Paint is a powerful tool that can transform a room, revitalize the exterior of a home, or bring life back to an old piece of furniture. And now there’s a new trend that takes it to a whole other level: color drenching. This technique is just as it sounds—you paint the walls, ceiling, trim, and fixtures of a room all one specific color. Though it’s certainly bold, it might just be exactly what your home needs.
If you think color drenching verges on being “too much,” you’re not necessarily wrong. It is a maximalist approach to design that can understandably feel overwhelming to some. However, this monochromatic or tonal technique can actually make spaces appear bigger, cozier, and overall more modern.
Traditionally, a room’s walls, ceiling, and trim are each painted in different colors, which forms a distinction between these areas and emphasizes the cutoff between the wall and ceiling in a way that catches your eye. On the other hand, when these are all painted the same shade, there is no harsh separation to draw attention, and corners, edges, and lines instead blur together, creating the illusion of a larger, more expansive space. And since color drenching involves painting objects like vents, radiators, and even outlets as well, these features virtually disappear by blending in with the rest of the walls.
The sky’s the limit with this technique, as it can work with both light and dark shades; it just depends on your design goals. If you’re ready to give this trend a try, here are a few important factors to consider before adding your first coat of paint.
Though paint isn’t permanent, it still costs money and takes a lot of time and effort to redo, so you want to make sure you get the color right the first time. Visualize different options in the room, and try a few out with a peel-and-stick paint sample, examining the color on different walls throughout the day to see how both natural and artificial light impact its appearance. You’ll also want to consider how well it works with your existing decor and furniture, especially if you don’t want to overhaul all your pieces. The goal is to be confident you love the color enough to cover a room in it and that it works well with the rest of your home and design aesthetic.
If you aren’t ready to fully dive into color drenching, consider first painting just your walls and ceiling. It’s a good way to dip your toes into the trend without completely committing to it. From there, you can better examine how the color looks in your space and decide if you want to go all the way by painting any trim, shelves, doors, and other fixtures (or even a fireplace!) in the room the color as well.
Much like with the color, using the same paint finish can help blend the different segments of a room together and avoid any harsh lines. Already one of the most popular options for walls, eggshell is a great sheen choice for this since it’s more durable than flat but reflects less light than semigloss. However, if you do want to create a little distinction between elements, you could opt to paint your wood trim in a satin or semigloss finish to better highlight these areas against an eggshell ceiling and walls. It ultimately comes down to your personal preferences and goals for the overall look of the space, so follow your gut and do what you think will make you the happiest with the design.
Once you have your room painted, fill it with decorative pieces that match. If you chose your paint color based on your existing decor, you should already have a cohesive look in your room. Otherwise, go on the hunt for items like rugs, pillows, art, and furniture in the same color as your room. This will harmonize the paint with your decor, better linking the two and alleviating any disconnect there might have been otherwise. It’s important to note, though, that the color for your decor doesn’t have to be the exact same shade as the paint color. In fact, using different tones can create more dimension in the space and prevent it from feeling overwhelming.
As with any interior design trend, the key is recognizing when enough is enough. Color drenching every room in your home in a different color can easily become excessive. Instead, pick and choose which room or rooms you want to use the technique in to maximize its impact, especially if you’re opting for a color other than white.
Color drenching is a great way to add personality and style to your home. With a little planning and effort, you can craft a space that is visually striking and makes a big impact.
There’s nothing like getting the keys to your new home. You can already picture the dinner parties you’ll host, the garden you’ll plant, and the pancakes you’ll flip in the kitchen. Even that country-kitsch wallpaper border from the 1980s can’t dampen your excitement.
But before you dive into the fun stuff, take some time to get acquainted with how your new property operates. The more you know, the less caught off guard you’ll be when problems arise and the faster you can return to the finer things in life.
In a plumbing emergency, you’ll want to know how to quickly find this valve and turn it off; burst pipes and major leaks will require a speedy response to prevent damage to your house. Check for it in the basement first or near your hot water tank if you don’t have a basement. If you’re planning to be away from your home for an extended period, turn off this main valve to minimize the risk of plumbing issues while you’re gone. It’s also a good idea to do so when fixing or replacing faucets or toilets.
If your appliances are supplied by natural gas, it’s crucial that you know where your main gas supply is located. In a single-family house, you can usually find it on the side or back of the house, just before the gas meter. Gas leaks can be dangerous and even fatal, so time is of the essence. Once you’ve turned off the valve, call the gas company or fire department from across the street.
When you are in the middle of drying your hair while your partner vacuums and you’re both suddenly plunged into darkness, you are going to want to know where that circuit breaker is. Check your panel now to see if the circuits are accurately labeled according to what room of the house they are attached to. This will save you a lot of time and frustration in the future.
Look over your various appliances and their manuals to make sure they’re in good shape and you know how to use them, especially if you are inheriting appliances as they may need servicing sooner. For your refrigerator, ensure the condenser coils are clean and free of dust. Dishwashers often have a filter at the bottom that should be cleaned regularly, anywhere from every two weeks to once a year depending on how often you do dishes and whether you scrape or rinse before loading. And, in addition to clearing your dryer’s lint trap after every use, you should thoroughly inspect and clean out your dryer vent from end to end at least once a year.
It can be incredibly annoying when a light burns out and you don’t have the right bulb to replace it. If you have recessed lighting or fixtures that require nonstandard bulbs, take a few minutes to go around the house and note the specification requirements of each. Once you have those details, you can stock up with a shelf of fresh bulbs.
The National Fire Protection Association suggests placing a smoke alarm inside each bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on each level of your home. Make sure to install them at least ten feet from a cooking appliance to reduce the possibility of a false alarm when you get a little overzealous with your cooking. If smoke alarms are already installed in your home, check their expiration dates and test them to confirm they are working properly.
When the temperature drops and the nights get chilly, there is nothing like a cozy fire to snuggle up in front of. But cozy can quickly turn to a smoke fest if proper precautions are not taken. If it’s been over a year since your fireplace’s last inspection, schedule one to check that everything is in working order. Also, learn how to open and close the flue to make sure the smoke goes up and out the chimney properly.
Whether you want to examine its insulation, have a bunch of boxes that need a home, or are hearing strange animal sounds, it’s important to know where your attic is and what it has to offer. But before you start toting your kids’ old bean bag chairs up there, verify that the floor is structurally sound and the space is properly ventilated. To test the latter, touch your hand to the ceiling of a room below the attic on a hot day; if it’s warm, it may be a sign your attic is storing heat. Thick ice on your gutters or ice dams in your drainage systems during colder months are also indicators of poor ventilation.
You’ll need to know what’s underneath your yard before you start digging holes or planting trees in it. Contact your utility company, which will have records and information about the electrical infrastructure in your yard. If you don’t know which company to contact, you can call 811 to help you figure it out.
If you like your neighbors and intend to remain on good terms with them, determining where your property lines are is key. The local zoning department is likely to have a copy of your block and lot plat, which will give you the exact dimensions of your lot.
Knowing the ins and outs of these ten aspects of your house will put you on the right path to successful homeownership and better equip you to navigate any issues that pop up. Soon you’ll be enjoying your roost, confident that its major systems are fully functioning and that you and your family are safe.
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Decorating your home can be a game of trial and error. You might find yourself struggling to arrange pieces you enjoy into a setup that looks stylish, modern, and cohesive—particularly when working with wall art. How can you hang everything from family photos to art prints in a way that ensures this variety of visuals feels neat and unified?
One of the best solutions is to use frames. Framing makes a tremendous difference for all kinds of wall art, sprucing it up with grace, style, and some extra flair without overshadowing it. Whether you are decorating a room from the floor up or trying to preserve an art piece you adore, these tips can help you select the best frames to make your decor pop—and even elicit gasps of appreciation from guests.
The secret to framing is to not overcomplicate it. You simply need to match the frame style to the piece you’re framing. For example, wrap a traditional oil painting in an ornate, old-world frame or hang graphic media posters in clean-lined, neutral frames. The same principle applies to color. Aim to match the frame or its mat to a color within the art itself, though it’s better to target an accent color rather than a dominant one since this can oversaturate the tone. If you’re framing something black-and-white, a black frame is almost always recommended.
These compatibility rules work for just about all wall hangings, including drawings, photographs, paintings, prints, and even unique pieces like woven textiles and handwritten letters. If a frame bears an affinity to what’s inside, the results are sure to be stylish.
As you gild your goods in frames, always remember to keep your personal style in mind. For a rustic look, stick to natural, unfinished materials. For a contemporary, clean-lined look, use thin black frames with white mats and glass panes, which will make disparate pieces feel cohesive. And for a transitional look, vary different frame styles within a single room or even on the same gallery wall. Just make sure to adhere to a tight color scheme to prevent visual clutter.
These thick, paperlike borders inside frames serve several purposes. A mat is right for your project if you want to accent important decor with thicker margins, fill more space in a larger frame, or cover an object’s unappealing edges and corners.
That said, a mat is not always necessary. “Most pieces look better with a mat, with a couple of exceptions,” Tessa Wolf of framing company Framebridge tells One Kings Lane. “Large-format photography looks incredible unmatted—the image has a greater impact without anything qualifying what you’re seeing.” Wolf also recommends omitting the mat when aligning a cohesive image across multiple frames.
If you’re framing a particularly beloved or fragile piece of art—an original acrylic painting would be an example of both—protect it with UV-filtering glass and a dust cover, a paper layer that seals the back of the frame and keeps dust away from your masterpiece for extra longevity. Only some frames come with these features, so be sure to read the labels; many frames have imitation fiberglass, which is lighter than glass and shatter resistant but doesn’t offer UV protection. You may also need to request protective glass and a dust cover specifically for a professional frame job.
When undertaking a DIY framing project, always take precise measurements, and consider measuring multiple times over as a fail-safe. Also, take note of the depth of any three-dimensional pieces. The measurements featured on the frames at your craft store will indicate their inner dimensions, so as long as you know the size of your decor, you should have no trouble finding the right frame. For a price hack, buy discounted, framed prints at a home goods store and replace the inner art; just take a measuring tape on your shopping trip because finished art pieces tend to label their outer dimensions.
Then again, if you’re willing to fork over the price for professional framing, you can shirk the responsibility of doing any math and ensure you get your desired results. This is particularly advisable when framing painted canvases, the extra depth and weight of which can make DIY framing a chore and potentially result in a poor fit.
If you’re uneasy about the prospect of spending hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars framing every piece of wall decor in your home, work in priority order. Frame treasured pieces in rooms that your guests are most likely to see—the living room, dining room, foyer, and powder room—and then work on acquiring pieces in less conspicuous spots such as hallways, bedrooms, and private bathrooms.
In some cases, you can eschew framing altogether. For example, you can hang sketches and watercolors from oversized metallic pins to create an art studio vibe. To craft a quirky and youthful look, hang lines of string, then pin photographs and art prints to them. For more simple DIY inspiration that can fill an empty wall, use wainscoting to frame a swath of wallpaper or fill shadow boxes with dynamic decor like gemstones and awards.
Once you wrap your favorite decor in frames and hang them, you can fully appreciate these pieces for their heightened style and vibrant coloring. After all, frames can elevate even the simplest objects to the level of art. Well-framed decor will dress up any space with glimmers of visual intrigue and add spectacular personality that your guests will be sure to admire.
An estate plan can provide a road map for securing your financial well-being, enabling you to make informed decisions, protect your assets, and support your loved ones after you’re gone. Eric Kaplan, managing partner of K&G Financial Group, explains the particulars of estate planning and shares what you need to know to get started.
Would you explain what an estate plan is?
In general terms, estate planning is the process of arranging your assets for transfer to family members, other individuals, or charitable organizations after you pass. The goal is to preserve your wealth and ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes in the event of your death or incapacitation.
What are the main components of an estate plan?
A strong estate plan should include a legally binding last will and testament along with designated beneficiaries and guardianship plans for minor children or an incapacitated adult, an estate, or both. Depending on your family’s needs, consider adding a trust, such as a revocable, irrevocable, or special needs trust, making sure to select a trustee to manage it once you’re gone or incapacitated.
Additionally, you should incorporate advance health care directives, including a living will, specific medical instructions, and a medical durable power of attorney, which assigns someone to carry out those instructions should you become incapacitated. It’s also a good idea to have a financial durable power of attorney selecting another person to handle your finances in such an event. Finally, create a letter of instruction regarding your burial wishes.
Who can benefit from an estate plan?
I believe everyone should have an estate plan regardless of their financial situation, age, or marital status. Sometimes the word estate is misunderstood to mean a large number of assets, such as a sprawling home, yacht, and vacation villa. However, it’s simply the sum of all your assets no matter their size or value, whether that includes a business or brokerage account or varying types of real estate. If set up correctly, it can save your family from additional taxes and court costs.
Can you craft your own estate plan?
While creating your own is possible, it’s not always the best solution since there are many potential mistakes you can make, leading to costly delays and complications for your heirs. Working with a qualified financial advisor and estate attorney will better help you build a plan tailored to your specific needs and goals and ensure your assets get distributed according to your wishes. However, if you are considering doing it yourself, be sure to do your research and understand the potential risks.
Is it expensive to put together an estate plan?
The costs will vary based on the complexity of your estate. Each estate planning professional has their own pricing structures, so consider consulting with a few to determine which one will work best for you based on your financial capabilities. For example, some may charge an hourly rate, while others may quote you a flat fee. Either way, be sure to know what will be included in their services and how long the process might take as this can affect the final cost.
Can you update your plan?
Yes. You should actually revisit your estate plan regularly; this can be done annually, semiannually, or quarterly, depending on your circumstances. It’s especially important to do after any significant life events, such as the birth of a child, the death of a spouse, a change in marital status, or a large purchase like a home or investment property. Each of these can impact your estate plan, requiring you to review it and make necessary changes.
What are the most common mistakes people make?
The main one is waiting too long to create an estate plan. Sometimes people underestimate their own mortality, which can be costly. Not having a will or a named guardian for minor children and failing to update your plan after a major life event, such as marriage, divorce, or the birth of a child, are also big mistakes that can put your assets at risk after your death.
What’s the best piece of advice you would give to someone without an estate plan?
I’ve seen situations where a family member died without signing their estate planning documents, meaning their wishes could not be fulfilled. So if you don’t have an estate plan, I encourage you to get started today. It’s never too early, and it’s one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your loved ones.