Wallpaper border: 5 tips for choosing and sticking a border tape

During the repair process, very often decisions regarding the choice of finishing materials are subject to change at the very last moment. It happens like this - choose the perfect wallpaper, suitable both in color and texture, stick on the walls with knowledge of the matter, then you stand and admire and understand that something is not right. Too boring and monotonous, or something, or lacks something raisins small or contrast, so that it becomes completely harmonious. Do not tear now freshly glued wallpaper? In this case, radically change the situation with minimal cost and damage will help borders for wallpaper. Today we will talk about tips for choosing and gluing a border tape.

1. The choice of the border tape, taking into account its main characteristics

A border tape, or a frieze, or a piping, or a fringing are the names of the same universal finishing material, with the help of which you can very quickly and economically complement the interior and give it expressiveness and a characteristic shade. Those who claim that this is the last century, and borders have already gone out of fashion, as the interiors with their use are very reminiscent of the situation of the times of the USSR, just do not know how to use them correctly. Especially considering the fact that the modern look of the frieze is distinguished by high aesthetic qualities and impresses with its diversity.

This decorative element represents a strip with a width of a few centimeters to a whole meter and is sold in rolls with a length of 5 to 10 meters. Choosing a border tape should not bring a lot of problems. Most stores with decoration materials offer a large number of ready-made collections of wallpapers that already contain one or more variants of frieze. If you first glued the wallpaper, and then realized that it was necessary to supplement the interior to complete the picture, then special attention should be paid material of manufacture edging. The most common ones are:

• Paper - The thinnest and most delicate look that sticks and is removed very simply. However, due to their delicate texture with a careless gluing process, they can tear or soak. They do not have a particularly long service life and quickly fade under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. But this is the most budget option.
• Vinyl - differ from the previous ones in the increased level of strength to mechanical influences, have a more dense structure, are not subject to fading, which means they have a decent service life. Various contaminants are easily removed from their surface with conventional detergents that do not spoil the surface, unless, of course, you rub the hard side of the sponge. Due to their practicality, they are often used in such environmentally specific rooms as kitchen or bathroom.
• Acrylic - also established themselves as a very practical decor, resistant to external factors. The cost of acrylic borders is somewhat cheaper than vinyl with almost equal performance.
• Textile - This interesting type of frieze consists of two layers. The first layer is the base, made of paper. A tissue layer is glued onto it, performing a decorative function. Often, velor is used for such purposes. The disadvantages of this chic element is poor resistance to moisture and mechanical stress. In case of careless handling or placement of such a curb near furniture items, for example, couch or armchairswhere permanent contact with pets or hairpins may occur, it may scratch, stick out or lose its gloss. In addition, dust will quickly settle on it, especially if the tape has a small width. Allergy sufferers should definitely refrain from such an idea. Textile frieze maintenance is complicated due to the inability to remove dust or dirt simply with using wet cloth.
• Made from fiberglass - the most practical of the options, which is resistant to both mechanical and other types of influences. Such a frieze will have an attractive appearance for many years. Its stability allows you to use this decor in any room. In this regard, it has the highest cost.

So that the borders do not create a clear contrast, it is necessary to select identical material the material of the main wallpaper. For instance, acrylic wallpaper with silk-screen printing, decorated with paper borders, they instantly lose their chic and rich appearance and instead become ridiculous and vulgar. The same thing happens in reverse situations. Borders called hide the joints of two types of wallpaper, eliminate the consequences of sloppy pasting or smooth out transitions between two or more colors, perform the zoning function. At the same time, they should remain an interior decoration. As for the choice of pattern and color, the border tape is:

• Plain;
• With ornament;

The surface of the tape may be:

• Smooth;
• Embossed;
• With gold, bronze or silver plating;
• Lacy.

Depending on the application areas very clearly in appearance, borders differ for:

• Children's room - you will not confuse them with any others. They always "live" elephants, giraffes, dolls, butterflies and other heroes;
• Living room - such a border looks rather noble and rich. It can be depicted various stripes, monograms, floral patterns, elements of ancient Roman frescoes, calligraphy inscriptions and much more. Sometimes such a small element, with the corresponding pattern, is enough to demonstrate a particular style of design;
• The dining room is the most “delicious” variety on which fruits and vegetables, tempting sweets, various drinks or just words corresponding to the kitchen theme can be painted. In this room, borders are often used to emphasize a window or doorway, a beautifully illuminated wall cabinet or pencil case, or on a wall opposite which there is a dining area.

2. Options for combining frieze with wallpaper

After you familiarize yourself with the main features of wallpaper borders, you need to figure out how combine correctly them with wallpaper. Two main characteristics by which it is customary to combine them - a color or pattern. Given the conditions, there are actually not so many selection options, but they are the most successful, and help to really create a holistic and piquant interior.

Plain wallpaper + frieze with ornament

One of the classic, noble combinations. This design option is suitable for discreet people who prefer elegant and seasoned interiors with their own zest. In this case width the tape should be such that the drawing is clearly and clearly visible on it. So that from afar it doesn’t just resemble a stripe of distinctive color. With this combination, compatibility is ensured by shade. therefore main rule - pick up a border with an ornament that will have sections that are identical in color to the main wallpaper. Even a small amount of such color matching will provide a harmonious perception. With this technique, you can easily diversify a calm environment, make it more dynamic and lively.

It is very successful to apply a border with patterns in spacious roomswhere special emphasis is placed on the walls. Opposite them, any furniture may be completely absent. Also this option is optimal for decoration child rooms. You probably have often come across the fact that caring parents try to make their child's life as colorful and colorful as possible and please him in every way. In this regard, they make out the room depending on the preferences of the child. Often themed wallpapers or photo wallpaper with characters from their favorite cartoons. The case is costly and not entirely justified. Indeed, at an early age, the child very often and quickly changes his hobbies. Today he was delighted with dinosaurs, and tomorrow he became interested in airplanes ... That is why it is much easier, faster and more economical to replace a border with a boring and already irrelevant image than to re-paste wallpaper in the whole room.

Against the background of neutral walls with a thematic frieze, paintings with the corresponding image can be placed to support the idea. This is not a strict rule, it is just recommendation practical parents. Other combinations look no less successful in the room of small owners.

Wallpaper with a pattern + plain frieze

Such a combination will give some calm and orderliness to the room saturated with patterns. In this case, the frieze should reflect the color that is in the minority on the main wallpaper. So you can avoid oversaturation in one tone. The width of the tape is selected from the option of its location on the wall, which we will talk about a little later. One thing is for sure, that too narrow a strip against the background of large elements of the picture will look ridiculous and will simply be lost. If there is mother of pearl on the wallpaper, you can pick up a monophonic ribbon to match it. Thus, it would seem that ordinary wallpaper with ornament will acquire charm and sophistication. Usually in such cases, gold or silver edging is used.

Plain and color wallpapers + border options

Wallpaper with a picture always looks more expressive and interesting, but there are times when to decorate the entire room from bottom to bottom with colored canvases unacceptably. Especially it concerns small rooms. You run the risk of making them visually even less spacious and stuffy. In this case, do not completely abandon your favorite wallpaper with a picture. You just need to use them in smaller quantities. A popular option is to design the bottom of the wall with such paintings, and the top - in plain, pastel or the same color, but without a pattern. The place where there will be a junction of two varieties of wallpaper must be hidden either plain tape distinctive color or with the same pattern but having a different orientation, as in the example below, the walls look so harmoniously designed in the living rooms or bedrooms.

Wallpaper with ornament + frieze with a pattern

If you like just such a composition, then you should be very careful. Choosing the wrong ornament, you risk oversaturated all kinds of premises drawings and then only the walls will be striking, and not your chic furniture or original decor items. Such a solution in itself is very rich and rich. Based on this, the most good option will use a border tape of medium width, which depicts the same pattern as on the main canvases, but smaller. Or combine wallpapers of different colors, but with the same ornament, which should be repeated on the tape.In this case, the frieze is optimally positioned so that the direction of its pattern is perpendicular to the direction of the pattern on the wallpaper.

Dark and light wallpaper + border tape

Many designers are very fond of performing various color combinations to make the interior more expressive and voluminous. It not only looks spectacular, but also has practical point of view. Even the most neat and pathologically prone to cleanliness housewives will not be able to avoid wall pollution from below. This is especially true for passage areas such as corridor. Therefore, very often the lower small part of the wall or its half is pasted over with darker wallpaper. Top preference is given to light colors. The junction of two canvases can be effectively hidden using a well-chosen border. Wallpaper, in turn, can be either plain or have an unobtrusive pattern. this implies two options border tape:

• Plain textured wallpaper of different colors can be combined using a border that has the color of the lower or upper canvas, but with an ornament. For example, a dark blue bottom and a white top will successfully complement a white border tape with a blue ornament, or vice versa.
• Wallpaper with a pattern of different colors can be supplemented with a plain tape to match the color of the picture. For example, the lower canvas is dark gray, and the upper is light gray. But on both canvases there is a black or white pattern. An unusual distinction in this case will be a thin black or, accordingly, a white border.

3. Secrets of the successful application and location of borders

When you accurately determine the type of wallpaper and, based on our recommendations, select the most suitable border, you will certainly be asked how correctly position elements on the wall. Consider the most good options:

• Horizontal location - is the most common for many. The most common option when the border is located exactly in the middle of the wall. This is acceptable for rooms with normal ceiling heights. More interesting will be the location of the curb somewhere at the level of 1/3 of the height of the wall. It will help a little raise low ceilings. To hide the unsuccessful clipping of wallpapers or to provoke guests to pay attention to your chic stretch ceiling or exquisite lamp, place the border strip directly under the ceiling. A wider tape will be more noticeable. There are a lot of options for such borders, sometimes they can be made in the form of large flowers, unusual birds or inscriptions. With the help of such an element, the interior will seem more thoughtful and complete. Another option for horizontal placement is directly above the floor. In this case, the border can have a width of 20-30 cm and be made in the form of a young grass with primroses or just have an interesting pattern.
• Vertical orientation is especially relevant if you want to highlight emphasized wall. It can be a wall of distinctive color, edged around the perimeter with a border with an ornament in color with the main walls. Or, conversely, a wall with patterns and a clear monophonic edging. In any case, such a decision will have a more expressive and neat appearance. After all, you will not only clearly define the boundaries, but also hide the joints or cuts in the corners, where it is beautifully difficult to perform it. Especially without proper surface preparation before this. The vertical border can also be wonderfully located on the plane of a long wall in the place where wallpapers of different types are found.
• Diagonal separation is extremely rare. But this option also has the right to life. Rooms look one of the walls of which is divided by a diagonal line very extravagantly and creatively. In addition, there is another a plus Using this direction - diagonals help to expand the space and slightly dissolve its borders, thereby making the room more spacious. Please note that the latest design decision in making apron in small kitchens, there was a diagonal arrangement of tile. Which manifests itself in the method of laying flooring. So why not? Will look especially impressive wide stripes with a beautiful pattern on the background of plain walls. But zeal is not worth it either. The width of the border should not exceed ¼ of the height of the wall. In the case of the arrangement of two parallel stripes, even less.
• Highlight window or door openings. This is another not-so-standard way to use a wallpaper border. However, if you have such a desire or need, then you should not dissuade yourself. To highlight the window opening, you can stick tapes around its perimeter. This is acceptable if the curtains do not impede the further vision of such a decision. If you already have favorite curtains, place a wide border with a beautiful pattern directly above the cornice and the entire width of the wall. Of course, it must match the color or texture of the rest of the finishing materials. Doorways are made in a similar way. In the case of gluing a border around the door frame, for example, instead of platbands, you can choose its color for the door leaf, and the picture for the color of the walls. It is possible and vice versa. The main thing, so that the color of the walls and doors are reflected in the appearance of the edging.

It is also worth noting that in addition to its excellent aesthetic qualities, borders can help visually highlight a particular area. So you can quickly and easily perform zoning space at little cost. It turns out to be especially successful when the border is placed vertically at the junction of the same in texture but different in color canvases. This technique is often used to separate a small area of ​​the bedroom for the work area. Or when combining living room and kitchen.

4. How to stick on borders

First of all, you need to know that the border tape differs by gluing method.

• Some varieties are self adhesive. In order to start work, it is only necessary to remove the protective tape from the adhesive layer.
• Others are simply impregnated with an adhesive. In this case, you only need to slightly moisten their base, wait a couple of minutes and stick.
• But most still require the same actions as ordinary wallpaper. In this case, it is necessary to pay attention to the glue itself, which should be marked on the package "for wallpaper borders." Or ask the seller to choose the right option.

As for the most sticking process. Many mistakenly believe that the border is glued directly on top of the wallpaper. This option is acceptable only when using a paper border on paper wallpaper. Due to the minimum thickness of this material, no bulges will form on the wall surface in the future, and the frieze will adhere easily and reliably. In case of use of other materials, border glued only on the wall. Therefore, it is necessary to start work with training surface itself:

• If it has defects in the form of deep scratches or dents, they must be aligned with a layer putties.
• After drying, it must be sanded with fine sandpaper or a special mesh to remove bumps.
• After that, the entire surface to be glued, primed.
• After the soil has dried, it is very important that markup. This will be the key to the correct location of the curb on the wall. To do this, use building level and special painting line. In one motion, you can accurately mark up immediately over a large length.
• Now you need to measure how much tape you need. Do not cut back to back. Do centimeter stock at the place of each junction. The excess will be easily cleaned with a clerical knife, but the gaps will be clearly noticeable in case of lack of material.
• To simplify the work, it is recommended to cut a large curb into segments 1-1.5 meters long. In this case, do not forget about the reserve.Cut the border in places where the drawing will most easily be combined. So you greatly simplify your work.

When you have properly prepared the walls, evenly marked them out and cut the frieze, you need to start mixing the adhesive and the main work.

• Give the glue a little infusion and proceed with application. The layer should not be too thick. Do not apply immediately to the full length of the wall. For the first time, it is enough to smear the area equal to the length of the strip. In some cases glue is applied to curb edging. He must be allowed to lie down for several minutes so that he soaks and only then glue. This feature will be specified in the instructions for the curb tape itself.
• Follow the markup clearly. Since the border tape is often glued in the first place, it will set the direction for the main wallpaper. In case of a skew, it is better to transfer the work.
• Wipe off excess glue immediately from the surface of the frieze with a soft cloth.
• The joints of the two bands must be rolled roller.
• When you get to the corners, make sure that the edge of the canopy must go at least one centimeter on the adjacent wall. This will ensure a joint without gaps.
• If you make a window or doorway with a border, it is better to join the edges at an angle of 45 degrees. Do not do this immediately before sticking. Position the tape around the perimeter of the opening with a margin. So that its edges go over each other and form the letter P. Without waiting for complete drying, take a ruler and a sharp knife. Attach the ruler at the required angle to the wall, press down firmly and slide it with a knife. Do not push too hard not to pull the edges of the blade. After making sure that you cut through both layers to the end, carefully remove the excess pieces and roll the joint with a roller. You'll get perfectly even bevel.

As you can see, the process of pasting ordinary wallpaper is even more complex and time-consuming than a decorative border. Following these tips and doing everything sequentially and accurately, you will certainly cope with this task perfectly.

5. Key Points Affecting Choice

It was said a lot to organize information and summarize the main results. selection rules border tape:

• To ensure the maximum level of compatibility of the frieze with the main wallpaper, do not neglect ready-made options.
• To fully understand how this kit will look like an assembly, browse directories. Decent suppliers have a lot of them;
• If you clearly know that you want to use the border in your interior, but did not find anything suitable among the finished options, leave a place under it. Paste the main wallpaper, after you see how they play on the walls, you will understand what exactly you will be looking for;
• If you can’t find anything, do it yourself their usual wallpaper, suitable in style;
• The border must necessarily repeat either the color or texture of the wallpaper. Then the combination will be harmonious;
• When choosing a ribbon for plain wallpaper, give preference to a darker shade;
• Wallpaper with a pattern perfectly complements the plain border;
• Wide curb ribbons with ornament look very impressive. You can use them very quickly. diversify the interior;
• Wide borders of dark shades located on the lower edge of the wall will protect it from pollution;
• Window and door look very sophisticated and expressive. openings with decorative edging;
• The style and character of the picture on the border tape should in no case contradict the theme of the room and the main wallpaper;
• Be sure to choose material borders identical in material to wall-paper. This will help to avoid not only visual contrast, but also the difference in thicknesses;
• The subject of the drawing on the curb must necessarily correspond to the room in which they will be located;
• Sometimes border color It can be combined not with the color of the main wallpaper, but, for example, with a single piece of furniture of a distinctive color.For example, in a black and white interior, an unusual red armchair will create the necessary dynamics and contrast. If you choose thin to maintain the composition red border, the room will instantly become more lively.

Do not be afraid to experiment and try to make something new in interior of your apartment with such a simple but effective solution as a wallpaper border.