Ranking right up there with "Where should the sofa go?" and "What color should the carpet be?" is this question: "What should I hang on the walls?" It's a common decorating dilemma and one that never has enough answers. Photos? Everybody's got 'em. Plates? Done that. Nothing? Well, okay, but even if you just brushed on the most beautiful shade of paint, walls always seem to call out for something more.

This simple idea--which doesn't require a trip to a gallery or signing up for an art class--uses common decorating materials in a fresh way.

Choose wallpaper with a black-and-white toile print; the bigger the pattern the better. One roll is plenty if you want to create one picture, but if you'd rather have a grouping, such as the one shown here, you'll need more than one pattern. (Most home-decor stores carry several different toile patterns, such as floral, bird, pastoral, and Asian influenced. Also, ask if the shop has old pattern sample books that you could cut up for this project.) Now all you have to do is follow three steps to update your walls in a day.

MATERIALS ruler pencil black-and-white toile wallpaper black picture frames scissors masking tape small paintbrushes watercolor paints

Step 1:
Using a ruler and pencil, measure sections of wallpaper to fit inside black picture frames; cut out wallpaper with scissors. If you have a frame with a glass front, you can set the glass on a piece of wallpaper, trace around it, and then cut the paper. Tip: Take note of the repeat in the wallpaper pattern. You may want the same image to show over and over inside a frame, or you may want to cut out a single image to place in a small frame. Also, decide if you'd like your prints to hang horizontally or vertically, and cut the pattern accordingly.

Step 2:
Place one piece of wallpaper on a flat surface. If it curls up, use masking tape to secure the corners while you work. Paint inside the lines of some of the images with watercolor paint. Maybe your wall shade or other accessories in the room can inspire you. Also, try painting only part of the larger images, such as just the center of a flower or just the petals. Allowing some whiteness in the wallpaper to remain helps your colors pop. Continue painting desired number of wallpaper pieces.

Step 3:
Allow paint to dry completely before placing wallpaper in frames and hanging them on your wall. Now, when admirers stop and stare at your masterpieces, you can proudly declare, "Oh, I did that."

Project Sources:
Servingware pattern (center frame) is Val-de-Loire Toile-Black (#5506011) from F. Schumacher and Co., www.waverly.com; bird-and-floral pattern (left and top frame) is Eversfield Black and White (#5511E-0940) from Stroheim & Romann, www.stroheim.com; Circus Toile (right frame) is Thibaut from Resource II Collection.

This article is from the February 2005 issue of Southern Living.