View full size THE OREGONIAN A hand-stenciled floor cloth by experts Ken Forcier and Gwenith Jones of Gracewood Design in 2007. Floor cloths were started by sailors' wives in 17th century France.

The cleaning service Merry Maids recommends using a shoe to remove the marks. That’s right—although shoes are often the cause, they can also be a solution. Use a clean, light-soled shoe and gently rub ...

Wallpaper is still the rave. And when it comes to those who want to also incorporate texture and color, grass cloth is more popular than ever.