For those tenants who do not have the option of making permanent changes to the walls, millwork, flooring, or architecture of their home or apartment, there are several quick fixes that can be used to disguise or hide the ‘ugly’ ones or to create more . storage. All of these are affordable and within everyone’s capabilities.
One of the most useful is screening. You can buy or order decorative room screens, but they are very expensive and have some drawbacks. You can also go to your local home goods store and shop for pre-hinged bi-fold doors in various widths in the cabinet door section. These come in smooth flush doors, as well as louvered, paneled, and even mirrored. They come finished and unfinished. You can paint them, cover them with fabric, or simply place them as is in front of anything that throws out a room or is unfortunate to look at. You can hide an ugly view from a window, create a working area for a computer, or hide children’s toys. The advantage of these cabinet doors is that they are taller than most decorative screens and therefore tend to look more like part of the room. Shorter hinged shelves that are made for windows or hallways can be placed on low bookcases, desks, or tables as dividers or simply to hide items that should be accessible but don’t add to the look of a room, like laundry baskets, or spare towels. Sit down some plants or a small chair or accent table in front of a screen and create a nice little scene that adds to your room and hides a problem. These are fully portable and can always be taken with you to your next apartment.
Architectural details like columns, pediment pieces, or cornice can be used to hide an ugly heat duct or misplaced outlet. If they are placed slightly off a wall and grouped together, they won’t block the airflow, but they will block the objectionable item.
The fabric is affordable and useful. You don’t need to be a seamstress. Iron-on-fusion tape is available for non-gutters. The fabric can be stapled to the screens. It can be wrapped around a piece of plywood to create a headboard, draped over a table to add color, and in the process create a hideaway underneath where storage is needed.
Removable wallpaper borders and cutouts can be used to add interest and can be easily removed when you take them or need to move on. They’re a way to add interest to a room that lacks architectural distinction, and unlike larger projects of wallpapering entire rooms; these are easily handled by someone with no experience. An edge near a roof is best done with two people if it’s your first attempt. Peel-off paper rolls are available at most wallpaper stores. You can cut sections or pieces of wallpaper and apply them to kitchen cabinets if they have a Formica or laminate finish, to bedroom or bathroom walls, and to add interest to foyers and hallways. Wallpaper can also be used to cover the aforementioned screen dividers, as well as lampshades and other items. You can usually find books that will give you all sorts of ideas for this useful product.
Finally, lucite or plexiglass can be used to make airy shelving for books, plants, and collectibles. It can be supported on bricks, paving stones, columns or even on cardboard boxes covered in fabric. Cut to size on a side or cocktail table, it can be used to cover a photo montage or an interesting fabric.
Most home supply stores will cut it to size for you.
There are plenty of other troubleshooters available and I suggest a leisurely walk through any home improvement store. When you go, take a list of problem areas to hide or improve along with measurements and photos if you have them. Look at everything from doorknobs to 2X4s for possibilities for quick projects. You’ll be surprised what you’ll find affordable, readily available, and a perfect temporary solution to decorating woes.
Contributions to this article by ON THE GO 4 U design consultant, Suzanne Copenhaver.