How to Use Wallpaper Borders Creatively in Your Decor

Wallpaper borders typically perch at the tops of walls - but there's so much more you can do with them. Take a look at the following steps for some ideas.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Wallpaper Paste
• Razor Knives
• Wallpaper
• Wallpaper Borders

1. Frame door and window moldings with wallpaper border. Miter the edges, that is, trim each end diagonally so they meet together at a clean angle, for a professional look.

2. Dress up an unframed mirror, like the kind in a bathroom, with a border frame. Again, miter the edges.

3. Put the border at baseboard level. This is particularly effective on a stairway, adding a lot of drama to your home when viewed from the first floor.

4. Install the border on the ceiling, set in a few inches from the wall, all the way around the room. Miter the corners.

5. Hang the wallpaper border at chair-rail height; a trome l'oeil border that looks like decorative wooden molding looks great used this way. If desired, hang a contrasting paper underneath for a wainscoting effect.

6. Hang the wallpaper border 6 to 8 inches below the ceiling all the way around the room, for a drop-ceiling effect. Paint above the border, both walls and ceiling in one color (usually white); below the border, use a contrasting color.

7. Double up your borders wherever they're hung for added impact. Trompe l'oeil "moldings" look great used this way - like an expensive, stacked-molding treatment.

8. Mat an inexpensive picture with border before framing.

on 11/22/2005 To dres-up plain windo shades choose a color to complement the room and use fabric paint. Dip a small sponge roller in paint and run across the entire shade. Let dry and hang. I laid my shades on our brick patio to give it texture. It turned out great!

on 11/22/2005 Frame a border placed midway up the wall by installing a thin painted or stained wooden border above and below the border. (Blind stop works well for this project.) This splits the room up and works well in small rooms.

on 11/22/2005 Frame pictures from excess wall paper borders - if they have a picture theme, such as flowers, houses, animals, etc. Purchase frames from thrift stores, yard sales and touch up with dull gold craft paint.

on 11/22/2005 Spray the back of your decorating fabric with fabric glue and stick to a roll of clear contact paper. When this dries, draw the shape of the template you wish to use as accents on lampshades, chair backs. Peel the back of the contact paper and apply.

on 11/22/2005 I used textured wallpaper on the ceiling. Cut a 5-inch strip that matches end-to-end, then apply these strips to the ceiling about 15 inches from the wall, making a concentric rectangle. Use Sobo glue for more control in application; paint ceiling color.