Sarah Holland
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Feb 28/00) - Walls do more than hold up your roof, they are the foundation of your interior design plans.

A wall is a blank canvas waiting to be covered with something interesting, starting with either paint or wallpaper.

Both techniques have advantages, and deciding on what to put on your walls really depends on the look you want.

Wallpaper offers as many colours and patterns as you can think of. Whether it's paisley, flowers, stripes or accent borders, wallpaper is the choice for you. With wallpaper, you can have a look not easily achieved with paint.

When shopping for wallpaper, start by evaluating the room you are decorating. Decide the look you want; what feeling you want the room to convey. Look for colour schemes and common ties to help you make your decision. When you head to the store, it's a good idea to bring a little something from the room, like a pillow, blanket or colour swatch. Measure the room -- both from wall to wall and floor to ceiling -- so you have a good idea of how much material you will need.

Take your time deciding. Wallpapering is a big job, and you want to ensure that you are happy with your choice and that it works well with your room.

Imagine putting up an entire wall of paper and then realizing you don't like it. Be patient!

Another good idea is to take a sample of the wallpaper home and hold or tack it up to the wall. This will give you a clearer picture of how it will work with your room setup and furnishings. Look at the paper in both natural and artificial light to see if you like the look.

When you decide on a pattern, make sure you discuss wall surface preparation with the retailer. If you tell them to what type of surface you are applying the paper, they can help you figure out exactly what to do to the wall before you begin and what materials and accessories you will need.

Painting

This is the most commonly used interior decoration. It's readily available, and with the new colour-making and matching techniques currently available, the choices are almost endless.

Some people choose to have professional painters do the job, but if you're a do-it-yourself kind of person, it pays to be informed before you begin.

The most common type of interior house paint is a latex eggshell (eggshell is the name of the finish), according to Dennis Delaurier, the assistant manager of Umingmak Supply Ltd. in Rankin Inlet.

"The cameo white is the most popular colour, it's kind of a beige white," he said.

"Bright colours are often used on exteriors, but for interiors, most people stay with pastels."

Painting, like wallpapering, is also a big job. If you decide to do it yourself, get professional advice and make sure you're motivated. After all, a half-painted room isn't the trend this year.