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[H1006]How To Decorate Balloons

by James Brown, Jam

In today's very demanding world, stress is a reality everyone has to face. We are mere actors who are here to play our part. And with all the roles we have to play, who would not be stressed juggling them? That could very well be the main reason why a lot of people resort to expensive luxuries like spas and vacations for utmost relaxation. But it is not necessary to spend heaps of cash just to chill down form a hard day's work. Look around you and you will find cheaper alternatives. Shopping for clothes is one, but it does not really help to be faced with another problem after going through retail therapy. The problem is seeing your closet full of stuff, with tags hanging on them, you have yet to wear and, ultimately, finding a space for your newly-bought finds. Your most "reasonable" solution? Buy another closet. Talk about cheaper alternative!

Another way to release stress is decorating your house. That would still entail spending hard-earned cash but in many ways, it is better than shopping for clothes which you obviously have way, way more than enough of. Besides, due to your hectic schedule, you never have time to take care of your house. And don't rely too much on the house-keeper. After all, it is your house, and your house should reflect who you are, not your housekeeper. So give the maid a break. It's time to hit the malls and let loose some imagination.

Personality

If you want your house to reflect who you are as a person and not for your status, then you should go for items that can show who you are. It simply means that if you are a high-earning young professional, you don't have to choose items that can put holes in your pockets. Show off your personality, not your bank account. If you are the artistic type, then paint, sculpt, create. Make your talents useful. You can also buy paintings and some sculptures. If you love cars, then you can casually place little toy cars around the house. You can opt for a bed designed like a car. Put posters of cars or racing around your pad. Paint a portion of your bedroom wall with black-and-white checks. You can also hang flags in appropriate places. If you love shopping, then fill your house with stylish and up-to-date fabulous finds.

If your house is already painted with the colors you love and already have some of your old furniture, then you are left to go along with whatever you have. Unless, you are willing to throw those old furniture away even they are still fully-functional. The rule is simple; you just buy whatever you can based on what you already have around the house. The important thing is that everything should complement with everything else. This will greatly help you save money, too.

Another thing to consider is enhancements. Make necessary enhancements and adjustments around the house. If a room is very little, give an illusion of big space by placing a mirror on the walls of the said room. You can also hide irremovable stains on the floor with lush carpets or rugs.

Lifestyle

Choose a lifestyle that you love and stick to it by having everything you need around the house. If you love the relaxed and laid-back lifestyle on the beach, then you can have sand and seashells glued to your wall. Add a hammock by the porch for cool Sunday afternoons. You can also buy lamps that you can hang around the corners. Paint very warm colors like orange on the walls. But if you want to be faced with the reality that you are living in the city each time you get home, opting for fully-functional pieces is your best bet. You can try going for cuckoo clocks that are made of metal rather than wood. City life is more felt in cool and dark colors like blue and black. You can choose to adorn your house with metal pieces or leather furniture in black.

The secret to doing anything well is ensuring that the planning and decoration leave no room for surprises. This rule also applies to the job of applying a fresh cote of paint to your living room. If you fail to prepare correctly, you will run into all sorts of problems and may ultimately end up with a living room disaster. Let us prevent this disaster with our expert guide to preparing a room for painting.

Time to complete job: Preparing a room for a new coat of paint or paper will take at least half a day, including filling and smoothing old plaster.

Approximate budget: The basic tools and materials should cost less than ?20 for most rooms.

You will need:
Sugar soap
Bucket and sponge
Rubber gloves
Interior plaster filler
Decorator's sealant
Filling knife
Sanding block or electric sander
Dust sheets
Step ladder
Dust mask

Tip: Before to begin, always protect yourself by using a dust mask and your floor by laying down dust sheets.

Step 1: Ensure that the surface is smooth. Using a sanding block, or cork block with sanding paper attached and a flexible filling knife where necessary, remove all debris such as paint flakes. For more tips on stripping back paint, see Paint Stripping. If there is wallpaper on the walls this will need removing. For tips on doing this, see Stripping Wallpaper.

Step 2: Repairing damaged plaster Sometimes patches of old plaster become loose or cracked. Pick out the loose areas with your filling knife and repair the areas with plaster filler. Work methodically over the whole room to make sure you have treated all the damaged areas. When the filler is dry, use an electric sander or sanding block to smooth any rough areas of plaster and blend in the new repairs. Very powdery plasterwork or new bare plaster should be coated with a coat of plaster sealer. For larger patches of plaster that need repairing, see Patching Damaged Plaster. Tip: Cracks around the skirting boards and door frames will spoil your new finish. Rake out any chipped paint and fill the gaps with a flexible decorator's sealant.

Step 3: Cleaning Wash off any black mould with a solution of household bleach and leave to dry. Heavy mould or tobacco stains should be covered with a sealer coat of Anti-Damp Paint. Tip: It's essential to treat the cause of mould and damp patches before redecorating.

Step 4: Make a judgement call as to whether the esposed walls need to be covered with lining paper. If the walls have large repair patches or lots of tiny hairline cracks, covering with plain lining paper will provide a smooth base for paint or wallpaper. Hand this paper in the same that that you would hand regular wallpaper and then allow this paper to dry thoroughly over night. For more tips, see Wallpapering. And last but by no means leas, ensure that the surface is dirt and grease free by wiping down with sugar soap or hot water and washing up liquid. Don't forget to wash the ceiling as well if it's going to be decorated.

Article Source : Pg. 86

About Author

Both James Brown & Katie Brown are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

James Brown has sinced written about articles on various topics from Stroke Treatment, Computers and The Internet and Computers and The Internet. James Brown writes about ,. James Brown's top article generates over 20400000 views. to your Favourites.

Katie Brown has sinced written about articles on various topics from Mortgage Insurance, Auto Insurance and Finances. UKTV's Guides are a wealth of free information that you can count on to help you turn your dome into a nicer place to live.. Katie Brown's top article generates over 27100 views. to your Favourites.