We all know that paint is the cheapest way to freshen up a room and give it a quick makeover. Rather than paint the entire room, or walls, consider doing a detailed border.

We love the sweet simplicity of a scallop border along the wall. This one runs high up on the wall and gives the room some whimsical detail as well as color. You don't need to purchase anything fancy in order to get this effect. All you need is a cylindrical-shaped container (think coffee can or other container depending on size of scallop you desire). Determine where on the wall you want your scallop detail and draw a level horizontal line by snapping a chalk line or using a level. Then use your container to outline half-circles along the horizontal line. To make painting easier, you can use stencil paper to cut out the shape of your scallops and cover areas that you won't be painting. Or paint it free hand with a small brush if you've got a steady hand. We think the effect is especially nice in the nursery.

(pic via On-Hand Modern)