We are very pleased to announce that Walmart US has rolled out Hang & Level, the picture hanging tool to all of its 3000+ stores in the United States. Click here to find the Walmart nearest you.

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.

We love Real Simple ideas that make sense!

Photo via Real Simple

Photo via Style at Home

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 100^th 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.

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, we absolutely love to see our products featured in magazines, newspapers, blogs and other types of media.  That’s why we were thrilled to see our little Stoppy featured in “Home News” in the July issue of Parents Magazine. As shown, Stoppy, our cute doorstop is versatile and “can also be used to prop open windows and keep books and magazines standing upright on a shelf.”  You’ll find more fun and creative ways to use Stoppy on our website along with a list of stores where it can be purchased.

Thanks to the editors of Parents magazine for including Stoppy in their summer issue!

P.S. Here at Under the Roof Decorating, we love food, so we can’t wait to try the “Lemon Crepes” and the “Not Your Average Grilled Cheese” recipes in this issue.  Perfect food for our kids and also for the big kids like us!

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?

If you’re looking for inspiration, start with these 36 wall ideas from Better Homes & Gardens, you’ll be sure to find a look or two that will work in your home.

About this look:  Mix wall letters with frames, wall decals and other colorful items to create a fun and energetic look.

Photo via Better Homes and Gardens

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?

Photos via Grand Home Design

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.

Photos via JPD School of Design Palm Beach, Florida

Which look is your favorite?

Image via Elle Decor

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?

With a circulation of over 7 million, it’s one of the top consumer magazines in the United States and we’re thrilled that Stoppy has been featured within its pages. Stoppy is showcased in a variety of colors, making it easy for homeowners to find one or more color to match their décor.

In this issue, you’ll also find innovative products and ideas for the home as well as great tips for gardening, cooking, exercising and everything that will make life easier.

The May issue of Family Circle Magazine is out and Stoppy is featured in it. One of the biggest home trends this spring is incorporating character references into your décor. Things like ampersands signs on pillows, bookends in the shape of exclamation marks or colored doorstops, such as Stoppy,  resembling a comma or quotation marks when two are used. It’s all about fun, decorative and functional objects and accessories for the house.

So next time you’re at the grocery store, grab a copy of Family Circle, available at check out counters, and flip to page 17 where you can catch up on this latest home trend.

Just in time for spring! Take advantage of our special web offer and order your Stoppy bundle pack before the end of April. Perfect for keeping windows open to let the fresh air in, to holding the door open while you bring groceries into the house or allowing your pet(s) to come and go.

At this price, buy one pack for yourself and give one to a friend as a gift and have a Stoppy for every room in the house!

Bundles are available in translucent, light blue, dark blue and black.  Click here to order!

Hurry!  Offer ends April 30, 2012

A few inspirational looks….

One large clock

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.

Where to shop?

We’ve done some shopping for you, these links will take you directly to clocks from Pottery Barn, Bed Bath & Beyond, Crate and Barrel, Restoration Hardware, Canadian Tire, Target, Walmart, IKEA, Home Depot.

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:

• First, build the look on the floor to help determine how much space to leave in between each frame.
• 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.

Picture via Style At Home magazine

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.

Hammering nails into a plaster wall can be a nerve wracking experience. After all, the plaster might crack, crumble or even chip off, damaging your wall. Don’t be afraid! It is possible to hang artwork on plaster walls without causing damage, here are a few options to consider:

Drill and Hang:

• Once you know where to hang your piece (see Hang & Level below) cover the mark with painters’ tape or masking tape to prevent the plaster from cracking or crumbling around the nail hole.
• With a pen, mark the hanging spot over the tape.
• At slow speed, drill a pilot hole using a drill bit just big enough for the size of the hardware you’ll be using.
• Remove the tape and put your nail, screw or toggle bolt in the hole and hang your picture.
• Watch how home improvement expert Ron Hazelton drills into a plaster wall without cracking it. Although the segment is only 1:41, fast forward to 45 sec to skip the intro. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IuNkiiqhO4

Finding the right spot on the wall for your pictures:

• Hang & Level works extremely well on drywall and on other wall surfaces, including plaster. The only difference is, that over time the steel pins on the back of the tool might become dull when used repeatedly on a hard surface.

If hammering into the plaster is not an option:

• Use double sided tape or hooks such as 3M Command products. Make sure to buy the recommended strength to hold the weight of your piece and for safety reasons, refrain from hanging anything with glass.
• If you live in an older house, you might already have a picture rail to hang your art from. If not, you can easily install one. Choose picture rail hooks to fit your décor, find the right height for your art and use decorative chains or wire to hang your pieces with.

Watching an episode of Million Dollar Listing – New York, we had a fun surprise when we spotted a pink Stoppy dangling from the handle of a 4.4 million dollar apartment.  It just goes to show you, even the most expensive properties can use a little stylish help to keep pesky doors open or closed.

If you want to peek into some of the most expensive properties New York City has up for sale, check out Bravo’s new show on Wednesdays at 10/9c.

This has to be the most popular question homeowners ask us, so we were so pleased when The Ottawa Citizen shared the attached information with their readers in their March 10^th weekend paper.

As mentioned in the article, when it comes to hanging pictures that will be viewed from a standing position, a rule that never fails is to “place the artwork so the middle of the piece hangs at 152 cm to 167 cm from the floor.”

For more great picture hanging tips and wall décor inspiration to help you hang your artwork with confidence, please visit our Déco blog.