Easy Idea for Walls

Frame scraps of wallpaper, and group them together for a knock-out look.

When redecorating her foyer, Cynthia Wilson devised a clever use for the wallpaper that had graced the home since the 1930s. "Because this was a family home, I felt like I needed to save this wallpaper, so I decided to display it," she says. Cynthia framed the wallpaper scraps to hang on one of the foyer walls. She used identical mattes and frames and hung the pieces close together, stacked in rows. Grouping all the frames in one spot creates a dynamic display.

Adapt This Idea

You don't need historic wallpaper to imitate this look. Any style will do. You won't need much, so save money and shop for rolls that have been discontinued, or ask your local wallpaper source if you can have old sample books.

For a cohesive presentation, pick papers that have something in common, such as color or pattern. You could use a series of floral or geometric prints, toiles, or stripes. Or look for papers that pick up the tones in your room. If you do the framing yourself, attach wallpaper to the frame's cardboard back using a spray adhesive. Hang your artwork in a single horizontal row in a narrow space between two windows or in two or three vertical rows on a large wall. Before hanging, experiment with your display by placing the pieces on the floor or a table first.

Hanging tip: To ensure pictures are in a straight line, use a level to draw a pencil line on the wall. A laser level attached to the wall with push pins will keep your hands free for drawing. Use a metal straightedge to keep your pencil steady, and mark along the laser line where each picture hook will go into the wall.

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Nov 2005
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