image from Sico Paints

During these darkening days that more becoming more and more gray and chilly weekends make for more homebodies, it’s the perfect time to get started on perking up the home.

Quick & budget Ideas to improve curb appeal:

* Paint the front door - A high-gloss bold colour that complements the exterior material or coordinates with the garage door will instantly create a sense of new. Perhaps a perky new welcome mat would be a nice accessory.

* Add potted plants around the entrance way. For a greater spruce up, tidy up the landscaping. If you haven’t done so yet, it’s also a good time to get your plants ready for the winter. Trim unwieldy branches, lay down mulch, or rake up those soggy fall leaves.

* Brighten up with lights. Light up your walkway or backyard patio with a landscape lighting kit or install post lights, ceiling, or hanging types at entrance ways. Look for Energy Star rated designs.

*Upgrade fixtures: How is your doorknob holding up? How would a classic door knocker suit that new paint? New hardware can show off your individual taste or consider a new mail box or window boxes to dress up your home’s facade. At the very least touching up paint chipped spots and rust can go a long way.

If however, you’re more of a condo dweller, new light fixtures and fresh paint can do wonders.
What’s the best colour to set off the new mini chandelier in the dining room or trio pendant lights over the island? Whether it’s a neutral tone or dramatic hue, when it comes to a professional looking paint job, proper prep really makes a difference. Washing walls and lining edges with tape (or more taping over areas like light switches that you want to keep paint free) will make for better paint adhesion and straight edges. If you’ve decided to go with low or VOC-free paint, eco-friendly masking tape goes in tandem. Made of 30% post-consumer waste, recycled fibres and natural rubber adhesive, 3M’s Scotch (R) Painter’s Masking Tape is a greener choice.

If winning free paint however, is the impetus that you need to redo the living room, enter BEHR’s Paint Your Room Contest. Entrants are to submit a picture of the room in question and explain in 50 words and under why it needs a makeover. The winner scores 3 gallons of  BEHR’s PREMIUM PLUS ULTRA™ Interior paint.

Wondering about what the hottest colours are for 2010. A recent report from Sico Paints sho

wed that mood enhancing palettes are what homes will be dressed in. Deep, vibrant, or calming hues make the home a refuge from the tumultuous year we’ve all faced. Colour psychology has been referred to by many designers and homeowners to create rooms that evoke cheeriness (yellow), calm (blue), and warmth (reds and oranges).  For more details, read the rest of the article.

Once the painting is all done, it’s time for the wall hangings. Whether it’s a mirror to bring in more light, favourite framed photographs or art, it’s always been more of a two person job because it’s not that easy to know how high to hang it or just where to hammer in the nail.

The Hang & Level tool by Under The Roof Decorating is a handy item to fix your hanging woes. The tool helps you to mark where th nail goes, has a built in level to keep things straight, and works with horizontal or vertical mounts, and is great for groups of hangings. Remember that positioning pictures higher up on the wall can create the illusion of a higher ceiling and that an interesting montage of sepia tinted photos can really dress up a naked wall.

The same company that makes the Hang & Level also manufactures the Stoppy - a door and window stop that comes in a variety of colours. It’s more becoming than an old school wooden wedge under the door and works for all types of surfaces and doesn’t mark.

To help with your decor dreams, Chatelaine and Home Depot are offering 4 prizes of $5000 certificates in their Home For The Holidays Contest. The contest closes January 5th.

For more painting or interior decorating articles, visit HRG’s article library. Check out our Hot Products section for more ideas from the latest in hot home products.

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