Many of us shy away from wallpaper when it comes to interior design. There are too many nightmare stories about entire rooms covered in over-the-top 70s wallpaper, pale padded wallpapers and, dare we say it, ingrain wallpaper.
However, wallpaper is definitely making a comeback. It’s easier than ever to apply and there are so many high-quality prints and styles to choose from, that it really can make all the difference to your interior decor (in a good way)!
There are several things you need to consider before you go buying rolls of your favourite print. In this article, our experts are going to take you through everything you need to know about wallpaper – from colour and texture to how to make it work in a small room.
8 Tips to Finding the Perfect Wallpaper for Your Space
1. Think About the Different Types of Wallpaper
You might think that all wallpaper is the same. But you’d be wrong. There are so many different types of wallpaper that have different installation needs and work better or worse in different areas. Here are some of the most common ones:
Vinyl Wallpaper. Vinyl wallpaper is a popular choice that’s made from PVC. It’s very durable and is a great option for kitchens, hallways, kids’ rooms and any other high-traffic areas. One of the reasons vinyl wallpaper is so popular is because it’s easy to clean. Simply wipe it down with a wet sponge!
Grasscloth Wallpaper. Grasscloth is one of the more expensive wallpaper options due to how it’s made. Fine grass fibres are woven together with thread to create a natural and textured wallpaper. Although it’s beautiful and perfect for bringing light and nature into a space, it’s not very durable and isn’t suitable for high-traffic areas.
Embossed/Flock Wallpaper. Flock wallpaper is getting ever more popular thanks to the fact it adds texture and contrast to a room. Originally made from the fibres of cloth, this crushed velvet effect is nowadays made from polyester or nylon.
Paste the Wall Wallpaper. This type of wallpaper is loved by the DIY community because of how easy it is to apply. It’s tear-resistant and, unlike other types of wallpaper, is fairly breathable meaning it’s more resistant to mould and mildew. It’s a popular choice for kitchens and bathrooms.
2. How Much Light Does the Room Get?
Light is a really important focus when considering wallpaper. If you intend to wallpaper a room with a lot of natural light you might want to think about using lighter colours to enhance this. Likewise, matte finishes tend to work better as they don’t reflect the light and draw attention away from other focal points such as mirrors, furniture, and decoration.
If the room doesn’t get much natural light, you can still use light-coloured wallpaper to make it feel brighter. However, printed coloured wallpaper can work really well too. Opt for one that has a calm, placid background colour (can be pale blues, creams, purples and even black) with a contrasting print. A placid background colour helps the print to stand out, which adds more colour and light.
3. Consider Ceiling Height
Ceiling height is a crucial factor when it comes to choosing the correct wallpaper. Lower ceilings make a space feel smaller so playing with wallpaper texture is a great way to combat this. Non-fussy wallpaper patterns, with a good amount of negative space (the empty space around the subjects), help to open up a room and make it feel bigger.
It might seem a bit odd, but dark-coloured wallpaper can also work really well in low-ceilinged rooms, especially when they have a bright, focal pattern. The darker background helps to make the subjects pop and gives the illusion of more depth, which makes the room feel bigger.
If you have high ceilings, use wallpaper with vertical lines to enhance the space even more. You can also try wallpaper with designs higher up so the eye is drawn upwards in the space.
4. Colour
Of course, a lot of this comes down to personal preference and choice, however, there are a couple of things to think about.
Different rooms have different purposes and vibes. For example, you may want a living room or dining room to feel brighter and more lively than other areas of the house. These rooms can benefit from brighter and more vibrant prints and colours. You can contrast them with a focal wall or be more daring, depending on the rest of your decor.
You may want other areas of the house to be calmer, such as the kitchen. Pastels, eggshells, and neutral tones can really help to make a space feel calmer, clean, and spacious. Other relaxing colours that can work well in bedrooms include yellow, green, pale blue, blush, and white.
5. Pattern
Pattern is one of the hardest things to get right with wallpapers. Sometimes you want it to make a statement but not be too in your face and other times you want it to be subtle without being boring. So, it’s a fine balance.
It’s really important that your wallpaper is in harmony with the rest of your home decor. As is the case with decorating a mantel, balance doesn’t have to mean perfectly matching. A statement wall can work wonders in a fairly minimalistic room, but it just shouldn’t clash with the rest of the furniture and decoration.
It’s also important not to be afraid to play with patterns. For example, you might be tempted to tile a kitchen or bathroom rather than use wallpaper. There’s a huge variety of patterned vinyl wallpaper which is perfect for bathrooms and kitchens. Large leaf patterns and other nature-inspired ones can bring a sense of tranquillity to bathrooms and minimalistic patterns look amazing in kitchens.
The most important thing to remember about patterns is that they should add to the rest of your interior design and not take away from your existing pieces.
6. Think about the Wall Itself
Where you’re applying the wallpaper is really important too. Think about the size of the wall, its shape and whether it has any windows. You also need to consider the ceiling and if there are any design aspects to think about, such as if it’s coffered or not. These all have a big impact on the overall impression of wallpaper in the room and can even change the appearance of patterns (if, for example, a window breaks them up).
Small or difficulty-sized walls can work very well as focal walls and can help draw attention to a specific area.
7. Make Sure It’s The Right Batch
If you buy your wallpaper from a reputable seller, they’ll likely check this for you. However, always double-check your rolls and sheets to make sure they’re all from the same batch number. You really don’t want to find out halfway through applying that one roll is a slightly different shade from the rest!
8. Look Up!
Most of us tend to concentrate on the walls around us when it comes to wallpapering – but the one above us can work well too!
Colour and texture are really useful when it comes to changing a room’s proportions. By adding wallpaper to a ceiling you can either make it feel cosier or more spacious. If you’re using pastel colours for your walls, try using a lighter shade of wallpaper for the ceiling. It will help to give the room an airier and brighter feel.
Likewise, a darker and more dramatic ceiling wallpaper can contrast amazingly with bold furniture and plain-coloured walls. It all depends on your space and unique style.
So, Should You Consider Wallpaper for Your Home Decor?
Wallpaper is an amazing resource when it comes to interior design. Quality prints and colours can make all the difference to the feel and look of a space. Patterns allow you to express your style whilst simultaneously brightening a room and amending proportions.
There are also several types of wallpaper. So, if you fancy a high-end one that’s applied by a specialist or one you can lay yourself for a DIY project, wallpaper is the perfect way to reform your home’s interior decor.
