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Useful Tips For Apartment Decorating

By Percy Johnson

When you want to do something drastic when apartment decorating, you do have to get permission. Some landlords are rather flexible if you want to paint or add new wallpaper and/or wallpaper border. They may ask that you show them what you intend to do when decorating your apartment in this manner, and they will want to approve whatever colors and designs that you wish to use. In order to get this approval, you may want to stick to less complicated things so that they are more likely to say it is fine with them.

If painting and hanging wallpaper, or even replacing floor coverings, are out when it comes to decorating, there are many things you can do that will be okay no matter what. You can always redecorate your apartment with new furniture of all types. Even small changes like new end tables or a new dining room set can work wonders when decorating any apartment. Think about things that you don't have to attach to any surface or that might damage walls and floors. You may want to add shelves, but this is something you should get permission for as well.

Apartment decorating is all about the details for most people. You can change the color scheme of a room without painting. This is possible because many landlords go with neutral colors like white or a very light beige. This means that almost all colors that you choose for the various room accessories that you can get will not clash with the wall color. Vases, plants, new throw pillows, artwork, and other smaller touches can go a long way in your interior design without breaking the budget or getting the landlord upset. Think of things you won't have to reverse when you move out, and you will find those things to be okay.

Percy Johnson is an interior designer living in California. Check out these great Interior Design Online reviews, articles and guides to improving your home or perhaps Interior Design Software advice is what you are after.
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Victorian Or Country Christmas Decor - Which is Better For You?

By Louise Shelton

No matter how modernized Christmas celebration becomes, there are certain things about it which continues to be traditional, and decorations are one of them. If you are looking for traditional Christmas tree decor but don't know where to start, then this article is perfect for you! In this article I will discuss the details about the two traditional styles of tree decor available as well as which one is best for you!

1. The cost: There are actually two types of traditional Christmas decorations available: Country style and Victorian style. The country style is cheaper than the Victorian one, but ill-fitted if you have a tall or a corner artificial Christmas tree; in such cases a Victorian style of decoration would be more suitable!

2. The type of Christmas tree: As I said earlier, the Victorian style of Christmas decor is best suited for tall, artificial trees. If on the other hand, you have a real tree, then there is no better solution than buying the country style of decorations! Of course you need to make sure that your tree has a wide diameter and looks like a pine. If you want to use the country style décor on artificial trees, then buy an artificial corner tree resembling a pine. But like I already said, country style decor is best suited to REAL Christmas trees!

3. The tools of the trade: Keep in mind that you can also create the country decorations at home in order to cut down on costs! A country decor should look traditional, which means that no modern rope lights, mini lights or fiber optic lights should be used; instead you should use the traditional egg-shaped lights of red, green, blue, or yellow colors! If you don't get these lights then you could use the old-fashioned combination of green and red lights!

Bottom line, country style of Christmas decor should be created in such a way that they look quite rustic and vintage-style. To create this look and feel, you could use things such as stuffed toys, velvet, ribbon, glass, tin, tinsel, wood, etc.

If you are still not sure about whether to go for a Victorian or Country style of Christmas decor, just keep this one thing in mind: Victorian style décor are best suited for tall and slim artificial Christmas trees, while the Country style is suitable if it is a real tree with fat girth! If you want, you can also use the Country style of Christmas décor on an artificial tree, provided that the tree is fat and looks like a pine!

If you want more information on Christmas decor, please visit: http://jinglechristmas.info/article-23-eza.php.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Louise_Shelton

DIY Fence Installation - The Basics

By Benedict Yossarian

Who said fences are out of vogue? Fences remain useful additions to any home or any yard. Kids and even domestic animals can be kept safe with the use of fences, especially if you live on generally uneven and dangerous terrain. It's the "final frontier" so to speak, before an individual steps out into another territory.

Wooden fences are actually quite nice to look at especially if they have this honeyed finish that looks cool during hot afternoons and are still visible at night. If you live near a mountainous region, then a DIY fence installation is all you need to keep your kids that much safer.

Preparation

Before you buy any materials for the fences, first make a complete measurement of the entire length of land that would be fenced. Use a conventional mechanical meter for this. If your house is situated on uneven land, give certain allowances for these uneven parts of the land, but make the measurements doubly accurate.

Allowances from the house should be adequate, as you would not want to be literally "boxed in" by the new fences. If you have neighbors, and you don't have ready access to both sides of the land, make sure to ask your friendly neighbors if you can work from their part of the fence as well. This would allow you to make the necessary micro adjustments with little difficulty.

The steps

1. The wooden panels for the fence often come in different sizes. Often, the fences are 6 feet wide and have the following heights:
• 3 feet
• 4 feet
• 5 feet
• 6 feet

2. If you wish to use more traditional support or foundations for your wooden fence, then you would have to use a power auger or an efficiently-shaped shovel to make way for the supports. Typically, these supports are hammered or pummeled into the ground until they are snugly in place. Using conventional supports means you need shorter posts. Having shorter posts means you would not have to deal with rotting posts in a few years.

3. On the other hand, you can use concrete in securing your fence posts. Drying the concrete might take a while but provide wonderful stability, especially if you live in stony areas. Muddy areas that are moist all year round do not lend well to the concrete approach.

4. After installing the posts, the panels should be securely put in place and reinforced with "post supports". Post supports are large screws that lock the panels to either the mid-region of the post or the upper-region.

5. Concrete post supports should be at least two feet deep. The posts should be supported adequately with two wooden planks at least ¾ of a foot long. These should be placed securely upon the ground to keep the post erect until the concrete dries.

6. Slope fencing can be tricky. Try to find a particular "rhythm" to your installation so that the fence evenly descends the slope. Use increments to make sure that the fence looks good from afar.

The author of this article was Benedict Yossarian. For home improvements Benedict recommends Dekorbeton Imprinted Concrete as a cheap alternative to expensive bricks and Roof Bond Spray Foam Roof Insulation to reduce your heating costs.
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Repairing Your Walls - How to Drywall

By Nelson Werkungen

Normal wear and tear can take a beating on your walls. If you have kids or pets your walls are surely in need of repair. Add to that dents and holes from hanging many pictures and you may need to repair an entire wall. There are minor things you can do to your wall or, for a major damaged wall you may need to know how to drywall and start from scratch. Here are some tips to help you.

Don't just assume that you have to replace your drywall. There are many things you can do to make your walls look like new. You can cover your walls with fabric or wallpaper or with a few tools and plaster you can fix what you have. If your walls are showing minor wear then it's better to repair them sooner than later so they don't get to the point where you must replace everything.

First "clean up" the wall by using a scraper to remove chipping paint and any excess paint. Use course grit sandpaper to smooth out and remove any excess buildup of paint. Wipe down your wall with a damp sponge or rag to ensure there is no dirt or dust or else spackle and paint won't adhere to it. Fill in holes using spackle and a putty knife. Use a large putty knife if you have large holes to ensure the filler will be even. Wait for the spackle to dry, sand it, and then apply other coats until it is flush with the wall. After everything is dry you're ready to paint.

For more serious damage to your wall, you'll need to start from scratch and know how to install drywall. It isn't difficult but it does take more patience and time. You'll need a few more tools including a hammer, cutting knives, t-squares, compound, drywall tape and trowels.

Measure out the area you need to apply drywall and buy enough material for your project. Remove any old drywall and cut the new drywall to fit the required area. Use a t-square, score the drywall and break off the excess. Start from the top and work your way down so that the horizontal seams are at the bottom of the wall. Affix the drywall to the studs using special nails or screws. Make sure the seams are as small as possible. Once all of the drywall is hung, tape the seams and apply the compound using a trowel and putty knife. Also use the compound to cover over dents from the screws or nails.

Wait about 24 hours for the compound to dry and then smooth out the wall using a putty knife and sandpaper. Repeat the compound application two or three more times. For finishing drywall mudding, use fine grit sandpaper to make the wall as smooth as possible. Wipe dust and dirt off with a damp towel or sponge. Once it's dry, you're ready to apply paint.

Being especially interested in how to install drywall, Nelson Werkungen edited lots of news on this specific matter. Working on his detailed writings such as http://www.insidewoodworking.com, the writer confirmed his deep knowledge on information associated with how to drywall ceilings.
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