Borders: They’re Not Just for Walls Anymore : Paper offers decorating possibilities on ceilings, furniture, doors and even on the floor.

They’re off the walls.

Now they’re on furniture, ceilings, around windows, on closet doors and even on the floor. And the decorating possibilities on the wall are more creative than ever before.

They’re wall-covering borders, and they’re one of the hottest looks in home fashions today, reports the Western Wallcovering Distributors Assn. (WWDA).

Borders, which have been available for many years, have surged in popularity as consumers and decorators recognize the versatility and nearly limitless decorating possibilities they offer.

Classic to Contemporary

Available in styles and colors to coordinate with wall-covering patterns that range from classic to contemporary to country, borders can be found to suit the infant, active teen, cook or man of the house.

Patterns can even be found to reflect the resident’s personality or hobby, adding a bit of whimsical charm to a room, such as teddy bears, soccer players, cooking utensils or mallard ducks. Colors span clean neutrals to soft pastels to bold primaries.

“Borders are ideal for the person who’s using wall covering for the first time. They’re economical, pre-trimmed, easy-to-hang and easy to update,” according to Peter Hermann, vice president of design for Imperial Wallcoverings. “Moreover, many are pre-pasted and strippable or peelable for easy application and removal.

“Borders can do for a room what the right scarf can do for a plain dress: give it a dose of color, dress it up, and add to its creative potential. They’re also one of the simplest and fastest ways to give a room a face lift--even on a budget.

Open Their Thinking

“Borders can also provide solutions to many of a room’s decorating problems. They can create architectural interest, emphasize a room’s unique architectural elements, tie a room together or even hide a room’s imperfections.”

Hermann advises the do-it-yourselfer to open up their thinking when working with borders and not be limited to traditional applications. Here are some starter ideas from Hermann and WWDA:

--Apply a wide wall-covering border on plywood to create an unusual window valance. For added drama, extend the valance with the border around the room or use a coordinating fabric in the room’s accent pillows or fabrics.

--Create an easy stencil look by applying a stencil-type wall covering on kitchen cabinets.

--Dramatize a dull window by framing it with wall covering borders, and running the border around the room.

--Borders make a natural frame. Create architectural details in a boxy room by framing doors and windows, or even a picture or mirror.

--Dramatize a fireplace by making it a room’s focal point, placing a border above the mantel or around the perimeter.

--Too-high ceiling? Bring a room down to size by applying a wall-covering border at the wall height you prefer.

--Tie a room together by trimming a room’s accessories and accent pieces--such as a lamp shade, window shades, planters, shelves, bookends and blotters -- with a border in a coordinating color and pattern.

--Outline a window seat and alcove with borders. Use coordinating fabrics for throw pillows.

--Create an inexpensive chair rail effect by running one of the popular wide borders around a room at chair level. For a wainscotting effect, hang coordinating wall coverings above and/or below the border.

--For a child’s room, add color by trimming toy boxes, hampers, chests of drawers with borders.

--Create an inexpensive headboard by framing the headboard area with a border. Fill in headboard area with a coordinating wall covering.

--Create your own custom “rug” by gluing a rectangle cut from a roll of wall covering to a wood floor and edge with an accenting border. Coat with polyurethane for protection.

--Accent dormers with borders mounted on plywood strips for a dimensional effect.

For a 20-page, illustrated step-by-step guide to measuring and hanging wall covering, send $1 for postage and handling to Western Wallcovering Distributors Assn., 3600 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 200, Los Angeles, Calif. 90010.