What's On Your Walls?

[Sumshine]

I painted a section with chalkboard paint, and one with magnetic paint, you really can't see it but the kids know where they can play magnets on the wall, kids enjoy both

I didn't know they make magnetic paint! I have some cool fridge magnets that never get used because we are hardly upstairs where my kitchen is and I was thinking of buying/hanging a big baking sheet for them to use but magnetic paint would be so much cooler and probably look better as well!

[Pestle]

I came up with another idea. Definitely paint, since stark white will create an eye-watering contrast with any art or wall stickers you put up, and since white is a glaring, sterile background that's not recommended for learning or working environments. You could create zones in the space by picking one warm and one cool pale neutral color. The back wall in this photo and the portion of the right-hand wall up to the hearth could be one color, and the remainder of the room the other color.

[debbiedoeszip]

I have some seasonal decor that I picked up from Party City and Dollarama (so lots of snowmen, snowflakes, etc), and I have kid-friendly art that I bought from Value Village. The art work is funky pictures of animals and colourful folk art pieces. I don't have anything "educational" or anything related to movies/tv on the walls.

[TheMisplacedMidwestMom]

Thanks everyone for all the ideas!!! I definitely have noted a few things I'm going to try to run with.
Unfortunately we don't have dollar stores up here.

After spending all this morning in the room, and trying to take some pictures... that carpet. It's soooo busy, it kind of drove me a little nuts. I have several large area rugs that are solid or muted patterns that I'm using to try and cover some of it and create distinctive areas. But I think that the carpet will force me to keeping the walls nice and simple. I will be checking the "oops" bin at the Home Depot a little more frequently looking for so paint. And I totally have a can of chalkboard paint in the garage I forgot about.

...and yes, BC, the hearth is one of the projects on the list. I was actually leaning toward the pool noodle idea, because the edge isn't quite square (it has like a "rim" that sticks out). I was talking it over with dh and he suggested pipe insulation instead. Still have to do a little research.

[TheMisplacedMidwestMom]

BC, I just clicked over to that link you suggested, and it actually looks like the very first pictures is pipe insulation! DH may be onto something after all.

[Gemma]

I didn't know they make magnetic paint! I have some cool fridge magnets that never get used because we are hardly upstairs where my kitchen is and I was thinking of buying/hanging a big baking sheet for them to use but magnetic paint would be so much cooler and probably look better as well!

That's a good idea! I got mine at Home Depot, it was sold in very little containers I forgot how many I had to buy to do the wall, but it was worth it ...it's nice that you can paint over with whatever color you want, just keep in mind that the more coats you apply, the more weight it will hold (heavy magnet)

[Pestle]

Couple of different ways you could paint the walls to add a little interest without putting the focus on the walls. The darker color below will create less contrast between any pinned-up artwork you have and the wall it's on, which is good, while creating a horizon/skyline effect with the light color above, making the room feel airier. The second way adds subtle color and creates zones within the room.

[daycarediva]

I would paint the walls, even an light beige, white is blinding.

I went with WAY TOO MUCH color in my room. New space is going to be VERY light tan walls and a mural on one wall, the rest are plain. Wood floors, wood trim, natural toys.

Out of curiosity, what's under that carpet? Could it be hardwoods? I would be way too tempted to peel up a corner and peek. We had the UGLIEST green carpet in our old home, and I lifted a corner- hardwoods in PERFECT shape (aside from the carpet tack strip around the edges).

[TheMisplacedMidwestMom]

Pestle... where did you go to do that?! I'd love to play with some things!

-Most likely not hardwood underneath. We're on the lower level, and I'm betting its concreted. The carpet is super padded, and there is laminate in the downstairs kitchen. So I'm pretty sure its just the concrete slab underneath.

[Pestle]

The program is called Sumo Paint and it's free. It's not the most user-friendly on my tiny little Chromebook screen, since they have a lot of ads and I haven't figured out how to shrink the tool sidebar. I haven't used it on our big gaming PC with the gigantic monitor. I've only used it a couple of times, but I like that it has some of the same tools as Photoshop.

My playroom is concrete slab (former carport) covered with the Orange Vinyl Composite Tiles of Ick. Several of them are shattered and the pad from the original carpet decayed and fused to the tiles. (Matilda, anyone? "Fibers are fused to the head! Fibers are fused to the head!")

So we ripped up the tack strips, scrubbed the VCT, gave up cleaning the pad off of it, and threw the carpet tile down on top with no adhesive; so far it's been fine (10 months of daily use). I originally thought LVT (the newer, flexible vinyl tiles with high-resolution images beneath the wear layer) would be my end goal, but I'm so pleased with the carpet tile I may just stick with that when it comes time to replace. It's cushier than a resilient flooring and I don't allow any food in there, so no stains so far.

[daycarediva]

Do you have a lumber liquidators? We just put the LVP in the basement of our current house (concrete, but finished space, and I wanted something super inexpensive since we are moving soon) they have it on sale right now for .59/sf! The 600sf workout room cost me a little over $300.

[TheMisplacedMidwestMom]

Unfortunately we don't have bargain stores of any kind (no Dollar General, Big Lots, Harbor Freight) NOTHING. Everything basically has to be shipped into the area and they just can't make them cost effective. :dislike:

Do you have a lumber liquidators? We just put the LVP in the basement of our current house (concrete, but finished space, and I wanted something super inexpensive since we are moving soon) they have it on sale right now for .59/sf! The 600sf workout room cost me a little over $300.

The how big what?! Holy tamales!... you must have one of those houses you can lost in. ::

[Josiegirl]

Unfortunately we don't have bargain stores of any kind (no Dollar General, Big Lots, Harbor Freight) NOTHING. Everything basically has to be shipped into the area and they just can't make them cost effective. :dislike:




The how big what?! Holy tamales!... you must have one of those houses you can lost in. ::

I need a house like that. One you can tell the dcks to 'go hide' and you'll come find them.........yeh right.

I need to get some magnetic paint, what a cool idea!! Do they tint it the color you need?

[thrivingchildcarecom]

That's a great space for kids. Nice and big. I like using wall decals like this one. Or maybe temporary chalkboard wallpaper like this one. I am planning to repaint one of my walls and use the chalkboard paper to create horizontal stripes that we can use to draw on.

Please repost an after picture with what you came up with.

[Baby Beluga]

Unconventional, but what about painting the carpet? According to google it's possible with upholstery paint.