Mike Holmes In the Bedroom (It's Not What You Think!)

Last week was Valentines Day, also known by some as Single's Awareness Day, or my favorite day of the year, the day before grocery stores sell really cheap candy! Any way you want to look at it, Valentines Day is a day known for love, and love often leads to the most intimate place in the home: the bedroom. Most people probably spend more time in their bedrooms than any other room in the house, and regardless of what you do in your bedroom, we all want them to be peaceful places to relax and play. When it comes to renovating the bedroom, there are nearly endless options to choose from. Accent walls are a great way to make a room pop, as well as getting creative with lighting and lighting fixtures. Whatever you choose to do, make sure you take the time to do it right. If you plan on selling your home anytime in the near future, make sure to keep your upgrades versatile enough to be changed by the next homeowner. In the article below, Mike gives the example of a "living wall," or a wall covered by plants as an accent, as an option for homeowner to consider and reconsider. It might look great to you, but the next homeowner might not want to invest the time it takes to maintain a giant wall full of live foliage.

Example of a "living wall"

One upgrade Mike never recommends? Mirrors...on the ceiling. What may look great in a cheap motel could spell big time disaster if tried in your own home. Just don't do it. Mirrors belong on the wall, not hanging precariously over our heads.

From the National Post:

Mike Holmes: Here’s how to try something new in the bedroom

Mike Holmes | February 14, 2015

Typically, when people renovate their kitchen or bathroom they’re overwhelmed by their options; they have to choose backsplashes, tiles, sinks, showers, countertops, fixtures, appliances and cabinets. But when it comes to the bedroom, most people draw a blank. They usually just stick to changing paint and flooring, and maybe add some crown moulding.

Lately I’ve been seeing all kinds of different things that can be done to a bedroom, such as creating an accent wall, or adding custom lighting and automated features. Even my crew has been getting creative.

But there’s a right and wrong way of doing creative design work in a home. So if you are looking to spice things up in the bedroom, be sure to do it right.

ACCENT WALLS

There are a lot of options when it comes to creating an accent wall, including paint, textured and paintable wallpaper, stone, cork or even a “living wall” — a wall covered in small plants. An accent wall can even be built out to add such features as a recessed television or fireplace.

Some accent walls are more of a commitment than others, and what you think is a great feature might not be desirable to a potential homebuyer. For example, paint colours can be changed easily, but adding a feature like a stone wall or a living wall would require more work and expense to change.

Know your own level of commitment to a feature before making a major change in your home. And if you’re thinking of selling, keep that change simple. Some homebuyers might not like plants all over their walls as much as you do.

When installing different materials (like stone or cork) on a bedroom wall, the rule always is to follow manufacturer’s instructions.

Every product is different. Some interior stone can be installed with just an adhesive or glue. Sometimes the adhesive works only if you’re dealing with a painted wall (the glue might need to dissolve the paint for proper adhesion). If the wall is unpainted it might need to be primed.

Other interior stone comes in panels that are screwed to the wall, ideally into the framing. If it’s attached to only drywall the panels can come loose — especially if they’re heavy — which puts more pressure on all the panels lower down. Eventually, they can separate from the wall completely.

Sometimes it’s tough (or impossible) to make sure every panel hits framing. One option is to remove the drywall, replace it with plywood and then install the stone panels over top. Yes, it will cost more but you will know for sure the panels have been secured properly.

LIGHTING

You can change lighting in your bedroom and make its colour warmer by switching to a lower wattage. You can also put your lights, including LEDs, on a dimmer.

There are also LED candles. Some of them are so lightweight you can hang them on the wall with just the sticky stuff you use to hang pictures.

Stay away from recessed lighting if it means cutting into attic space; this can lead to major heat loss.

… And because I know everyone’s thinking it …

MIRRORS ON THE CEILING

Don’t do it. That’s large, heavy glass over your head. If something happens and it comes loose, you’re in big trouble. Plus, if you have a popcorn ceiling — and most homes do — you’ll need to sand it down. It’s a lot of work.

Some people might tell you installing a mirror on the ceiling can be done with just glue. I’d want something more secure, like framing around the mirror so it can be screwed to the roof joists or rafters. I’d rather be safe than sorry. Keep the mirrors on the wall, not your ceiling.

Watch Mike Holmes on Holmes Makes It Right on HGTV. For more information visit makeitright.ca.