Home Improvement

Just want to say that wallpaper in children's rooms is cute but tends to get damaged really fast and cannot be repaired, whereas paint can always be scrubbed and redone in spots. Kids peel back wallpaper and write on it and it's permanent. The chalkboard is a great idea so I'd combine that with highly scrubbable paint in colors you love. You could do a border at the ceiling where they can't reach it with either paint or a wallpaper or vinyl one.

Hi N....I' don't know where you live, but I am an experienced home decorator that also sells wallcoverings. Please check out my website and feel free to give me a call or send me an e-mail if I can help you out. www.abwallcoverings.com

I woud think there would be "how to" info online somewhere, as well as decorating ideas. Check your local library for decorating books...just a few photos could give you some great ideas. I know from my own experience, prepping the walls is as important as the painting. The "guys" at Home Depot or Sherwynn Williams could give great advice on the right paint for the look you want as well as the right tools to get it done. Sounds like fun, good luck!

I wish you lived by me...I love that stuff!

I suggest making a good budget and doing one room at a time. Go to Home Depot or Lowes or something and look around, they have all kinds of information for you!

I have been toying with the idea of doing one whole wall in my downstairs family room with the chalkboard paint...and then some crown molding around it to look like a frame...so cute!

I have redone all 3 kids bedrooms and it was a blast! You are gonna have fun...and don't worry if you don't know what you are doing, it will all turn out great, just you wait and see!

go on hgtv & look at rooms, its so fun to look at all the wonderful ideas....in my home i choose to be neutral with furniture & wall color but use bold accent colors like pillows, vases, pictures, bedding, curtains rug, etc.......for kids rooms you can pick out a character....for kids rooms its nice to frame pictures from a calendar or from a book, get whatever character of sheets & a neutral blanket.....i made a chalkboard for my kids, go to home depot & they will cut down the mdf board for you (no extra cost), they will show you everything you will need, i made 2 very large ones for $80, but I put trim around it............... with decorating it's your taste no one else's so have fun with it

hi N., the best thing to do is start with one room at a time. Decide what you want then go to Home depot or Lowe's, they have self help guides for everything. It will give tips on painting and whatever u want to do. I didn't know how to do those things either, but i did paint my son's and my daugther's room with thier help. Good luck and have fun.

Check out your local used book store for "Home Improvement for Dummies." Seriously, it is a great book! Also, look for your nearest Home Depot/Lowes/Menards. They often give free classes about painting, small home improvement jobs, etc. Also, the people that work at these places are a wealth of information! However, I try to go during the weekday when the "adults" are working rather than the college kids. I seem to get alot more useful help :) Finally, as a mom who has done (and screwed up) her fair share of home improvement projects, choose ONE project at a time. Otherwise you will totally overwhelm yourself and start getting confused. Plus, you can budget better if you are only tackling one project at a time.

Good luck!

Go to home depot they have classes on all this and also ask about there 5 dollar paints they hve very cool colors that arent expensive

N.,

A budget is a must. It is so easy to over-purchase supplies and overspend because you haven't identified your financial ceiling for each project.

Check out some of the free classes offered by Home Depot and Lowe's. The websites should have a schedule posted and the classes will give you great hands on experience. There is also an expert there to help you with tricky spots and answer the inevitable questions. If you and your husband will be tackling these projects together, you should take the classes together too so you both know how the techniques should be applied.

Lastly, make sure you purchase good quality paint and painting tools. Talk to the representative in the stores and discuss the project, what you want the walls to look like, your budget, and the need for good quality supplies. They can help you find what you need and what you can afford.

Glidden paint is very good quality, but the colors are not always true. Sherwin-Williams paint is extremely good quality and out gasses less than other lower-quality paints. Higher quality paint is more expensive per can, but covers the wall better and requires fewer coats making it less expensive in the long run.

Painting can be fun, but make sure your first time is kid-free. Good luck!

C..

DIY decorating is how I did everything when my kids were small, it was all I could afford. I have seen thet stores like Home Depot have free classes on painting, you may want to check them out. Now days with internet access you may want to try somrthing like Craigs List too, you could barter on ther or "share" jobs with someone-you help me and I will help you. Good luck!