Wallpaper books take the guesswork out of mixing and matching patterns. But decorating strictly by the book can be about as exciting as painting by numbers.

To break the mold, try using coordinated wallcoverings in fresh new ways. Here, two floral patterns -- in the same colors but different scales -- applied side by side create the effect of vertical stripes.

To keep this look from being too busy, make one stripe the full width of the roll, and the other a half width. Ensure straight seams by applying a pair of wide strips first. Cut the narrow strips slightly wider than desired, then overlap the adjacent strips. Trim by using a straightedge and razor knife to cut through both layers, then removing the excess paper.