How to Secure Your Larger Heavier Wall Clocks on the Wall

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Wall clocks are an amazing and fascinating subject to explore. With the variety of shapes and sizes, you can always expect the unexpected just when you thought you saw it all. Today with all the forms of wall hanging timepieces, one has to be sure when it comes to larger and heaver clocks, that when you hang them on a wall, you are careful enough to hang the clock securely so that your artful display of time will remain safely on the wall.

In order to hang a heavier wall clock on the wall, you must do certain things to make sure your clock will remain in place without doing damage to your wall and possible damage to your clock. If you follow the procedures that I have set forth below, you will have a wall timepiece that will remain in place without any damaging effects whatsoever.

The first thing you have to do is make sure you find a secure section of your wall to fasten your clock. This is done by using a tool that is called a Stud Finder. Behind your plasterboard or drywall walls are support wooden frames called studs. These studs are made from long wood pieces of 2 inch by 4 inch boards. The vertical sections of these frames behind your walls are generally constructed about 18 inches apart along the inner wall.

In order to find exactly where these stud boards are located behind your wall, you will need to use an electronic device called a stud finder. You can find these stud finders at any hardware or home improvement store. With a stud finder you will be able to locate the stud inside your wall near the location you intend to hang your heavy wall clock.

Once you have found the stud behind the wall, make a pencil mark on the wall where you intend to hang your clock. When determining the correct location of inserting a large wood screw into the wall in order to hang your clock, be sure to take into account the position of the hanger located on the back side of the clock.

After you have determined the exact position to insert the screw into the wall, with a hand drill and a tiny drill bit, drill a tiny hole into the wall making sure you drill through the stud. Next, after you drilled your tiny hole into the wall, insert your large wood screw. Make sure you screw the screw in only far enough so the head of the screw sticks out from the wall enough to support the clock. A quarter to a half inch out from the wall should be enough to support the heavy clock. Hang your clock and enjoy.

On the other hand, there are some cases where the stud behind the wall is not located in a position where you intend to hang your timepiece. In this situation the solution to this is using what is called a screw anchor. These screw anchors are available in plastic and metal. There are styles of screw anchors available for a variety of wall hanging projects.

These screw anchors come in different shapes and sizes. Depending on how much weight your wall clock is will determine what style and size screw anchor will be necessary to hang your clock. The employees at your local hardware or home improvement store will have the knowledge to help you determine exactly what type of screw anchor is appropriate for your clock hanging situation. Just tell them exactly what you intend to do.

Once you have determined what type of screw anchor to use, drill an appropriate size hole into the wall. Always make sure you account for the position of the hanger on the back of the clock when positioning your clock hanging screw. After you have inserted the correct screw anchor into the wall, with a screw attached and sticking out from the wall one quarter to one half inch, gently hang your clock. Make sure that your clock is securely in place. Enjoy your clock.

If you are placing a heavy wall clock on a masonry or brick wall the same procedures apply. Determine exactly where on the wall you wish to drill a hole to hang your clock, but with masonry or brick walls use metal screw anchors only.

Hanging a heavy wall clock is not a difficult project when done correctly. There are certain procedures and tools to make the job easy to complete. All you have to know are a few easy steps.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joe_Tobiasz

How to Place Several Framed Wall Artworks Delightfully on Your Walls

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Most of us are familiar with hanging framed art on a wall. Many of us are not aware that when you arrange multiple size framed wall art in just the right pattern on your wall, the results are most pleasing to the overall persona you express in the room.

Randomly placing multiple pictures or paintings on a wall can also have a negative effect on a room. In order to avoid a wall disaster, you have to plan your wall arrangement in advance in order to determine the best possible configuration. This way you will know, before you apply your art to the wall, that you have considered all possible arrangements. Only then will your end result be a beautiful, artful and eye pleasing display expressing your good taste.

The following steps should be used in order to arrange your wall art in a configuration that sure to please.

The first thing you have to do is decide on which wall you will be hanging these several pieces of art. Once you have decided on the wall, you must measure the area of the wall to get the correct amount of wall space you have to hang your art.

Now, of course, you have to decide on what pieces of art and how many pieces of art you wish to place on this particular wall. Once you have the wall measurements and pieces of art figured out, you are now ready for the next step.

In this next step you will need a large roll of paper or newspaper. What I use for this next step is my unused holiday wrapping paper from the previous holiday season. These are usually long rolls of paper and will work quite well for this next step in this process.

On your floor, arrange newspaper or wrapping paper (back side up) until you have the paper cut or arranged to the exact same size as the wall area you wish to hang your art. Using cellophane tape, tape the pieces of paper sections together. When you are finished, you want to be able to pick up the paper without the separate sections coming apart.

Now for the fun part. What you want to do next is take your framed art and place them on the floor on top of the paper. Arrange the art on top of the paper trying different formations until you have arranged them in a pattern that will ultimately be the way you want the art to hang on the wall.

When you are satisfied with your framed wall art arrangement, this is what you have to do next. Make sure that all the spacing between each art piece is equal. When you are satisfied that all the art is equally spaced, we will move on to the next step.

Now, with all your framed art on the floor, over the paper in the arrangement that you just chose, with a pencil draw an outline of each piece of artwork making sure that your spacing remains equal.

After you have outlined all your artwork on the paper you can move on to the next step.

Now, for each of the outlines you have on the paper, you have to determine where to place the wall hook on the wall to make sure your artwork remains in its original position.

One by one, look at the back of each frame and determine where the picture hangers are located on the back of each individual frame. Measure the distance between the top of each frame and the location of each hanger on the back side of each frame. You could write down the measurements on a piece of paper.

Now go back to the outlines you have drawn on the paper that is still on the floor. Making sure you are using the same arrangement you decided on, mark a dot with a pencil starting from the top side down on the left and right sides of your outline. When you have a pencil dot on each side of all your outlines, draw a straight line across each outline connecting the left and right measurement dot.

After you have all of your measurement dots connected by a straight from left to right, measure the length of each line between the left and right side of each outline and put a dot in the center of each line. This center dot represents the location where the hook or screw should be placed in order to hang the framed wall art on the wall.

Congratulations! You have created a template that will make putting up your multiple framed art as accurate as possible.

The next thing to do is make sure you have removed any objects from your paper template. What you want to do now is carefully (perhaps with the help of a second person) pick up your paper template and with painter's masking tape (because this tape removes from walls without damaging walls), tape your paper template to the wall in the exact position you wish to hang your framed wall art.

With your paper template hanging on the wall in the correct position, put a pencil dot on the wall by pushing the tip of the pencil through the paper template at the exact position you measured where the hook or screw that will hold your art on the wall should be. When you are finished making all the dots on the wall where your hooks or screws should be positioned, then remove the paper template from the wall. Now you have a wall that is marked with dots that represent where to place your hooks or screws.

Depending on how heavy your framed art is, will depend on if you will be using ordinary nail hooks or using drywall anchors inserted into your wall before inserting screws. Just remember, never try hanging framed wall art by inserting a screw directly into a wall that is either made plaster or drywall. Screws just won't hold on these types of walls without inserting some sort of screw anchor first.

Now it is time to insert all your hooks or screws into the wall where you have your pencil dots.

The last thing to do is use your paper template as a map. The template has all the information on it to tell you what wall art goes where. Now hang all your framed wall art in the correct positions and WHALA!! You're finished! A great job well done!

Making an artful statement on a wall is easy to do as long as you use the correct tools. Why make the project difficult when there are ways to make it easy.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joe_Tobiasz

Kitchen Wall Clock - What Your Time Should Look Like

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You know, I spend a lot of time in my kitchen. Every morning I'm sitting at my kitchen table having my usual cup of coffee or two. If I happen to be at home during the noon hour, here I am, back in my kitchen fixing myself something to eat for lunch. In the late afternoon, once again, I'm back in my kitchen preparing the evening meal for myself and my family.

I have noticed over the years that the one thing most kitchens have is a clock hanging on the wall. I have also noticed that the style of kitchen clock hanging on the wall can make the difference between dull and unnoticeable and charming and sensational.

In order to compliment the style of your kitchen with a wall clock that will be a charming sensation, all you have to do is know what wall clock will add these attributes to your kitchen's atmosphere.

So okay, let the truth be known that the thought of writing this information on kitchen wall clocks wasn't all my idea. I received an email from the contact page of the website the other day. It was a note from a lady by the name of Catherine.

Catherine had written me a note saying that she was browsing through the website and came across "Wall Clocks." As she further explored this section of the website, she was so impressed by the information on kitchen wall clocks, she decided to write me to express her appreciation. So this is actually how I got the idea to write about wall clocks for this special room.

So let me see. Where do I start? How about I go over different styles of kitchen decor and then I will make suggestions of what style wall clock might be the perfect match.

When it comes to kitchen styles or decor, you have Art Deco, Country, Modern and Retro. The colors of this room may or in some cases may not influence the style of wall clock you hang on your kitchen wall. This all depends on basically on the type of wall clock you choose to hang.

I will start out with the Art Deco kitchen. This type of kitchen decor usually has some sort of wall art hanging on the walls. This could be plaques in the forms of fruit or vegetables. Also, the kitchen backsplash walls will typically have mosaic tile murals running above the counters with pictures of Horns of Plenty, Wine Bottles with Platters of Fruit and Cheese or Baskets of a Colorful Fruit and Vegetable Arrangements.

The Art Deco kitchen could be accompanied by several styles of wall clocks. These clocks include the Recipes Decorative Wall Clock which starts its life as an actual painting which is then transformed into a kitchen wall clock. In this style of wall clock you also have Whimsical Teapots, Cappuccino Decorative and The Vitis wall clock that features a Vitaceae vine design. These are more than kitchen wall clocks. These are works of art.

So now let's take a look at Country Kitchens. Here there are a variety of themes to choose from. You have to ask yourself is your Country Kitchen theme based on flowers, farm animals, domestic animals, fruit, vegetables, wild birds or frogs (yes, I said frogs).

If your answer is flowers, then you might want to choose the Sunflower with the Brown center wall clock, Red Garden Wall Clock, the Daisy pendulum wall clock or the Bouquet Tiny Times Clock. Your choice is just a matter of which clock will best match up with the colors and style of your kitchen.

Next we will take a look at the Modern Kitchen. Here you have stainless steel appliances with metal wall tile walls and backsplashes. Glass top tables with acrylic chairs, chrome pot racks and multi-colored small appliances sitting on counter tops. So now you ask me, "What style of kitchen wall clock would be the perfect solution to this modern day mess hall?"

Well let's have a look. You could go with the Stainless Steel wall clock and keep the metal thing going in your kitchen. You could go with the Round Mirror or the Thin Mirror kitchen wall clock. That is, of course, if mirrors in your kitchen are your thing. You can go with the Studio 24 Collection. This stunning contemporary wall clock will turn heads.

This rectangular wood wall clock, finished in Black Coffee, features a curved front with recessed brushed nickel bands, with complementing brushed nickel finished hands. This kitchen wall clock features a curved pendulum that is supported by a bold brushed nickel stick to match the case. You never know what style wall click will have you friends saying, "Wow, where did you get that clock?"

Now let's turn our mind's eye to the Retro Kitchen. For those of you who have the Diner style kitchen in your home, these kitchen wall clocks are for you. You know who you are. You have the red Formica kitchen table with the chrome table edge and four red padded kitchen chairs with the bent metal chrome chair framing. You have a checkered tablecloth and a jukebox table top music selector that just happens to be a combination AM/FM Radio/CD Player/MP3 Player.

Well let's see. What kind of kitchen wall clock are you looking for? You could go with your standard Retro Round Metal Wall Clock in you color choice of red, green, black, silver or white. Then you have the Deco Retro Kitchen Wall Clock. This white porcelain frame is accented wonderfully by retro-styled red Arabic numerals and a red center dial. Maybe?

For those of you who really want the finishing touch to the retro diner look in your kitchen you have to go with a retro logo wall clock. Here you have clocks such as the Coca Cola Double Bubble Clock, the Nesbitt's LTD Edition Double Bubble Clock and the Orange Crush Double Bubble Clock. These are reproductions of the same clocks that hung on the walls of diners across the USA in the 50's and 60's.

So now you know that when it comes to kitchen wall clocks you have choices. So many choices that it is mind boggling. My suggestion, take your time to before you choose your time.

Tag : wall,wall clock,kitchen wall,wall paper

TV Wall Stands - Stylish Accessories For Your LCD and Plasma TVs

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Flatscreen LCD or plasma TV's are the hottest trend in home entertainment, and more and more people either have it already or have just purchased it. Compact media furniture options like Television wall stands are also becoming increasingly popular with the prevalence of LCD and plasma TVs. Transitioning from a conventional TV to a flatscreen LCD or plasma makes you want to rethink on how best to display your LCD or plasma, after all you want to display your latest acquisition to its advantage. A Television wall-stand can be perfect as it creates a stunning, sleek look, and projects a theatre like ambiance at home.

Advantages of a Television Wall Stand

Whether you have a small apartment or a large house, Television wall-stands can not only increase your viewing pleasure with unobtrusive different viewing angles, but can also visually enhance the décor of any space, giving the room a good look and feel with its subtle design. TV wall stands can be mounted on walls, thereby advantageously freeing up a lot of floor space while providing a better look.

Apart from being space efficient, with Television wall-stands, you can mount the television on the wall at a height comfortable for your watching experience, and at an ideal angle that will complement your room décor and purpose of the room. For instance, in your media room or den, you can place your TV on a mounted wall-stand centrally located on the wall; or you have the flexibility of mounting the television on the ceiling in your kitchen or home gym.

Television wall-stands can also display large sized LCD or plasma TVs in a small room, which could have otherwise overwhelmed the room if placed in the traditional way. Television wall-stands will keep your expensive equipment out of reach of children. Television wall stands are also universal, and can be adjusted to fit your television regardless of its size.

Types of Television Wall Stands

LCD and plasma TVs are mounted by special wall mounts, usually made of metal. There are various types of Television wall stands, varying from the basic fixed Television wall stand to some which have different sophisticated features like 'rotation angles', 'hinge joints' or 'swivels'.

Fixed TV Wall Stand

This is the most basic of all wall stands and is fixed in a static position. This type of TV wall-stand is the least flexible as it cannot be moved in any way - angles cannot be adjusted and there is no scope for tilting or movement. These types of Television wall stands are the least expensive and are ideal for rooms which have just one or two seating areas to watch television. This type of TV wall stand is one of the simplest to fix on the wall. A fixed Television wall stand can also hold any TV securely to the wall, regardless of its size.

Tilt TV Wall Stands

Tilt TV wall stands are just like fixed Television wall stands, with the only difference being that you can tilt the stand connected to the TV for a change in the viewing angle. Tilting Television wall stands allow some flexibility in viewing angles, although you cannot move it on a horizontal or vertical axis. Tilting in a Television wall-stand is a great feature so you can adjust the angle of the television for the best possible view, avoiding any kind of unwanted reflection of light or glare that may fall on the television. You can optimize the tilt angle best suited for your current seating position.

Swivel TV Wall Stands

Apart from the ability to change its tilt or angle, same as the tilt Television wall stands, the swivel TV wall stand has an added benefit of being able to move leftwards or rightwards. Just as it sounds, a swivel Television wall stand can turn left or right, providing a great deal of advantage for changing the viewing angle. These types of TV wall-stands, however, will be at some distance from the wall, to enable the swivel motion with ease.

Articulating TV Wall Stand

TV wall stands that let the television swing away from the wall on an arm are called articulating TV wall stands. These stands have all the features of a tilt TV wall stand and swivel TV wall stand. It can swivel left or right, and can be tilted for a better viewing angle, and the added advantage of tilting left or right. This type of TV wall stand is versatile as the viewing position can be fixed to your viewing convenience.

Full Motion TV Wall Stands

This is one of the most flexible wall stands in comparison with the other types as it offers maximum access to a viewer in terms of adjusting the viewing angle. You can not only tilt the angle, and swivel the TV to the right or left, but also move the viewing angle horizontally to a complete 360 degree full motion on its arm, so you can potentially view your television from multiple areas. This wall stand can be adjusted by bending and extending the arm to your convenient viewing angle.

Before selecting a TV wall stand, however, there are some practical considerations. What is the weight of your LCD or plasma? Not all types of wall stands can support the weight of your TV, so choose something that can support your TV and add aesthetic value to your décor. An LCD or plasma may not be too heavy, but they could break easily if they fall. So select a TV wall stand that can comfortably hold your TV in place. Secondly, test the wall which you have selected as the place to mount your LCD or plasma. If the wall is not sturdy, then look at an alternative wall. Finally, keep in mind the dimensions of the LCD or plasma TV. If the wall stand is bigger than your Television, then you might be wasting space on your wall. On the other hand, if it's too small, it becomes unusable.

Which type should you go for?

Depending on your room dimensions, and where you intend to place the television, choose a TV wall stand according to your personal preference and budget. There are various types of TV wall stands with various features that can meet your need.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julia_Brothers

Choosing Floor And Wall Covering Fabrics For All Your Decorating Needs

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The texture of fabrics varies but all of them add warmth and personality to a room. Many possibilities are available in decorating shops, making the work even easier by selling fabrics and papers in the same pattern. Traditionally it was used to cover walls but has since given way to wallpaper, which is more practical and easy to use while carrying out the same function.

Here are ten household helpful hints for choosing floor and wall covering fabrics to decorate your home:

1. Use fabrics to provide soundproofing in noisy rooms.

2. Curtains or blinds allow us to play with light.

3. Choose flooring like according to a room's use.

4. Use tough floorings like marble, stone, or tiles where lots of people move about, especially if they have hard heels or dirty soles.

5. Use warm flooring like carpets or wood where you will walk barefoot.

6. Before choosing flooring, try and determine how it will look in the lighting of a room.

7. Take good care of your flooring to ensure it will last a long time.

8. Avoid paint in areas with heavy circulation. Tiles and marble are both washable and longer lasting.

9. When deciding on the flooring and the wall coverings remember just how much space they occupy and therefore how important they are.

10. Well-matched wall coverings and floorings can be mutually enhancing so it is best to select them at the same time.

All About Retaining Walls - Concrete Retaining Walls and Decorative Retaining Walls

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Introduction to Retaining Walls

First, a retaining wall is a structure that holds back, or "retains," lateral faces of dirt, water, or other materials. Retaining walls are used to prevent erosion or collapse of higher level ground onto a certain building, structure, or general area. The earth that is retained is often referred to as backfill. The word backfill is also used as a verb to describe placing more dirt behind a retaining wall to make the ground more level.

Retaining walls can be the answer if you are blessed (or cursed) to a contoured lot. They can turn a steep slope into a terraced yard, creating a stair step effect instead of a slope.

Retaining walls can be constructed from many different materials using many different techniques. There are several factors that influence which choice will be the best choice for each situation, including cost, height of the wall, soil characteristics, and ground water conditions.

Generally, most municipalities require that any retaining wall over four feet in height be engineered or approved by a licensed engineer. It is important to check local building codes before starting any retaining wall projects, even if it is below four feet tall. After all, retaining walls should be structurally sound before there is any thought of aesthetic appeal. The retaining wall must be able to stand up to the pressure exerted by the backfill, also called lateral earth pressure. This lateral earth pressure is a majority of the force that the retaining wall will need to bear. Lateral earth pressure is determined by studying the weight of the soil unit, slope of the soil, soil type (for plasticity and adhesion purposes with clay soil types), and ground water levels. Engineers do many calculations with these factors to determine what design to implement with the wall. To homeowners and contractors that do not want to go through engineering steps, it is generally a good rule to overdo it. Many structural methods to build retaining walls with withhold earth, at least temporarily, with a height up to four feet, are adequate, which is why most local building codes require engineering if the wall will be over four feet tall.

However, even methods that may seem adequate for retaining earth can fail if they are not built properly. Many times, it is elements below grade that can make (or break) a retaining wall. Problems including bowing, slanting, or cracking are evidence of retaining wall failure because it was not successful in retaining the dirt. Cutting costs with a bad contractor, insufficient materials, or neglecting the below grade elements can turn out to be more expensive over time if replacement or repair is necessary often or if collapse of earth causes damage to nearby structures. For example, erosion can cause foundation issues if dirt erodes from under the foundation. This is just one example how a retaining wall failure can cause expensive problems aside from the cost to repair or replace the retaining wall.

Another aspect that is often neglected or underestimated that can cause failure of a retaining wall is drainage. Inadequate drainage of retaining walls can mean that water is trapped behind the wall, adding to the weight that the wall must hold back. Usually weep holes and/or drainage pipes are used to flush rain water and ground water from behind the wall. It is important that the drainage system, whatever it be, have a filter barrier to keep dirt from clogging the drain or weep hole.

Options for Retaining Wall Materials

· Railroad Crossties - Railroad crossties, also shortened to railroad ties, can be used as a retaining wall material; however, as with most every retaining wall material, it must be installed correctly in order to be a solution. For example, most railroad tie retaining walls will need a substantial footer to tie the crossties to in order to keep the bottom from sliding out. Also, there needs to be perpendicular members placed into the ground behind the wall to keep the wall from overturning. These members, called deadmen, should be at least 1.5 times as long as the wall is high and should be placed at minimum every 6 feet or so. Because railroad ties are wood (even though they are treated most of the time), there is a risk that they may rot over time or be subject to termite infestation, which can lead to a weak wall likely to bulge or break. And, even though there are areas for water to slowly seep though, it is still a good idea to have a filtered drain or weep holes designed into the wall.

· Treated Wood - Treated wood retaining walls offer many of the same risks as retaining walls because over time it is susceptible to rot and termite infestation. It is a labor intensive construction, but it is usually lightweight and decently strong if built correctly. It is recommended to build a concrete footer to attach the wall to in order to keep it from shifting. Construction usually requires a clear area to be backfilled after the wall is built, so it is not always the best material to use if you are replacing an existing retaining wall. This wall still needs weep holes or drains designed into the wall. Standing water behind the wood will only increase risk of rot.

· Concrete - Concrete is a great material to use for retaining walls. Of course, there is a right and a wrong way to build a concrete retaining wall, which makes choosing your contractor a big job. There are many different designs that can lead to a successful concrete retaining wall, but one thing is for sure: there needs to be a footer beneath the wall to ensure success. Concrete is one of the most durable man-made products known to man. Most concrete poured today is engineered to last for over 50 years. Plus, concrete offers many decorative options as well. Aside from a plain, white concrete retaining wall, you can also pour a colored concrete retaining wall, stain a retaining wall after it has cured, pour into a patterned form, apply a vertical stamp material and pattern after poured, etc. Sealing the concrete wall can lead to an easy-to-maintain surface that rinses free of most dirt and grime.

· Blocks or Paver Stones - Engineered blocks that stack together to make a wall must be as simple as building with Legos, right? Nope. These retaining walls should also have a significant footer in order to support not only the weight of the dirt but also the weight of the wall. These blocks can be a unique look, but it may even be necessary to place a concrete retaining wall behind the blocks if there immense lateral earth pressure. In such a case, the concrete would be the structural element, using the blocks as a visual feature.

· Rock or Brick - One of the favorite looks for a retaining wall is natural stone or brick. These materials usually look more permanent and traditionally classy. However, just as we have seen with the other materials, it is necessary to have a concrete footer below grade to carry the weight and ensure success of the retaining wall. Like architectural blocks or paver systems, it may be necessary to back a masonry retaining wall with a concrete retaining wall for structural support.

Using Wall Lighting Creatively

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Our environment is strongly affected by the lighting used for many reasons, such as being able to see without any problems. However, nowadays lighting goes even further and is used to set a mood or perception of a certain area. This is not difficult to do considering light fixtures come in many forms and sizes. One of the commonly used fixtures purchased today is wall lighting.

Wall lighting is becoming more common in the market nowadays; this is the case especially in the housing market. Developers in the housing market say that most of their clients seem to prefer the use of wall lighting fixtures. Using this form of lighting does change the ambiance of the house and brings in a modern twist to what could easily be a cliche industry.

There are benefits associated with using wall lighting fixtures over other forms of light fixtures. One is that it can be used to set a certain mood or emotion for a room, which is easily done because these fixtures are pretty much in a person's line of sight. Those that enter a room with attractive wall light fixtures will notice just that before anything else.

However, wall light fixtures can also be strategically placed and can also double as a wall ornament. They can also be decorative with accessories, such as colorful lamp shades. Since the market is loaded with artistically set-up displays of light fixtures, you will easily see how this type of lighting also has an ornamental value.

There is another reason why wall lighting is fast becoming the preferred form of light and that is that the light is not so intensive as others on the market. An example would be in a bedroom where very bright light most likely is not needed and for that reason a wall lighting fixture would be better.

Wall lighting also is better for lighting up a large room, for example a ballroom, than a single overhead one would be which is why developers will incorporate wall lighting to brighten a room. Wall lighting has become very commonplace in the market for this reason, among other reasons as the best way to illuminate a room.

As long as the market demands aesthetics for light fixtures, there will be a demand for wall lighting. This is because it is a way to change the ambiance of a room by just adding the right fixtures.

Wall Mount Accessories - Have You Thought of These?

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So many times I have been contacted by my web site enthusiasts interested in knowing what is available in different and unusual wall decor. They want some information on wall decor that will set them apart from the usual boring "Same old, same old."

They also say that they would like to decorate their walls in a way that would express themselves as individuals who don't necessarily follow the crowd. They ask for my suggestions of what I believe to be tastefully and uncommonly artful wall decor.

For some time I researched their need and after careful study, I have come up with some suggestions that just might help them out. Keep in mind that when it comes to wall decor, there are unlimited directions that one could pursue.

Because I have limited space here on this page, I will give some examples of what I believe to be unusual wall decorations. From there I hope to get the imaginations of those of you who are looking for this information, a sort of kick start to your own exploration of unexpected wall decor.

So I started out by locating Metal Wall Art and Sculptures. These are fascinating creations that will give the room a three dimensional artful appeal. There is something here that is sure to please anyone who is looking for different.

The first metal art I will go over with you is Laser Cut Metal Wall Art. From pieces sculpted into the shapes of suns, animals such as horses, deer, dolphins in tropical scenes, cowboy boots and hat, elk in forest scenes, butterfly and flowers, Azaleas with hummingbird and so much more laser cut metal wall art. You just have to go online to see for yourself how different and beautiful this art truly is.

Staying in metal wall art, the next pieces I found are called steel image wall art. This particular art form is produced from medium gauge steel. The image is then laser cut and formed into art. The steel is then hand brushed to a rich textured finish. The unique colors available are from a process called Kaleidikolor. The final process is powder coating to assure durability for both inside and outside wall hanging applications.

I found a variety of different topics made into Kaleidikolor art forms. Some of these topics included gecko metal art, different forms of sun and moon metal art, a variety of different trees such as Aspen and Aspen branches of different sizes, Hummingbird metal art, North American animals of the wilderness and so much more.

I don't have enough space here to provide you with all that is offered in this Kaleidikolor art. You'll have to go online and see for yourself all the magnificent metal Kaleidikolor art offered to truly appreciate this art form. There are literally hundreds of pieces in different topics to choose from.

Wall Planters are another form of wall art that will enhance the atmosphere of a room. These beautifully crafted plant holding devices are a welcome addition to the total presentation, giving the room in which they are displayed an elegant touch of harmony only nature's plant life can provide.

Most of your wall planters are made of Iron. Many of these iron wall planters are constructed of iron rods bent into artful shapes or crisscrossed and welded together to form wall planters of exquisite style. Some of this metal artwork has metal framework while others do not.

Other forms of metal wall planters have artfully curvaceous wall mounted hanging brackets with metal mesh baskets hung by artful chains. After you have securely anchored the bracket to the wall, all you have to do is put a plant into the hanging basket and enjoy the heavenly scent of fresh flowers in bloom.

Staying with metal wall planters, let's explore one more version. This version is called the Wall Mounted Planting Bowl. This is different from what I have written about so far.

These beautiful wall mounted planting bowls are cast iron molds. All these wall mounted planting bowls use cultural period designs and castings that once graced Europe's cities, towns and estates. The handcrafted detail of these wall mounted planting bowls brings out the extremely artful display of a bygone era.

For a more rustic look you can go with a wooden three shelf wall plant holder. This shelf wall plant holder has the look of a picket fence. If you have rooms in your home with a country or rural theme, then this shelf wall plant holder will fit in quite well.

My last example of is often overlooked, but should never be ignored. This wall mounted art gives you a world of possibilities.

Let me ask you, "When was the last time you switched on or switched off a light in a room of your home? Did you notice something different on the wall? Did you have a feeling that something magical happened every time you used the light switch on the wall?"

If not, then you probably haven't opened yourself up to the world of Wall Switchplates. Most people decorate rooms of their home without even thinking about what the right wall switchplates would do to enhance the room. Are you one of those?

Well, today I will educate you to what is available in wall switchplates. I'm sure this information will surprise most of you reading this. You probably have no idea on the enormous amount of themes that these small but room enhancing artifacts are available in.

Get ready to have your mind blown. Here are a few examples of the themes that wall switchplates are available in. You have Abstract, African, Animals/Farm, Animals/Pet, Animals/Wild, Antique, Art, Asian, Baroque, Beverages, Birds, Books/Letters, Borders, Caribbean, Celtic, Children's, Christian, Classic, Country, Dancing, European, Extra Functionality, Fantasy, Fish, Flowers/Plants, Fruit, Games, Geometric, Global Spirit, Grab Bag, Hearts, Holidays, Insects, Kitchen, Latin-American, Music, Ocean, Odd Shapes, Patterns, Retro, Rustic, Scrolls and Swirls, Solid Color, Southwestern, Speckled, Sports, Sun/Moon/Stars, Victorian, Western, Whimsical and Wine/Grapes to choose from.

As if that wasn't enough, you have colors to choose from. The colors offered are Beige/Brown, Black, Blue, Gray, Green, Ivory/Almond, Metallic, Multiple, Orange, Pink, Purple, Red, Teal, White and Yellow. Take your choice...

We're not done with wall switchplates yet. You also have a choice of finishes. Your choices when it comes to wall switchplate finishes are Antique Brass, Polished Brass, Satin Brass, Bronze, Dark Bronze, Oil Rubbed Bronze, Chrome, Satin Chrome, Copper, Mirror, Nickel, Satin Nickel, Pewter, Verdigris, Weathered Black, Weathered Rust, Distressed and Hammered. And we're not finished yet.

And now, you also have choices of what material your wall switchplate is made from. Here your choices are Aluminum, Brass, Ceramic, Decoupage, Masonite, Mirror, Pewter, Plastic, Polymer Clay on Plastic, Questech, Steel, Wood and Wrought Iron. Are you beginning to see the big picture?

Wall switchplates are a fascinating subject to study. Always take notes...

Well, there you have it. I attempted to introduce different and unusual wall mount accessories. These items are not your usual run-of-the-mill wall decorations. If you want to express yourself outside of the box, then go for it...

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Barbara_Tobiasz

How to Install an Iron Wall Candle Holder

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Iron wall candle holders have been around for thousands of years. They date back to medieval times where these wall candle holders were used for lighting the hallways of castles. Today these charming pieces of decorative art are used to add a feeling of warmth and tranquility to the room whose walls adorn them.

In order to install these types of candles, you must first know the circumstances of the room in which these will hang. Since this form of indoor wall lighting will use candles for lighting, you must examine the room to make sure that these wall candles will not be placed on the walls near anything that could possibly catch fire while the candles are burning, such as surrounding art, curtains, coat racks and anything else that could catch fire.

Keep in mind that candles melt and melted wax can get on your walls and floors. To avoid this you may want to have some sort of glass cover around your candle. Glass covers are available in clear frosted or colors of your choice.

Another good idea is to determine how high on the walls you wish to place these holders. If children are a part of your household, you may want to place these holders above the reach of children.

After you know whether you want or don't want a glass covering your candle and exactly how high you want your holders on your walls, the next thing is to measure each wall for placement. Depending on how many you wish to place on each wall, with a tape measure, measure how high on the wall you want to place them. I suggest that you measure from the floor up the wall and mark the wall at the proper height using a pencil. Go about 12 inches over from your first wall mark and repeat this procedure. Now you have 2 pencil marks on the wall at the same height about 12 inches apart.

Next, measure the width of the wall at the same height you placed the 2 previous height pencil marks and write the width measurement on a piece of paper. Depending on how many of these holders you wish to hang, divide the width of the wall by the number of wall candles you wish to hang. Once you know how far apart each holder will be, then using a tape measure, mark the wall with a pencil dot on each place the holder will hang.

If you are placing iron wall candle holders along the sides of wall art or a wall mirror, then what you need to do is measure how far from the left and right side of the artwork you wish to place each holder. With your measuring tape go to the left and right side of the wall art (or wall mirror) and measure from the edge of the art outward on both sides. Make sure your outward measurements on both sides are identical. Repeat this step over again on both sides, only this time go about 8 inches either above or below your first marks on both sides of your wall art (or wall mirror).

Now using the 2 pencil dots you have on both sides of your wall art, line your tape measure from the floor up the wall using the 2 pencil dots as a guide for a straight line and mark a pencil dot on the wall exactly how high you wish to hang your candle holder. Repeat this procedure on the other side of the wall art and you will have identical spacing for your holders on both sides of the wall art (or wall mirror).

Iron wall candle holders are not light in weight. In order to hang these holders securely you must use what is known as a wall anchor. Remember, never try to hang an iron wall candle holder with a screw directly into drywall or plastered walls. It just won't hold the weight.

Wall anchors are small devices that are placed into the wall at the exact same place a screw would go to hold up these types of wall candles. By using a wall anchor you will be able to hold heavy objects such as heavy metal sconces securely to the wall without having to worry about the fixture becoming loose from the wall and eventually falling off the wall.

Wall anchors come in different styles and sizes to accommodate different size screws that will screw into it after the anchor has been placed into the wall. My favorite wall anchor for hanging wall mounted candle holders looks like a short stubby plastic screw with a screw hole in the center.

This anchor is easy to install. All you have to do is drill a small hole (about half the diameter of the anchor) where you want to place the screw to hold your candle on the wall. After you have drilled the small hole, all you have to do is screw in the anchor into the small hole you just drilled until it is flush to the wall. Repeat this procedure for all the screws needed to mount your iron wall candle holder. When you have inserted all the anchors needed to mount your wall sconce to the wall, then you simply hold the wall sconce in position over the anchors and proceed to screw your holder up to the wall. It is as simple as that and rest assured that your candle sconce is on the wall securely.

Iron wall candle holders are works of art that come in many different shapes and sizes. They add comfort to the overall feeling of any room in which they are placed on the wall. With a small amount of effort you can add these to several rooms of your home and enjoy a simple but pleasing touch of art passed on down through the centuries.

Wall Water Fountains - Create a Spectacular Look at the Workplace

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The workplace must have a calm and serene atmosphere so that you find an ease at the moment when you are headed for any work or accomplishing any task. This is the common case with all the people when they are headed for any assignment with a thought to earn for your family or support the members present in the family unit which is fed by you. Most of the people are generally tensed and pressurized with the load of work that is waiting for them at the workplace. These days the workplace has become the spot of stress and tension. This is the main reason for which the supervisors of the corporate feel the necessity for reliving this stress.

The best way to improve the ambiance of the working place is by installing an interior wall water fountain. The soothing thud of the falling water can motivate you and keep you loaded with the energy when you are on any job. This is the best piece that can improve the appearance of the corner of your working place. You can take the aid of these wall water fountains to enhance the boring atmosphere at your office and switch over to calm environ at your office.

These decors at your office impart a passive and soothing effect at your office. The thuds of the trickling water over the surface which is made up of marbles and stone is quite satisfying and pleasant. These decor pieces are the modern and up to date equipments that can form the main attraction at your working place. You can step over these decor equipments that can enhance the appearance and ambience of your working place.

There are many administrative centers that have installed these interior wall water fountains in the lobby or the reception area. But you can place these decor parts at any other part of your working places. This will make you feel an ease with the relaxing and tension - free atmosphere. You can install these wall water fountains at the conference rooms and provide you with the calming atmosphere at the meetings.

Generally, these wall water fountains are availed with the re - circulating pumps that can avert you from the trouble to plumb these spouts for the perfect and easy supply of water. This cascade is designed in a way to create an uproar or fracas at the place where it is installed. The effect of the trickling of water is very soothing and can relax your entire body system. This fountain has the power to create the trouble-free atmosphere at the office.

The interior wall water spouts are space savers and can be installed easily. They are very compatible as compared to the customary floor cascades. They are competent of creating a humid effect for the atmosphere of room where they are installed. They can turn your mood on and turn it into the happy frame of mind. These decor pieces are very effective on the environment of the administrative center.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sandra_Wilson_M

Wall Stickers - Removable Wall Decor

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There have been various fads for wall decor over the past decade. In the 90s, it was wall stenciling and before that it was wallpaper. Both of these options were very permanent decor options and when it comes to decorating a room that is most likely going to be changing within a year or two, these options are not ideal.

Instead of pasting paper to your walls, which is virtually impossible to remove later in life or painting on your walls, there is another option available to you. For instance, you can try a new and contemporary method of decor called wall stickers. This type of removable wall decor allows you a lot more flexibility later in the life of a particular room in your home.

There are several instances in life when you will be decorating a room that is not necessarily going to have this same decor for a long period of time. For instance, you just had a new baby so you want to do your new baby's nursery in a cute Winnie the Pooh or other Disney character design. So, you paint the walls and put up a wallpaper border, or you do the entire room in Winnie the Pooh wallpaper. Or, perhaps you do an entire wall mural of the "Hundred Acre Wood" in paint on the wall. But, what do you do when your little boy or girl decides that they are much more interested in Transformers or Barbie? Do you rip down the wallpaper and hope that you can salvage your walls? Do you cover up the paint with more paint?

Instead of having to worry about repainting walls or tearing down wallpaper, you could make life and your decorating much easier on yourself. You have several options with removable wall decor, or wall stickers. This removable wall decor is available in all of your child's favorite designs. You also have the option of wall murals, so no painting is needed, nor is an artist. You can choose from a wide variety of borders and other decor as well. If your child is a Disney fan, self-stick wall appliqués provide you with a number of different Disney and Pixar characters to select from. All are easy to put and made of heavy duty vinyl that they can peel and stick whenever the desire.

As your child grows, their tastes change. They enjoy a variety of different cartoons, movies, and even sports teams. They will probably even want to change their room's decor once every couple of years or so. This cannot only get very expensive throughout their life, but it is a time consuming process to paint, repaint and wallpaper the same room repeatedly. Removable wall decor makes it easy for them to decorate their own room. With removable wall decor, you can provide your child with a blank wall and some wall stickers and let them have at it. You can even find wall sticker growth charts so that you can track your child's growth without having to write on the walls or make notches in the doorframe.

One of the many benefits of wall decor is that you don't have to worry about the wall stickers leaving any residue. They stick to virtually any flat surface in their room, which allows your children to be as creative as they want. Your child can change the room everyday if they want. With borders, wall murals, and appliqués to choose from, they will have the flexibility of not only what designs they want, but they can decorate any way they want.

In addition, they can create a unique photomural of photos on their wall as well. These are removable wall décor that provide you with various options including wall pockets and photo frames. These allow your children to frame photos of them, their friends and family all over their walls. Wall pockets provide them with a way to store all of their little trinkets or display items on their walls.

If you're interested an easier way to decorate and keep up with your child's ever-changing decor tastes, you can keep up with them by using removable wall decor. Removable wall decor does not cost any more than what you would pay for wallpaper or paint. It's an affordable way to decorate and you can reuse the wall decals for up to two years or more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Fischer

 

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