Everything needed for trouble-free makeover projects and creative home maintenance. In this practical manual, a professional decorator shares hundreds of her personal tips, techniques and trade secrets that will guide homeowners in attractive decorating and regular maintenance tasks, from repainting a ceiling to finding and fixing energy-sucking drafts. These are the how-to's, the wisdom and the time-saving shortcuts that do-it-yourself homeowners will appreciate for years to come. While the book is designed for beginners planning their first-ever home makeover, more experienced homeowners will find tips and tricks to make their work easier, too. Clear instructions and lots of illustrations demystify all key aspects of every task. There are also handy checklists, tables and diagrams. The main focus is on decorating with paint, wallpaper and tile, and includes all aspects of surface preparation, application of materials, estimating quantities, using tools, cleaning up and much more. The straightforward ideas and useful tips will achieve a professional-standard result and avoid costly mistakes. Any project can have unexpected challenges, so the author has provided fix-it solutions for common problems. The six chapters (Tools and Equipment; Walls; Ceilings; Doors; Windows; and Be Prepared and Essential Maintenance) are comprehensive, covering every project the home decorator may face: Step-by-step "how-to" sections Useful lists of essential tools and supplies How to build a decorating kit Using equipment safely Order of work planning Hang wallpaper, match patterns, work in awkward corners Ceiling access and safety when working aloft Finishing touches: ceiling roses and decorative elements Door maintenance and security Finding drafts and correcting air circulation Installing window treatments Using a decorating record and maintenance table What to do in an emergency. Here are two sample tips that save a lot of work: 1. Add dish detergent to the water used to hang wallpaper to help the water stick to the paper; 2. Use color indicator spackle that is pink when applied, and turns white when dry enough to paint.

This compendium is packed with tips, techniques, quick fixes, and trade secrets aimed at complete beginners planning their first ever home makeover. Clear, simple instructions will de-mystify all key aspects, giving you the tools to get the job done quickly and professionally. With useful lists of the essential tools you need for the job, along with fix-it solutions for when things go wrong, this is the manual that will take you through your next home makeover as painlessly as possible.

Welcome to the wonderful world of home improvement! This book is packed with useful tips, techniques, quick fixes, and trade secrets to benefit complete beginners and those more experienced in the art of "do it yourself." The chapters are organized to include the basic elements of the home: walls and ceilings, doors and windows, storage solutions, and finally a section on essential maintenance to keep your home in tip top shape. Each chapter contains invaluable advice in the form of step-by-step "how-to" sections, covering everything from surface preparation and quantity estimation to decoration, repair, replacement, maintenance, and most importantly how to get the job done avoiding costly mistakes and common pitfalls.

In this fresh, fun, and unique book, design consultant and Today show lifestyle expert Elizabeth Mayhew shares essential insider tips for making any space stylish and timeless in a snap. Forget expensive fixes or labor-intensive endeavors, Flip! for Decorating can show you how to redecorate with what you have on hand, or with the simple purchases you’ll need to create the room of your dreams. Flip through the upper right hand pages, and watch four rooms receive an instant makeover! Inside you’ll discover: • step-by-step instructions for decorating the four most commonly used rooms: living room, dining room, family room, and bedroom • the fundamentals of color, including no-fail wall and trim colors, when to use wallpaper instead of paint, and the facts on different paint finishes • the ways to treat a window, from Venetian blinds and Roman shades to simple curtains–and the secrets to making a window appear taller or wider • the art of picking the perfect sofa, chairs, tables, and lighting • strategies on how to prioritize your decorating decisions Flip! for Decorating also features time-saving “reality checks,” handy shopping tips, and easy and informative sidebars that will give you instant solutions if you’re stumped, stymied, or need to add a quick jolt of style to virtually any room in your home. With this amazing, practical book, decorating is so easy you’ll flip!

A step-by-step manual for painting and decorating your home.

PAINT LIKE THE PROS.A MUST HAVE FOR THE D.I.Y ENTHUSIASTS AND PROUD HOMEOWNER THAT TAKE PRIDE IN DECORATING THEMSELVES . THIS SIMPLE STEP BY STEP GUIDE WITH ILLUSTRATIONS TO PAINTING AND DECORATING YOUR HOME , HAS LOTS OF TOP TIPS THROUGHOUT,AND WILL SAVE YOU COUNTLESS HOURS AND MONEY, AND MAKE PAINTING AND DECORATING YOUR HOME EASIER AND EVEN MORE ENJOYABLE

The Complete Home Decorating Idea Book focuses on vertical and horizontal surfaces by examining not only windows, walls and floors but also celebrates the fifth wall ceilings! Readers will discover the clever possibilities for treating surfaces of all kinds with paint, wallpaper, tile, stone, fabric and more. Beginning with a chapter on a personal favorite, window treatments, Stoehr covers all types of hard and soft window products, as well as how to approach the decoration of a large window wall. A chapter on wall coverings follows, including paint, paper, tile, stone, fabric and wood. In section three, the decorated ceiling pulls our eyes upward from the horizontal sweep we normally experience in a room, creating a sense of satisfied completion to any interior. Decorated ceilings, our interior sky is attention to detail at its best, creating drama in the dining room or a calm, restful environment in the bedroom. Finally, we look to the floor, an area frequently overlooked but is the ultimate component for finishing any room with style. All this and more, including thousands of today's top interior photographs, will be found in The Complete Home Decorating Idea Book.