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Thrifty thinking

How do I group pictures on a wall? I recently remodelled my living room and would like to hang framed photographs. Should all the frames match? Should they be lined up in groups of four?
By Arren Williams
Seeing red
I'm accenting my open-concept condo in red. So far, I've painted the hallway and a feature wall behind my couch red, but the opposite wall is yellow and together it looks a little like McDonald's. I want to paint my kitchen tangerine and keep all the red I've painted so far. What should I do?

Wow, you definitely love colour. Since you're into red and want it to be the focus, I'd tone down everything else in the space. Try a warm caramel on the yellow walls in your living area, such as Para Vizcaino Desert. For the kitchen, either go with a tangerine tone as strong as your red, such as Para Incendiary, or try something much softer, such as Para Citrus Grove.

Wanting to wow
I'm an avid decorator and think my house look great, but no one ever comments on how beautiful it is. I'm wondering why my house doesn't wow people. Am I doing something wrong?

Your home should represent you, your passions and personality – it shouldn't be a show house where people are afraid to relax on the couch. If you love your house and friends love hanging out there, you've got what great decor is all about.

Picture perfect
How do I group pictures on a wall? I recently remodelled my living room and would like to hang framed photographs. Should all the frames match? Should they be lined up in groups of four?

It sounds as if you've already got the images picked out, so here's what to do: try to enlarge the pictures or go with super-wide mats. As for the frames, they should all match in finish, but not necessarily in style. So if you want black frames, choose one that's wide and plain, one that's a little more ornate, and so on. The way you hang your prints depends on your style. If you're more formal, classic or minimal in your design, hang them in a line or a simple group of four. If your style is more eclectic, look at mixing things up a bit and hang the frames in a random mosaic. But before you start hammering nails into the wall, lay everything out on the floor and play around until you find your perfect arrangement.

Thrifty thinking
Can I paint my metal floor lamps and fabric shades?

Trying to paint them is more trouble than it's worth. Unless you're meticulous, it won't look professional. If you're feeling thrifty, check out Zellers or Sears. Both have great mix-and-match lamps and shades, so you're bound to find a style you like.

Thrifty thinking
Can I paint my metal floor lamps and fabric shades?

Trying to paint them is more trouble than it's worth. Unless you're meticulous, it won't look professional. If you're feeling thrifty, check out Zellers or Sears. Both have great mix-and-match lamps and shades, so you're bound to find a style you like.

Thrifty thinking
Can I paint my metal floor lamps and fabric shades?

Trying to paint them is more trouble than it's worth. Unless you're meticulous, it won't look professional. If you're feeling thrifty, check out Zellers or Sears. Both have great mix-and-match lamps and shades, so you're bound to find a style you like.

Come back next Monday for another decorating dilemma solved!

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