Curtains 101

Small pieces of art scattered across several walls can lose their eye appeal, especially in a tiny room. My advice? Embrace some empty wall space and make one focal wall that mixes your art together to create a large conversation piece. Here's how: measure and mark out a square or rectangle shape on your focal wall with painter's tape. Next, arrange all art on the floor within the same dimension as your taped box until you find an arrangement that pleases your eye. Now, you're ready to hang your own gallery.

Get ready to make like Michelangelo and paint the ceiling. Choose a colour that's a shade or two lighter than your walls to create a seamless airy feel. However, if your wall colour is a bold or deep hue, this treatment may make your space seem smaller. In this case, leaving the ceiling white is another fine solution but keep in mind not all whites are created equal. Selecting a fresh new white that works with your wall colour will be well worth the time. Whatever you decide, don't forget to follow every painter's golden rule: paint your ceiling before you start on the walls or trim.

Hallways can be tough. They need to be functional but should be attractive, too. Here are a couple of easy ideas you can try. Lean a large, framed full-length mirror against the back wall of your hall to help define the space and add some sparkle. One of my favourite luxe-looking mirrors is Hemnes from IKEA (Bonus: at $99, it's a great price). If there's no wall space for a mirror, try hanging an over-sized ceiling light fixture at the end of your hall to create the illusion of a shallower space while adding personality and drama.

There's no hard-and-fast rule, but I have found that roughly 85 to 90 cm (33 to 35 inches) from the floor is the perfect height for tie-backs. Something to keep in mind: if you want a more tailored look, you may want to place your tie-backs slightly higher to reduce the swag effect. As to whether tiebacks should be hung horizontally or on an angle, I prefer a horizontal installation so that the drapes have a cleaner line when tied back. But really, it's all about personal choice. Don't be afraid to experiment, get creative and do what feels right to you.

There's no hard-and-fast rule, but I have found that roughly 85 to 90 cm (33 to 35 inches) from the floor is the perfect height for tie-backs. Something to keep in mind: if you want a more tailored look, you may want to place your tie-backs slightly higher to reduce the swag effect. As to whether tiebacks should be hung horizontally or on an angle, I prefer a horizontal installation so that the drapes have a cleaner line when tied back. But really, it's all about personal choice. Don't be afraid to experiment, get creative and do what feels right to you.

There's no hard-and-fast rule, but I have found that roughly 85 to 90 cm (33 to 35 inches) from the floor is the perfect height for tie-backs. Something to keep in mind: if you want a more tailored look, you may want to place your tie-backs slightly higher to reduce the swag effect. As to whether tiebacks should be hung horizontally or on an angle, I prefer a horizontal installation so that the drapes have a cleaner line when tied back. But really, it's all about personal choice. Don't be afraid to experiment, get creative and do what feels right to you.

Come back next Monday for another decorating problem solved!