There’s nothing better than a vase full of fresh-cut flowers to brighten your mood and perk up your decor. But your walls can be wilt-proof and alive with color everyday when you cover them with bright floral-print wallpapers.

Whether you bathe the whole room in botanicals or concentrate your flower power on a single focal wall, the cheeriness won’t fade with summer’s end.

Question: I have a sisal rug that is covered in stains! Is there anything I can do to salvage it?

Answer: Don’t toss your stained and tattered natural fiber rugs. Instead, turn them into works of art!

First, put down a drop cloth and roll out your rug. Prime with a base color of latex paint (an 8x10 rug will require almost 2 gallons for good coverage). Use a long-napped roller to get ample coverage (1/2” or more). Let dry. Then, decorate your canvas.

Country Living’s new Artisans Collection faux finishing kits offer easy, affordable applications for a variety of projects. Seasoned and aspiring do-it-yourselfers can capture the essence of the country lifestyle with one of the Collection’s seven decorative finishes. Whether you’re updating small accessories or texturizing the walls of an entire room, Country Living promises a fun and successful experience.

Most brands of paint have more than 100 shades of white! To help you select the perfect one, gather a variety of white paint swatches and mount them on a sheet of white poster board or white bond (copy) paper. This will help you distinguish them from one another and note their subtleties more easily.

Here are some considerations for choosing the best white paint, no matter where you want to use it:

These articles and guides will help you understand Low- and No-VOC paints as well as other eco-friendly paint alternatives. Includes information on interior & exterior paints, milk paints and safe, natural paint ideas.

Question: I keep hearing a lot about VOCs. What are they? Are they harmful? Are they lingering in my home?

Answer: Volatile Organic Compounds, commonly known as VOCs, are carbon-based chemicals found in many home products, such as paint, cleaning agents, fire-retardant treatments for carpets and upholstery, and laminate bindings in furniture and cabinetry.