There’s a lot of trepidation surrounding wallpaper. People scared to take the plunge will cite:
It’s expensive.
It’s trendy.
It’s hard to apply and hard to remove.
For all of these reasons, it is cost prohibitive to wallpaper an entire room, right?
Not necessarily. A decorating method that makes sense is to wallpaper a small space, such as a bathroom, a butler’s pantry or a small foyer, or even just one wall or a ceiling. Less space means fewer materials to purchase and less labor for installation. More importantly though, this approach is a great way to make maximum impact in a small space. Wallpaper is a way to express your aesthetic. In a small space, it makes sense to amplify that aesthetic, where a little bit goes a long way. Here are some great ways to use wallpaper:
Simply wallpapering a portion of the staircase is enough to anchor a space and make it feel complete. Here are a few examples to whet your appetite:
PinOne of our SB staffers recently renovated her kitchen and hung this cheerful floral from Clarke & Clarke on the staircase wall.PinHere’s another example, this time using a geometric pattern. Found on annesage.com.PinVertical stripes in a Hamptons Showhouse. Design by Lee W. Robinson Company. Image credit: habituallychic.com
One Wall
Wallpapering one wall or one part of a larger space makes a big impact, too.
PinWallpaper on the back of a bookshelf. Designed by: Marika Meyer Interiors, Photo credit: Angie Seckinger PhotographyPinWallpaper behind your bed. Image and design by Lux Design.PinWallpaper on one wall of a kitchen. Image found on Kelly Green Interiors.PinWallpaper on one wall of a playroom. Image credit: Apartment Therapy.PinA handmade, giraffe print paper from Chad James Group. Chad notes that, “The key to successfully using wall covering is to remember that it’s best used as an accent and not a focal point. When using a bold pattern, always remember that layers are your friend.”
Powder Rooms
A favorite place to wallpaper in the home is a powder room, somewhere that everyone sees but is tucked away.
PinPowder room. Design by Amy Cimba of Bittners. Image credit: Adele Reding Photography.PinPowder room with silver leaf wallpaper by Stark. Design by Lee W. Robinson Co.PinImage credit: House and Garden UKPinDesign by Rose Cumming. Photo credit: The English Room.
Wallpaper, at this “volume,” offers a way to show your personality, or a least a little portion of it — the portion that does not play it safe. The portion that makes guests say, “I never knew that about you.” Why not give it a try? Decorating schemes are temporary and always can be changed.
Our unofficial motto at StyleBlueprint is "Be kind. Do good." We encourage this to be the basis for all comments on our articles. Provide feedback that adds to the story. Some controversy or disagreements are part of any good dialogue between friends, but anything that tears down or belittles others is subject to disapproval or removal. Thank you for being a member of the StyleBlueprint community! View our Community Guidelines.
