Revolutionize Your Room

If you've ever found yourself bored by staring at the same old four walls, help is on the way.

Danny Lipford, host of "Today's Homeowner," explained on The Early Show that there are endless alternatives to your plain solid paint.

With the right can and the proper tools in hand, you can breathe life into your home, and have fun doing it.

Lipford suggests a few alternatives to make a statement or simply add a touch of elegance to a room:

Faux Finishing Sheetrock

Decorative painting or faux finishing gives you the freedom to express your individual style, and creates a room that uniquely reflects your personality. There are many faux finishing kits available that make the job easy and help create excellent results. Each kit comes with an instructional CD-ROM and claims to be able to turn even the novice painter into a decorative master.

Starter Roller Kits cost approximately $10. Roller covers (set of two) run approximately $8. There are a wide variety available on the Web site Wagnerspraytech.com or at a major retailers such as Home Depot.

Lipford's Tip: It's best to start with a well-prepared surface. Prime the walls first, then apply two coats of either an eggshell, satin or semi-gloss base coat. Tape off baseboards, ceiling edges, trim, window and door frames as with any interior painting. Use drop cloths to protect furniture and floors.

Check your local home improvement center for glazes, paints, do-it-yourself kits and supplies to help you achieve the look you want.

Alternative Sheetrock Surfaces

There are a few alternative wall surfaces that'll keep you organized and the kids occupied. Walls can serve as play areas or workspaces with magnetic or chalkboard paint, or with corkboard.

• Cork: Ever thought of putting cork on your walls? It's not only decorative and warm to the touch, but it can also reduce noise. Cork works best on inside walls that face away from the sun because of its insulating properties. Lipford says if you're planning to install cork in a kitchen or bathroom, be careful that it does not come in direct contact with areas such as the bathtub or sink basin.

  Cork is widely available at craft stores and home improvement centers. It comes in a variety of sizes and shapes.

  Lipford's Tip: Simply apply a layer of adhesive to your wall surface and then press the cork onto the wall. To ensure an even and level surface, you may wish to use a roller to press the cork down.

• Magnetic Paint: Magic Wall Magnetic Paint is a pre-mixed, lead-free, water-based latex primer that provides a magnetic surface. Lipford recommends applying at least two coats of the magnetic paint. You can then apply various paints over it and still have the magnetic surface.

  One 16-ounce kit of magnetic paint costs about $25 and covers 25 square feet. Lipford recommends Kling or you can check for magnetic paint that's available at home centers and craft stores.

• Chalkboard Finish: The other sheetrock option is chalkboard paint, which is available in green or black from Krylon. Now, kids can use their imaginations on a wall of their own.

  One 12-ounce spray costs about $7. It is available at the Web site Krylon.com or at home centers and craft stores.

  Lipford's Tip: Simply apply two coats of paint. Allow time to dry between coats and lightly sand.

Adding Texture and Depth to Sheetrock

Lipford also demonstrated how to create depth and texture, using a wall joint compound and some innovative tools that make the job easier and deliver professional results.

For a soft, striping effect on your walls, apply a thin layer of joint compound or thick, wet latex paint and create a combing effect. You can use one of the combing tools available in stores.

But Lipford finds that a regular hair pick, a trowel with notches in it, or even a squeegee with notches work just as easily to create a variety of effects. Gently drag your tool through the joint compound in one continuous line. Waving the lines or using a fanning motion provides even more interesting looks.

Joint Compound (12 pounds) cosst about $4.95 and is available at Home Depot and most home centers.