There are new trends seemingly everyday when it comes to designing and decorating your home. How are you ever supposed to keep up with the dos and don’ts of fashion? Accent walls are all the rave, or has that passed already? Borders were a huge trend to break up empty wall space in the 70’s and 80’s, but have they returned? Paper borders have definitely gone up in flames, but how about painted borders? Painted, wallpapered, and stenciled borders have replaced the traditional paper borders and these modern border options have become design acceptable again.

Wall borders are a great way to spice up the interior décor of your home. Think of your walls as a blank canvas, if left completely blank they can be boring and give you the itch to add a pop. Stylish wall borders are a cheap and easy way to dress up the room and give it the new and improved look you want. Think of borders as the eyeliner to your home, they can be done in various shapes and sizes and done right can make the walls look bigger and more attractive, but done wrong it can ruin the entire look. Paper borders have lost the appeal they once had as they can come across as the cheap option without any personality, many designs were generic and there is not much flexibility with the design or color leaving you limited. Today, stencils, wallpaper, and painting have become the go to options for wall borders.

Borders with: Stencils

The Process:

Get a Stencil - Find stencils online or at decorating and craft stores. For a more custom design, you can create your own stencil.
Draw a guideline - Make sure that your stencil design will stay consistently spaced and level as you move across the wall. By aligning your stencil on a guideline, you'll keep your lines straight and parallel to the ceiling and trim.
Mask Cutouts - Focus on one color at a time and cover the rest with masking tape to reduce errors.
Stick it to the Wall - Spray mounting adhesive onto the back of the stencil and carefully align it with your guideline or use low-tack painter's masking tape to attach your stencil to the wall.
Start Stenciling - Using a brush with firm bristles, hold your stencil brush close to the head. You don't want to overload your brush, so use minimal paint. Dip the brush bristles in paint and then dab or swirl it on a paper towel to evenly distribute the paint across the tips of the bristles. Start from the outside and work in toward the center of the design.

Borders with: Wallpaper

The Process:

Prepare the room - Remove furniture, or move to the center of the room, cover flooring with drop cloths, remove any fixtures, hardware, or existing wallpaper from the walls.
Take measurements - Measure the perimeter of your room first to see how much border you will need.
Prepare the Border - Submerge the end of the border in a water tray. Slowly unroll the strip into the water and run it through the tray. Once the entire piece is in the water, pull it out and let it drip over the tray for a couple of seconds. Lay the paper on a table and fold the ends in so that glue is touching glue. This is called "booking" the wallpaper, and it gives the glue time to activate.
Apply Wallpaper Border - Hold the wallpaper up to the lines created while measuring and when centered press down. Smooth the rest of the paper on the wall using a smoothing brush or knife.

Borders with: Paint

Plan out your design - Borders are commonly done where the wall meets the ceiling or at the middle (or a little above or below) the center of the wall. Decide on the color and placement that meets your needs.
Outline the Border - To mark where you want the border to be placed you'll need a yardstick, a level and a pencil. Use them to create a line around the room where the border will go.
Prepare the Room - Follow the same guidelines as wallpaper border and also clean the walls with warm, soapy water and let dry for one hour before painting
Paint - Start by using a large paint brush or small roller and apply a coat of paint within the lines. Allow paint to dry completely for 24 hours and apply a second coat if needed.

In short, the answer is yes, you SHOULD paint borders. It can be just what you need to add life and style to any room. Redecorating doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg and borders are a great idea to completely change the look of any room and give your home the refresh it needs in an easy and affordable way. Adding borders can be a DIY project, but if you are not confident in your artistic abilities, Paint Positive can help. With more than 75 years of experience, Paint Positive is a locally owned and operated business in Northeast Ohio ready to bring your vision to life. The goal is to give you a POSITIVE experience from the initial estimate to the final walk-through, call them today to schedule your free initial consultation and leave it in their capable albeit paint stained hands.