overwhelming such as a nice light airy pink.

Add wallpaper.

If you like wallpaper or a touch of a pattern in a space, but you do not want all four walls decorated in it, then add wallpaper to your ceiling. Wallpaper on the ceiling can tie a space's design all together.

If you are adventurous, then using a bold pattern on the ceiling can be a plus, but remember to bring in texture on all other surfaces of the room to help balance it out. The Southern Gail added a whimsical wallpaper with a starry pattern to a child's bedroom. The ceiling looked like it had stars on it, giving it a splash of fun.

Expose the beams or add them in.

Having a wooden beam along the ceiling can add character and draws the eye up making the room look big and spacious. A great classic architectural element to add is a coffered ceiling. A coffered ceiling can add a touch of visual interest without overpowering a traditional space.

Wood boards can also make a great design element and can also cover up any old outdated looks. Wood boards are perfect for covering up popcorn ceilings. This design looks good both painted or natural.

Tile it.

A great way to brighten up a room is to tile the ceiling. Light bounces off the tile and makes it gleam. If you have a room such as a narrow kitchen, tile on the ceiling can distract from the small size. It can also help define an area in an open floor plan.

Basement ceilings can be plain and ugly. Vinyl ceiling panels can be used to hide unsightly ductwork and ugly basement ceilings. These are not ceramic tiles, but vinyl tiles. The ceiling panel tiles add a nice completed look to the basement space.

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Tips To Spruce Up A Home's Curb Appeal

 

When selling a home or purchasing a home one of the terms often used is curb appeal. The first impression of a home is the exterior and the home's landscaping. Keeping the exterior of your home and its surroundings updated and fresh sets your home apart from others on the street. Here are five exterior updates that can boost your home's curb appeal.

1. Show Your Style With Siding

Siding has become very popular, especially durable siding that has little upkeep. A new trend is using steel siding. Steel siding is strong and durable with a sustainable finish that offers tons of options to mix and match paint colors and other exterior materials.

“Using a combination of siding materials can help with the overall visual interest of a house,” says Mike Bouman, P.E., Vice President of Design and Engineering at Pioneer Construction in Grand Rapids, Michigan. “But make sure you look at how much maintenance your chosen material will need. Steel siding, for example, is really good in terms of durability and upkeep.”

“If you keep to one color for your siding, you may want to add interest by combining horizontal and vertical boards,” Bouman says. “Or, if you do introduce more than one siding material, try and use just two types or colors, and possibly either masonry or brick.”

2. Use Color to Add Personality

A house can look so much different with a new exterior color. Keep with your home's style when selecting colors for paint, siding, trim, shutters, doors and other exterior details.

If you want a contrasting look from your landscape, go with a dark tone on your exterior. This will make the greens of the landscaping pop.

“We’re seeing darker colors such as dark brown and dark wood tones as a trend,” Bouman says, “which is where real wood, or siding that looks like wood, can really come into its own.”

A more fresh and sleek look would be to use white on your exterior with black accents. “The combination of white siding, white trim and black-framed windows is still a clean look which people want,” Bouman says.

3. Choose Your Trim

Trim not only protects the edges of your home's roof, porch and other overhangs and windows but also gives the exterior a completed look. When choosing trim, make sure the style complements your home's architecture.

“We see homeowners choosing trims and siding in a similar color or the same color,” Bouman says.

4. Invest in Your Outdoor Space

Make sure your porch, patio and outdoor living spaces are all up to date. An outdated living space or bland yard does not give off good curb appeal. Adding evergreen plants, ornamental grass and flowering perennials adds ambiance and color to your yard.

Add a maintenance-free ceiling that is constructed of durable aluminum to your outdoor porch or covered patio. The ceilings come in many colors and even a wood finish.

“It really makes a difference,” Bouman says of the aluminum under-porch and soffit products offered by Quality Edge. “Whether it’s a solid color that looks painted or a wood finish, the style really makes it look authentic without the maintenance.”

5. Go for New Gutters

A home can have new trim, a new roof, new exterior painting and great landscaping but if the gutters are dingy your curb appeal is ruined. Not only do you want your gutters to look nice, but you also want to make sure they are intact and standing up to the outdoor elements correctly.

“Matching it with your home’s trim color means that the gutter doesn’t have to stand out,” Bouman says. “There are lots of different options to choose from, so choose one that works with the architecture of your home. If you’re going for a more historical look, for example, you might want to select a specific profile or material to suit that style of house.”

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