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Why hide the tape behind kids’ art when it can be used as part of the masterpiece? Use a different color of tape to enhance each piece or use the same color throughout. You can even use a few colors per piece. There are no rules, so have fun with it.
Choose painter’s tape or another low adhesive tape that will peel off easily without damaging walls. This “no hole in walls” idea is also excellent for “big” college kids who are not allowed to hammer anything on the walls of their dorm rooms.
If you’re looking for art that will always be in style, think of framing Chanel #5 posters. Chanel #5 perfume has been around since 1921 and is still one of the best selling perfumes in the world, so it’s a definite stylish and safe investment for your home. The posters will add instant elegance and freshness to walls in any room of your house.
You can order the posters from eBay, pop them into large white IKEA frames and voilà – your very own chic Parisian look without the large French price tag.
Hang your Chanels without making extra holes in your walls with these easy tips.
It’s July, and if you live and work in Calgary, Alberta like we do, you know it’s Stampede time! And Under the Roof’s headquarters are located only a few blocks away from the greatest outdoor show – The Calgary Stampede. Yee haw!
In addition to testing new rides, watching the rodeo, cheering on the chuck wagon races, and taking in the Grandstand show while we eat mini donuts, we’re of course looking forward to visiting this year’s grand prize Dream Home.
In honor of the Stampede’s 100th anniversary, 66 black and white photographs from the history of the Stampede are hanging throughout the Dream Home. Beautifully displayed in black frames and white mats, the images fit in perfectly with the Western décor of worn leather furniture, reclaimed wood floors and exposed brick walls.
If you’re in town, tour the house in person or you can get a sneak peek right here.
The weather is heating up outside, so it’s the perfect time to brighten up the inside. Give your walls a new look with a fresh coat of paint. But once you’re done painting, will you rehang your art where it used to be or will you challenge yourself to create brand new displays for your walls?
Do you ever wish you could utilize those empty corners in your room and hang a picture frame there? What was once impossible can now be done, thanks to designer Yvonne Schroeder. Her innovative frames allow you to hang pictures right where the walls meet to create a very unique look. Frames come in black beech, maple, white and natural finish.
What do you think? Is this a look you would recreate in your home?
We love to hear from you – to get your feedback on our products, déco articles, and how-to videos. But we especially love it when you send us pictures of your own wall decorating projects, and that’s exactly what Michael did.
“I would like to share my latest wall deco with antique maps and kindly ask for your opinion,” he wrote “I used all your products to put my frames up and always get ideas from your website.”
We love your wall display Michael and we’re thrilled that our tools and how-to articles came in handy when hanging your priceless collection.
Michael is the proud owner of rare, antique maps. He decided to create a focal point in his living room so everyone could enjoy his collection. He used identical frames throughout, hung all the white matted maps on the left, the blue ones on the right, and created a perfectly balanced arrangement over the sofa.
If you own valuable art and are thinking of framing it, be sure to contact a professional framer who can help you choose the appropriate matts and frames to protect your piece from damaging elements such as sunlight and humidity.
Thanks Michael for sharing your wall project with us! If this project inspires you to try your own, please send us a picture, we’d love to see it!
The warm weather is finally here, and it’s time to be outdoors. So, draw on your indoor decorating skills to create a comfortable and welcoming outdoor space to enjoy with family and friends, or just unwinding by yourself. Mirrors, traditionally used inside, have the same effect outside. They’re the perfect way to create interest on a terrace, deck or garden.
A few inspirational looks…. Grouping mirrors together
Reflect daylight, plants and trees on a large blank wall of your terrace with a grouping of identical round mirrors. Displayed in a grouping with exposed hardware, they add movement and nicely counter balance the oversized furniture.
It’s all about showing off the hanging hardware. Choose decorative cords or chains as well as fun hooks or knobs for maximum effect.
Safety is key when hanging a mirror. Be sure it’s properly supported and fastened securely to avoid an accident.
No worries about the mirrors getting damaged by the rain as they are completed under cover.
Outdoor living room
This look is all about extending your indoor living space outdoors by creating a cozy sitting arrangement similar to what you would find in your home. The large rectangular mirror above the couch breaks up the busy pattern of the fence while reflecting the sunlight and house and candle light at night.
Safety is key when hanging a mirror. Be sure it’s properly supported and fastened securely to avoid an accident.
Install a D-ring on either side of the mirror and fasten the screws directly into the fence.
For additional safety, run a piece of wood along the bottom of the mirror to support the bulk of the weight.
If the neighbors can see the back of the mirror, paint it the same color of the fence to help it blend in.
Create an illusion
This trompe à l’oeil gives the illusion of a door into the garden. On a closer look you’ll see that there’s no door at all but a tall mirror leaning against the brick wall reflecting a trellis and greenery from across the garden. The mirror makes the small garden appear bigger than it is and is also ideal to brighten a dark corner of your yard.
Simply lean the mirror against the brick wall.
Disguise the bottom edge of the mirror with small garden rocks or plants to make it look as real as possible.
A perfect way to attract more sunlight for plants located on the north side of a garden.
In a previous post, we talked about decorating with plates, using them as pieces of artwork for your walls. Although it’s not a new trend, eye catching plate displays are popping up everywhere from décor magazines and blogs to design shows. Here are some of our favorite looks.
Do you have some mismatched frames that you don’t know what to do with? Just give them a fresh coat of paint to transform them into instant Wall Art.
It’s a creative and chic way to dress up your walls without spending any money on artwork. Here, everything was painted white, from walls, picture frames, floor, ceiling to the decorative moulding. The look is peaceful, bright and makes the narrow hallway appear much wider than it actually is. Use this image as inspiration to create a unique look for your space. Paint all the frames the same color as your walls, or use a contrasting color to make your frames pop. No time to paint? No worries, simply hang the frames as they are and create a “no fuss” look that will fit any casual space.
There’s no need to paint the back of your frames and if they’re fitted with a picture wire, simply replace it with a sawtooth hanger that will be invisible from the front. They’re easy to install, just be careful when hammering the tiny nails in to avoid cracking the frames.
What do you think – Is this a project you’d do in your home or cottage?
Use a large clock as a focal point in any part of your home, from the living room, kitchen, office, bedroom, even the laundry room. Perfectly centered on a tall narrow wall, this no fuss oversized clock adds style and curves to the linear space. The large numbers are easy to see from across the room without needing to squint.
Collection of clocks
If you have several clocks, even if they differ in style and color, consider hanging them together. Although they’re all different, they share a common theme – time. You could set the largest clock with your local time, and all the others with different times. Or, they could all show the same time. With that many clocks around, you’ll never have an excuse to be late again.
Time zone clocks
Perfect for home or the office, hang 3 or more clocks, each displaying a different time zone where family, friends or coworkers live. Create a label for each clock that identifies the name or city each clock is dedicated to. Your time zone wall will make it much easier to figure out the best time to call without worrying about waking anyone up.
Tips & Tricks
Hanging your clock(s)
Most clocks are fitted with a single keyhole or with a D-ring hook which can be quite a pain to hang. Make the job easier by using the single hook on Hang & Level. It fits perfectly in tricky openings and will allow you to easily hang one or several clocks.
Spacing clocks
Use Painter’s Tape or SpacerTape to space your clocks evenly. Simply peel off the tape when you’re done.
Have you ever seen a beautiful wall arrangement like this one in your favorite décor magazine and wanted to recreate it in your home? Of course you have, but if you’re like most people, you’d never think of recreating the same look in your house because you’re afraid that you’d mess up your walls. Right? Don’t worry, you’re not alone!
Here are a few easy steps to help you recreate this beautiful look for your home:
Once you’ve confirmed the final layout, measure the total vertical length of your display to decide on the correct height to hang it.
Start by hanging the middle frame in the bottom row. Then hang the one on the left or right.
As for the spacing between frames, keep it consistent to achieve the same look. Cut pieces of desired (identical) length of low adhesive tape or SpacerTape and simply peel the tape off when you’re done.
Use Hang & Level to perfectly line up your frames on the wall. It will mark the exact location for your hardware, eliminating the chance of making extra holes in your walls.
Next, hang the center row, aligning the frames with the bottom row.
Finish the look with the top row, lining up the frames with the row below.
Tip: Once you’ve done all this work, you’ll want to make sure your arrangement stays straight. By placing small Anchor Points on the bottom corners of your frames, they will stay straight forever, keeping your look magazine perfect.
At first glance this room may look very messy, but look closer and you’ll see a very well organized room. This craft workspace has been designed with kids in mind and is always ready for their creativity. Whenever they’re in the mood to draw, paint or glue, all the craft materials can easily be found in drawers and cupboards. Once masterpieces are complete, they’re hung on the wall without fussing over the correct height or perfect spacing. Pushpins and low adhesive tape make it easy for kids to hang their artwork themselves so they can be proud of their creations!
Read more about how this well designed craft room came to life.
Most of us don’t usually think of plates as pieces of artwork but if you have cupboards filled with antique plates you’ve inherited, masterpieces ceramic plates done by the kids, or survivors of a set that lost of few pieces this is a great way to showcase them in your home or at the cottage. We saw this décor idea in a mini booklet by Home Made Simple inserted in the April issue of O magazine. We love how fresh and springy the pretty plates looked against the lilac, blue and yellow backgrounds.
As for displaying them on your wall, hang them randomly, in a straight line or clustered around a large piece of art already hanging on the wall. A trick that works really well is to build the look on the floor to help you determine the best possible arrangement before hanging them on the wall. You’ll be amazed how well this works.
When choosing the right hanging hardware for your plates, consider their size, shape, weight, fragility, and wall surface. Here’s a site showing all the different hardware options available http://www.smarter.com/se–qq-wall%2Bplate%2Bhangers.html.
According to the article, “What Kind of Clutterer Are You?” in the March issue of O Magazine, I learned that I’m a “Sentimental Clutterer/Family Historian”. I have no problem getting rid of all the clothes and toys my kids don’t need anymore, but what I do with their art is a different story.
Everyday, my kids – just like all children – would bring home masterpieces they’d made at school. Up it would go on the fridge to be proudly displayed until the next day when it would get replaced by a new masterpiece. We’d toss or recycle most of this art, but we also saved some. We decided to have our favorite pieces professionally framed and hung them throughout the house so we could continue to enjoy them. It’s amazing how proud the kids were to see their artwork showcased for everyone to see.
As parents, our “sentimental” plan is to give our now grown daughters their framed masterpieces when they have their own place. They’ll have their very own art collection to proudly decorate their walls with.
Now that they’re both away at university, I miss all the drawings and paintings they used to bring home every day. I guess the next masterpieces we’ll proudly frame will be their university degrees.
The fireplace is the natural focal point of any room which means, when it comes to decorating the space above the mantel, don’t be afraid to go big in order to turn it into a conversation piece.
What to hang above the mantel
Hanging a large mirror is always a great way to accentuate a fireplace as the focal point of a room. Paintings, photos, framed maps, children’s artwork, prints and canvas are all excellent choices. Plasma TVs are also popular, but just remember that when it’s off, you’ll end up staring at a big black screen.
Choose the right size of artwork
Keep items in balance by ensuring artwork is at least 2/3 of the fireplace’s width. If you don’t own a big piece of art you can combine a few pieces to achieve the scale needed.
A little higher, a little lower
Hang the bottom of your piece(s) 4” to 6” from the mantel to keep your artwork and mantel visually connected to each other. This gap may vary slightly depending on the type of accessories you choose to display.
Lastly, if you don’t want to commit to putting holes in your wall, simply rest your artwork against the wall and switch it as you please.
Image via Traditional Home
At Under The Roof Decorating, we make picture hanging easy. Our innovative products as well as helpful tips and tricks make it simple to hang pictures where you want them – the first time!
Do you ever get the feeling that something is wrong with how your living room or any other room in your house is decorated but, you just can’t seem to put your finger on the problem? Here’s a tip that never fails to diagnose the problem. Simply take a picture of your room. You’ll be amazed how such a simple step will help you notice things that you didn’t see with the naked eye.
Often, photos will reveal problems such as art hanging too high, art that’s too small to be hanging above a large headboard, cushions that are too tiny for your couch, bookshelves that are too busy, or even if there’s too much clutter in a room.
Whatever the problem is, fix it instead of living with it. You’ll enjoy the room so much better knowing that you’ve dealt with the decorating dilemma that bothered you.
At Under The Roof Decorating, we make picture hanging easy. Our innovative products as well as helpful tips and tricks make it simple to hang pictures where you want them – the first time!
Have you noticed how big art is popping up everywhere? From décor magazines, design TV shows and stores, big art is definitely in! Large pieces can be expensive, but if you’re looking to create a focal point in a room that’s missing one, that’s the way to go . Anything will work as long as it’s big, so buy whatever you love and will fit your décor.
Image via Elle Decor
When hanging such a large piece, be sure to use the right hanging hardware. Hang the piece on wall studs if they’re located in the right place, if not, buy wall anchors that will support the weight of your piece. Another option, if you’re really concerned, is to have an art installer hang it for you.
Do you have big art in your house? If you do, please send us a picture we’d love to see it.
Here’s a quick and easy wall décor project you can do with the kids, just in time for Valentine’s Day. It makes a unique gift for any of the special Valentine’s on your child’s list. Be as creative as you want, anything goes. The most important part of this project is to have fun and not to eat all the candies before getting started!
What you’ll need:
Valentine candies of any kind
Shadow box picture frame
Glue gun
White card stock or foamcore
Step 1: Take the frame apart and install the glass at the front of the frame. Add the shadowbox liner into the frame.
Step 2: Using the backing as a template, cut a piece of card stock or foamcore of the same size. Make a grid or other creative design on your card stock and glue the hearts. A simple “I love you” spelled out with candies would be quite cute too. Don’t forget to have the kids sign their masterpiece before framing, it’ll make a great keepsake. Let the glue dry before inserting into the frame.
Step 3: Carefully place the decorated card stock into the frame. Add the backing, making sure the picture wire faces up so your frame sits correctly on the wall. Press the metal tabs down to secure your artwork. And you’re done!
About the frames:
We used white frames and mats but any color would work. A red background would be a sweet variation for Valentine’s Day.
At Under The Roof Decorating, we make picture hanging easy. Our innovative products as well as helpful tips and tricks make it simple to hang pictures where you want them – the first time!
Okay, in most cases you don’t need a laser level to hang only one picture. But what if you want to hang two or more pieces, all perfectly leveled, just like the ones you see in your favorite decorating magazines?
That’s when you’ll need the right tools to do the job. We used Black & Decker’s new SureGrip laser level along with Hang & Level and hung these 3 frames perfectly leveled in less than 10 minutes without making any extra holes in the walls. Don’t be intimidated by the laser, it’s super easy to use!
At Under The Roof Decorating, we make picture hanging easy. Our innovative products as well as helpful tips and tricks make it simple to hang pictures where you want them – the first time!
If you’ve shopped for framed art or picture frames lately you’ve probably noticed that many of them come fitted with two D-rings which can be quite challenging to hang. But don’t let that discourage you from buying the artwork you want. Simply wrap picture wire around the D-rings and you’ll have the option of hanging your piece with 1 nail instead of 2.
To keep your frame from moving, she recommends placing rubber bumpers on the bottom corners, anchor points work as well.
At Under The Roof Decorating, we make picture hanging easy. Our innovative products as well as helpful tips and tricks make it simple to hang pictures where you want them – the first time!
