Wall Borders

Wall borders are decorative elements that used in interior design to improve a room's aesthetic appeal, define spaces, and add visual interest. They typically serve as the final touch in interior design, but they may also be used as the primary accent piece. They are strips of material that applied to the place where the walls meet the ceiling or chair rail. Wall borders come in various materials, styles, and designs, allowing to creatively customize any interior.

Types of Wall Borders Materials

As is the case with wall murals, there are many different types of materials for wall borders, and each has special qualities, benefits, and visual appeal. The most broadly available and popular materials for wall borders are presented below.

Paper Wall Borders

Paper wall borders are often the most affordable option. They are suitable for many designs thanks to a broad range of patterns and designs which are printed on them with ease. This product's coating may vary greatly as well, which allows to create unique interior designs.

While these wall borders are simple to install and remove, their durability is not as great as it could be. Moisture can cause damage to them, and in places with heavy traffic, they might need to be replaced more frequently.

To clean borders, it is enough to wipe them with a damp cloth. The print quality can vary depending on the printing method used, but overall it is noticeably worse than on other materials.

Vinyl Wall Borders

Vinyl borders are popular due to their durability and water-resistant properties. Usually, they have a very smooth surface that makes the design stand out.

These are made from PVC (polyvinyl chloride), which involves phthalates to be present in it. This has been associated with possible health risks, which is the main reason for some concerns regarding its safety. Additionally, these murals cannot be considered environmentally friendly as they are basically plastic.

Their self-adhesive backing makes installation simpler and to remove them it is just enough to pull them if it has peel-and-stick feature, which does no damage to the wall.

Because vinyl murals are so durable, they are suitable for high-traffic areas. Also, because it can stand moisture environment, it can be used in kitchens and bathrooms. All you have to do to clean this kind of surface is rub it with a damp cloth.

High-quality vinyl provides fantastic image clarity and vivid colors, which is why it's very popular.

Fabric Wall Borders

Fabric borders give a room a unique feel and a more elegant appearance. These paintings may not tear easily, but they're harder to clean compared to vinyl. You can use a vacuum or soft brush, but it doesn't clean them completely.

Such items cannot be placed in wet areas because its material implies a steady accumulation of moisture.

To take it off, you need to gently peel it away to reduce any damage, but it can’t be as easy to remove as self-adhesive surfaces.

The special surface of this material creates a unique and stylish look, different from regular wall murals, which is a unique feature of this kind of material.

Non-Woven Wall Borders

Non-woven wall borders are manufactured using a unique process that combines natural and synthetic fibers to produce a blend that is strong and resistant to tearing. This material mainly made of environmentally friendly materials and has no impact on human health, in comparison to vinyl.

These murals can be self-adhesive or not. But even if they're not sticky, they're still simple to install as they come in separated panels.

This material is very strong and lets the mural breathe, which helps stop mold or mildew. It also makes them more resistant to sunlight compared to the other options.

These murals easily stick almost everywhere except really damp places like bathrooms. You can keep them clean by wiping with a damp cloth, which helps to make them last even longer.

Usually, it is easy to remove them. You can peel them off in complete sheets without leaving any marks or damaging the wall.

Non-woven wall murals use premium printing methods, which result in the vivid colors and crisp details, improving the design's visual appeal.

How to Apply Wall Borders in the Interior

Wall borders can be essential elements in interior design, playing a dual role that combines functionality and aesthetics. They go beyond demarcating spaces and their thoughtful placement and right design can enrich a space by adding depth, character, and a personalized touch to walls.

Universal Rules

Here are some universal tips which can help you to use wall borders for your interior right. Wall border installations can generally be classified into three categories:

  • Self-adhesive - when the glue is already on the product and it is enough to simply remove the protective film and glue the border.
  • On an adhesive basis - when you need to moisten the back side of the border with water before sticking it on the wall.
  • Without glue - they are sticked with a special glue, which is often included in the kit or selected independently depending on the material.

So it is necessary to which borders you have chosen and select the appropriate glue for the material your product is made of.

  • If you're not sure about getting permanent wall borders for your interior, you can choose the temporary option, which are easy to take off in case you change your mind
  • If your interior uses paper wallpaper, then the border should be placed on top of it. Thick wallpaper, such as foamed vinyl, embossed wallpaper, or other projecting materials, is the only material that is glued to the joint.
  • For the best appearance, most borders—regardless of material—need a few days to settle after application.
  • Try to keep borders away from heating elements and direct sunlight to prevent fading. This applies to all materials.
  • Clean and maintain the border in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions to preserve its apperance.

Designers’ Tips

In addition to practical tips, below are some recommendations from interior designers on how to use wall borders in a creative and fashionable way.

  • Wall borders are typically installed 1/3 of the wall's height above the floor. You should never install them in the middle of the wall, even if your room isn't very tall, as this will make the space appear smaller and inorganically divided.
  • In contrast to wall murals, murals do not always need to be used on one wall in an interior space. On contrary, if your room's design allows it, it would be ideal to begin with two walls or more.
  • Wall borders can also be glued where the wall and ceiling meet. In this case, the border finishes the design by taking the place of the ceiling plinth and hiding the wallpaper's top edge. Remember that the room's ceiling should be quite high as the border may give the impression that it is a little lower.
  • As opposed to the previous option, put it instead of or on top of the floor plinth. It won't be as durable as a plinth, but this will free up space so that furniture can be placed as close to the wall as possible.

Living Room

Every home's living room serves as a meeting place for the entire family at the end of the day. Setting up the room in a fashionable and cozy way that everyone likes is important for spending time there comfortably. Wall borders are perfectly match to give your interior the finishing touch and charm.

  • By applying the most common border placement technique, you can elegantly define the wall, mount a TV on the top part of it, and place a TV stand that matches the color of the back wall at the bottom.
  • If your living room is one room with the kitchen, then you can visually divide the space using wall border vertically. This will make the transition between two separate walls and spaces more accurate.

Bedroom

  • To make the borders appear to be in their proper geometric composition, begin gluing them level with the bed’s edge.
  • To create a sophisticated wall border, you can adhere them to one wall's entire perimeter in the interior.

Kids Room

  • Wall boards will be a great solution if you want to give your child a colorful interior but are unsure about how to carefully divide different colors.
  • You can create a height gauge for your child in his room if you can find a vertical measuring border. Or you can make it yourself using a paper monotone border.

Kitchen

  • A border set at the height of the dining table or kitchen countertop can be used to define the area.
  • Use wall borders to visually draw attention to any décor in your kitchen, such as paintings or clocks.

Bathroom

  • Verify that the wall board's material handles moisture well; if not, it will lose its appearance very quickly.
  • You can use a border around the bathroom door to highlight and embellish it.