Wall coverings are the largest decorative item in any room.

Your wall coverings act as a background for all the other elements in the room. The colors that you choose will influence the mood of the room. Room color not only affects the appearance of your home's decor it can also affect you.

Paint, wallpaper, wood, mirrored glass, stone, brick, tile and fabric are some of the types of wall coverings you can choose from.

A mirrored wall will make a small room seem bigger or a narrow room seem wider.

Stone or stone veneer, tile or brick, usually used around a fireplace, give a natural earthy look.

Wood, solid wood or wood veneer, is also a natural wall covering. Pine or oak will give a casual country mood while polished mahogany an elegant traditional mood.

Wallpaper and fabric provide color, design and pattern. Wallpaper borders can be used around doors, windows, at ceiling and chair-rail heights to give personality to a room.

Many wallpaper sample books feature coordinating home fashion products, such as fabrics, place mats, comforters and pillow shams.

Paint is usually the easiest and least expensive wall covering. colors make a room look bigger and dark colors make a room look more cozy and intimate.

Decorative painting allows you to put beautiful scenes on many surfaces.

Paint is available in different types of finishes:-

Flat or matte - is a dull finish

Satin or eggshell - is not as dull as flat and not as shiny as semi-gloss

Semi-gloss - A toned down gloss finish. Best used on walls in kitchens and bathrooms.

Gloss - a reflective shiny finish that is more durable and easy to clean. Used on surfaces that will need to be cleaned often. It makes every imperfection visible on the wall surface.

1. Choose a few colors that excite you. They should blend with your over all color scheme.

2. Go to the paint store and pick up color samples and take them home.

3. Look at the samples in the room you wish to paint at different times of the day (morning, evening etc.) because light determines the way we see color. Artificial light can make some colors appear totally differrent at night. (tape the samples on the wall if necessary) 4. Go through the process of eliminating the colors.

5. Get a sample of the paint and try it on a section of the wall, cardboard or wood. (use two coats) 4. Go through the process of eliminating the colors.

5. Get a sample of the paint and try it on a section of the wall, cardboard or wood. (use two coats)

Faux painting is an exciting wall covering, it is the art of creating illusions with paint. Using a combination of paint colors, finishes (flat, satin etc.), the right tools and techniques you can create designer effects such as suede, crackle, shimmer, chambray, damask and corduroy. The only limit is your imagination.

If you are a beginner it is best to practice and test color choices (remember color and light) before tackling your home's interior.

Get more information from your favorite paint store and/or try one or more of these books:-