Month: December 2021

If you have grown tired of the current state of your home, you may be considering renovating and the many possibilities on where and how to start. Most people looking into home renovation visit local hardware and home improvement stores to look for different fittings and furniture they want to add to their home. While this is an effective method, it is not always the case because most home renovations start by completely overhauling the room itself and fixing what needs to be fixed. To get you started on the right tracks towards renovating your home, here are some of the common first steps to take:

1. Assess the needs of the house and room first

When starting on a home renovation project, it is recommended that you first assess how to improve the space and optimise it to determine the changes that will be made. Perhaps you need to rotate the long table in the dining area to increase the floor space, or change the lighting and mirror fixtures, or replace that faulty bathroom door. Some home renovation even goes as far as hacking walls to add a new windowpane or installing a skylight. The possibilities are endless, but evaluate everything down to the last corner if you want to maximise your current space.

2. Redo the walls

The four walls of a room and its colour are significant components of a room’s overall appeal, and switching it up is one way that you can redo its appearance. Painting (or repainting) is a classic home renovation that effectively turns a room’s appearance around. The possibilities to play with various colours and combine and paint them on are endless to achieve a new look. Depending on the size of your home renovation project, the things that you need to consider can be quite extensive. But fret not; you can find many DIY tips online to help you decide on the best products you should purchase to accomplish your renovation project. Pro-tip; use paint that can withstand mould and mildew.

In most cases, all it takes is a simple paint job to turn a drab house into a beautiful living space. But if you find that painting is too bland for your liking or the work is too much hassle, you can opt for wallpapers instead. Korean wallpaper or other designs are a great alternative to paint when it comes to redoing your wall. Though installing wallpapers can be tricky, it is nothing that you cannot do with the right tips and tools.

Regardless of what you opt for, choosing the right wallpaper type and design, or the shade of paint for different parts of the home, should help improve and maximise the space rather than take away from it. Think about the room you will be renovating and the style that will best fit.

3. Use Mirrors

When you have a big empty wall and do not quite know what to do with it, place a prominent standing or leaning mirror on it. Consider this a home renovation hack that will reflect more light into your room and make them appear larger than they are. Large wall mirrors are easily accessible online and at your local furniture stores. If there is a specific design that you are looking for, consider customising it to fit the theme and fixtures in the room.

4. Do online and offline research

Scour the internet and home magazines for any home renovation ideas that are not only appealing but ones that you think are suitable for the kind of home you live in and the space you have. This will give you an idea of the things you need to purchase, such as the shade of paint, wallpaper designs, various furniture, wall fixtures, and much more. Looking for inspiration is one way for you to determine the look you want to give to your home, and sometimes you can even look for ways to do it by yourself.

5. Hire professionals to do everything

If you do not want to get yourself involved in the physical process of revamping your space or have limited time or helping hands, hire a professional contractor to do the work for you. Just be sure that you pick the right one for the job by finding out how long they have been in the industry or by looking at their portfolio of home renovation works. If you fancy your friend or relative’s house and its interiors, ask who their contractor was so you could get in touch with them.

Conclusion

Planning for a home renovation requires you to go into it with an end goal in mind, rather than diving into it and to see where the paintbrush will take you. A home renovation can quickly turn into a disaster when done without forethought or knowledge. Evaluate your space accordingly, assess what needs to be done, decide on suitable materials, gather as much information as you can, and consult the help of a professional if necessary.

Wallpapers can seamlessly add so much style and beauty to a room. But it can also be a disappointment and an eyesore when it turns out less than perfect. Before applying your wallpaper, it is crucial not to fall for the common wallpapering traps. Here are some of those and how you can fix or avoid them.

1. Misalignments

Wallpaper that is not cut or trimmed correctly will result in jagged edges. Not only is it unsightly, but it can also lead to other problems like misalignments, gaps, and ripping. Serrated edges are usually caused by using a dull blade, so to ensure clean cuts, use a fresh utility blade with every strip.

To avoid misalignments, ensure that the first strip of wallpaper is straight. You can use a pencil with a level ruler or a plumb line to mark a straight line on the wall and then carefully lay the first strip along the marked line. Do not be complacent with minor misalignments because no matter how small, chances are, as more strips are placed, the imperfection will become more noticeable. As the saying goes, the devil is in the details.

2. Air bubbles

Air bubbles, blisters, and wrinkles happen for several reasons. It can be due to improper surface preparation, surplus wallpaper paste, not smoothing out the wallpaper properly, even installing it at a too-cold temperature. What you think are air bubbles may not even be bubbles at all but bumps due to dirt, cracks, or chipped paint.

It is essential to clean the wall surface and let it dry for 24 hours. You can eliminate some bubbles and blisters by simply smoothing out the wallcovering using a wallpaper smoothing tool. If the bubbles are still there, you can slit or prick the wallpaper and then pat it flat; conversely, you can squeeze in more paste using a glue injector. Wipe off the excess adhesive with a damp sponge, and it is almost unnoticeable from far.

3. Loose seams

Peeling seams and curling ends can result from improper wall prepping. It can also be due to insufficient adhesive or using the wrong type of paste. Excessive rolling can also cause the edges to open up and curl during and after installation.

If the problem is restricted to the edges, use the recommended adhesive to reaffix the wallpaper. Focus the paste, especially on the ends and edges, but not too much, or else you would find yourself dealing with an additional problem – the air bubbles. Monitor how the temperature in the room affects the adhesive, such that it can be drying too fast, and adjust accordingly.

Conclusion

Most of these issues are caused by improper preparation and inevitable textured walls. Reputed brands and high-quality wallpapers will withstand these common challenges. Suppose you have moderately imperfect or textured walls. In that case, wallpapers with large designs and bold patterns such as floral themed Korean wallpapers efficiently fix these, all while beautifully decorating your space.

At Wallhub, our extensive range of wallpaper designs from international design houses and trendy, custom in-house collections will surely meet your fancy. As Singapore’s leading wallpaper company, we provide the most comprehensive range of wallpaper products and services in the country. Wallhub provides unparalleled furnishings and complete solutions to meet the needs and lifestyles of their home and commercial customers.

Though the here and now may have brought the home office into relevance, the truth is that it has always been a necessity. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic nonetheless has blurred the boundaries between home and work. What used to be a place for us to return to and wind down, the home office above all else has now become a top priority, a sanctioned space to set aside household distractions and focus on work.

The long and short of it is that you deserve more than just a chair and desk randomly stuffed into a corner – here are five home office ideas and tips to make you stoked for work.

1. Stake your territory

You may think setting your workspace on the kitchen counter was a great idea until it turned into a busy highway for your snack-bingeing housemates making their way to the fridge.

As they say, the three most essential things in real estate are location, location, and location –  so is it with your home office! Find the best place to work within the home, consider privacy levels, visual distractions, and background noise. If you have limited space within the home, consider rearranging your bedroom to accommodate a cosy nook as your office.

2. Fancify your walls

Out of all the rooms in your house, your office is where you should probably grant colour psychology its two cents’ worth. Though you are working within the comfort of your home, over time, constantly cooped up within the four walls of your office can make you feel passive and idle, when in fact, you should always be getting your head in the game!

Wallpapers are great for experimenting with colours and patterns. For instance, the calming effect green has on mood and relaxation is great for those who are looking for serenity, and popular styles like Korean wallpaper in botanical and nature prints are perfect for it.

Nonetheless, you can generate any desired atmosphere with a mix of colours – bright and happy yellows, soft and calming blues, natural and relaxing greens, and energizing orange! Transforming or switching up your office or workspace to your desired one will have you motivated for work.

3. Essential furniture is a must

Of course, discussing furniture is a given when revamping the office space! Your priority should be to invest in a comfortable, good-quality, ergonomic chair and desk – your neck and back will thank you.

Also, say no to clutter by fixing up shelving and storage units. Make an inventory of your books and stationeries, and put up some bookshelves, file cabinets, and other containers to keep everything in their place.

Other than ergonomic furniture, you should also optimize the placement of your technical equipment. Ensure that your computers, printers, and phones are accessible and close to the power outlets. Tame and hide unsightly wires and cords using cable management products; you can also invest in wireless products instead to keep everything neat and aesthetically pleasing.

4. Let there be light

Natural light is always ideal – it gives your room bright, refreshing energy that encourages productivity. It also opens up the space within, creating the illusion of a big room. Hang translucent curtains, shades or blinds to reduce the glare without compromising the room’s light quality.

Meanwhile, if you’re looking into curtains specifically, it’s important to be aware of the know-hows for picking your curtains. The right steps will lead to the perfect curtains selection that complements your entire room’s interior gorgeously.

But if there’s daytime, there comes nighttime too. So naturally, your office should remain to be a comfortable workspace after dark too. You can install wall sconces, floor lamps, or a desk lamp to aid you as you burn the midnight oil.

5. Channel your inner artist

Fill your home office with decorative objects, artwork, and other means of visual inspiration. A toy figurine or a small potted plant can liven up your desk, and a mixture of prints, paintings, and family photos plus other decorative accents will altogether make for a stunning interior.

If you are unsure of where to start, choose a theme to give your space a personality or decorate with images or art that motivate you and channel your inner muse! As you decorate your office, a rule of thumb is to have a negative space to balance out the interior design within your room.

Conclusion

The importance of a home office space should not be understated, especially when working from home. It is essential to consider both appearance and function as you set about furnishing a stunning and productive workspace within your home.

When ordering wallpaper, it’s always better to buy more than what you need. This will give you extra paper to work with in case of mistakes. However, this can also mean you’ll have more spare rolls than you know what to do with.

But fret not— wallpaper has excellent decorative potential and transformative power that makes it look fabulous just about anywhere!

From a few sample pieces to full extra rolls, here are some tips for you to upcycle and repurpose them in ways that don’t necessarily involve walls.

1. Paper the ceiling.

If you have leftover rolls after covering a room’s four walls, you can still cover a room’s ceiling. Papering a ceiling with colourful wallpaper is sure to add an extra dimension to the overall look and feel of a room.

2. Make a feature wall.

You don’t have to cover every single wall of a room for wallpaper to be effective. Make attractive accent walls and wall panels to add more vibrancy to a room. You can also create a chic kitchen backsplash or overlay the base of a kitchen island.

How about cutting out and creating a custom pattern from the wallpaper and then pasting it to create exciting wall patterns?

3. Frame it as art.

Many wallpaper patterns and designs (such as those of Japanese and Korean wallpapers) are so creative that they can be considered art. You can cut parts out from the roll to make instant artwork and then frame them. Fancy a triptych gallery wall?

4. Decoupage your furniture and fixtures

You can upgrade your bookshelves, dressers, drawers, and doors with colourful wallpaper. It looks good on the fridge, too!

In addition, you can add a pop of colour to your bedroom is to cover your bed’s dull wooden headboard with an eye-catching wallpaper design.

5. Step up your stair risers.

Add wallpaper to your stair risers to create a splash of colour and a pleasing effect as you go up. You can use the same wallpaper throughout or have different patterns for each step.

6. Paste up on pint-sized decors.

If you have just a few extra scraps of wallpaper, they can still cover few-pint sized items like jewellery boxes, pencil holders, flower pots, book covers, and custom notebook covers.

7. Smarten up your laptop.

Applying a new wallpaper skin to the façade of your laptop is a great way to add personality to your computer.

8. Use wallpaper scraps for a scrapbook.

If you’re the creative type who keeps a scrapbook or likes to do collages, and you find yourself with leftover rolls of wallpaper, then you just had a windfall of free material.

Wallpaper scraps make a fine detail for backgrounds, borders, and other accent cutouts.

9. Make placemats or temporary coasters.

Cut out wallpaper to serve as table runners, coasters, or placemats, so you don’t have to worry about any watermarks and food spills on your table.

You can also cut out an even larger piece of wallpaper to serve as a highly colourful table skirt.

10. Gift bags and gift boxes

It’s almost that most festive time of the year again, which is why gift boxes and gift bags are high on demand.

Wallpapers come in many patterns and colours, which make them a classy alternative to gift wrappers. They fold beautifully in boxes, too!

Conclusion

There are many ways to implement wallpapers in living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms – or basically just anywhere in your home. But the fun doesn’t end there – if you have bits and bobs of spare wallpaper, you can look forward to other home improvements and arty-crafty projects to keep your creativity sharp.