Add personality to your home through wall coverings

Once a sign of a bygone era, wallpaper has re-emerged as a creative way of adding a touch of luxury to the home.

"Wallpaper adds a texture and design that can't be achieved through paint or even art by covering such a large surface area," said Krystle Wilk, store manager with Southpointe Paint and Décor in the southeast.

"Depending on the space, wallpaper will make a room feel complete. Whereas if there was nothing added, the room would just look good, not great."

Running Feb. 26 to March 1, the Calgary Home + Garden Show celebrates 34 years of home improvement and design in the city.

More than 650 exhibitors are expected to be on hand for the four-day event, joining industry experts such as HGTV's Carson Arthur and Janette Ewen and Jef Hancock of Parker Barrow.

Here's five things you won't want to miss at the show:

Calgary Home + Garden Show garden features prepping visitors for spring

They say you can't judge a book by its cover. Yet when it comes to purchasing a home, first impressions can be everything.

"What's really exciting for me right now, especially when it comes to home value, is that landscaping has replaced the top five best return-on-investments according to Remodeling Magazine 2015," said Carson Arthur, co-star of HGTV's Critical Listing and founder of Carson Arthur Design, who will be among a dozen celebrity presenters and more than 650 vendors at the 34th annual Calgary Home + Garden Show, running from Feb. 26 to March 1.

Arthur, who grew up on a farm two hours outside Toronto, said there are a couple simple tips for home sellers when it comes to grabbing the eye of potential buyers.

Tis the season they say – the season for snow.

In 2013, more than 75 per cent of respondents to a Royal LePage survey said inclement weather had at least some impact on housing market activity. And, given the fact Calgarians will be seeing plenty of it before spring makes a welcome appearance, now might be a good time to review some helpful tips on how to make the best of the winter season when it comes to putting your home on the market.

The final architectural design of Calgary's New Central Library was unveiled today.

CREB®Now was on hand for the showcasing of the structure which, when completed by 2018, will connect the East Village to the downtown including the encapsulation of the LRT line. Here's some quotes from the event.

Lyle Edwards, chairman for Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC)

"One of the most important things we did along the journey to the design you're going to see today was engage with Calgarians to find out their needs and their vision for the new central library."

"To ensure the new library meets citizens needs we worked with the City of Calgary and the Calgary Public Library to run a robust public engagement program, through that program more than 16,000 Calgarians shared their ideas, aspirations and hopes  for the new central library."

What's a life hack you may ask?

"For the uniformed, a life hack is a strategy or technique that helps manage one's daily activities in a more efficient way," said a release from the Calgary Home + Design Show running Sept. 18-21 at BMO Centre. "And the ideas out there are endless: from storing holiday decorations in an egg carton to painting keys with nail polish for easy identification."

More than 350 exhibitors on hand for 2014 Home + Design Show

Born in Calgary, interior designer Heather Draper spent seven years in Victoria before realizing her heart remained in Alberta.

"There's a vibrancy," she said. "Calgary resonates this positive energy that I absolutely love."

Draper will be sharing that positive energy, as well as some ins and outs of interior design, when she presents on the main stage of the Calgary Home + Design Show Sept. 18-21.

The Calgary Home + Design Show announced yesterday the return of Scots Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan of Cottage Life TV's Colin & Justin's Cabin Pressure.

"We are thrilled to have our favourite designing duo back at the Calgary Home + Design Show," said Show Manager Teri Salazar in a release. "Colin and Justin made their Calgary debut at our show in 2007, and we can't wait to host them again. From their signature humour to their savvy design insights, this popular pair are not to be missed."

The Calgary Home + Design Show announced yesterday the return of Scots Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan of Cottage Life TV's Colin & Justin's Cabin Pressure.

"We are thrilled to have our favourite designing duo back at the Calgary Home + Design Show," said Show Manager Teri Salazar in a release. "Colin and Justin made their Calgary debut at our show in 2007, and we can't wait to host them again. From their signature humour to their savvy design insights, this popular pair are not to be missed."

We all crave a little more colour in your lives, especially as summer approaches

Making the leap to adding colour in your home can be a small commitment or a fairly large one depending on your comfort level. I'm going to show you five great ways to add a pop of colour to your interior without painting the walls.